innovation

Congratulations to the Campus Sustainability Awards winners

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 17:52:23 +0000

Congratulations to the Campus Sustainability Awards winners Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/13/2023 - 10:52

The University of Colorado wishes to recognize outstanding efforts toward continuing the leadership and legacy of sustainability at CU Boulder. Since 1997 the Annual Campus Sustainability Awards have recognized individuals, departments and offices that have made a significant contribution to reducing the ecological footprint and increasing the resilience of campus infrastructure and improving social cohesion and equity in campus communities. Outstanding efforts make CU's successful and challenging approaches to attaining sustainability possible. The awardees exemplify CU's continuing efforts to become a sustainable institution and set an example for environmental stewardship and responsibility. Some of the awardees have made groundbreaking efforts that will change the overall way CU operates, and others make an impact on the community and campus environment with their everyday actions. The awards happen every April in conjunction with the Campus Sustainability Summit.

2023 Campus Sustainability Awards

Karen Bailey, Green Faculty
The Colorado Environmental Justice Digital Storytelling Project, Civic Achievement
Fossil Free CU, Student Leadership
Emily Yeh, Green Faculty
Scott King, Outstanding Alumni
Mountain Research Station, Departmental Achievement
Mortenson Center in Global Engineering and Resilience, Civic Achievement

Three partnership initiatives deserve special recognition:

Climate Across the Curriculum Training, Special Recognition, Partnership for Sustainability
Urban Heat Mapping Project, Special Recognition, Partnership for Sustainability
Buffs One Read, Special Recognition, Partnership for Sustainability

The CU Green Labs Program recognizes three awardees:

MIMIC Core Facility, Partnership for Lab Sustainability
Department of Biochemistry Shared Equipment, Departmental Achievement
CHEM 1021 Green Chemistry Integration, Partnership for Lab Sustainability

Awards come in the form of a 100% recycled-content plaque presented by campus leadership at the 30th annual Campus Sustainability Summit scheduled for April 19-20, 2023.

Sustainability Award Archives

2022 Campus Sustainability Awards Announcement

2022 Award Descriptions

2021 Campus Sustainability Awards Announcement

2021 Award Descriptions

2020 Campus Sustainability Awards Announcement

2020 Campus Sustainability Awards Descriptions

2019 Awards Announcement

2019 Award Descriptions

Award Selections 1997-2018

Campus Sustainability Awards Committee (2023)

Lisa Barlow, Associate Teaching Professor, Environment and Natural Sciences Residential Academic Program and Environmental Studies Department
Virginia Schultz, Coordinator, CU Conference Services
Marianne Martin, Associate Director, Environmental Center
Serafina Scalo, Sustainabilty Coordinator, CU Student Government
Edward von Bleichert, Sustainabiltiy and Resiliency Program Manager, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Do you know a CU faculty, staff, employee or alum who prioritizes sustainability? Nominate them for a Campus Sustainability Award!

Campus Sustainability Award Nomination Form

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President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge recap

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge recap Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 04/18/2022 - 00:00

Five different presentations were given on Thursday, April 14. All of the presentations had one goal: to make CU more sustainable. Proposals were reviewed based on impact, feasibility and innovation, by a panel of judges that included Prof. Phaedra Pezzullo, CU Regent Lesley Smith, Jasmin Barco and students Anila Narayana and Bullos White.

The Zero Waste Outreach Team -- Lauren Mullen, Kat Avedovech, Karlie Conzachi, Kate Huun, Bryce Poirot, Tasha Smith and Kayla Vasarhelyi -- presented their recycling education program, which is aimed at educating undergraduate students on the importance of recycling at CU.

The second presentation from Ishan Gohil and Anuradha Prakash detailed a personal carbon calculator that they designed and built, for CU students to track their carbon emissions from their phones.

Helen Flock gave the third presentation, which included a proposal to add green roofs and habitat panels to the secure bike shelters on CU's main and east campuses, in hopes of increasing sustainable transportation and biodiversity on campus.

