Using tree bonds to preserve urban forests
The City Tree bench (see above) is a great innovation. But it can’t fully replace real trees. There is, for instance, growing research that urban trees and green spaces in cities provide physical, mental and social health benefits. Here’s an innovative way to protect trees in urban Read More...
This bench cleans as much polluted air as 275 trees
Polluted air is the cause of one in seven deaths worldwide. And the air pollution in cities is the worst. Trees help. But you need a lot of trees to clean the air in congested cities. That’s where City Tree comes in. This mix of a bench and a hedge cleans as much air as 275 trees in one percent Read More...
A billion people can’t prove their identity, the blockchain is going to help them
More than a billion people can’t vote, open a bank account or even access government services: they can’t prove their identity. But the blockchain technology that drives cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin can help. The blockchain creates an immutable record that can serve as proof without the need Read More...
Science shows that fasting is good for health—not just for weight loss
New research shows the health benefits of intermittent fasting. The participants in the study followed the regime of eating normally for five days and restricting their calories to 600 calories on two so-called "fasting days." They lost 5 percent weight within two months. They also reduced their Read More...
Rooftop solar cost competitive with the grid in much of the U.S.
Rooftop solar panels on have always been the province of well-to-do, eco-friendly folks willing to shell out extra bucks to be green, but that is all starting to change. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the cost of putting solar panels on a typical American house has Read More...
This hospital for seals and sea lions will warm your heart
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, CA, takes in injured and malnourished pinnipeds and nurses them back to Read More...
China’s latest energy megaproject shows that coal really is on the way out
The Chinese province of Anhui built a massive floating solar farm on top of an abandoned coal mine. An even larger floating solar plant will come online by May Read More...
The research is clear: clean, efficient buildings make people more productive
Indoor air quality also is becoming a key determinant of employee productivity. Harvard Business Review published an article on this topic, highlighting a variety of past research reports about poor air quality impacting worker Read More...
5 questions to help you find your sense of purpose
Finding meaning makes us healthier and more fulfilled. Here's how to Read More...
German company powers Puerto Rico with Internet-connected batteries
A German startup is offering its energy storage systems without charge to about a dozen blacked-out schools, churches, health-care facilities, and community centers in Puerto Rico that is still dealing with large areas without power. The equipment links solar- and battery-powered buildings to Read More...