Good News Notes: “Imagine having the ability to purify water anywhere, any time, with one solar-powered device. While that may not be of key importance to many in wealthy nations, it is for the 785 million people around the world who, as of 2017, lacked access to clean drinking water. A group of researchers at the…
Tag: solar energy
PA parks make switch to paper, compostables at concession stands
Good News Notes: “Pennsylvania state parks are making a move to go plastic-free and reduce waste, starting with their concession stands, to help meet the Commonwealth’s sustainability goals. By the end of this year, more than 15 state park food concessionaires will have updated contracts, including eliminating plastic straws, cutlery and food packaging. The renewed agreements…
Meet Mr Trash Wheel – and the other new devices that eat river plastic
Good News Notes: “The Great Bubble Barrier is just that – a wall of bubbles. It gurgles across the water in a diagonal screen, pushing plastic to one side while allowing fish and other wildlife to pass unharmed. The technology, created by a Dutch firm and already being used in Amsterdam, is being trialled in the Douro…
Researchers: Passive Solar Energy Could Provide ⅓ Of Home Heating Needs
Good News Notes: “Space heating is one of the largest contributors to climate change produced by industrialized nations, creating an urgent need for carbon-free heating. Recent advances suggest that passive solar energy as a heat source can and should be part of a sustainable solution. Researchers at the University of Oregon, funded by the U.S. National Science…
New 60 acre solar energy park coming to Hopkins, creating jobs and helping local schools
Good News Notes: “The development of a 60 acre agricultural and solar energy park is coming to Hopkins that will not only bring jobs to the community, it will also enhance a horticultural program at a local school. “This is a great day down here in Hopkins South Carolina,” says state representative and organizer, Jermaine…
Solar device generates electricity and desalinates water with no waste brine
Good News Notes: “A device that can generate electricity while desalinating seawater has been developed by researchers in Saudi Arabia and China, who claim that their new system is highly efficient at performing both tasks. The device uses waste heat from the solar cell for desalination, thereby cooling the solar cell. It also produces no…
Australian researchers show next gen solar cells can beat the heat
Good News Notes: “Australian researchers have demonstrated that new solar panel designs and manufacturing techniques have the potential to solve some of the key challenges of operating in high temperatures, showing that they not only produce more useful electricity but have longer operational lives thanks to their ability to beat the heat. In new research…
Man plants 400 acres of forest in Portland
Good News Notes: “With a last name that literally translates to ‘mountain peak’, it is no wonder that Dr Satyanarayana Parvataneni has planted 162 hectares (400 acres) of forests which is just over 300,000 seedlings in Portland, with plans to plant another 40 hectares (100 acres) by next year. A medical doctor by profession, Parvataneni…
University of Utah reaches 71% renewable energy with new solar contract
Good News Notes: “The University of Utah announced Tuesday that it has signed a 25-year solar energy contract with the Castle Solar Project near Huntington, Utah. The contract will deliver 20 megawatts of solar energy to campus over its lifespan, powering the university toward its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. A geothermal energy contract signed in…
Going Green
Good News Notes: Sydney, Australia, has ditched the fossil fuels for its power. With two solar farms and one wind farm feeding their grid, the city is now completely powered with renewable energy. Home to 250,000 people, the city is making quite a case for renewable energy. If they can do it, why not the rest…