Joseph Marrujo and Ann Giang tackled electric generation on campus in their presentation, by suggesting the installation of piezoelectric tiles on some of the most highly trafficked walking spots on campus.

The final presentation by Henrique Sannibale looked at the possibilities of using hempcrete as an alternative to concrete on CU’s campus, and the benefits it holds over traditional cement.

At the end of the night, Joseph Marrujo and Ann Giang took home first place and the Zero Waste Outreach Team took home second place. The audience choice award was presented to Henrique Sannibale.

These presentations and others will be on display at the Solutions Showcase, April 21 at the UMC. Stop by and check out these amazing ideas on how to make CU more sustainable, and many others!

All of the presentations at the 2022 President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge had one goal: to make CU more sustainable.

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Finalists announced for the 2022 President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge

Anonymous — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Finalists announced for the 2022 President's Sustainable Solutions Challenge Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 04/10/2022 - 00:00

The President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge is a system-wide program to encourage student-led innovation in sustainability on CU campuses. At the SSC Pitch Night on April 14, the five finalists will present their ideas for improving environmental quality, resource efficiency and social equity on campus in front of a panel of judges and an audience of community members.

The Zero Waste Outreach Team (Lauren Mullen, Kat Avedovech, Karlie Conzachi, Kate Huun, Bryce Poirot, Tasha Smith and Kayla Vasarhelyi) will present on recycling education for undergraduates.
Helen Flock’s proposal will lay out a plan for combining sustainable transportation and biodiversity on campus.
Henrique Sannibale will present on his plans for incorporating hempcrete into CU’s construction planning.
Ishan Gohil and Anuradha Prakash will share their unique take on a carbon calculator for CU students.
Joseph Marrujo and Ann Giang’s proposal will address the introduction of piezoelectric tiles for electricity generation on campus.

Students and campus faculty and staff are invited to watch the competition on April 14 from 5:30-7 p.m. in person at the University Memorial Center, room 247, or via zoom. Audience members will be able to vote (through a google form) for an audience choice award winner, which will be announced live at the end of the evening along with the judges’ picks for a winner and a runner-up.

At the SSC Pitch Night on April 14, the five finalists will present their ideas for improving environmental quality, resource efficiency and social equity on campus in front of a panel of judges and an audience of community members.

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AI robotics in recycling

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

AI robotics in recycling Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/06/2022 - 00:00

Kayla Vasarhelyi

Each year, over 90 million tons of recyclable materials end up in U.S. landfills.

The inefficiency of the recycling system in the U.S. is largely due to contamination, or the disposal of non-recyclable materials into the recycling stream. It is estimated that, on average, one in every four items in recycling bins is a non-recyclable item. Historically, most of the U.S.’s recycling has been sent overseas to be disposed. However, our contamination issue has become so problematic that China, our primary recycler, has begun to reject our recycling. The rejection of our recycling by foreign countries signifies a need for change in the way recycling is sorted in the U.S. One potential solution to our waste problem is the use of machines, artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to sort recycling. Environmental innovators have already begun implementing these technologies in select recycling facilities across the country. Widespread application of these technologies could significantly reduce contamination in the recycling system and be a huge step forward in fixing the United States' waste issue.

Optical sorting

Recycling sorting has been mechanized for decades in the United States. Optical sorters are one of the most sophisticated non-AI sorting machines. Optical sorters use the properties of light waves from different materials to weed contamination out of recyclable material. There are three key steps to this process. First, the machines move the recyclables under a bright light. This causes the different materials to absorb and reflect light waves at different levels, creating a distinct light “signature.” Second, the optical sorter assesses these light signatures with a spectrometer. Finally, once a targeted light signature is identified, a computer calculates the location of the item on the belt and a blast of air removes it from the rest of the assessed material. This technology is capable of identifying plastics, glass, wood, paper and cardboard. It is also capable of finding more specific types and colors of plastics and paper. This machinery allows for more efficient sorting than what can be done with manual labor.

