No Electricity
How To Fulfil Clean Water Needs Without Electricity
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
25/02/2021
Viable Alternatives
Read More »
Ecology
Curitiba City, A Model In Sustainable Urban Planning
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
18/02/2021
Construction
Versatile, Sustainable And Strong Grass.
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
11/02/2021
Ecology
Recycling Flip Flops, Art From Marine Waste.
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
04/02/2021
Ecology
Green Products Awards 2021
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
28/01/2021
Prevention
Waste Hierarchy: The Five Stages Of Waste Management
Waste Hierarchy The Amended Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2018/851 put in place by the European Parliament establishes waste prevention and management legislation and policy. This
21/01/2021
Ecology
Farming On An Acre of Land
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
14/01/2021
Ecology
7 Top Articles of 2020
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
07/01/2021
Energy
Biogas, Untapped Transportation Fuel from Waste?
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.
14/12/2020
Construction
CopenHill – The Sustainable Model For Future Waste Projects?
Sustainable Waste Management Amager Bakke, also known as CopenHill, brings a sustainable waste management solution to the doorstep of city living. CopenHill is the cleanest waste-to-energy
12/11/2020
Marine
Floating Island of Plastic 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.
31/08/2020
Energy
Upcycling or Recycling of End-of-life Solar Panels
The average photovoltaic (PV) solar panel has a lifespan of 25 years. Solar panels contain glass, polymers, aluminium, silicon, lead, cadmium, tellurium and gallium. These
20/08/2020
Ecology
Aquaponics Farming in Water Scarce Regions
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
13/08/2020
Ecology
Hydrogen Power – Fuel Cells on Ships and Boats
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
06/08/2020
Reduce waste
Cardboard Furniture and Design
In 2017, Europe recycled 84.6% of its cardboard and paper packaging. We derive this percentage from the total quantity of recycled packaging waste, divided by
30/07/2020
Ecology
Vinson Multi-tool
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
23/07/2020
Energy
Lasers Could Transmute Nuclear Waste
In 2018, Professor Gérard Mourou (École Polytechnique) and Professor Donna Strickland (University of Waterloo) jointly won half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for ground
16/07/2020
Construction
Draw Circuits with Conductive Ink
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
09/07/2020
Plastics
Sustainable Art
What is Sustainable Art? Sustainable art encompasses a wide range of artistic concepts, everything from thought-provoking environmental critique to studios working with carbon neutral or
02/07/2020
Reduce waste
5 Sustainable Independent Businesses
A spotlight on 5 independent and sustainable personal care businesses from around the world. Oui the People Every year 2 billion plastic razors end up
25/06/2020
Ecology
Medical and Disaster Relief Drones
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.
18/06/2020
Ecology
Edible Cutlery
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
11/06/2020
Construction
Flat-Pack Construction
A modern modular take on flat-pack construction, Ten Fold Engineering has an innovative design that makes flat-pack housing and construction units desirable and luxurious. The
04/06/2020
Energy
Zeer Pot Cold Storage
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
28/05/2020
Ecology
Reduce Food Waste – Mimica Touch Labels
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
21/05/2020
Health
Reuse N95 Respirators Safely?
Is it possible to reuse N95 masks without a reduction of the respirator’s effectiveness? Terminology In this article when I mention reuse, I am using
14/05/2020
Construction
Tallest Sustainable Building – Taipei 101
Location, Location, Location… Taipei 101 is the tallest sustainable skyscraper in the world, standing at 508m (1,667 ft) and 101 floors. When completed in 2004, this
07/05/2020
Ecology
Renewable Energy and the Future
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
30/04/2020
Ecology
How To Leverage Low Air Pollution post COVID-19
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
23/04/2020
Ecology
Impact of Air Pollution on Health – Post COVID-19
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
16/04/2020
Health
10 Things to do during COVID-19 Lockdown
The United Kingdom is currently under a Coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 lockdown. The majority of the population will be spending all hours at home.
09/04/2020
Construction
Earthship Homes Sustainable Living
Earthship Homes use approximately 45 per cent recycled materials. Old tyres, glass bottles and drinks cans are all essential construction materials. Michael Reynolds the inventor
02/04/2020
Plastics
3D Printing PPE and Isinnova
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE is any protective garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. This can include protective
26/03/2020
Health
The Power of Soap
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
19/03/2020
Ecology
Sharklet Antibacterial Armour
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
12/03/2020
Social Awareness
Tour Guides – Unseen & Invisible
Tours guides by Unseen Tours started in London in 2010. This exceptional social enterprise was the brainchild of The Sock Mob (a volunteer meetup group).
