Upcoming Eco-Related Events

We searched the web to find eco-related events around the world so that we could direct you to effective websites.

The best results were from Eventbrite:

http://www.eventbrite.com/directory?q=eco&loc=San%20Jose%2C%20CA&sort=best&slat=29.28&slng=-101.43&vp_ne_lat=62.4293&vp_ne_lng=-59.2393&vp_sw_lat=-3.8681&vp_sw_lng=-143.6143&crt=regular&

The Planet Friendly aims to bring people together over ideas that matter all around the globe!:

http://www.planetfriendly.net/calendar/

If you want to host your own eco-friendly event we have tips on how to throw a party that doesn’t end up with a bunch of garbage strewn around your venue:

https://wastetracking.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/the-greenparty-how-to-throw-a-green-party/

If you want to invite @wastetracking on Twitter we can also help you promote an eco-friendly event!

 

Also, did you know that latex balloons are 100% biodegradable?

The Biggest Factor in How Much We Recycle Is…

The number 1 factor that effects whether or not someone will or will not recycle is their knowledge about what can be recycled. Yolonda Wright conducted 200 surveys to see what factors play a key role in determining the likely hood that one will recycle.

Yolonda wrote about UC Berkeley’s first Recycling Summit, 2001 that promoted campus recycling by increasing access to recycling and refuse containers, the campus bought recycled paper and even established a materials exchange.

In addition to one’s knowledge (a distinction was made between general knowledge and “knowledge about what can be recycled), demographics, knowledge of recycling bin location, age, area of study and more factors were considered.

Our blog has a lot of ideas for those who are already motivated to recycle. We also talked about people in correctional facilities that recycle quite a bit thanks to the training that they receive during their positions. For more about sustainable jobs, please click here and Yolonda’s study can be found here.

Do you find this easy or hard to believe? Let us know what you think on Twitter http://twitter.com/wastetracking

Invention allows vegetables to be safe for consumption even if planted in polluted soil

Medical-membrane technology was used by Dr. Yuichi Mori to grow agricultural crops with minimized water and soil consumption which he presented at TEDx. Seeing this “hydromembrane”, a gel plastic wrap looking material interestingly enough supports plant growth so that they are safe for consumption.

A video of Dr. Mori with the Imec membrane and cress that grew from it can be seen here:

Source: http://www.mebiol.co.jp/en/product/

Today at 9 AM PM or 12 PM ET a New #Weather #Nerdy Show Airs @WXGeeksTWC

A show produced by meteorologists for weather geeks is coming to our televisions on The Weather Channel Sunday morning which will actually make you want to watch the news on TV. WX Geeks has been called Big Bang Theory meets the weather by Mediabistro. It’s funny, quirky, nerdy, and educational. With so much talk about global warming and natural phenomena lately it seems like a great opportunity to learn more about the weather.  This Sunday the show will be about storm chasing and hopefully we can all catch it and talk about it on Monday!

Happy Sunday.

 

Source: http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/07/18/wx_geeks_the_weather_channel_s_new_sunday_morning_talk_show_reviewed.html

Another great Green article from WasteTracking.com

Track your recycling at WasteTracking.com

Follow WasteTracking.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wastetracking

Website Wednesdays #WW

Website Wednesdays ( #WW )

A Collection of Awesome Resources and Web Design Appreciation

@ThePowerofBrain Videos and other ways to learn about science, constrtuction, design, technology, transportation and more… 
@SustainBrands Green business resources and other sustainable brand research to help the planet. 
http://www.rvapc.com/ inspiring architecture and web design. 

 

Another great Green article from WasteTracking.com

Track your recycling at WasteTracking.com

Follow WasteTracking.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wastetracking

#quoteoftheday

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

-Confucius

New @WholeFoods is super #efficient !

A new Whole Foods opened in Brooklyn, NY and it’s called “Third and 3^rd, Brooklyn” which has an awesome green parking lot. The parking lot roof has a lot of solar arrays, the streetlights are solar powered and wind-powered, and there are electric car charging stations as well

In addition to having one of the most efficient parking lots made so far, this Whole Foods offers:

Bike Repair and Parking: Bikes are beloved by Brooklynites and Whole Foods Market, so we want to support people’s ability to maintain and ride them. This form of alternative transportation contributes to a reduced carbon footprint and a healthier lifestyle.

Knife Sharpening: Knife sharpening services from Scott Jennings of X-Calibur Knife & Scissor Sharpening and Christopher Harth ofNYCutlery and products including knives and specially-made Third & 3^rd cutting boards.

