Totally Awesome or Super Weird? Sweden Is Importing Lots of Trash

November 6th, 2012 - Jill Ettinger

Garbage Truck

How does a nation, known for a furniture store that sells everything by the individually-wrapped part, have no trash?

Read More:Totally Awesome or Super Weird? Sweden Is Importing Lots of Trash

Algae Turns Wastewater into Biodiesel

February 24th, 2011 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

PUMPINGALGAE

Scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology are working to use microalgae to clean wastewater and produce biodiesel simultaneously; the school announced in a press release last week.

Purifying wastewater before sending it back into the ecosystem would reduce or eliminate pollutants, such as nitrates, phosphates, bacteria, and toxins. Microalgae consume these materials and then the algae – which are less expensive and grow quicker than corn and soybeans – can be converted into biofuel.

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Entire Swedish Town Goes Biofuel!

March 9th, 2009 - Gerald "Gerry" Pugliese

swedenKalmar, Sweden, a city of 60,000, along with the surrounding 12 towns, adding up to a quarter of million people, is jumping off the grid, cutting oil and switching to biofuel.

City officials insist they’re not eco-freaks, just giving people the tools to make a change, saying the technological part is easy. Changing the culture is hard!

The community will rely on all sorts of eco-friendly power, such as ethanol, biogas and hydropower.

Desperate to get off oil entirely, Kalmar has wanted to kick oil since the 1970s, when oil prices shot up, average price of gas in Sweden is still over $7.50 per gallon, but the city’s new energy aspirations will put Kalmar very close to its goal of being fossil fuel free by 2030.

Kalmar’s revamped energy systems include biogas made from chicken poop and wood waste, as well as an 85% ethanol blend from Brazil, windmills, hydropower, nuclear energy and old school steam power. The switch is also expected to save the town money; The Chicago Tribune reports.

Kuzumaki, Japan is another eco-marvel. The town of 8,000 residents generates 161% of its power from clean energy, using solar panels, wind turbines, cow dung and more!

Read More:Entire Swedish Town Goes Biofuel!

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