Biodegradable, Compostable Wine Bottle Made from Paper December 18, 2011

An alternative to wine boxes, paper bottles are now being offered by British designer Martin Myerscough. They have been dimensioned to fit in normal production lines, and are biodegradable and compostable. The trick will be convincing consumers and producers to buy into the idea.

To read more about this innovation, point your browser here.

3D-Printed Sand Microclimates to Cool Public Places January 22, 2011

Using traditional Islamic architectural latticework, London-based design firm Postler-Feruson has developed an energy efficient alternative to air conditioning units. Called Microclimates, the product is a large three-dimensional unit through which water is fed, cooling the hot air that moves through it. Not only is it more appealing visually than an air conditioning unit, but it is also easier to move around.

Read the GizMag article review here.

New Technique Recycles 100% of Household Plastic January 22, 2011

The Warwick System, aims to recycle household plastic where major recyclers cannot. Using pyrolysis as a method (where hear replaces the absence of oxygen), fluidized bed reactors pass gas and liquid “through solid granular material at high velocity, causing it to behave like a liquid.” The result is that plastic materials are separated and can be utilized once more. Even waste material can be sold as activated carbon material.

Check out the GizMag write-up here.

“Plastisoil” Could Mean Cleaner Rivers and Less Plastic Waste January 10, 2011

GizMag has featured an interesting new substance designed by Temple University professor Naji Khoury. Called “Plastisoil,” the substance is a compound of discarded plastic bottles, soil, and unnamed rough aggregate, which when heated, can be used to form pathways and roads. The result is a hardened, non-waterproof surface that allows rainwater to filter through into the ground, rather than becoming polluted runoff into rivers and sewers.

Check out the GizMag review of Plastisoil here.

The Problem With Carbon Capture: CO2 Doesn’t Always Stay Captured January 10, 2011

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) – which entails the underground storage of carbon emissions from industrial plants –is problematic for a number of reasons. Among the costliness and unproven nature of CCS is the potential for pollution of drinking water. A Duke University Study, explored in the New York Times, reveals that underwater sediments exposed to carbon showed increased acidity and concentrations of various metals, surpassing safe drinking water standards. However, CCS proponents maintain that with careful monitoring to prevent and stop leaks, CCS remains a viable option to combat carbon emissions.

Check out the FastCompany write-up here.

UK Scientists Create Fast-Degrading Plastics March 23, 2010

Sugar-based plastics may be the key to fast-degrading plastics. Developed by the Imperial College of London, the plastic, made from the sugars of grass and fast-growing trees, is said to be biodegradable with normal compost. The new plastic also requires 80% less energy and water.

Check out the Inhabitat article here.

New Nano-Material Could Lead to Self-Washing Windows and Solar Panels February 3, 2010

While attempting to find a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers at the University of Tel Aviv discovered a new nanomaterial, one capable of repelling dust and water, and could prove to be a self-cleaning coating for windows:

Using peptides – short polymers formed from the linking of amino acids – the researchers from Tel Aviv University (TAU) found a novel way to control the atoms and molecules of peptides so that they “grow” to resemble small forests of grass. The short peptides, which are simple and inexpensive to produce, were used to create self-assembling nano-tubules in a vacuum under high temperatures.

Indeed, at one-billionth of a meter in size, the nano-tubules are able to withstand extreme heat as well as water. A coating for windows that utilizes the nano-tubules would eliminate the need for window-washing, and could also be used on solar panels. Dust accumulation on solar panels makes them 30% less efficient; a nano-tubule coating could easily remedy the situation.

Check out the Gizmag article here.