Scientists have learned that urban trees — even just a single tree — can help homes and office buildings save energy by blunting the chilling power of a stiff wind. Trees keep pedestrians more comfortable when they stroll down the street, and they help lower building heating costs by reducing wind pressure. Even trees without leaves can help slow the wind down.
When Island Timberlands arrived in 2012, they found Cortes island residents waiting behind a blockade. The Vancouver Observer sent a young film maker to cover the story, but Daniel Pierce found more than just another clash between a logging company and local environmentalists.
Whenever there’s a discussion going on related to high carbon dioxide emissions and anthropogenic climate change, there’s usually someone who will mention the widespread planting of trees as a “solution.”
As part of the ongoing effort to deal with the region’s extensive air pollution problems, the Chinese capital of Beijing and the surrounding province of Hebei as a whole will be planting trees and creating new greenbelts, according to recent reports.
As we look back on the many profound ups and downs for our movement over the last 12 months, below are five that we think were particularly impactful and representative of the year that was.
Originally published on EV Obsession. The Guinness World Record for “Fastest Tree” is apparently an electric vehicle, according to recent reports. Did you have to read that twice? What am I even talking about? Well, apparently, there’s a rather bizarre record category for world’s fastest “motorized tree or log.” I … [continued]
Originally published on EV Obsession. Our friend and wind expert Mike Barnard recently passed along a cool story: a “negative-carbon” US road trip all around the US (or almost all around it). Naturally, being 2015, there’s a Facebook page. But more importantly, there’s an Indiegogo page where the driver is trying to … [continued]
Editor’s Note: This article is one submission in a live Masdar blogging contest (find out the entry requirements here). Very simply, the focus of the contest submissions is to: “Describe your city in 2030: what will occur due to changes in energy, transportation and water technologies, and how will they transform how you live?” We are sharing this submission here … [continued]
Mid-August. A great time for four researchers from Climate Central to publish their new report on urban heat islands—areas with high daily urban vs. rural temperature differences. Almost anybody over 60 will tell you the organization of leading scientists and journalists is right on. My city’s stats are just above. … [continued]
It’s called “urban biomass,” and it’s ours (spsmw.org). Hard to imagine a subject that would find The Wall Street Journal and Grist in line with each other’s thinking, but burning wood for energy has achieved it. Neither outlet seems to view the topic positively. Both have cited the scientific work … [continued]