Check out this slow motion video of the plastics optical sorter at the Boulder County Recycling Center:

AI and AMP robotics

Optical sorters are efficient and largely successful at removing contamination, but even better recycling technologies are beginning to be implemented. These new technologies rely on the use of AI, or artificial intelligence. AI has the ability to perform complex tasks that would typically require human intelligence. One of the most widely used AI recycling sorters is designed by AMP Robotics, a Colorado Front Range-based company created by CU alumni Matanya Horowitz. AMP’s AI, AMP Neuron, uses computers to map millions of images of material streams to identify different types of papers, plastics and metals. This powers AMP Cortex, the robotics system that performs the physical task of sorting the recycled material. The AMP Cortex robot has three arms that allow for a large range of motion and fast picking and placement. Together, AMP’s AI and robotics system can quickly sort through nearly all recyclables and contaminants found in single-stream recycling.

TrashBot and other AI robotics companies

AMP Robotics is just one of many companies using AI and robotics to revolutionize recycling in the U.S. ZenRobotics is the first company to apply these technologies to recycling. This company's robotics are capable of picking up as many as 6,000 pieces of waste in one hour. CleanRobotics uses AI to sort recycling on a smaller scale. They created the TrashBot, a disposal bin that sorts waste into trash and recycling on the spot. Everest Labs and Greyparrot have also created AI waste recognition software that provides analytics on sorted materials.

AI benefits in recycling

There are many pros to using AI to sort recycling. These computers are able to store and process data quicker than humans can. The stored data can then be used by facility managers or even made publicly available to improve output. Even the machines themselves can learn from the information they store, allowing for a continuously more accurate sort. AI will also reduce our reliance on manual sorting. Sorting is dangerous. Workers can be exposed to harmful chemicals, respiratory hazards or biological substances that were incorrectly disposed of, injured by malfunctioning machines or injured from the repetitive motion of sorting. By letting machines take on the sorting responsibility, we can utilize those workers for other roles in the recycling industry. Currently, more than 1.1 million people are employed in the recycling and reuse industries. Only 23,000 of these people are employed in recycling facilities, with an even smaller percentage being manual sorters. Ultimately, utilizing AI will not significantly impact job availability.The use of AI in the United States' recycling industry is one step towards having a more efficient recycling system. It will help us to reduce contamination, make better use of the products we have already created, and reduce the environmental footprint of the United States. To learn more about this topic please check out this article.

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The future of zero waste living: sustainable architecture

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

The future of zero waste living: sustainable architecture Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 02/07/2022 - 00:00

Natasha Smith

According to Live Kindly, sustainable architecture is “any architecture that attempts to limit the negative environmental impact of building construction and operation.” There are a few formal authorities who are able to provide confirmation of sustainable architecture, including the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).

What is sustainable architecture?

The movement strives to popularize the use of recycled or earth-friendly materials and the incorporation of renewable energy in a building’s plan. One of the most important facts behind sustainable architecture is that not only are the buildings more environmentally friendly, they are also cost-effective. Using renewable energy reduces household electricity bills up to $2,500 per year, and these savings are even greater for public buildings and large businesses.

However, sustainable architecture reaches beyond facts and figures. Oftentimes, the designs and elements of sustainable buildings are beautiful and sleek, representing a perfect union between modern design and the natural world. Their beauty comes from their appreciation of finer materials, organic shapes and the knowledge that buildings can evolve to be closer to living, breathing organisms that give back to nature rather than taking from it.

The negative effects of construction

The UN Environment Programme reported in 2020 that the emissions from the building sector had hit a record high, with the sector “accounting for 38 per cent of total global energy-related CO2 emissions.” According to their estimations, building sector emissions will need to fall by at least 6% per year in order to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

In addition, concrete production accounts for almost 10% of the world’s industrial water use and is one of the main factors contributing to the extreme CO2 emissions of the construction sector. According to LiveKindly, it also “causes heat waves” in cities due to the urban heat island effect. A move towards sustainable materials would not only reduce or fully remove these effects, but also presents many other benefits.

