Discussing all things to do with ecology waste management, sustainable farming, and managing marine waste. Environmental pollution (air, water and soil).
Fibre From Familiar Fruit Bananas are the most common fruit consumed worldwide. In 2019, the banana export market produced 21 million tonnes of fruit. This is less than 20% of the total global banana production market. A majority of bananas produced globally are not for export but for in-country consumption. The banana plant has a…
Clean Water Daily access to clean potable water is a global issue. UNICEF and WHO state that globally, 1 in 3 people do not have access to safe drinking water. Worldwide, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe in-home drinking water services. 4.2 billion people are without safely managed sanitation services, and 3 billion people…
Curitiba City, Brazil Curitiba City is the capital city of Paraná state, in south-east Brazil. The city has a population of approximately 1.95 million. Around 3.7 million people live in Curitiba’s metropolitan area. With over 80 million m² of preserved green area, this is equivalent to 41m² of green space per city resident. Curitiba is…
Sustainable Grass Bamboo are the fastest growing plants on earth. They utilise unique rhizome (underground stems) to self-multiply. This allows some species of bamboo to grow up to 0.91m or 3 feet in one day. Due to its fast growth, bamboo is a useful construction material. Engineered bamboo is created from the laminated and treated…
Marine Debris Every year, global production of plastic is rising. In 2019, the amount of plastic produced globally was approximately 368 million tonnes. This is 9 million tonnes more than in 2018. In our article Floating Island of Plastic Waste, we discussed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is 1.6 million square kilometres or three…
At Viable AlternativEnergy “green” (sustainable/ recyclable/ alternative) projects, products and ideas “give us life”. People who create and design new products with these concepts in mind inspire us. The annual Green Product Awards look at products designed to support the change towards a green way of living. They choose products for their aspects of design,…
The Decline In Biodiversity The loss of biodiversity in the food and agriculture sector threatens global food security. Furthermore, the decline in bees and pollinators are another major worry. Our reliance on pesticides and agrochemicals threatens our ecosystems and clean sources of groundwater. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) of the United Nations states that…
These top articles from Viable AlternativEnergy focus on sustainable, environmental and socially conscious projects, products and ideas. Please join us, as we recap our 7 top articles from 2020. 1. Cubo Modular Bamboo Housing This top article was a favourite with our readers from the Philippines. Cubo, created by Earl Patrick Forlales is a modern,…
In 2018, “What a Waste 2.0” the Urban Development Series produced by the World Bank gave a snapshot of global solid waste management until 2050. Organic waste comprised 56% of the total waste composition for low income countries, from an annual total waste volume of 93MT per year (million tonnes) or 5% of global waste…
Plastic Waste at Sea Marine debris caused by household garbage travels from rivers into seas and oceans. Across the globe, there are five oceanic gyres. It’s estimated that the largest oceanic garbage patch, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is 1.6 million square kilometres, three times the size of France or twice the size of Texas….
Aquaponics symbiotically combines hydroponics and aquaculture. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in nutrient-rich water without soil. Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic animals such as fish, prawns and snails in tanks. Aquaponics is an alternative farming method for areas where protein-rich foods such as fish are scarce or poor soil quality is a problem….
Hydrogen Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. The power source that most stars burn to produce energy. First observed by Paracelsus around 1525 when experimenting with metals and acids. In 1766, Henry Cavendish isolated a gas 7-11 times lighter than air. Antoine Lavoisier named hydrogen in 1783, Greek for born…
Christoph Tochtrop created the Vinson Multi-tool. It’s described as the rotary device for the household. The average household electronic device includes a power source (battery or plug), a motor, the drive, and the controls unit. However, Vinson is an innovative and interchangeable product which takes into consideration practical, eco-friendly methodologies and harmonious design. The essential…
Circuits and Conductive Materials Electrical and electronics are complicated subjects to grasp and implement for a majority of people. The reason even self-build home projects always recommend a qualified electrician. Most of us don’t know how the light comes on, we just know how to press the light switch. I enjoy a good equation and…
How are drones used for emergency medical response and disaster relief? Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or Electric Autonomous Aircraft (EAA) are commonly known as drones. Humanitarian and commercial applications successfully use drones to assist in emergency response. Medical Drones deliver packages at room temperature and cold chain (between 2-8ºC). Supplies delivered vary from whole blood,…
Edible Cutlery Made From 100% Natural Flours. In 2010, Narayana Peesapathy and Pradnya Keskar founded the company Bakeys in Hyderabad, India. Bakeys was the first company to produce edible cutlery. The baked utensils shaped like spoons, forks and chopsticks made of millet, rice, wheat and water. They come in various flavours varying from plain, savoury and…
