MIT Launches Concrete Sustainability hub

MIT is working with university researchers to create a cement formula that is environmentally friendly. The project is part of the concrete sustainability hub and is a project in collaboration with the Portland Cement Association and the Ready Mix Concrete Association. Researchers for the project will include MIT’s own School of Engineering, School of Architecture and Planning and the Sloan School of Management.

Concrete is one of the most eco-friendly material used in building construction, but the problem is manufacturing concrete involves large emissions of carbon dioxide. These quantities of carbon dioxide are so large that concrete production contributes to 5% of the total quantity of the gas emitted yearly.

MIT estimates that the project will cost approximately $10 million. The research center’s main aim is to improve concrete sciences and engineering, and use this knowledge to assist manufactures of the product. At the end of the project the company hopes to create a concrete that is stronger and sustainable.

The project will be broken down into three main areas, which include concrete material sciences, building technology, and the ecometrics of sustainable development. The two projects currently underway are “Green Concrete Sciences” and “The Edge of Concrete”.

MIT’s announcement comes at a time when EPA has decided to enforce laws that curtail greenhouse gas emissions from such manufactures. The laws, if enacted, would affect 118 cement companies in the US.

Private Equity Firm Global Environment Fund Announces Investment in Indian Independent Power Producer Greenko PLC (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

CHEVY CHASE, Md.—-Private equity firm Global Environment Fund announces the completion of an investment of $46.3 million in Greenko PLC, which is based in Hyderabad, India. Greenko is one of India’s largest independent power producers focused exclusively on renewable energy generation through the development, acquisition, construction, and operation of run-of-river hydro and biomass-fired …

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Private Equity Firm Global Environment Fund Announces Investment in Indian Independent Power Producer Greenko PLC (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)

Go Green: 6 Ways to Be a Greener Student

Being an environmentally friendly student is important, especially as high school and college set the pattern on how you go about the rest of your life. Here are some simple steps that you can incorporate to give back to the environment.

1. Cycle to University – Instead of taking the car to your lectures, buy a bike and cycle to university. This will save you fuel and can be a great way to burn a few extra calories.

2. Buy organic items – Instead of shopping at your local supermarket for groceries, visit an organic store. Organic produce are healthier to eat and are a great way to be eco friendly. You will find that prices for organic food have fallen in the recent years making such
produce more affordable.

3. Conserve energy – This can be as easy as switching off unused lights or turning off your tap when soaping dirty dishes. You will find that these little changes will make a difference on your monthly bills.

4. Buy energy saving products – By using energy efficient appliances in your student apartment or dorm you would be using less energy. For example, energy efficient lightbulbs last longer and use much less electricity than regular lightbulbs.

5. Recycle – By recycling bottles, cans, magazines can be an excellent way to be greener.

6. More involvement – Speak to your university’s student association and join their environmental programs or just start your own. It can be a great way to meet new people and be eco friendly.

5 Ways to Make Halloween green

Make next Halloween more environmentally friendly. It can be as easy as following a few simple steps:

1. Make your own costumes
Instead of buying your costumes online or from your local costume store try making them. Store-bought costumes consist of synthetic fabrics that are harmful for the environment and most often are uncomfortable to wear and look cheap and tacky. Try using fabrics around the house to create a unique costume that is environmentally friendly.

2. Give organic candy
By giving organic candy out as treats, your kids and their friends would be eating more healthy treats that are eco friendly. Buy the organic candy from your local organic or natural food store.

3. Walk
Instead of driving your kids around trick or treating, ask them to walk or better yet walk with them if you feel that it would be safer. This would save you fuel and provide you with an opportunity to increase your involvement, while being environmentally friendly.

4. Organise greener parties.
When planning Halloween parties make sure you use recycled cups, plates, hats, masks. Also, try to avoid the use of plastics and other synthetic items that are harmful for the environment. Also, to recycle the used costumes, remember to dispose of the items responsibly.

5. Tell your community
By letting your neighbors and other community members know about how and why it is important to be eco friendly, it can help others learn to be environmentally conscious. Start by telling your friends about your attitude towards the environment and encourage them to follow suit.

Energy Star Program Not So Reliable Anymore?