The benefits of sustainable architecture

The biggest benefit of sustainable architecture is reduced carbon emissions. As seen in this graph provided by the Union of Concerned Scientists, natural gas releases 0.6 to 2lbs of CO2 per kilowatt-hour, while a renewable energy source such as solar power releases just 0.07 to 0.04lbs. Comparing the high ends of both spectrums results in a 186% difference in carbon emissions.

One interesting example of sustainable architecture is the idea of “living walls.” Living walls are vertical gardens that grow plants using hydroponics. Through this method, sustainable architects are able to create beautiful installations that bring aspects of the natural world into construction while providing countless benefits, including improved air quality, energy efficiency, noise reduction and mental health benefits. A study from the University of Plymouth also recently found that “living walls can reduce heat lost from buildings by over 30%.”

All of these benefits, combined with the undeniable beauty of these living installations, make them a highlight of sustainable architecture and provide multiple reasons for their adopted use.

Another benefit of sustainable architecture includes job opportunities as a result of the growth of the industry.

Walkable cities

Related to the idea of sustainable architecture is the concept of cities built for humans instead of cars, an idea that is growing increasingly popular in the architectural landscape. In 2021, professor Carlos Moreno’s concept of the 15-minute city won the Obel Award for architectural achievement. The 15-minute city is an urban planning model that seeks to make sure that all citizens of a city can access their daily needs within a 15-minute distance, reducing the need for cars. “As part of sustainable urban design thinking, the model helps reduce car usage and carbon emissions, reduces commute time while generating more public spaces,” surmises ArchDaily.

The push for walkable cities not only provides environmental benefits, it also provides many strictly human benefits as well. According to Strong Towns, “Car fatalities have killed far more Americans than all of our wars combined,” and “a 23 minute driving commute has the same effect on happiness as a 19% reduction in income,” and “for every extra 5 minutes Atlanta residents drive each day, they are 3% more likely to be obese.”

Simply put, cities should not be designed for vehicles. Doing so takes away from their beauty, their communities, the mental health of their residents and more.

In conclusion

The world will be a better place if the popularity of sustainable architecture continues to rise. Not only are these buildings great examples of elegant engineering, cost-effective and earth-friendly, they are also beautiful. Likewise, the idea of the walkable city is not only sustainable but also has the potential to greatly improve the lives of many. In changing massive aspects of our lives to be geared more towards helping the planet, we will be able to combat climate change, one building at a time.

Moving towards more sustainable architecture would have many positive impacts on the environment.

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Plastic eating mushrooms: a viable solution to plastic decomposition

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Plastic eating mushrooms: a viable solution to plastic decomposition Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/04/2021 - 00:00

Kayla Vasarhelyi

Since the 1960s, over 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced; 40% of this production has been for packaging that is used once and discarded. Landfills receive about 27 million tons of plastic every year in the United States alone. To solve the growing problem of plastic pollution researchers have begun to look for methods by which plastic can be decomposed. This led to the discovery of plastic eating mushrooms.

In 2011, researchers at Yale University tested the ability of several dozen fungi to digest the synthetic polymer polyester polyurethane (PUR), a type of plastic. They found that several members of the Pestalotiopsis genus of fungi were capable of degrading PUR and converting it into organic matter in both solid and liquid suspensions. Two members of this genus were able to survive solely off PUR in anaerobic (oxygen-free) and aerobic (oxygenated) environments.

Modern landfills are dry and oxygen poor. This makes it impossible for anything to decompose properly, including organic material. However, Pestalotiopsis fungi are capable of plastic decomposition in anaerobic conditions, making them an ideal candidate for use in landfills. The ability of Pestalotiopsis to survive and decompose PUR in liquid and soil suspensions also indicates that they will be able to be used for removing plastic from the ocean, especially from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

The discovery of Pestalotiopsis’ ability to decompose plastic led to further research into plastic decomposition by fungi. Researchers have now found that many species are capable of plastic bioremediation including the common edible oyster mushroom. The oyster mushroom is capable of decomposing plastic while still creating an edible mushroom. This opens up doors for its use as an at-home recycling system. Austrian researcher Katharina Unger created a prototype of an at-home oyster mushroom recycling system called the “Fungi Mutarium.” In the “Fungi Mutarium,” pieces of plastic would be placed in capsules containing the oyster mushroom. The fungi would then grow on the capsule where it could be harvested for consumption.

