ECO Friendly Living USA

A car might be a necessary evil if you’re trying to get to remote parts of the country, but most of New Zealand is well-serviced when it comes to inter-city transport. Buses are the norm for this kind of travel – some companies like Intercity even offer flexible hop-on, hop-off passes if you want to explore lots of different places.
Depending on where you’re going, it won’t be too hard to find tour operators whose funds go straight back into environmental projects and wildlife conservation. Milford Sound, Akaroa, the Bay of Islands and the Otago Peninsula are key destinations for eco-tours – the latter in particular is famous for being home to the world’s only mainland royal albatross colony at Taiaroa Head.
Qualmark is Tourism New Zealand’s official quality surveying body, assessing all accommodation providers and tour operators according to their environmental friendliness, health and safety protocols, among other benchmarks that prove their credibility. Businesses are given Enviro Gold, Silver and Bronze awards if their sustainable practices and policies are up to a high standard. Sustainable New Zealand is another good resource for those trying to find out if a company is eco-friendly.
From luxury ecolodges to exemplary eco-friendly hotels, New Zealand makes it easy for tourists to travel green.
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New Zealand offers a bounty of options for an eco-friendly stay | Courtesy of Split Apple Lodge, Kaiteriteri / Expedia
The Department of Conservation organises several volunteering events across the nation, ranging from tree planting days to the laying out of pest traps in areas where there are threatened wildlife species. If you’re spending some extended time in a single town or city, also keep an eye out for community conservation projects – you can usually find these on event listings at a local council’s website, through social media or even through the traditional community notices and newspapers.
Make the most of the national parks, multi-day hikes, campsites and nature reserves that have earned New Zealand its green reputation. You’ll need to be quick to secure your spot for the huts on some of the Great Walks due to their popularity, especially during the high summer season. Otherwise, just do your homework about the various walks and natural getaways you’ll have access to (again, the Department of Conservation website is a good resource for this) and plan your off-grid adventures accordingly.
Plan an off-grid holiday at one of New Zealand’s many beautiful national parks or nature areas | © Rafal Cichawa / Alamy Stock Photo
Maybe you’re an active soul who prefers to explore New Zealand on two wheels. In that case, there are a number of multi-day cycling routes you can try. Examples include the South Island’s Otago Rail Trail and the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail; for North Island alternatives, try the Timber Trail or the Waikato River Trails for size.
Most towns and cities will have their very own farmers’ markets, where local growers and producers come together to sell their goodies. The Otago Farmers’ Market is among the country’s most famous and is one of a few in the South Island to operate year-round. If you’re in the North Island, make sure to check out La Cigale in Auckland, the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market in Hastings and the Harbourside Market in Wellington – all of these have become quite iconic in their respective communities.
Buy fish sold straight off the boat at farmers’ markets in New Zealand | © Nigel Watts / Alamy Stock Photo
Plastic waste has become a hot-button issue around the world – and in New Zealand, it’s no different. It’s hard to give up plastic completely, but every little measure counts. You could invest in a metal drink bottle that you fill up during the day; you could bring your own cup to a café whenever you’re wanting some takeaway coffee; you could buy a reusable bag for your groceries; and if you’re not cooking your own meals, you could prioritise dining in.
Every so often, backpackers and freedom campers get negative press locally for not cleaning up after themselves – and we’re not just talking about food scraps here. Don’t be that person: if you’re going to be camping on public grounds, don’t make a mess, and take any rubbish you can’t readily dispose with you. Common sense reminders aside, try to recycle whenever you can – many public places will have separate bins for general waste and recyclable materials.
Keep the landscape pristine when camping | © Chris Putnam / Alamy Stock Photo
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WM has plans for about 20 additional RNG projects and intends to spend about $1.2 billion on renewable energy projects between 2022 and 2026.
WM, Houston, has opened a $35 million renewable natural gas (RNG) facility at the company’s Eco Vista Landfill near Springdale, Arkansas.
The landfill gas-to-energy facility will use biogas generated when organic material decomposes in a landfill, WM says.
As reported by the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal (NWABJ), the Eco Vista facility spans 14,430 square feet. It is expected to recover and distribute approximately 750,000 metric million British thermal units (MMBtu) per year of RNG, which could serve the equivalent of 25,000 households annually or 650 heavy-duty vehicles. The diesel gallon equivalent is one MMBtu of gas equals 6.81 gallons of diesel.
