Good News Notes: “Mounting evidence suggests the western United States is now in its worst megadrought in at least 1,200 years. Groundwater supplies are being overpumped in many places, and the dryness, wildfires and shrinking water supplies are making climate change personal for millions of people. As an engineer, I have been working with colleagues on a way to both protect water supplies and…
Tag: help
Local first responders train to save injured K9 officers, thanks to nonprofit
Good News Notes: “Our K9 police officers are getting a lifeline. The animals face many dangers on the job like their human counterparts, but until now they didn’t have access to the same kind of emergency medical care. A new Florida law allows first responders to treat injured K9 officers – even transport them by…
Germany Targets 100% Renewable Power Generation By 2035
Good News Notes: “Germany will target to have all its electricity provided by renewable energy sources by 2035, according to a new draft policy that speeds up the timeline for ending fossil fuel-powered generation before 2040. Germany, the largest economy in Europe, said in a major shift of energy policy this weekend that it would…
Tesco to Ban Plastic-Based Baby Wipes
Good News Notes: “Tesco will be the first retail store to cut sales of baby wipes containing plastic thanks to a decision a that will become effective in March. Some Huggies and Pampers products are among those that will no longer be sold in Tesco retail stores across the U.K. in March as part of a pledge to cut plastic…
Aldi makes own-label Easter egg range plastic-free
Good News Notes: “Aldi has made its entire own-label Easter egg range plastic-free, using redesigned boxes with cellulose film for windows. The new boxes eliminate the need for inner plastic packaging by using cardboard to support the egg instead. It’s a new approach for Aldi since last year, when it launched ‘geometric eggs’ with a flat…
Refillery store offers zero-waste products
Good News Notes: “A new store in Iron Mountain is helping reduce the amount of waste you put into the world. Verde Refillery offers zero waste, zero plastic products and it features a refill section for a variety of cleaning products. The store says they buy items in bulk which can help the environment by…
Fighting Plastic Waste with Edible Food Packaging
Good News Notes: “The use of plastic packaging for food products contributes significantly to plastic waste, of which 14 million tons end up in our oceans each year. By 2050, it is predicted that there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish, which will be a serious threat to our ecosystems and well…
We’re going to need a lot more grid storage. New iron batteries could help.
Good News Notes: “One of the first things you see when you visit the headquarters of ESS in Wilsonville, Oregon, is an experimental battery module about the size of a toaster. The company’s founders built it in their lab a decade ago to meet a challenge they knew grid operators around the world would soon…
Humpback whales removed from Australia’s threatened species list but feeding grounds still at risk
Good News Notes: “Humpback whales have been removed from the threatened species list after a significant increase in numbers in the 60 years since they were first protected, but green groups warn populations could decline again as oceans warm. Global heating is predicted to have a significant impact on krill populations in Antarctica, a major…