Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Wood-derived foam materials

Since most foam materials are made of petrochemical plastics, they aren't very climate-friendly. But now an alternative is in sight - a novel foam material produced entirely from wood, which is not harmful to the environment and is also recyclable. In the long term, wood foam could replace conventional products used for thermal insulation, packaging.

April 29, 2015 Read more

Producing hydrogen cheaply through simplified electrolysis

A simplified and reliable device should enable hydrogen production at low cost. Researchers were able to perform water electrolysis without using the expensive membrane placed between the electrodes in conventional systems.

April 28, 2015 Read more

ORNL scientists generate landmark DOE hydropower report

For the first time, industry and policymakers have a comprehensive report detailing the U.S. hydropower fleet's 2,198 plants that provide about 7 percent of the nation's electricity.

April 28, 2015 Read more

World's first algae-based, sustainable surfboard (w/video)

UC San Diego's efforts to produce innovative and sustainable solutions to the world's environmental problems have resulted in a partnership with the region's surfing industry to create the world's first algae-based, sustainable surfboard.

April 24, 2015 Read more

World's first electric taxi for tropical megacities has been launched

Named EVA, the electric taxi is built by TUM CREATE, a collaboration between Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) and one of Europe's top universities, Germany's Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM).

April 24, 2015 Read more

Clean and affordable: the wind energy challenge

Wind power is on the rise. But its success in Europe depends on countries' renewable energy policies, which have a knock on effect on raising electricity bills.

April 22, 2015 Read more

Hurdles to US climate change action are in economics and politics, not divided science

The US Congress successfully hears the 'supermajority' consensus on the reality and causes of climate change, according to scientists from several universities. In a paper published in Climatic Change, the scientists suggest looking at business interests, partisan predispositions and political ideology for the hurdles to policy action.

April 21, 2015 Read more

Cost-efficiency of plug-in hybrids calculated a thousand times faster

Plug-in hybrids have low fuel consumption, but require more costly parts than cars with a regular combustion engine. During development, the optimal cost balance must be calculated, which has been extremely time consuming to date. Now researchers have developed a new method that dramatically reduces the time needed for these calculations.

April 21, 2015 Read more

'My Earth' energy-tracking app encourages sustainable behaviors

For a generation motivated by technology and fast-moving information, a professor has created an energy-tracking app to make reducing day-to-day energy usage more accessible.

April 21, 2015 Read more

Bioasphalt: from microalgae to 'green' roads?

Microalgae offer a highly promising alternative to petroleum products without competing for resources used in the food industry. They have now been used for the first time to make asphalt.

April 20, 2015 Read more

Engineers purify sea and wastewater in 2.5 minutes

Engineers created technology to recover and purify, either seawater or wastewater from households, hotels, hospitals, commercial and industrial facilities, regardless of the content of pollutants and microorganisms in just 2.5 minutes.

April 17, 2015 Read more

Packing heat: New fluid makes untapped geothermal energy cleaner (w/video)

Nontoxic solution could cut water use in half for enhanced geothermal systems.

April 15, 2015 Read more

Harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves

In the future, clean alternatives such as harvesting energy from electromagnetic waves may help ease the world's energy shortage.

April 14, 2015 Read more

An energy calculator to choose our future

EPFL's Energy Center has developed an information platform on energy transition. In particular, it proposes a national energy calculator to develop scenarios for Switzerland's energy future.

April 13, 2015 Read more

Scientists a step closer to developing renewable propane

Researchers at The University of Manchester have made a significant breakthrough in the development of synthetic pathways that will enable renewable biosynthesis of the gas propane. This research is part of a programme of work aimed at developing the next generation of biofuels.

April 10, 2015 Read more

Reliable systems for recharging electric vehicles

The success of electric vehicle networks depends on economical vehicles - and efficient power grids. Existing power lines were not designed for the loads generated by electric vehicles. Fraunhofer researchers have developed prototype software to show grid operators how many electric vehicles can be connected to their local grid.

April 10, 2015 Read more

Which type of sustainable rooftop technology is best in cold climates?

Sustainable rooftop technologies - including green roofs, white roofs, and solar photovoltaic panels - can provide great environmental benefits, but studies of these technologies often look only at their use in hot climates and do not assess their full environmental consequences.

April 7, 2015 Read more

Discovery may be breakthrough for hydrogen cars

Researchers discovered a way to create hydrogen fuel using a biological method that greatly reduces the time and money it takes to produce the zero-emissions fuel; this method uses abundantly available corn stover.

April 6, 2015 Read more