In 1995, Mohammed Bah Abba, a teacher from northern Nigeria, invented the Pot-in-Pot preservation cooling system also known as Zeer pot cold storage. His design consists of five simple items: – two clay pots, sand, water and a cloth cover. By combining these simple items Mohammed produced a cool chamber or refrigerator for desert regions…
Food waste is a global problem. 1.3 billion tonnes or one-third of food produced globally for human consumption is wasted or lost every year. Whether you are the farmer, distributor, seller or consumer, wasted food is expensive. Food waste impacts the climate, water and biodiversity. The “Food Waste and Date Marking” survey by the European…
What is the future of renewable energy? Last week Planet of the Humans a documentary presented by Michael Moore and directed by Jeff Gibbs was released on YouTube. The documentary painted an alarming picture of renewable energy in the United States. We are not here to discuss money or politics. However, we cannot throw away…
Reduced air pollution during COVID-19 shows us that air quality is the first environmental factor we can solve. Effect on Industry and health View this post on Instagram A post shared by Adnan Abidi (@adnanabidi) Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 has affected all industries. The global travel, hospitality and tourism industry is one of those most affected…
Could air pollution be an indicator to aid businesses and the environment to thrive harmoniously post COVID-19? Effect of Pollution on Health The environment has a huge influence on human health. Environmental factors, air, soil and water cause various health issues. Contaminated water because of pathogens (bacteria, parasites), radiation and chemical pollution (from agrochemical run-off to heavy…
Let’s take a few minutes to appreciate the power of soap. Over the past few weeks, health ministries around the world have inundated us with advice. The main WHO guidelines are regularly clean your hands, avoid touching your face, cough into your bent elbow and social distancing. Most importantly, stay home if you feel unwell….
Sharklet antibacterial armour is a great example of science and technology inspired by nature. Sharks are the world’s largest fish, primarily thought of as fierce aquatic predators. In contrast to other large marine animals, sharks are resistant to fouling organisms in the water including algae and barnacles. Nanoscopic diamond-shaped scales called dermal denticles cover shark’s…
The fashion industry is globally one of the top 10 most polluting industries. Through water pollution during production, chemical addition and dyes, microfibres released during laundry and tumble drying. Furthermore, transportation of goods, insecticide and pesticides through cotton growth and soil degradation. Additionally, stockpiling of unsold and used/ unwanted garments. As well as the effects…
Rice straw is a by-product of rice production. Globally, over 800 million tons of this straw is produced per year. With intensive rice farming models, farmers expect two to three crops per year. This quick turnaround is not conducive to the conditions required for the natural decomposition of rice straw. To Burn Or Not To…
Water scarcity is a global problem. From Flint Michigan and California in the United States of America to Chennai, India and Cape Town, South Africa, 12 out of 17 countries with the highest water stress are in the Middle East and North Africa. Flooding, contaminated groundwater, and water stress affect every corner of the globe. When a natural disaster strikes whether a hurricane, tsunami,…
Chewing gum is consumed by millions of people every year. Over £14 billions spent on chewing gums globally. Like Marmite, you may love it or hate it. Singapore has banned its import since 1992. However, over £60 million was spent to clean up Britain’s streets of carelessly disposed of chewing gum in 2018. The mastication…
Cubo modular bamboo housing is the brainchild of Earl Patrick Forlales. Manila, Philippines has a housing problem similar to many other cities around the world. Rapid urbanisation has caused people to migrate from their provinces to the city. Forlales’ vision is a Philippines without slums. Inspired by the traditional “Bahay Kubo”, he aims to provide a…
Viable AlternativEnergy posts focus on environmental and socially conscious projects, products and ideas. Please join us, as we recap our 7 top posts from 2019. 1. Kamikatsu – Japan’s Zero Waste Town The first municipality in Japan to promote a zero-waste policy. Residents sort waste into 45 categories. Kamikatsu municipality managed to recycle 81% of…
LignoLoc compacted beech wooden nails are a sustainable alternative to glue and metal nails. They consists of a magazine of nails, which can be used for industrial or ecological construction projects. The hardness (tensile strength) of these wooden nails are comparable to aluminium nails. Therefore it is possible to drive the nails in with a hammer,…
In 2013, Skipping Rocks Lab start up created Ooho an edible water “bottle”. Ooho’s peelable membrane comprises algae (brown seaweed) mixed with calcium and water. It can hold any kind of liquid. In addition, this membrane containing edible water is compostable and biodegrades in 4 to 6 weeks. Algae is one of nature’s renewable resources…
MarinaTex is an alternative to plastic film. It is made from agar from red algae and proteins from fish processing waste. MarinaTex is stronger than LDPE (commonly used in plastic bags) of the same thickness. It is 100% biodegradable in a soil environment and can be composted at home in less than 6 weeks. MarinaTex…