WM will allocate a portion of the RNG for its U.S. fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles.
In a WM release announcing the project acquired by the NWABJ, Randy Beck, who heads WM’s renewable energy group, says, “The size of that little facility can provide enough gas to power a town. I think that’s pretty amazing.”
The RNG facility at Eco Vista processes the increasing volumes of biogas collected from the landfill—generated during the decomposition of organic material—into pipeline-quality gas to be delivered to Energy Transfer’s Enable Gas Transmission pipeline system.
RELATED: WM to invest $825M in renewable natural gas efforts
“Enable Pipeline was motivated and fantastic to work with,” Beck says. “All the dominoes fell in the right direction, between the state and the pipeline company, to move this project expeditiously. Northwest Arkansas is one of the country’s fastest-growing areas and is a friendly state to do business. That allows us to expedite our permitting and construction processes.”
WM officials say using RNG can avoid up to approximately 40,000 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Beck adds that construction of the facility created over 125 jobs and will initially employ four people for operations who are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
WM has plans for about 20 additional RNG projects and intends to spend about $1.2 billion on renewable energy projects between 2022 and 2026.
The Eco Vista facility is WM’s sixth RNG facility and the first in Arkansas, reports the NWABJ. In addition to Eco Vista, WM owns Arkansas landfills in Danville, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff. Beck says they are “on the radar” for possible RNG facilities, but there aren’t any immediate plans to do so.

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By Hannah Miller, student
April 2, 2024
The university’s annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory showcases its ongoing commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction efforts.
Elon University has released its annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the 2022-23 fiscal year. The inventory showcases the university’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction efforts.
The latest inventory reveals that Elon’s net emissions for the fiscal year were 26 percent lower than the 2007-08 fiscal year despite significant campus growth in building square footage and student population during the past 15 years. This notable decrease is primarily due to the purchase of verified carbon offsets through the university’s Carbon Neutral Global Engagement Initiative and the source of the university’s purchased electricity is less carbon-intensive.
Elon started tracking annual emissions in 2008 to monitor progress toward reaching carbon neutrality by 2037. “While Elon has made progress toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2037, there is still more work to do,” said Senior Director of Sustainability Elaine Durr.
A breakdown of Elon’s gross emissions provides insight into the sources contributing to the university’s emissions. Energy consumption remains the largest contributor, accounting for 43 percent of Elon’s emissions in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Since 2008, energy consumption per square foot on campus has decreased by 32 percent, highlighting the importance of continued efforts to reduce energy consumption on campus.
Transportation – including university-funded travel for faculty, staff and students, study abroad travel, commuter travel and fuel use in the university fleet – accounts for 48 percent of Elon’s total emissions. Study abroad travel is the largest source of transportation emissions and accounted for 21 percent of overall emissions in the latest inventory. Recognizing the environmental impact of global engagement travel, the Carbon Neutral Global Engagement Initiative was launched in fall 2020. This initiative mitigates the emissions associated with global engagement travel through the annual purchase of verified carbon offsets.
Completing the greenhouse gas emissions inventory involves collecting data from numerous departments, ranging from Facilities Management for electricity and natural gas consumption to Elon Athletics for team travel data.
“Thank you to the many departments and individuals on campus who provide the necessary data to complete the annual inventory,” said Durr, who completes the annual inventory.
To learn more about the greenhouse gas emissions inventory and Elon University’s sustainability efforts, visit the university’s Sustainability website.
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Senior Director of Sustainability
Max Wallace ’26, Brendan Antrosiglio ’23, and a student group in the Interactive Media graduate program all earned second-place awards in the Broadcast Education Association’s 2024 Festival of Media Arts.
Chris Leupold, the Isabella Cannon Professor of Leadership and professor of psychology, is collaborating with Elon Music Theatre to create a seven-session program to prepare students to participate in high-level leadership activities in preparation for Grand Night 2024.
The university’s annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory showcases its ongoing commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction efforts.
Phillip Motley, faculty fellow for community-based learning, shares his expertise and efforts in faculty development and recruitment.
