Monthly Archives: February 2016
Recycling: turning waste into a resource
In this TedxSydney talk, Veena Sahajwalla discusses the future of innovation and how we can start thinking about waste as a valuable resource.
Posted in Non-renewable: minerals, Recycling
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Sea Level Rise
A recent article by the NY Times highlights the major impacts of global climate change, partially as a result of human emissions, as well as future uncertainty. The article focuses on recent research indicating that sea levels are rising at … Continue reading
Wastewater to energy
Scientists at Virginia Tech have recently identified two bacteria that break down organic matter in human waste. This has allowed them to identify a way for wastewater treatment plants to generate energy. This YouTube video provides a good overview.
Posted in non-renewable: energy, Renewable: water
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Beijing Red Alert on Air Pollution
According to an article in The Gaurdian, Beijing released a red alert concerning air pollution in the area. Apparently this is the first red alert the city has ever put out about air pollution. The alert was triggered by incredibly … Continue reading
Posted in air pollution
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Solar power as a backstop technology
Earlier this month, Morocco switched on it’s huge concentrated solar plant, Noor 1. Morocco has historically relied on imported fossil fuels. This solar plant will significantly lower Morocco’s carbon emissions and start a move to a greater reliance on alternative energy. … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Shale Gas Well Drilling in PA
Shale Gas in PA is a topic that was discussed by our group. What we wanted to focus on shale gas wells drilling in PA is its external cost on environment. Being a less important point, the future of shale gas and its effect … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Pennsylvania’s Plans For Controlling Methane Emissions From Shale Gas Operations
Shale gas releases methane (CH4), a greenhouse gas, that is twenty-one times more likely to cause global warming than carbon dioxide (CO2). There are huge shale gas reserves in Pennsylvania and a relatively long history for companies to exploit them. It … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Protecting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef attracts over 2,000,000 million visitors a year and is a massive natural resource because of the amount of money it brings in from tourism. The reef also holds a significant amount of biodiversity and to damage … Continue reading
Posted in Biodiversity
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Chinese Coal Consumption
This article looks at the decline in demand for coal in China as a result of multiple factors. The first factor is China’s general move towards renewable energies such as wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power. China has been a … Continue reading
Posted in non-renewable: energy
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Deforestation in Brazil
One of three topics our group is deciding on pursing deals with the current deforestation issue in Brazil, specifically in the Amazon. Between 2005 and 2010 Brazil decreased its greenhouse gas emissions by 39 percent as a result of eliminating … Continue reading
Posted in Renewable: forests
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