The most important action you can take to combat the plastic problem is reducing plastic consumption. However, plastic eating mushrooms provide an organic solution to removing the plastic that is already polluting our environment.

The Pestalotiopsis genus of fungi is capable of degrading certain forms of plastic, making it a viable solution to eliminate some plastics from landfills.

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Biomaterials: what is SCOBY leather?

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Biomaterials: what is SCOBY leather? Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/04/2021 - 00:00

Natasha Smith

SCOBY stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Unless you are experienced in biology, those words may mean little to you.

What is SCOBY?

According to Brew Dr, “when certain bacteria and yeast are put together and cultivated in the right environment, you get SCOBY. It’s a living culture that grows and evolves, consuming sugar as its fuel.”

As you may know, kombucha is created through fermentation. When making kombucha, SCOBY is added to tea, after which it breaks down the sugars found in the tea, turning the tea into the fizzy kombucha that we know and love. The bulk of the SCOBY is then removed, but some small particles remain in any kombucha bottle.

Another use for SCOBY: vegan leather

In the process of making kombucha, very little SCOBY actually goes to waste. The unused SCOBY can be saved in jars and used to make more SCOBY.

But in recent years, SCOBY has been studied for use in “medicine, textiles, and as a food additive.” It can actually be harvested, dried, molded and used to make 100% biodegradable vegan leather.

It can be grown and created much easier than traditional leather because no animal products are needed. During the growing process, the material can be manipulated to be as thin, thick or flexible as desired.

Biomaterials have been slowly gaining more popularity in the fashion industry, from microsilk (fermented yeast spun into clothing fibers) to leather made from mycelium mushrooms. SCOBY leather is another example of this. Suzanne Lee is one of the leading professionals in the field of SCOBY leather with the Biocouture research project and her company, BIOFABRICATE.

The future of SCOBY

As biomaterials become more and more popular for manufacturing, who knows what the future will hold for the fashion industry. As independent designers learn just how easy the process is, it could make more sense to incorporate SCOBY into their projects. The effects of the widespread use of a 100% biodegradable and vegan clothing material on the environment could be incredible.

Some advocates of animal leather argue that it's better for the environment to use the hides created from the meat industry in clothing than to throw them away. But, a new study found that even the methane produced by rotting cowhides has an overall lower impact than the carbon footprint produced by turning a hide into leather.

Overall, it appears as though a material like SCOBY would create less carbon emissions than the processing of raw leather, which could revolutionize the leather industry and make the planet a better place.

SCOBY recipe

Finally, if you’re curious about how to make your own SCOBY, here is a recipe!

You will need:

8 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
8 teabags black tea or green tea
2 cups of starter kombucha
1 gallon jar or container
2 coffee filters
A rubber band

Process:

Bring water to a boil. Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
Remove from heat, add teabags and bring to room temperature.
Pour the kombucha into your gallon container and add the room-temperature tea and sugar mixture.
Cover the jar with two coffee filters and secure with a rubber band; place indoors out of direct sunlight.
Do not disturb the container while your SCOBY is forming. It can take 1-4 weeks to form. Once you've grown a gelatinous substance about ¼ inch thick, your SCOBY is viable. You can keep the tea to make your first batch of homemade kombucha, and you can dry and use the SCOBY as a leather-like material in crafting projects!

Links for more SCOBY resources

SCOBY -- symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast -- could transform the leather industry.