05/03/2020
Ecology
Sustainable Fashion – 3D Digital Design
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
27/02/2020
Ecology
Rice Straw – Waste to Packaging
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,
20/02/2020
Ecology
Water Scarcity and the Namib Beetle
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
13/02/2020
Ecology
Chewing Gum – Sustainable Alternatives
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
06/02/2020
Construction
Cubo Modular Bamboo Housing
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.
30/01/2020
Plastics
UBQ Materials Bio-based Thermoplastic
UBQ is a thermoplastic that can substitute minerals, wood and plastic in thousands of applications. Globally every year, 2 billion tonnes of waste is produced.
23/01/2020
Plastics
BioCellection – Chemical Recycling
BioCellection is an advanced recycling technology company based in California. Globally, only 9% of plastics are recycled. The remaining 91% goes to landfills, incinerators, or
16/01/2020
Plastics
Precious Plastic Universe
Precious Plastic Universe (Precious Plastic version 4) launched on Tuesday 7th January 2020. At Viable AlternativEnergy, we’ve been waiting anxiously for this new update since
09/01/2020
Ecology
Viable AlternativEnergy – Recap top 7 Articles of 2019
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.
03/01/2020
Construction
Wooden Nails – LignoLoc by BECK
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
19/12/2019
Ecology
Edible Water Ooho by Notpla
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.
12/12/2019
Reduce waste
3D Crossings
3D street crossings are a fantastic alternative to conventional speed bumps. This idea has been around for a long time. However the crossings in India
05/12/2019
Reduce waste
Lumkani Fire Alarm
The Lumkani fire detector is a heat detector which is not sensitive to smoke. This device rates the rise of temperature. In dense informal settlements,
28/11/2019
Ecology
Plastic Alternative – Marinatex
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
21/11/2019
Ecology
Sustainable Alternatives to Leather
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.
14/11/2019
Ecology
The Power of Compost Worms
Compost worms primarily consist of red wiggler / tiger, African nightcrawler, Indian blue and Brandling. These worms are powerful allies to organic farmers. They assist
07/11/2019
Construction
Africa’s First Waste to Energy – Reppie, Ethiopia
The Reppie Waste to Energy plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the first Waste to Energy plant in Africa, completed in February 2018. Reppie Waste-to-Energy
31/10/2019
Reduce waste
Environmentally Friendly Paints
Three environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of producing paints. From recycling old latex paints, to the production of paints using windmills and linseed. Finally the
24/10/2019
Ecology
Algal Bloom to Algae as Fuel
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
17/10/2019
Ecology
Growing Furniture – The Art of Full Grown
Growing furniture? How do they do that? Using age old techniques of grafting, Full Grown nurtures modern sculptures into living furniture. Growing unique lamps,
10/10/2019
Construction
Makoko Floating System
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
03/10/2019
Electric
The Costa Rica Renewable Approach
Costa Rica is set to achieve over 98% of electricity generation from renewable sources for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, the National Center for
26/09/2019
Ecology
Arsenic in Groundwater
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
19/09/2019
Energy
Bottle Light
In 2002 Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser invented a way of illuminating his workshop without using electricity. He used a plastic bottle filled with water and
12/09/2019
Plastics
The Hunt and Recovery of Microplastic
Plastic particles that are 5 mm or less are described as microplastics. Microplastics often found in facial scrubs and shower gels as microbeads. The breakdown
05/09/2019
Reduce waste
Toys from Cardboard Boxes
A father from Henan, a central province in China makes toys using low cost materials. Using cardboard boxes, bottles, wood skewers, elastic bands, bottle caps, marbles
29/08/2019
Energy
Slowing Down the Speed of Light
The astronomer Ole Rømer first demonstrated the speed of light in 1676. “A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” by James Clerk Maxwell showed how
22/08/2019
Ecology
Green Design – Vertical Gardens and Forests
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
15/08/2019
Plastics
Precious Plastic
Precious Plastic is an open source platform that shares their findings on how to solve plastic pollution. This project was created by Dave Hakkens from
08/08/2019
Recycle
Reuse – Reduce Waste – Tyre Sculptors