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RIB MOUNTAIN, Wis. (WSAW) – Since the end of 2021 the Village of Rib Mountain began work on a 32-kilowatt solar panel project. With 71 roof-mounted solar panels installed, Director of Community Development Jared Grande feels gratified to see their idea finally come to fruition.
“It’s been something that has been on the minds of the board here,” Grande said. “And there was some federal stuff that was passed that gave some rebates, even for government entities like ourselves.”
The idea took plenty of hard work, collaborating with Olson Solar Energy to get the job done.
“The ironic thing is that we actually selected them without knowing they were going to be moving in here to Rib Mountain,” Grande added. “So it just kind of worked out that way. They did a lot of the work, obviously.”
With the project finally installed, Grande and the village are looking forward to just how much they’ll save and sustain.
“We’re estimating about 78%, I think roughly, that it could maybe reduce for our usage coming through solars,” Grande said. “So there’s a good amount there that we’re hoping to produce from that based on some of the estimations that we have.”
All coming at no cost to you.
“We utilize 100% of this project through ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funding, and so there was no impact to levy on this. In that case, you can think of taxpayers, no impact to them,” Grande added.
The Village is hoping to use its project to inspire others to become solar as well.
“Everybody’s situation’s a little bit different, but I think with a lot of us municipalities, these are buildings or locations that aren’t going to be moving that often,” Grande said.
To view more info on the solar panels and keep track of their progress, click here.
Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.

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By Gabrielle Douglas
On April 2, 2024
In Climate/Global Change, Science Communication & Education, Students
In a society where it seems like the power to create meaningful change on climate concerns is concentrated in the hands of few, witnessing the youth attempt to counter this dynamic is always inspiring.
Last week, members of Duke University’s Climate and Sustainability Office convened with students for a town hall meeting to discuss current progress, areas for improvement, and aspirations for the future. During this meeting, great emphasis was placed on the opinions and perspectives of students, as the leaders of the Duke climate commitment recognized the importance of their voices within this process.  
The meeting began with two thought-provoking questions by Toddi Steelman, Vice President and Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability, and Tavey Capps, Executive Director of Climate and Sustainability and Sustainable Duke: “What is one word to describe your feelings towards climate change, and what energizes you about climate change?”
These two questions immediately brought the room to life as students began to express their climate anxiety, fears, and frustrations, alongside the ways in which they hoped to one day see change. This passionate discussion set the stage for a deep dive into the objectives and goals of Duke’s Climate Commitment.  
The Climate Commitment is a university-wide effort aimed at creating initiatives to correct our current climate crisis by creating a sustainable environment for all.
Within the commitment, there are five areas of focus: Research, Education, External Engagement, Operations, and Community Connections. The research sector is focused on connecting Duke’s schools across the board for interdisciplinary research. Education is geared towards ensuring learning occurs in and beyond the classroom. External Engagement focuses on informing policy and decision makers alongside engaging community members within this mission. Operations studies the food, water, waste, energy, and carbon supply chain on campus. Lastly, Community Connections asks: how do we authentically engage with the community and partners alike? 
This commitment serves as a broad scale invitation for everyone to get involved, and Duke students did not hesitate to take advantage of this invitation. The town hall was organized through breakout rooms for the students to collectively share ideas.
The first breakout room was focused on the idea of communication. In this, students discussed the ways that they felt the commitment could best reach their peers on campus. Some proposed utilizing the popular social media platform, TikTok by creating short eye-catching videos. Others discussed using professors, posters, and BC Plaza to ensure engagement. Most agreed that email listservs and newsletters also held some merit in getting their classmate’s attention.
Above all, students came to the consensus that informing the student body would be one of the most important missions of the Climate Commitment. 
Following the communication session, I attended the research breakout room led by Blake Tedder from the Office of Sustainability and formerly the Director of Engagement at the Duke Forest. He asked again about the most pressing climate issue. From this, many students delved into issues surrounding biodiversity financing, carbon offsetting, access to clean water, and the ways climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities.
Conversation about these concerns quickly bled into issues surrounding the larger prospect of interdisciplinary studies. Many students felt that this was best done through Duke’s RESILE initiative (Risk Science for Climate Resilience), Bass Connections, and even greater connection between Duke’s main campus and its Kunshan Campus. 
