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China Developing “Combustible Ice” as New Energy Source

[Energy] Last September, China discovered a large reserve of “combustible ice” on the tundra of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. “Combustible ice” is essentially frozen natural gas – a natural gas hydrate, and is one of the newest energy sources to be discovered. The new reserves found in China reveal a very large supply equal at least 35 [...] [Inhabitat Energy]

More Americans say global warming exaggerated: poll

[News] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A growing number of Americans, nearly half the country, think global warming worries are exaggerated, as more people also doubt that scientific warnings of severe environmental fallout will ever occur, according to a new Gallup poll. [Reuters]

Bead-Filled Washing Maching Uses 90% Less Water

[Technology] A new washing machine design uses 90 percent less water and reduces utility bills by 30 percent by cleaning clothes with tiny plastic beads. The machine by UK company Xeros Ltd uses 3mm-long nylon beads that can get into all crevices and folds of clothing and absorb stains and dirt.  Stephen Burkinshaw, a polymer chemist at Leeds University, discovered that nylon beads at 100 percent humidity could attract stains away from clothing and into the center of the beads, preventing deposition back onto the clothes. The machine uses a small amount of water to dampen the clothes and to reach the right humidity level, then the drum is flooded with the beads.  When the cycle is complete the beads drain away with the water to be reused hundreds of times. I'm sure you've already started questioning what happens to these plastic beads once they're done scrubbing clothes.  The company wants to eventually create a closed loop where the saturated beads can be refreshed and reused in the machines, but for the time being they will be collected and recycled. Xeros says that if all of the US used these machines instead of regular washing machines, it would save 1.2 billion tonnes of water per year and  the CO2 emissions saved would equal taking 5 million cars off the road.  The machine would also eliminate the need to dry clean many delicates, another environmental benefit.  The Xeros machine is expected to be available by the end of next year. via Guardian   [EcoGeek]

Crazy Pixel Building to Be Australia's First Carbon Neutral Office

[Lifestyle] Read the rest of Crazy Pixel Building to Be Australia’s First Carbon Neutral OfficePermalink | Add to del.icio.us | diggPost tags: "wind turbine", carbon neutral office building, carbon-neutral, eco design, first carbon neutral building in australia, Green Building, green design, grocon, pixel building, Solar Power, studio 505, Sustainable Building, sustainable design [Inhabitat Lifestyle]

Kuwaiti Scientists Say Peak Oil Will Arrive in 2014

[Transport] New research out of Kuwait, using a new method of calculating the crude oil production potential of 47 of the world’s largest oil producing countries, has found that peak oil — the period in time when oil production reaches a maximum and then begins to decline — will come much sooner than expected… 2014 to be exact. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

Test Driving Volkswagen's First Hybrid Vehicle: The 2011 Touareg

[Transport] Photo via MotorTrend VW's 2011 Touareg Hybrid The 2010 Geneva Motor Show was filled with so many splashy auto announcements--Porsche's first ever plug-in hybrid, a new Aud... Read the full story on TreeHugger [TreeHugger Transport]

Nike Unveils World Cup Soccer Jerseys Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

[Fashion] ATTENTION GREEN SOCCER FANS Nike recently unveiled its new team jerseys for the upcoming World Cup and here’s the kicker (pun intended) – they’re made from discarded plastic bottles! That’s right, the uniforms, or “kits” in proper soccer speak, are made from melted down bottles from landfills in Japan and Taiwan that have been spun into [...] [Inhabitat Fashion]

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