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 all their refuse in 2016.
For further articles on the management of municipal waste check:-
Africa’s First Waste to Energy – Reppie, Ethiopia
A Library of Things
Recycling – Ljubljana Slovenia
2. Songhai Centre – Port Novo, Benin

For posts related to agriculture and producing energy from waste products:-
Rice and Duck Farming
The Power of Compost Worms
Algal Bloom to Algae as Fuel
3. Precious Plastic
Precious Plastic is an open-source platform concerned with the reuse/recycling of plastic waste. Plastic items are shredded, extruded, injected and compressed. They provide information on how to build the machines. Additionally, community projects and collaborations are encouraged.



Plastic collections and reuse posts:-
Wecyclers – Recycling in Lagos Nigeria
Reuse – Reduce Waste – Tyre Sculptors
The Hunt and Recovery of Microplastics
4. DFAB House – Digital Construction
The potential of a functional house using only computational design and digital fabrication is clearly displayed by the DFAB House. This project highlights a brilliant collaboration between architecture, construction and science. DFAB House is the first house designed, planned and built, predominantly using digital processes.
Posts about architecture and construction materials:-
Makoko Floating System
Wooden Nails – LignoLoc by BECK
Paper Made of …
5. Lumkani Fire Alarm
In towns and cities with informal settlements, houses are very close to each other. A fire in one property can devastate the whole community. The Lumkani fire detection system is a heat detector that is not sensitive to smoke. This device can rate the rise in temperature. Lumkani devices can work in series to alert a community of the location of the home on fire.
Viable AlternativEnergy posts related to mobile apps and remotely operated vehicles:-
App Detects Mosquito
The Hunt and Recovery of Microplastics
6. Arsenic in Ground Water
Bioaccumulation of arsenic in the body can cause skin lesions, cancer and various other illnesses. Pteris vittata ferns grown on arsenic-contaminated soils can remove almost 50 percent of the arsenic in five years. This process takes time, but it’s extremely cost-effective. By understanding the biochemical mechanisms used by this fern to thrive in conditions of high levels of arsenic. The genes in this fern could remediate arsenic in soil and groundwater.

Purdue University researchers have determined the genetic mechanisms that allow the fern to withstand arsenic, which could lead to the modification of other plants that could remediate contamination even more quickly and efficiently. Agricultural Communication/Tom Campbell
Articles looking at water – desalination, cleaning up oil spills and the power of rain to charge up solar panels.
Hair for Oil Spills
Graphene Sieves – Desalination
Night Solar Panels – Power from Raindrops
7. Green Design – Vertical Gardens and Forests
Plants reduce stress, anxiety and improve productivity in workplaces. The presence of trees and plants in urban areas makes a positive impact on the overall ambience.

Posts related to underwater gardens, growing furniture and plates made of leaves.
Nemo’s Garden – Noli Italy
Leaves – Biodegradable Plates
Growing Furniture – The Art of Full Grown
Viable AlternativEnergy would like to wish all our readers a Healthy, Joyful and Prosperous 2020.