Green Leaf

The tire has been around for approximately 200 years — not as long as the wheel, though even that mechanical marvel has been around for only about five to six thousand years . Even so, the tire has had several tweaks and design variations over the years. Now, as the number of used tires pile up , scientists are working to develop more sustainable tires to protect our vehicle’s wheels and the surface of the road. A New Spin on Tires An ambitious approach to the problem of making tires green is going beyond the figurative use of the word “green.” During the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show, Goodyear revealed the design for their Oxygene concept tire . The design incorporates live moss inside the tire, which picks up moisture from the road via its tread structure and has a clear panel to allow photosynthesis to occur. This process lets the moss process CO2 from the air into oxygen. In addition, an energy generation system built into the tire draws electricity from the process of ph...

Did you know that by reducing the temperature of a load of laundry from hot to cold and shortening the wash cycle by about 60%, you will reduce the volume of plastic microfiber pollution generated by 52% and chemical dyes released by 74%? The microfibers come from our synthetic clothing (especially fleece) and are a growing source of microplastic pollution . These findings were the result of research by a team at the University of Leeds, working with Procter & Gamble researchers. The researchers also found that switching from long, hot wash cycles to cool, short cycles lowers energy used per load by 66%. Data source:   Improved garment longevity and reduced microfibre release are important sustainability benefits of laundering in colder and quicker washing machine cycles , ScienceDirect Print or share We Earthling posters to inspire others with your stories. Would you like to share a photo and story? Drop by the Earthling Forum  to contribute your photos and ideas. ...

Have you ever thought about where all the cleaning chemicals you use end up? Each time you rinse out a sponge in your sink, run your washing machine, or flush toilet cleaner, those cleaning chemicals go down the drain with the wastewater. Although wastewater treatment facilities make every attempt to remove the cleaning chemicals, some are particularly hard to remove. Those chemicals end up being discharged into rivers, streams, and oceans where they can affect plants and wildlife. They can eventually contaminate our food and water supplies. Green cleaning is getting rid of those chemical cleaners in favor of cleaning products that aren’t harmful to our environment. And although some commercial green cleaners may be more expensive than conventional cleaners, you can always make your own green cleaning products for a fraction of the cost. The following infographic from GCC Facilities Management highlights some of the environmental hazards of conventional cleaners and busts so...

Pollution levels have reached an all time high as more factories and plants dot our landscape. Factories aren’t the only places that need to change their mode of operations, however; residential houses also need to contribute to lowering the pollution l The post Guide to set up solar powered generators for home use appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2uJvYq6 https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

World Oceans Day, declared by the United Nations as a day to recognize the major role that oceans play in everyday life, passed us quietly on June 8 this year. More immediate needs have dominated activists’ attention, and rightfully so. But protecting the ocean doesn’t take place on a single day and it need not detract from our equity and justice efforts. Environmental quality and social and economic equity intersect and support each other in significant ways. World Oceans Day Nowadays it seems like there is a holiday for everything from doughnuts to kazoos . But not all observance days are trivial. The United Nations creates international days of observance for important global issues as tools to educate people and accelerate activism. Canada first proposed World Oceans Day at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. Environmentalists began observing the unofficial holiday in 2002. The UN finally made the day official in 2008 when it designated June 8 as World Oceans Day . The ...

Modern mass production of meat, or factory farming, has become a key topic within climate discussions. Conventional meat production practices have a negative impact on the environment and raise concerns about ethical animal treatment. Restaurants like Amity, Oregon-based The Blue Goat work to change this narrative by supplying their meat from the restaurant owners’ very own sustainable small farm. Factory farming is the practice of raising animals for consumption in confined spaces in order to bolster production. This practice is very stressful on animals and frequently leads to illness, requiring the use of antibiotics or other medication. Meat produced under these conditions is less expensive than sustainably raised meat, and the cheaper price commonly overshadows the significant ethical and environmental concerns. Environmental Cost of Mass Meat Production Conventional livestock production takes a big toll on the environment . Forty percent of the world’s land is utilized for r...