Tyres are complex products consisting of more than 200 raw materials. These different raw materials make it difficult for tyres to be recycled. Around the
01/08/2019
Electric
Train Powered by Hydrogen
The Coradia iLint is the first passenger train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The train was by designed by Alstom teams in Salzgitter, Germany
25/07/2019
Construction
DFAB House – Digital Construction
DFAB House shows the potential of digital fabrication. Through the brilliant collaboration between architecture, construction, and science. DFAB House is the first house of its
18/07/2019
Ecology
Reforestation – Land Life
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
11/07/2019
Plastics
Recycling – Ljubljana Slovenia
In 2004, all waste generated in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital went to landfill. Presently, Ljubljana diverts 80% of its refuse from the landfill. Furthermore, 68% of
04/07/2019
Re-use
Mouldable Glue – Sugru
Sugru is a tool that helps to strengthen the reuse step of the European waste hierarchy. The five steps are “Prevention, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and
27/06/2019
Ecology
Nemo’s Garden – Noli Italy
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
20/06/2019
Ecology
App Detects Mosquito
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
13/06/2019
Re-use
A Library of Things
Share Shed– a “library of things”. A place where you can borrow useful items like: sewing machines, household appliances, camping, gardening and sporting equipment and
06/06/2019
Ecology
Paper Made of …
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.
30/05/2019
Ecology
Songhai Centre – Port Novo, Benin
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
23/05/2019
Energy
Air Conditioner uses no Electricity
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.
16/05/2019
Ecology
Flood Control – Pop Up Dam
The Water-Gate Barrier acts like a pop up dam. It can be used for flood control and toxic spills with very minimal infrastructure.
09/05/2019
Ecology
Zai Pit System
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”
02/05/2019
Reduce waste
Leaves – Biodegradable Plates
Leaf republic has created a selection of packaging products. They make the transparent lids from bioplastic and recycled plastic. They make the plates and bowls
25/04/2019
Energy
Solektra
Solektra provide various effective solutions for rural communities across Africa. Their projects include lighting through solar power, clean water and an academy. Comprising Akon Lighting
18/04/2019
Electric
Road Charges Electric Vehicle
Near Stockholm, the road recharges the batteries of electric cars and trucks. By transferring energy from two tracks of rail in the road. The design
11/04/2019
Energy
Smart Flower- Solar
Smart Flower is solar technology from a natural design prospective. Mimicking the heliotropic properties of the sunflower. It tracks the movement of the sun throughout
04/04/2019
Energy
O-Wind Turbine
The O-Wind multidirectional turbine spins on a single axis but can harness gusts coming from any direction. The turbine mechanical motion makes use of Bernoulli’s principle. It
29/03/2019
Plastics
Binners’ Project – Vancouver, Canada
Binners’ Project supports the most marginalised people in urban areas. Helping them to create an income from the collection of redeemable containers and other things
21/03/2019
Construction
Off Grid Living – Sustainable Homes
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
14/03/2019
Prevention
Bite Toothpaste
Bite, brush and repeat. An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic toothpaste tubes. They make this toothpaste pill from natural ingredients. Additionally, all the packaging is
07/03/2019
Ecology
Rice and Duck Farming
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
28/02/2019
Ecology
Hair for Oil Spills
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.
21/02/2019
Ecology
Graphene Sieves – Desalination
Researchers from the University of Manchester look at the potential of graphene sieves. These sieves can convert seawater into drinking water.
14/02/2019
Energy
Night Solar Panels – Power from Raindrops
These solar panels can harvest power from raindrops to boost efficiency both day and night. Expanding the potential for two sided solar panels.
07/02/2019
Ecology
Shark Deterrent
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
31/01/2019
Plastics
The Rate of Decomposition of Waste
What is the decomposition rate for items we send to landfill? From banana peels, to milk carton, cigarette butts, plastic bags and leather. How long
24/01/2019
Recycle
Kamikatsu – Japan’s Zero Waste Town
Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, was the first municipality in Japan to promote a Zero Waste policy. The residents sort waste into 45 types in 13 categories.