Vinyl Records and Wrecords by Monkey: A vinyl venue featuring music as well as reclaimed vinyl jewelry and accessories fromWrecords by Monkey, a Brooklyn-based design and lifestyle brand

THE ROOF: Serving a variety of local and seasonal menu items from snacks to salads to entrees, including vegan and vegetarian offerings, as well as 16 beers on tap, The Roof, offers indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the Gowanus Canal, surrounding neighborhoods, and the Manhattan skyline. Hours 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

YUJI RAMEN: Chef Yuji Haraguchi will serve his praised Japanese mazemen dishes with a twist; including Bacon & Egg, Salmon & Cheese, Miso Roasted Vegetables and Spicy Tuna. The takeout venue will be open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

JUICE Etc.: a made-to-order juice bar, offering fresh-pressed fruit and veggie juices and smoothies.

Shopping at Whole Foods is a pleasure, if you can make it out to Brooklyn to see this one let us know what it’s like! You can tag this store with #thirdand3rd and don’t forget, we are @wastetracking on Twitter!

(Source: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/gowanus-whole-foods-opens-with-super-green-parking-lot-powered-by-urban-green-energy/

And

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/brooklyn )

Another great Green article from WasteTracking.com

Track your recycling at WasteTracking.com

Follow WasteTracking.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wastetracking

#July4th bet you didn’t know #Independenceday short video from the History Channel

In 1777 Congress authorized the use of fireworks for the 4th of July, in addition New York has the biggest fireworks celebration in the USA which you might have attended or seen online. It’s also one of the 4 holidays that are celebrated on the same calander day each year in the USA, and 3 presidents have passed away on the 4th of July as well. For more interest facts including the birth of our celebrations, please check out this link and this short, fun, video.

Click the video or here:

http://www.history.com/topics/july-4th/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-independence-day

The Production of Bio-products as a Source of #Energy and Waste #Water Treatment

The fifth International Engineering Invention & Innovation Exhibition (i-ENVEX 2014) in Kangar just wrapped up and the goal medalists beat out more than 87 entries with their project on the production of bio-products as a source of energy and waste water treatment.

The goal medalists are from the UCSI University chemical engineering and the students names are Jing Ren, Selvaraja, Chun Man and Shapnathayammal. The team, including Teoh Kai Wen developed an alternative fuel source that helps overcome fossil fuel dependence, and also reduces the pollution resulting from fossil fuel production. “It combines both the immobilization of cellulase enzyme (attachment of cellulase to a solid support) and functionalization (surface modification) of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) processes,” Jing Ren explained. Jing Ren also said that: “The past few decades have seen cellulase enzyme being used as the catalyst in industrial processes but large quantities are often involved and the associated purchase cost for raw cellulase is very high”.

The raw material used in this project was palm oil sludge, which was usually disposed after palm oil production. The chemical engineers converted the waste into different products, “bio-oil” and “biochar” by processing the palm oil sludge with pyrolysis.

 

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Education/2014/06/08/Kudos-for-turning-waste-to-fuel/

Another great Green article from WasteTracking.com

Track your recycling at WasteTracking.com

Follow WasteTracking.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wastetracking

 

#NASA Sustainable Mission to #Mars

“NASA scientists have been conducting research focused on harnessing the power of biology to create useful things out of what seems to be nothing”. Rob Verger of Newsweek sums it up perfectly and his article “Recycling on Mars” covers everything from reliable space trips, to human waste not going to waste, and mainly- the technology that is being carried into space.

In “Recycling on Mars”, Verger quotes Michael Flynn, an engineer at NASA’s Ames Research Center who spoke about how important it is that the space stations have regular maintenance so that they won’t inevitably fail. Flynn’s point about maintaining the spaceships segue into an analogy to the human body which he explains as a more dynamic system that includes “the ability to repair itself”. The stunning abilities of the human body and biology is why, the Ames center is trying to “integrate the lessons learned from biological systems into mechanical systems”.

This is why a 3-D printer is being sent to the ISS of the SpaceX4 mission and why scientists on the mission will also bring yeast cells that could produce pigments. Making pigments is a test, and if it succeeds all sorts of materials such as cotton, bone and adhesives could be utilized so that a Mars mission is sustainable.

(Source: http://www.newsweek.com/2014/05/30/recycling-mars-251740.html)

Another great Green article from WasteTracking.com

Track your recycling at WasteTracking.com

Follow WasteTracking.com on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wastetracking