Technology advancements are known to make what was new today appear obsolete tomorrow. Developments in the field of Information Technology are today happening so fast that computers come into the market and are soon rendered a piece of junk as well. This The post Eco friendly concept computers for green computing in the future appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/31WVaIn https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Introduction Today power generation capacity is spinning at a fast pace as the demand for power and electricity across globe is increasing year on year over crossing the supply. To meet with these uncontrollable demands, conventional methods of power gen The post The good, the bad and the ugly about hydroelectricity appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2YuPyny https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Statistical figures say wind power (providing 2.5 percent of total electricity) has reached an all time high worldwide consumption with 197 GW capacity and 430 TWh of total energy production. Now, for comparison's sake the combined capacity of wind facili The post DIY Vertical Axis wind turbine designs and much more appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2BKvVRM https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The recycling industry, like the rest of the world, is coping with the massive disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joe Pickard, the chief economist of the Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), shares his insights into how recycling will change as a new normal emerges after the pandemic. Even as homeowners and apartment-dwellers send more recyclables through curbside programs , the commercial recycling market has slowed with closures and declining manufacturing. The results are that overall recycling rates have fallen in most states, such as California and Oregon . After closures, many recycling programs are re-opening with new employee safety programs. And recycling firms will fail. Those without the cash to get through the crisis are at the greatest risk, Pickard explains. Recyclers are wrestling with the changing requirements for the Payroll Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration, but before the pandemic investments in U.S. recycling was on the...

The high buildings with many stories that can be seen standing towering around the urban cities of the world are called skyscrapers. When such tall buildings are built making use of eco friendly methods, they are referred as green skyscrapers or green bui The post Energy efficient skyscraper concepts from around the world appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2Vq8WlP https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Vertical farming can be described as a contemporary concept (first proposed as recently as in 1999) which is actually a defining amalgamation of urban and rural fabric of life. It calls for commercially viable crops to be cultivated and grown inside.. The post The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about Vertical Farming appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2FKlxrw https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Every life form present on this blue planet needs water for survival. That’s the reason we see environmentalists over the world encouraging individuals to save every drop, as those precious drops might be what someone is desperately in need for. Since m The post Products and concepts that harvest water from the air appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/3g1gJyn https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Airplanes tend to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to an addition in global warming causes. Moreover, it requires large amount of fuel to fly. But what if electricity is used in place of fuel to power the plane? Though, they... The post The Good, the Bad and the Ugly about electric aviation appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/2PlfilN https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

The current world scenario demands sustainable and Eco-friendly architecture so that we, the citizens of the world, can benefit from them in the future. With similar thoughts, certain architectural designs have been created that stand out as wonderf The post Examples of sustainable architecture for the future appeared first on Ecofriend . from Ecofriend https://ift.tt/38416Ds https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Today’s quote is from Yvon Chouinard, rock climber, environmentalist, and founder of outdoor gear retailer Patagonia. He said, “Going back to a simpler life based on living by sufficiency rather than excess is not a step backward.” Is it time to simplify your life? Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image. You Might Also Like… Earth911 Inspiration: Living by Sufficiency Rather Than Excess June 26, 2020 Essay: Letting Go of Complicity, Complacency, and Convenience June 26, 2020 The State of the Tropics Matters Wherever You Live June 25, 2020 The post Earth911 Inspiration: Living by Sufficiency Rather Than Excess appeared first on Earth911.com . from Earth911.com https://ift.tt/31hZkNK https://ift.tt/3fYImId

An essay by Tory McCagg, author of At Crossroads With Chickens: A “What If It Works?” Adventure in Off-Grid Living & Quest for Home A friend of mine, Dan, once told me that, if he had the choice to come back in another life and another form, he would want to come back as one of my chickens. I know better. Granted, our chickens are as safe and free as can be. They run feral through our gardens (except when bobcats and weasels roam) and are encouraged to voice their opinions, especially when my husband, Carl, and I take their eggs from the nest, an act that is stressful for all concerned because the girls are justifiably proud of their hard work. Their eggs are perfect, each one unique and so full of potential. And yet we take them, eat them. It’s a conundrum. Without us, the chickens wouldn’t have been hatched. With us, they must live by our rules. And we, by theirs. The Opportunity To Change Climate change. A coronavirus pandemic. Demands for a complete and just restructuring ...

Photo credit: Shwood This post contains some affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, EcoCult receives a small percentage of the sale price. Some brands may have paid a small fee to be featured. We only recommend brands that we truly believe in. Support our editorial work by supporting them! If you’re trying to avoid plastic and like sustainable fashion, then you’ve probably been taking a closer look at what your sunglasses are made of. And if they’re high quality, you might see the word “acetate.” Acetate is used by eyewear companies because it’s a high-quality, beautifully glossy and transparent material with just the right amount of bend. You can even bring a pair of acetate frames to your local optician and they will gently bend them to fit your face better. You can’t do that with plastic. You’ll find acetate in many conscious sunglasses brands – even ones that started out with other sustainable materials have incorporated acetate into their offerings. There’s cotto...