17/01/2019
Energy
Microgrids – Aardehuizen, The Netherlands
In The Netherlands microgrid communities are pioneering a new approach to generating and sharing energy. This would mean neighbourhoods of the near future could produce
10/01/2019
Plastics
Plastic ban – San Pedro Laguna – Guatemala
San Pedro La Laguna is the first community on Lake Atitlán. Also, the third municipality in Guatemala, to ban the use of plastic bags. The
03/01/2019
Plastics
Wecyclers – Recycling, Lagos Nigeria
Wecyclers allows people in low-income communities to capture value from their waste. This Lagos based company provides a door to door collection service. Giving households
27/12/2018
Viable Alternatives
How To Fulfil Clean Water Needs Without Electricity
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
25/02/2021
Curitiba City, A Model In Sustainable Urban Planning
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
18/02/2021
Versatile, Sustainable And Strong Grass.
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
11/02/2021
Recycling Flip Flops, Art From Marine Waste.
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
04/02/2021
Green Products Awards 2021
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
28/01/2021
Waste Hierarchy: The Five Stages Of Waste Management
Waste Hierarchy The Amended Waste Framework Directive (EU) 2018/851 put in place by the European Parliament establishes waste prevention and management legislation and policy. This
21/01/2021
Farming On An Acre of Land
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
14/01/2021
7 Top Articles of 2020
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
07/01/2021
Biogas, Untapped Transportation Fuel from Waste?
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.
14/12/2020
CopenHill – The Sustainable Model For Future Waste Projects?
Sustainable Waste Management Amager Bakke, also known as CopenHill, brings a sustainable waste management solution to the doorstep of city living. CopenHill is the cleanest waste-to-energy
12/11/2020
Floating Island of Plastic 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.
31/08/2020
Upcycling or Recycling of End-of-life Solar Panels
The average photovoltaic (PV) solar panel has a lifespan of 25 years. Solar panels contain glass, polymers, aluminium, silicon, lead, cadmium, tellurium and gallium. These
20/08/2020
Aquaponics Farming in Water Scarce Regions
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
13/08/2020
Hydrogen Power – Fuel Cells on Ships and Boats
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
06/08/2020
Cardboard Furniture and Design
In 2017, Europe recycled 84.6% of its cardboard and paper packaging. We derive this percentage from the total quantity of recycled packaging waste, divided by
30/07/2020
Vinson Multi-tool
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
23/07/2020
Lasers Could Transmute Nuclear Waste
In 2018, Professor Gérard Mourou (École Polytechnique) and Professor Donna Strickland (University of Waterloo) jointly won half of the Nobel Prize in Physics for ground
16/07/2020
Draw Circuits with Conductive Ink
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
09/07/2020
Sustainable Art
What is Sustainable Art? Sustainable art encompasses a wide range of artistic concepts, everything from thought-provoking environmental critique to studios working with carbon neutral or
02/07/2020
5 Sustainable Independent Businesses
A spotlight on 5 independent and sustainable personal care businesses from around the world. Oui the People Every year 2 billion plastic razors end up
25/06/2020
Medical and Disaster Relief Drones
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.
18/06/2020
Edible Cutlery
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
11/06/2020
Flat-Pack Construction
A modern modular take on flat-pack construction, Ten Fold Engineering has an innovative design that makes flat-pack housing and construction units desirable and luxurious. The
04/06/2020
Zeer Pot Cold Storage
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
28/05/2020
Reduce Food Waste – Mimica Touch Labels
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
21/05/2020
Reuse N95 Respirators Safely?
Is it possible to reuse N95 masks without a reduction of the respirator’s effectiveness? Terminology In this article when I mention reuse, I am using
14/05/2020
Tallest Sustainable Building – Taipei 101
Location, Location, Location… Taipei 101 is the tallest sustainable skyscraper in the world, standing at 508m (1,667 ft) and 101 floors. When completed in 2004, this
07/05/2020
Renewable Energy and the Future
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
30/04/2020
How To Leverage Low Air Pollution post COVID-19
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
23/04/2020
Impact of Air Pollution on Health – Post COVID-19
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
16/04/2020
10 Things to do during COVID-19 Lockdown
The United Kingdom is currently under a Coronavirus disease 2019 (SARS-CoV-2) COVID-19 lockdown. The majority of the population will be spending all hours at home.
