Sustainability

We Can Harvest Light Right From the Sea

by Laura Fitzgibbons

Imagine a light that can stay on for 45 days, powered only by a little more than 2 cups of water. That is exactly what the Columbian company E-Dina has created to help people in areas remote from electricity light their way. The large lantern can also convert to a generator, using the same tiny amount of water to charge small devices. 

Among the newer sustainable types of power, seawater is especially effective because it is not a weather-dependent technology. The source is abundant any season or time of day.

When the light shines the energy that is spent can regenerate almost immediately, making it extremely efficient for long-term use. 

It's All in the Ionization

The way the lights are designed, electrolytes in the salt water react with copper plates inside the lamp as well as magnesium and create electricity. On such a small scale and immersed in water, the ionization needs to work just right to keep the lights on.

The base is a circuit, and the cylinder is made of a strong, soft type of wood called urapan. The cap is perforated so water can easily fill in. As the water enters the chamber, hydrogen gas is released.

The earliest adopters of the light are the people living on the Guajira peninsula. It may help with cooking, education, fishing, and many other industries. 

According to E-Dina, there is a plan to eventually "connect several units to a central base and in this way produce and extract greater amounts of energy. A second goal is to be able to make plants on the shore of beaches produce energy in significant quantities, continuously and for immediate use or to store in accumulators. The effluents from this process provide additional value by becoming fertilizers or drinking water, the energy of which for the desalination process comes from the same equipment.”

In Some Parts of the World, Cycling to Work Has Doubled

by Laura Fitzgibbons

Where do the most people cycle to their jobs?

China, the Netherlands, Japan, and Germany have high numbers of bicycling commuters. In the US, while a smaller number of people use bikes to get to work, the number more than doubled during the pandemic quarantine and kept its momentum once businesses started to open up again.

Roadways With Plenty of Bikes are Safer for Everyone

According to scientists, the cities with the most bicyclists are also the most likely to build safety infrastructure, which leads to many fewer accidents and fatalities.

Cycling to Help the Planet is in No Way a New Idea

Community action urging more people to ride bikes to work, shops and school have been around for as long as people have known about threats to the environment. In the 70s. in the US, many coalitions formed to bring attention to sustainable forms of transportation.

Demonstrators stand by bicycles singing in 1977, The Evening Bulletin archives.

Plant-Based Plastics are Here: 5 Things You Need to Know

by Laura Fitzgibbons

Plastic was originally made from petroleum

Plastic that has long been made from oil or petroleum has significant damaging effects on the environment. The plastic can pollute water systems and harm ocean life. The process of turning petroleum into plastic releases many harmful emissions into the air. The polypropelene molecules that are ever-present in plastic trash for years after it is no longer in use harm fish, birds, and other organisms that line the food chain where waste is left.

Plant-based plastic can be constructed just as strong as common plastic

Plant-based plastics can also be created to last a short time. The more biodegradable the materials, the more quickly items will break down. This is beneficial for single-use items like packaging, plates and cutlery, dog bags and flowerpots. There are also biodegradable trash bags, pens, and even water bottles. 

For stronger, tougher plastics, there may be new ways to break down the materials after use. One example is industrial composing, a process where bioplastics are heated to high temperatures to help break down the molecules. 

There are many plants that can transform into plastic

It seems like the list of possible plastic-alternative materials grows every year. Replacements for the everyday materials that bring safety and convenience but drastically harm the environment keep popping up. Plant-based plastics have been made from sugarcare, bamboo, algae, milk film, cord, tree pulp, and even seaweed. 

Bioplastics have actually been around since the 1920s

The first bioplastic was actually discovered in 1926. At the time there was not a huge push to replace petroleum-based plastics.  Over time that first instance, polyhydroxybutyrate, or PHB, was joined by polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and many other fossil-fuel-free polymers.

You can replace most plastic items in your household now

If you look around your space, try to notice anything that is single-use or does not need to maintain safe conditions for medicine or food, or anything that can be easily replaced. Add the phrases plant-based and compostable to your search for new products. 

You can use plant-based and compostable cups, plates, and silverware. There are also plant-based and biodegradable bento boxes, binders, plant saucers, bioplastic gloves, compostable straws, spray bottles, trash bags, deodorant containers--the list goes on and on. The more regular consumers seek out these products, the more readily available they may become for everyday use. 

Bees Have Quietly Made a Comeback, and It's a Really Big Deal

by Laura Fitzgibbons

There are more honeybees on the planet now than any time in the past. You read that right! It's great news--and while there is still a lot of work left to do to support our global pollinators, the positive impact of bee population resurgence spans from preventing soil erosion to feeding most of the living species on earth. There is still plenty of danger to some species, and the pollinators are not completely off the doom bingo card yet, but there are many small and fun ways you can help.  

What is community bee science?

Have you ever wanted to go out into the environment and collect bee data? Maybe wear a fun hat? The folks at The Bee Conservancy can use your help. You just need an app called iNaturalist and a knack for finding bees in their natural habitats. The information that you collect will help scientists and researchers to find out more about bees to try to support them. The more info regular folks collect, the more scientists can learn about how pollinators behave and where they live. It also helps them to develop the necessary programs that support and encourage healthy bee populations. The more people that join the quest to contribute to citizen science in their area, the more others will be inspired to join the fight. You just need a big heart and you can become a bee naturalist in your part of the world.  You can learn more at www.thebeeconservancy.org/citizen-community-science-for-bees/.