The final room I attended was geared towards making the fight against climate change one that is inclusive and diverse. This talk was coordinated by Jason Elliot from Sustainable Duke.
The question that guided the discussion was: “How can we ensure our goals do not come at the expense of the community?” To this, students proposed a range of ideas. Chief among these were becoming more in tune with the needs of the community and finding ways to actively attend local farms, and other places in need.
In addition, many suggested diversifying speakers to ensure representation and voices from all parts of the community. Some students even narrowed in on engagement within our own campus, suggesting greater collaboration among groups such as the Climate Coalition, Keep Durham Beautiful, and Alpha Phi Omega to achieve these goals. 
This town hall was simply one of many future engagements expected from  Duke’s Climate Commitment in the coming years. While there is still much more work to be done, the diligent efforts of students and faculty alike make the future look promising in the fight against Climate Change. 
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Tuesday, April 2, 2024
The melting away of snow doesn’t just expose the dirt hiding in the snowbanks; it also reveals the dirt and dust that’s accumulated in our homes, leading many people to participate in the phenomenon of spring cleaning. 
“It’s a nice way to get you ready for the summer,” said chemistry engineering sophomore Aidan Frost. Frost uses spring cleaning as an opportunity to clean his kitchen and bathroom, organize his closet and vacuum.
But before breaking out your mop, flinging open the windows and queuing favorite music, you might want to be mindful of the cleaning products that are being used and the potential environmental effects. 
Household cleaning chemicals are known to leech into our soil, water and air, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These chemicals find their way into the environment through aerosolized sprays, surface runoff into waterways, and from pouring used products down the drain.
This spring, some students that wish to clean their house and reduce stress on the environment are using home-made alternative cleaners. 
Re-usable Containers
High-density polyethylene, referred to as #1 plastics, and  Polyethylene terephthalate, referred to as #2 plastics, made up 53% of total plastics generated for containers and packaging in 2018. These plastics made up 41% of recycled packaging materials for a total of 1.5 million tons of the plastic recycled. This, however, leaves the remaining 6.1 million tons for the landfill.
Using empty spray bottles from old cleaning products is one way to repurpose this plastic and reduce waste. When repurposing, it is important to thoroughly clean the container before filling it with a new cleaner to prevent reactions between the old and new chemicals in the container. 
Vinegar
Biology sophomore Liz Hedger says she uses alternative cleaners throughout her home. Vinegar is chief among them, along with baking soda and olive oil, she said. 
“I just prefer vinegar because it’s so versatile and not expensive,” Hedger said. She uses vinegar to clean her carpet, kitchen and tabletops, she said. 
“When I use it, I notice it doesn’t bleach my clothes or rub my hands raw.” 
Vinegar has a long history of use when it comes to DIY household cleaning. It’s a byproduct of alcohol production, and has been referenced in Babylonian texts and it’s residue found on the inside of Egyptian pots.
The National Sanitation Foundation recommends a 1:1 ratio of distilled white vinegar to water to dilute and make it safe for most surfaces. The cleaning mechanism in vinegar is acetic acid; this acid, undiluted, can be too strong and dull surfaces like electronics and hardwood floors or can damage surfaces like granite, marble, porcelain and rubber.
A vinegar solution alone can clean countertops, hard water deposits, stainless steel appliances, sinks, walls, glass, vinyl flooring and hardwood floors. A dilution of 5% is enough to remove food-borne bacteria in the kitchen. 5% acetic acid vinegar is also the most common form of distilled white vinegar sold in grocery stores.
Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is another versatile home cleaner that can be found in stores, according to english senior Maddie Turrill. A 1:1 ratio of rubbing alcohol to water is enough to leave windows, screens, and other glass surfaces streak free. 
Vinegar can be safely added to the solution to add a little more cleaning power, but is not needed in order to be effective.
Small amounts go a long way when using rubbing alcohol. An alcohol solution should be used sparingly in the kitchen and not around an open flame, as it is a flammable substance.
“I’m a big fan of using rubbing alcohol to clean glass,” said  Turrill, who lives in an off-campus house. “That’s pretty much all Windex is anyways.”
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Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
Baking soda’s primary use is as an abrasive to help scrub to clean stains and residue off surfaces. This paste, made by mixing the powder with warm water until you have the desired consistency, can be used to scrub grout, porcelain, countertops and stainless steel.