09/04/2020
Earthship Homes Sustainable Living
Earthship Homes use approximately 45 per cent recycled materials. Old tyres, glass bottles and drinks cans are all essential construction materials. Michael Reynolds the inventor
02/04/2020
3D Printing PPE and Isinnova
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) PPE is any protective garment or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection. This can include protective
26/03/2020
The Power of Soap
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
19/03/2020
Sharklet Antibacterial Armour
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
12/03/2020
Tour Guides – Unseen & Invisible
Tours guides by Unseen Tours started in London in 2010. This exceptional social enterprise was the brainchild of The Sock Mob (a volunteer meetup group).
05/03/2020
Sustainable Fashion – 3D Digital Design
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
27/02/2020
Rice Straw – Waste to Packaging
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,
20/02/2020
Water Scarcity and the Namib Beetle
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
13/02/2020
Chewing Gum – Sustainable Alternatives
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
06/02/2020
Cubo Modular Bamboo Housing
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.
30/01/2020
UBQ Materials Bio-based Thermoplastic
UBQ is a thermoplastic that can substitute minerals, wood and plastic in thousands of applications. Globally every year, 2 billion tonnes of waste is produced.
23/01/2020
BioCellection – Chemical Recycling
BioCellection is an advanced recycling technology company based in California. Globally, only 9% of plastics are recycled. The remaining 91% goes to landfills, incinerators, or
16/01/2020
Precious Plastic Universe
Precious Plastic Universe (Precious Plastic version 4) launched on Tuesday 7th January 2020. At Viable AlternativEnergy, we’ve been waiting anxiously for this new update since
09/01/2020
Viable AlternativEnergy – Recap top 7 Articles of 2019
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.
03/01/2020
Wooden Nails – LignoLoc by BECK
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
19/12/2019
Edible Water Ooho by Notpla
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.
12/12/2019
3D Crossings
3D street crossings are a fantastic alternative to conventional speed bumps. This idea has been around for a long time. However the crossings in India
05/12/2019
Lumkani Fire Alarm
The Lumkani fire detector is a heat detector which is not sensitive to smoke. This device rates the rise of temperature. In dense informal settlements,
28/11/2019
Plastic Alternative – Marinatex
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
21/11/2019
Sustainable Alternatives to Leather
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.
14/11/2019
The Power of Compost Worms
Compost worms primarily consist of red wiggler / tiger, African nightcrawler, Indian blue and Brandling. These worms are powerful allies to organic farmers. They assist
07/11/2019
Africa’s First Waste to Energy – Reppie, Ethiopia
The Reppie Waste to Energy plant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is the first Waste to Energy plant in Africa, completed in February 2018. Reppie Waste-to-Energy
31/10/2019
Environmentally Friendly Paints
Three environmentally friendly and sustainable methods of producing paints. From recycling old latex paints, to the production of paints using windmills and linseed. Finally the
24/10/2019
Algal Bloom to Algae as Fuel
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
17/10/2019
Growing Furniture – The Art of Full Grown
Growing furniture? How do they do that? Using age old techniques of grafting, Full Grown nurtures modern sculptures into living furniture. Growing unique lamps,
10/10/2019
Makoko Floating System
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
03/10/2019
The Costa Rica Renewable Approach
Costa Rica is set to achieve over 98% of electricity generation from renewable sources for the fifth consecutive year. In 2019, the National Center for
26/09/2019
Arsenic in Groundwater
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
19/09/2019
Bottle Light
In 2002 Brazilian mechanic Alfredo Moser invented a way of illuminating his workshop without using electricity. He used a plastic bottle filled with water and
12/09/2019
The Hunt and Recovery of Microplastic
Plastic particles that are 5 mm or less are described as microplastics. Microplastics often found in facial scrubs and shower gels as microbeads. The breakdown
05/09/2019
Toys from Cardboard Boxes
A father from Henan, a central province in China makes toys using low cost materials. Using cardboard boxes, bottles, wood skewers, elastic bands, bottle caps, marbles
29/08/2019
Slowing Down the Speed of Light
The astronomer Ole Rømer first demonstrated the speed of light in 1676. “A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” by James Clerk Maxwell showed how
22/08/2019
Green Design – Vertical Gardens and Forests
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
15/08/2019
Precious Plastic
Precious Plastic is an open source platform that shares their findings on how to solve plastic pollution. This project was created by Dave Hakkens from
08/08/2019
Reuse – Reduce Waste – Tyre Sculptors
Tyres are complex products consisting of more than 200 raw materials. These different raw materials make it difficult for tyres to be recycled. Around the
01/08/2019
Train Powered by Hydrogen
The Coradia iLint is the first passenger train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The train was by designed by Alstom teams in Salzgitter, Germany
25/07/2019
DFAB House – Digital Construction
DFAB House shows the potential of digital fabrication. Through the brilliant collaboration between architecture, construction, and science. DFAB House is the first house of its
18/07/2019
Reforestation – Land Life
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
11/07/2019
Recycling – Ljubljana Slovenia
In 2004, all waste generated in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital went to landfill. Presently, Ljubljana diverts 80% of its refuse from the landfill. Furthermore, 68% of
04/07/2019
Mouldable Glue – Sugru
Sugru is a tool that helps to strengthen the reuse step of the European waste hierarchy. The five steps are “Prevention, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery and
27/06/2019
Nemo’s Garden – Noli Italy
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
20/06/2019
App Detects Mosquito
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
13/06/2019
A Library of Things
Share Shed– a “library of things”. A place where you can borrow useful items like: sewing machines, household appliances, camping, gardening and sporting equipment and
06/06/2019
Paper Made of …
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.
