Browsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.
Follow ENB on TwitterRead the full story in Technology Review.
A new water-treatment technique that combines two expensive methods could prove a cheaper and more efficient way to remove hard-to-clean contaminants. The technology combines photocatalysis, which uses light to break down pollutants, and electrochemical oxidation, which uses an electrical current to do the same.
Read the full story in Technology Review.
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are steadily making their way into commercial devices like cell phones and flat-screen displays. They’re fabricated with layers of organic polymers, which make them flexible, and they use less power and less expensive materials than liquid crystal displays.
Read the full story in USA Today.
More states are moving to establish safe recycling programs and address the mercury content of the popular curly, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Via Librarians’ Internet Index.
Background about this tool that “shows consumers their electricity consumption in a secure Google gadget.” As of summer 2009, Google is “testing the product with utility partners in the US, India and Canada” and has plans for expansion. Find videos, links to articles and reports, policy statements and testimony, a FAQ, listing of partners, and energy saving tips. From Google.
URL: http://www.google.org/powermeter/
Via Librarians’ Internet Index.
The purpose of this website “is to increase public access to high value, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.” Search the raw data catalog by category (such as energy or population) or federal agency to obtain machine-readable, platform-independent data sets. Also includes links to tools for mining data sets, a tutorial, and a form for suggesting additional data sets.
URL: http://www.data.gov/
Via Librarians’ Internet Index.
This initiative “encourages the transition from the use of lead for wheel weights to lead-free alternatives. Wheel weights are clipped to the rims of every automobile wheel in the United States in order to balance the tires. These weights often come loose and fall off,” ending up in waterways or landfills. Provides quick facts and reasons for transitioning to lead-free wheel weights (such as reducing toxic lead exposure). From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
URL: http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/wastemin/nlfwwi.htm
Via Librarians’ Internet Index.
Background on this program that promotes alternatives to lead wheel weights, which “are used worldwide to balance vehicle tires.” It notes that many of the wheel weights fall off and abrade into lead dust, “and increase the risk that lead will contaminate surface, groundwater, and drinking water supplies.” Provides information about alternatives (such as zinc), listing of U.S. distributors of lead-free wheel weights, and a wheel-balancing fact sheet. From the Ecology Center.
URL: http://www.leadfreewheels.org/
