Inflation Reduction Act home energy rebates may arrive soon

Ryanjlane | E+ | Getty Images Rebates tied to home energy efficiency and created by the Inflation Reduction Act may start flowing to many consumers within months.   The federal government is issuing $8.8 billion for Home Energy Rebates programs through states, territories and tribes, which must apply for the funding. The U.S. Department of … Read more

Sally Fox’s Cotton Has the Power to Change the Fashion Industry

Nearly 56 years ago, during the Summer of Love, Sally Fox inadvertently laid the seeds for her career as a groundbreaking cotton breeder. A then-11-year-old Fox, accompanied by her older sister, went to Northern California’s first-ever Renaissance Faire and spent her babysitting money on a drop spindle from “these cool people.” From there, she was … Read more

Century-old inventor of air conditioner is moving on to home heat pump

Heat pumps are becoming more popular for residential housing with energy prices increasing and the need to reduce use of fossil fuel heating systems. Andrew Aitchison | In Pictures | Getty Images In case you haven’t noticed, heat pumps are hot. Although these devices, which use electricity to generate both air conditioning and heat, have … Read more

Green Roofs Are Great. Blue-Green Roofs Are Even Better

Courtesy of De Dakdokters Below that stretches a filter layer, which keeps the soil from getting into the next layer, a lightweight crate system that stores the water. And finally, below that you’ve got additional layers to keep water and plant roots from infiltrating the actual roof. “You have, in fact, a flat rain barrel … Read more

UN labor agency report warns of rising threat of excess heat, climate change on world’s workers

GENEVA — The U.N. labor organization warned Monday that over 70% of the world’s workforce is likely to be exposed to excessive heat during their careers, citing increased concern about exposure to sunlight. It also warned of air pollution, pesticides and other hazards that could lead to health problems including cancer. In a new report, … Read more

By 2100, Some Destinations Will Lose Half Their Nice Weather Days

The greatest climate change impacts are expected in tropical destinations. Spring is officially underway in North America and Europe, and crowds have rushed to dine out on terraces, bike along flowery meadows and boat in parks. It’s a window of pleasant weather that scientists predict will give way to another record-breaking scorcher of a summer. … Read more

Zurich, Oslo top list of world’s smartest cities

These are the ten smartest cities in the world, according to IMD. Anton Aleksenko | Istock | Getty Images Smart cities in Europe and Asia are gaining ground globally while North American cities have fallen down the ranks, according to the 2024 Smart City Index released April. Of the top 10 smart cities on the … Read more

Dubai flooding and a climate change drain test the world is failing

Traffic diverts away from a flooded street in Sharjah on April 20, 2024, after the heaviest rainfall on record in the UAE. Ahmed Ramzan | Afp | Getty Images The Dubai flooding last week illustrated how urban engineering is failing a major climate change test. In a world marked by the increasing possibility of extreme … Read more

Environmental Damage Could Cost You a Fifth of Your Income Over the Next 25 Years

Kotz, Levermann, and Wenz suggest that this is an indication of warming we’re already committed to, in part because the effect of past emissions hasn’t been felt in its entirety and partly because the global economy is a boat that turns slowly, so it will take time to implement significant changes in emissions. “Such a … Read more

The Rise of the Carbon Farmer

Patrick Holden strolls across the field, pausing from time to time to bend and point out a bumblebee, or a white butterfly, or a dung beetle. A wide expanse of blue sky stretches above. Beneath, undulating green hills, sprawling hedgerows, a horizon broken only by the jagged tips of Wales’ Cambrian mountain range. Sun-soaked goodness. … Read more