30/05/2019
Songhai Centre – Port Novo, Benin
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
23/05/2019
Air Conditioner uses no Electricity
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.
16/05/2019
Flood Control – Pop Up Dam
The Water-Gate Barrier acts like a pop up dam. It can be used for flood control and toxic spills with very minimal infrastructure.
09/05/2019
Zai Pit System
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”
02/05/2019
Leaves – Biodegradable Plates
Leaf republic has created a selection of packaging products. They make the transparent lids from bioplastic and recycled plastic. They make the plates and bowls
25/04/2019
Solektra
Solektra provide various effective solutions for rural communities across Africa. Their projects include lighting through solar power, clean water and an academy. Comprising Akon Lighting
18/04/2019
Road Charges Electric Vehicle
Near Stockholm, the road recharges the batteries of electric cars and trucks. By transferring energy from two tracks of rail in the road. The design
11/04/2019
Smart Flower- Solar
Smart Flower is solar technology from a natural design prospective. Mimicking the heliotropic properties of the sunflower. It tracks the movement of the sun throughout
04/04/2019
O-Wind Turbine
The O-Wind multidirectional turbine spins on a single axis but can harness gusts coming from any direction. The turbine mechanical motion makes use of Bernoulli’s principle. It
29/03/2019
Binners’ Project – Vancouver, Canada
Binners’ Project supports the most marginalised people in urban areas. Helping them to create an income from the collection of redeemable containers and other things
21/03/2019
Off Grid Living – Sustainable Homes
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
14/03/2019
Bite Toothpaste
Bite, brush and repeat. An environmentally friendly alternative to plastic toothpaste tubes. They make this toothpaste pill from natural ingredients. Additionally, all the packaging is
07/03/2019
Rice and Duck Farming
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
28/02/2019
Hair for Oil Spills
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.
21/02/2019
Graphene Sieves – Desalination
Researchers from the University of Manchester look at the potential of graphene sieves. These sieves can convert seawater into drinking water.
14/02/2019
Night Solar Panels – Power from Raindrops
These solar panels can harvest power from raindrops to boost efficiency both day and night. Expanding the potential for two sided solar panels.
07/02/2019
Shark Deterrent
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
31/01/2019
The Rate of Decomposition of Waste
What is the decomposition rate for items we send to landfill? From banana peels, to milk carton, cigarette butts, plastic bags and leather. How long
24/01/2019
Kamikatsu – Japan’s Zero Waste Town
Kamikatsu, Tokushima Prefecture, was the first municipality in Japan to promote a Zero Waste policy. The residents sort waste into 45 types in 13 categories.
17/01/2019
Microgrids – Aardehuizen, The Netherlands
In The Netherlands microgrid communities are pioneering a new approach to generating and sharing energy. This would mean neighbourhoods of the near future could produce
10/01/2019
Plastic ban – San Pedro Laguna – Guatemala
San Pedro La Laguna is the first community on Lake Atitlán. Also, the third municipality in Guatemala, to ban the use of plastic bags. The
03/01/2019
Wecyclers – Recycling, Lagos Nigeria
Wecyclers allows people in low-income communities to capture value from their waste. This Lagos based company provides a door to door collection service. Giving households
27/12/2018