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Lab grown meat: an emerging industry

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Lab grown meat: an emerging industry Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/20/2021 - 00:00

Bryce Poirot

Lab grown meat sounds like a concept for the distant future, but with modern technology, it is closer than ever to being on your dinner table. Lab grown meat, or cultured meat, is produced when stem cells from an animal are taken and grown in vitro or in a petri dish. Jason Matheny discovered that regenerative medicine techniques could be applied to grow meat products like poultry, beef, pork and seafood.

Benefits of lab grown meat

Lab grown meat could cut down greenhouse gas emissions by 96%, according to Oxford.
Switching to lab grown meat could cut water consumption by 82-96%, depending on the animal.
Animal rights would be protected if animal meat is not mass produced.
Farm space would be diminished with fewer live animals needed.
The risk of outbreaks would be lower with fewer animals in confined spaces.
Many companies and investors see this as a valid solution to environmental sustainability.
Lab grown meat could address many issues like animal welfare, greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production, worldwide food security and health.

Controversy and drawbacks

Vegans and vegetarians have questioned the ethics of using stem cells.
There is skepticism and hesitancy over the idea of eating meat grown in a lab.
Farmer jobs may be lost in the process, with jobs shifting away from the meat industry.
Accessibility to lab grown meat has led to questions about who will grow the meat and where.

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Earthships: the zero waste, off-the-grid and sustainable homes of the future

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Earthships: the zero waste, off-the-grid and sustainable homes of the future Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/20/2021 - 00:00

Natasha Smith

Imagine this. You’ve taken a wrong turn off U.S. Route 64 in northern New Mexico and suddenly find yourself on what seems to be an alien planet - a grouping of strange, organically shaped buildings located in the middle of nowhere.

The buildings are low to the ground, horseshoe-shaped and their walls are dotted with beautiful colored glass. They have no shortage of windows. Around and inside the buildings are plants, both aesthetically pleasing and food-producing. The glass in the walls lets colored light shine through in a beautiful mimic of famous chapels and worship spaces. But these constructions are entirely new and serve a much different purpose.

A previously unheard of style of living

According to the Earthship Biotecture website, an earthship is “a type of passive solar house that is made of both natural and upcycled materials...earthships can be completely off-grid or partially off-grid.” On top of that, “since it is also a passive solar house, it is also very tight and interacts only with the sun and the earth for heating and cooling, providing stable comfort year round in any climate.”

Additionally, earthships provide their own electricity through photovoltaics (converting light into electricity) and wind power. They contain and treat their own waste water. They catch water and can even act as interior greenhouses to grow food, treating the water at the same time. In short, a highly sustainable and zero waste shelter and way of life.

50 years strong

Michael Reynolds created the earthship movement in the 1970s when he was fresh out of college and wanted to create a new type of architecture that was sustainable, off-the-grid and required little skill to construct.

The first ever earthship is now affectionately known as “The Hobbit House.” The Hobbit House is small, containing just one room in a studio format that includes a bed, couch and kitchen. The bathroom is located in a semi-private walkway behind the house, attached to the garden. It is even available to rent as an Airbnb.

The number of people living off-the-grid is growing

The hub of the earthship world is Taos, New Mexico. In the greater world earthship community, there are currently about 60 homes located on 640 acres of land 10 minutes west of Taos. According to the Earthship Biotecture Website, the annual cost for those living there is just $150 for road maintenance and community features and property taxes for the land the members own. That’s it. No water bills, electricity bills, gas bills, mortgage - those who live there only need to pay for necessities like whatever food they cannot grow, clothes and personal hygiene products.

According to a 2020 article by Insider, those in the earthship community were also - as a result of their off-the-grid way of life - basically unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. That’s right. The global pandemic that changed all of our lives so completely simply did not interfere with the earthship way of life.

Mark Fleischhaker, who lives in an earthship called the Darfield Earthship in Canada, was interviewed by Insider: "For me, it's kind of felt like business as usual because this is how I've always been living," he said.

According to Insider, the amount of people interested in the earthship community has grown exponentially over the pandemic. As people have observed modern society collapse, they have become increasingly interested in a way of life that does not depend on this infrastructure at all. Reynolds has seen all-time-highs of participants for his earthship-building classes.