There are now several plants-based sustainable alternatives to leather. We categorise many of these as vegan leather. However, vegan leather was first known as pleather. Furthermore, leather is plastic leather made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PU (polyurethane) or textile-polymer composite microfibres. Let us look at 5 sustainable types of leather. Comprising three products that…
Compost worms primarily consist of red wiggler / tiger, African nightcrawler, Indian blue and Brandling. These worms are powerful allies to organic farmers. They assist farmers with various tasks. such as providing oxygen /aeration to roots of the plants through burrowing. Releasing helpful amino acids which can combat diseases in crops. Furthermore worm waste (vermicast/…
Algae is a term used to describe a wide variety of aquatic photosynthetic organisms. This includes both macroscopic, multicellular organisms (seaweed) and microscopic, unicellular organisms (cyanobacteria). Algae can survive almost any marine or land environment that has sufficient water, nutrients and sunlight. Run off from agricultural activities, causes excess nitrates and phosphates to enter aquatic…
Growing furniture? How do they do that? Using age old techniques of grafting, Full Grown nurtures modern sculptures into living furniture. Growing unique lamps, chairs, mirror frames and tables from trees. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Full Grown (@fullgrownfutureuk)
The Makoko Floating School was an idea inspired by the bustling water community of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria. Kunlé Adeyemi completed the pilot project in March 2013. Kunlé and his team of architects and designers at NLÉ have collaborated with various partners around the world. From Venice in Italy, Bruges in Belgium and Chengdu in…
Groundwater and soil contaminated with arsenic affects millions of people worldwide. When arsenic makes its way into drinking water, crops and meats. The bioaccumulation of arsenic in the body can cause skin lesions, cancer and various other illnesses. Recent studies in Current Biology by Professor Jody Banks and Chao Cai at Purdue University…
The use of plants and trees to balance out urban landscapes is not a new thing. Green design is centuries old. However when done well it can benefit the residents of that city, the wild life and even help to control the rising temperatures and air pollution. Contemporary green design is visible in many places….
Fires, drought and harsh weather conditions cause damage to millions of hectares of land every year. Reforestation techniques are essential to combat this problem. Land Life Company has developed a suite of technology to tackle degraded land.
Nemo’s Underwater Garden is an eco-friendly and self-sustainable biosphere. It harnesses renewable energy from the sun and freshwater gained by the desalination of seawater. Temperature (of the surrounding seawater and the air inside the biosphere), sunlight illuminance and indoor humidity are the key factors allowing the plants to grow inside the biospheres. These underwater biospheres…
Over 700,000 people die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. There are over 3,500 species of mosquitoes. Dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika are all viral diseases spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is the parasitic disease carried by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. However, every mosquito species has a signature buzzing sound. Two University research…
Imagine paper that is tear resistant, water resistant, bleach and acid free, bright white in colour and no trees were harmed to make this paper. The manufacturing process has a lower carbon footprint than with traditional paper. Well no need to imagine it. This paper is made from recycled stone.
Songhai Centre in Port Novo, Benin is the pinnacle of a zero waste agricultural site. Here they integrate vegetable production, aquaculture and animal husbandry to produce a large selection of produce. From food (cooking oils, fruit, baked goods, juices and livestock for consumption) to biogas, biomass, plastic recycling, fish feed, animal feed, composting, soap production…
This A/C unit cools without using electricity. An eco-friendly air conditioners for the steamy climate of New Delhi, created by the Architecture firm Ant Studio.
The Water-Gate Barrier acts like a pop up dam. It can be used for flood control and toxic spills with very minimal infrastructure.
Zai Pits are a longstanding and well-documented tradition in the Sahel region, specifically in the north of Burkina Faso. Zai Pit System are “planting pockets” and “small water harvesting pits”. Seeds are sown into the pits after filling them with one to three handfuls of organic material such as manure, compost, or dry plant biomass….
This off-grid tiny home on wheels generates its own solar power. They collect and store rainwater. Solar water heating is also available. Composts from human waste. Other organic wastes generate biogas for cooking.
A symbiotic and sustainable method to combine farming and animal husbandry. The ducks eat insects that are destroying the rice and then fertilize the crop with their manure. Therefore creating a cleaner rice paddy.
Hair, fur and fleece clippings donated to matteroftrust.org are used to soak up major oil spills. Also, help keep storm drains and waterways clean.
Researchers from the University of Manchester look at the potential of graphene sieves. These sieves can convert seawater into drinking water.
By combining the studies of shark behaviour, shark vision, shark neurology and marine life defence strategies. A fresh approach to the growing understanding of how to repel sharks.