Research Shows Green environments essential for human health

Research confirms that the impacts of parks and green environments on human health extend beyond social and psychological health outcomes to include physical health outcomes. Credit: University of Illinois

Research shows that a walk in the park is more than just a nice way to spend an afternoon. It’s an essential component for good health, according to University of Illinois environment and behavior researcher Frances “Ming” Kuo.

“Through the decades, parks advocates, landscape architects, and popular writers have consistently claimed that nature had healing powers,” Kuo said. “But until recently, their claims haven’t undergone rigorous scientific assessment.”

Kuo is also the director of the Landscape and Human Health Laboratory at the U of I and has studied the effect of green space on humans in a number of settings in order to prove or disprove the folklore notions. … Continue Reading

IEA Releases First Clean Energy Progress Report at Ministerial

DOE Offers $170 Million for Solar Energy Technologies

Shale – Studies Find It’s An Even Greater Carbon Footprint

Rock face, shale - Credit: Paul Nichols

(REepedia.com) Many in the U.S., as well as others, try and continue the use of fossil fuels in very creative but possibly, more damaging ways to the environment. Rather than concluding that fossil fuels altogether are just harmful and should be transitioned away from, many are going through exhaustive measures to keep the train going.

Thankfully however, there are watchful eyes on these stubborn and creative measures. Now, US researchers are finding that shale gas wells leak substantial amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. … Continue Reading

Better Batteries for Electric Cars

ScienceDaily (Mar. 15, 2011) — The breakthrough with electric cars is a long time coming — not least on account of their key component, the battery. Lithium-ion batteries are still too expensive and their range too limited. New materials should pave the way for better batteries. Simulation software from researchers is helping speed up the development process. … Continue Reading

Floating Solar Panels: Solar Installations on Water

Mar.19, 2011 (ScienceDaily) — Most of the solar energy systems on the market today bare two major weaknesses: they require vast

Floating solar panels (Credit: Image courtesy of Eureka)

land areas in order to be built, and the costs related to solar cells fabrication and maintenance are high. A new technology is about to overcome these challenges and many more: floating solar power plants.

Developed by a Franco-Israeli partnership,* this innovative solar power technology introduces a new paradigm in energy production. Solar power plays a dominant role in the world-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gases, it is considered a clean energy and is an efficient source of electricity. Yet several obstacles have been undermining the expansion of this sector and many of its actors are looking for a new approach towards the markets. … Continue Reading