Another use Turrill finds for baking soda and vinegar is to clear clogged drains.
“You sprinkle in the baking soda and then pour in the vinegar and cover it. That forces the clog through,” Turrill said. 
Baking soda can be used to clear clogged drains using two methods: pouring a half-cup of baking soda into the drain and letting it sit for five minutes in order to let the powder settle into the space. Then, pour in a half-cup of vinegar and let the reaction go until it stops fizzling.
This method relies on the reaction between baking soda and vinegar to break up the clog and push it through the pipe, according to Turrill.
In the second method, you follow the same steps as the first, only when it comes time to pour in the vinegar you will need to plug the top of the drain. This way the gas released by the reaction will not be able to escape and will push against the clog helping to dislodge it.
Bleach
The above cleaners are antibacterial, meaning they will protect users from most household illnesses and food borne contamination, but not viruses. If you are worried about properly disinfecting a space, or really want to know you killed whatever made you sick, you want to use bleach.
The CDC recommends that you wear gloves and clean in a well-ventilated room when cleaning with bleach. It is also important to never mix bleach with ammonia or products containing ammonia, this includes vinegar, in order to avoid creating harmful gases.
Regardless of the products you use to clean your home this spring, be mindful of the impact cleaning chemicals can have on your health and your environment. Properly ventilate your space while cleaning, look and see if any packaging can be recycled or used again, and don’t be afraid to seek out alternative methods to cleaning your space.
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Climate activists Olivia Mandle and Francisco Vera share their perspectives with Euronews.

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The world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did not see his shadow in February, predicting an early spring. But that certainly is not the most exciting thing to come out of Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania, where Phil and his partner, Phyllis, reside.
In late February, Phil and Phyllis welcomed two babies, a spring surprise for the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club since no one knew Phyllis was pregnant. A succession plan in the making? 
In the meantime, Phil’s early spring prediction, while not scientific, is in line with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, which is forecasting above-average temperatures for most of the continental United States.
Released March 21, NOAA’s spring outlook for April through June reports that above-average temperatures are likely to persist across much of the U.S. The greatest chance for above-average temperatures is in the Great Lakes region, the Pacific Northwest and Northwest Alaska, according to the report; though most of the continental U.S. and Alaska have elevated odds of above-average temperatures. 
Victoria Lang, a Ph.D. student in Earth and planetary sciences at Northwestern University, explained that spring occurs because Earth spins on a slightly tilted axis. During winter, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, resulting in fewer hours of sunlight and less direct sunlight. Conversely, during summer, the tilt is toward the sun, leading to more hours of sunlight and more direct sunlight.
“Spring represents the transition between the two,” Lang said. ”The astronomical definition of the start of spring is marked by the Spring Equinox, which symbolizes this shift in sunlight distribution.”
The current warming trend is likely to continue, with climate change being a primary driver, Lang added, citing the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a mandated report that outlines climate change risk, impacts and responses in the U.S. The report confirms shorter winters and earlier spring and summer seasons due to climate change.
“I would emphasize that several factors contribute to the timing of spring, such as large-scale atmospheric circulations El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific-North American pattern, large-scale weather systems, or ocean currents, so this general trend varies year to year,” Lang said. “This generally means that while this year’s spring appeared to arrive early, it does not mean that next year or the following year will as well. But, when we average spring onset over time, we are seeing the shift to an earlier spring onset.”
The 2023-24 El Niño pattern that made last summer particularly hot – and this winter unusually balmy – is coming to an end. El Niño occurs when warm water builds up along the equator in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The ocean surface warms the atmosphere, which allows moisture-rich air to rise and develop into rainstorms.
El Niño can have different impacts in different parts of the county, according to Lang.
“For most of the country, it means higher than average temperatures, which we can characterize as an earlier onset to our spring season,” Lang said. “In parts of the country, this could also mean above-average rainfall and others below average.”
In fact, in the upper Midwest and northern Great Plains, snowfall this past winter was well below average, according to NOAA. And while below-average snowfall lowers the region’s flood risk, it also means there’s not as much water available to start the growing season.