The energy star program exists to make the public aware of the energy use of appliances and provide a means to reduce that usage. The label also works as a marketing tool, which highlights to consumers the difference between one product and its competitor products. Products with the energy star label are more expensive, but are cheaper to use over a long-term. The products under this label include energy efficient appliances, efficient insulation and improved building designs that use natural light.

The latest report published in the New York Times states that bad implementation is to blame for complaints about the misrepresentation of the energy use on some appliances. The report also mentioned the reason some appliances were not energy efficient was because some products with the label were not tested for compliance prior to being granted the energy star classification.

The department of energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have now decided to set new standards that would help to increase the credibility of the label. But congressed passed legislation that gives total responsibility of the program to the DOE. This will have implications on the DOE’s and EPA’s budget and staffing needs.

These latest reports can have an impact on the trust that consumers place on the label, which can have an impact on sales.

Green and Natural Carpeting Cleaning Methods

Chemical carpet cleaning agents can leave behind harmful chemicals that can cause many rashes and allergic reactions that can specially affect children and older adults. Many environmentally friendly products are available in the market today, which work as well as or better than chemical cleaners.

An effective environmentally friendly cleaner currently in the market called Ecomist, works to remove stains and does not leave any harmful residue on your carpet. You can buy these products from your natural goods store or from a store online. Be sure you experiment with a couple of brands before you settle, as some brands are more effective at removing tough stains than others.

When doing your yearly carpet clean, you can consider cleaning companies that specialize in natural ingredients. If you opt for renting cleaning equipment, clean the chambers of any used agents.

For those on a budget, there are natural agents that are good for carpet cleaning. Vinegar and water is an excellent ingredient for removing fresh stains, just use the mixture and rub the stain with a clean cloth. A baking soda paste is an inexpensive ingredient and works well on older stains. For best results leave the paste on the stain for a few minutes and then removed using a cloth.

By opting for natural carpet cleaning agents, you should be able to create a safer allergy free environment for your family and at the same time be more environmentally friendly.

Home-grown Organic Eggs

If you live an organic lifestyle, you will know how important it is to know where your food comes from. You can start right at home with your own hens in your backyard. This is far more advantageous compared to the carton of eggs you purchase at the supermarket. While most supermarkets carry quite a number of organic products, the term ‘certified organic’ can still be very confusing due to differing state regulations and industries. Here are some of the advantages of having home-grown eggs.

1. What can be more rewarding than eating an egg you just collected from your own hens?

2. Since they are your own hens, you know exactly what you are eating since you feed them yourself.

3. If you do not buy local organic eggs, remember, there is the carbon footprint from shipping and transportation to take into account.

4. Having chickens at home are great ways of communicating the value of responsibility and informed food choices with your children.

5. Raising chickens at home ensures they are happy and do not live in tiny, claustrophobic cages nor have their beaks cut off. You know very well that they are not given any medication, thus
ensuring your food is absolutely organic.Apart from these fabulous reasons, there are still a few things you must take into consideration. You must consider the time you will need to spend, and the money, convenience and of course city regulations.

If you decide to raise healthy, backyard chickens, get your children to help you. Perhaps they might even help you with the necessary research on chicken breeds and coops.

Food Waste

We do this every day and yet it is almost as if it does not affect us in any way. Wasting food is not negligible as it brings with it many environmental and sociological issues. It is something we cannot simply ignore and it is important that we change the way we live and try to do it more sustainably.

Scary Facts
You might not notice it happening, but it does, all the time. Food wastage is highest at places like restaurants, as people leave food on their plates, and restaurants themselves throw away food that is not utilized that day.

The USDA figures state that approximately 1/5 of America’s food ends up as waste every single year. This is equal to 130 pounds of food per person, amounting to a loss of $31 billion. The EPA meanwhile estimates that 12.5% of all solid waste is from food scraps. Not only is this waste dangerous, in landfills it generates very dangerous methane gas which is more potent than carbon dioxide.

The Biggest Culprits
Pointing fingers at any single party is tough in this case. Food wastage is caused by everyone from commercial and retail food companies to individual homes as well. Food is also lost during transportation due to incorrect storage, imperfect foods and even corporate policies.

No So Perfect
People are obsessed with things that look perfect. The same applies to food. The food industry also adopts this science and discards large amounts of food, especially fruits and vegetables for this exact reason.

What to do?
Reducing food waste is possible. First, try to buy local produce. When shopping for food, plan wisely; when ordering food, order appropriately.