The future of earthships is unclear

Although earthships have presented so many benefits, there’s one reason why they won’t become widely adopted: most people don’t want to live off-the-grid. We like our cities, we like our communities and we like being within driving distance of stores and restaurants and friends.

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from earthships and integrate some of the things that they do into modern architecture. If every building had its own heating and cooling technology, made its own energy and grew its own food from water that would otherwise be wasted, businesses would save money and the earth would be a better place.

Resources to learn more

Official Earthship site by Michael Reynolds, creator of the first earthship
Official Earthship Biotecture site
Official State of New Mexico’s information on earthships
30 minute documentary on earthships by Off the Cuff

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Bioplastics: are they as good as they seem?

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 07:00:00 +0000

Bioplastics: are they as good as they seem? Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/10/2021 - 00:00

Celeste Robinson

While bioplastics have been advertised as being the savior of the world’s plastic pollution issues, bioplastics too, have some issues of their own. Bioplastics are made, at least partially, of plants. This means that land must be used to grow the plants that are used. They are also frequently made of plants such as corn, which are often grown as a monocrop, which is not as beneficial for the environment as growth with more diversity. Bioplastics also must be disposed of with proper techniques. If proper disposal techniques are not followed, bioplastics have problematic implications for both recycling and landfills. This article will outline the basics of bioplastics and everything you need to know in order to avoid improper disposal.

Biodegradable plastics

Bioplastics are made of at least 20% renewable resources, rather than petroleum based plastics.
There are two types, although the most common type is PLA, which you will generally be able to read on the plastic. If it is PLA, it will have a 7 inside of the recycling symbol and say PLA beneath the symbol.

Backyard compost vs. industrial compost

Backyard composts generally can consist of kitchen scraps and yard scraps
Industrial composts consist of a wider variety of materials
Industrial composts can process dairy, meat and some paper products that might not be able to break down fast enough in a backyard compost. They also can take biodegradable plastics, labeled PLA 7.
For more information on the technical process involved in industrial composting check out this article.

Disposal of bioplastics

Most bioplastics require an industrial composting facility in order to actually break down quickly and safely.
These plastics, which generally have some phrase similar to “industrially compostable,” are only compostable in industrial composting facilities. If these plastics are not disposed of properly, they are not a whole lot better than normal plastics.
If left in a backyard compost, they will likely take at least a decade to break down.
Although there are many cities in the United States that use bioplastics as a replacement for traditional plastics for to-go food orders and other things of that nature, very few cities actually have commercial composting facilities.
If bioplastics are disposed of in landfills, because they are not decomposing in the proper manner, they are more likely to produce methane, which is a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide.
It is also problematic for bioplastics to end up in recycling facilities. Compostable plastics are contaminants in recycling. If too much of a contaminant is present in the sorted batch of recycling, it can make the entire batch of recycling not viable, causing issues with proper recycling and ultimately leading to more waste in landfills.

Bioplastics vs. petroleum plastics

While the production of bioplastics produces fewer greenhouse gases, a study from the University of Pittsburgh found that they actually produce greater amounts of pollution as a result of pesticides, fertilizers and land use.
Petroleum plastics are made from fossil fuels such as natural gas and crude oil
Bioplastics are made of plants such as corn and other grains.
For more information on the climate impacts of petroleum single-use plastics, check out this article.

What can you do?

Avoid all disposable plastics if possible by using reusable water bottles, reusable utensils, avoiding take out food and shopping at bulk stores to name a few.
Make sure to dispose of your materials in the proper way (compostable plastics in a commercial composting facility, not in the landfill or recycling).
If your city does not have a commercial composting program, contact your local government to see what you can do to ensure a commercial composting program may be implemented in your community.
Check out this website for more information on how to limit your plastic waste and waste in general.
Sign up for EcoBuffs and get a Free EcoKit that includes reusable utensils/straw and a reusable bag so you can reuse instead of dispose!

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