But don’t flowers such as crocuses and daffodils also signal the arrival of spring? The answer is yes, and that’s called phenology, which uses blooming, or First Leaf indexes, of specific plants as indicators of spring, Lang said. 
According to the USA National Phenology Network, spring arrived in Chicago 15 days early this year, compared to a long-term average from 1991-2020. First Leaf and First Bloom indexes are synthetic measures of these early-season events in plants, based on recent temperature conditions.
And while common spring indicators such as crocuses, daffodils and forsythias are what we normally think of, the US-NPN’s First Leaf Index is based on the leaf of lilacs and honeysuckles, which are among the first plants to show their leaves in the spring.
The First Bloom Index is based on the flowering of lilacs and honeysuckles. This index is associated with blooming of early-spring shrubs and leaf out of deciduous trees.
Finally, while most of us hail an early spring as a chance to bust out the grill, there can be unpleasant side effects.
“With plants and trees blooming earlier than they had previously, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may need to stock up on your favorite antihistamines,” Lang said. “While seasonal allergies sound benign, a longer pollen or mold allergy season could have real-world impacts on people missing work or school and general respiratory health.” 
Earlier spring seasons, with less snow on the ground, could also lead to longer seasons for pests such as mosquitoes, she said.
Further, while not something Midwesterners worry about as much, spring seasons and weaker winter seasons could mean more wildfires, particularly for the western United States, according to Lang. Earlier and warmer springs can result in an earlier melting of snow, or a reduced snowpack, which limits water availability later in the season and ultimately contributes in part to an increased risk of wildfires. 
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Belinda Lichty Clarke works as the alumni engagement director at Medill at Northwestern and is a freelance writer. After graduating with a master’s from Medill in 1994, Belinda worked in public relations,… More by Belinda Lichty Clarke
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March 29, 2024
This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility:
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by DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)
A research team led by Professor Lee Ju-hyuck of DGIST in the Department of Energy Science & Engineering has successfully developed an energy harvesting device that enhances solar energy efficiency by removing and preventing surface contamination on solar cells.
The device, developed through joint research with Dr. Seung Wan-chul of the Samsung Electronics Mechatronics & Manufacturing Technology Center, converts frictional force into electrical energy using a friction electrification power generator and applies it to an electrodynamic screen to prevent and remove contamination on the surface of solar cells, thus consistently maintaining their solar power generation efficiency.
Solar cells are being recognized as a sustainable energy source, but they demand regular maintenance due to the potential decline in energy production caused by surface contamination of the panels. Traditionally, human labor has been required to spray high-pressure water to clean dust from solar panels.
However, employing human workers in extreme environments such as deserts, mountainous regions, and even outer space is impractical. Therefore, research on an unmanned technology to prevent and remove surface contamination from solar panels has been ongoing.
Research has been underway on the utilization of an electrodynamic screen technology that displaces particles through the generation of high voltage in the form of alternating current on electrodes in a specific pattern. However, this technology incurs a loss in solar power generation due to the need for alternating current and high voltage.
To overcome this limitation, the research team innovated an energy harvesting technology that reuses consumed or discarded energy as electrodynamic screen technology. The team developed a friction electrification power generator that generates high-voltage energy from wind rotation.
To test its applicability, the researchers analyzed the relationship between wind speed and output based on changes in voltage output with respect to the device’s rotation speed. The results showed that fast rotation due to high wind speed generated high voltage (up to 2,300 V). Further, the solar cells’ output was restored by at least 90% when surface contamination was removed using the self-generating electrodynamic screen fabricated with the developed device.
Dr. Lee stated, “This research enabled us to develop the technology to prevent and remove surface contamination on solar cells by converting wind energy found in nature into electrical energy. We will continue researching further technological advancements to explore ways to maximize the efficiency of solar energy, which is a key future eco-friendly energy source.”
The study is published in the journal Nano Energy.
More information: Minsu Heo et al, Self-powered electrodynamic dust removal for sustainable solar panels using triboelectric nanogenerators, Nano Energy (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2024.109257

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Landfill expansion uncertain; leaders mull waste disposal options
August 6, 2023 at 1:00 a.m.
by Maggie Green

The only major landfill in the region is filling up, and Tontitown residents oppose any expansion.
Local leaders are discussing alternatives, but any solution will likely be more expensive, they said.
Eco-Vista
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