Weekly Greens – October 29th

Image by chrisbastian44

Where does the time go? It may be unbelievable, but October is almost over. Halloween is this Sunday and then we head straight into November. It’s amazing how fast this year is going by. Sometimes days just fly by us, so in order to keep up-to-speed on a few of the happenings on the environmental side of things, here is this week’s “Weekly Greens”.

1) The History of Solar Energy: I came across this infographic this week and thought it was worth sharing. A little history of solar energy which clearly shows that tapping into the energy from the sun is not a new idea.

Additionally, there are so many more advances and milestones that have been accomplished in the last few years that solar is truly coming into the spotlight as a viable resource for alternative energy.

2) No Room for Solar? Think again: These days we no longer need to think of our roofs as the only option for home solar panels. There are many different creative products and ideas that allow people to tap into the power of the sun without having to rely on adding bulky solar panels to the roof of our home to do so.

If you do want to add solar to your roof, you can always check out an option like the “Peel and Stick Solar Panels“. These allow you to tap into the power of the sun without having to deal with the installation and cost involved in installing standard solar panels.

3) New Fuel Economy Standards For Heavy Duty Trucks: For the first time, fuel economy standards are being introduced for heavy duty trucks. In an effort to further reduce harmful emissions, improve fuel economy and increase performance, heavy duty trucks are now the focus of attention. So take a look at these 6 Ways Trucks Will Meet New Fuel and Emissions Standards.

Image by ThreadedThoughts

4) Concern over Ocean Acidification Ramps Up Research Dollars: Just as emissions are a major issue in cities and towns around the world, ocean acidification is becoming a worldwide concern as well.

In order to get a leg up on resolving the issue of ocean acidification, the National Science Foundation announced it was awarding around $24 million dollars to 22 different projects focused on learning “how ocean acidification affects marine environments”.

Image by Scubaben

5) AT&T Eco App for iPhone Helps Users Take the Green Route: For those of you who have iPhones, there is an app out that can help you find recycling centers near you, allows you to make donations to the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees, etc. So if you want a little more green in your life, AT&T hopes you’ll check out their eco app.

6) Novel Idea for Collecting Whale Snot via Remote Control Helicopter Wins Ig Nobel Prize: Okay, first of all, I had no idea collecting whale snot was such a vital issue. But the fact that someone won an Ig Nobel Prize for their remote control, snot-collecting helicopter makes me think it’s pretty important. All I know is if it can collect the samples they need without harming the whales in the process, that sounds like a great idea.

Image by justalexanders

Last but not least, since Sunday is Halloween please remember these 5 Biofriendly Halloween Tips. I hope each of you has a wonderful day and weekend ahead. Stay safe and keep it green!