Archive for November, 2009
Christmas Lights … scrooge or savior? (an annual refrain …)
INTERPOL: Over 2 Tons of Elephant Ivory Seized, 100 People Arrested - Largest Ever Wildlife Crime Operation in Africa
The largest ever transnational operation targeting wildlife crime across Africa has resulted in the arrests of over 100 people and the seizure of more than two tons of ivory.
INTERPOL has announced that the success of “Operation Costa” - Africa’s largest ever transnational wildlife crime operation - was due to the coordinated efforts of police, national wildlife, customs and national intelligence officers across Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Another One Bites the Dust: Michigan Coal Plant Converts to Biomass
In yet another indication that the days of king coal are numbered, another coal-fired power plant in the U.S. is converting to biomass. Michigan’s L’Anse Warden Electric Company purchased an existing coal, oil, and natural gas power plant and promptly made the switch in order to engage in some sustainable synergy with a nearby manufacturing operation of the CertainTeed Corporation.
The CertainTeed facility will get the benefit of using electricity with a lower carbon footprint than coal. It will also give something back. The factory will recycle its formerly landfilled scrap by sending it to the Warden power plant for fuel, and that’s just the tip of the sustainable iceberg.
Railway Track Creates Unexpected Habitat for Rhinos
India’s Bagha-Chitauni rail link has unexpectedly created a swampy new home for a family of rhinos.
Although in the 1990’s, Bihar forest officials fought - and lost - a legal battle to stop the railway track relaying project, today they couldn’t be happier: The obstruction has created 1,000 hectares of swampy rhino habitat.
Cleantech’s emerging importance for aviation
Dune Architect Transforms Desert Sand into Dwellings for the Green Wall Sahara Shelterbelt
This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.
Above, creative architecture student Magnus Larsson shares his incredible idea to help settlers along the harsh Sahara desert. His proposed process of re-structuring sand is a building material process already researched for helping strengthen earthquake prone land with sustainable bacteria that turns shifting sand into a solid mass.
Looks like Larsson is creating sandcastles out of desert land. Brilliant! His Holcim Foundation winning proposal could very well transform life in that region as the Sahara green wall shelterbelt is planted across the African continent. The possibilities are endless as the quality of life will improve for so many along the Sahara.
You are currently browsing the NRG Efficiency blog archives for November, 2009.