With every new development propagated by our officials, influencers, and media outlets, society continues to evolve alongside its precepts.
The rate at which our world turns its pages seems to increase as days go by. So how can we keep up with the changing tides?
Sometimes our best approach isn't to attempt to make sense of all that comes across our feed, but to reserve our resources, both mental and physical, for managing the things we can control and the things which affect us most immediately.
Finding a self-sufficient and sustainable means to water, food, energy, and safety for your community should always be a priority. This collection of articles aims to highlight that.
Water Crisis
"Smarter Homes, for example, is a company that produces the WaterOn device, which is a smart metering and automated leakage prevention system. Thus far, the device has been used on apartment buildings in India and has helped save 40,000 households an average of 35 percent of water consumption. "
The steady increase in global population highlights an increasing demand for vital resources. As organizations and businesses strive for sustainability, a multi-faceted, cooperative approach is not only beneficial, but undeniably essential.
During Water Online Week, Imagine H20 showcased fourteen innovative businesses who bring promising new technologies to the sustainability front.
Read full article here.
"Our research found that between 2010 and 2018 water bills rose by at least 27%, while the highest increase was a staggering 154% in Austin, Texas, where the average annual bill rose from $566 in 2010 to $1,435 in 2018 – despite drought mitigation efforts leading to reduced water usage."
The Guardian uncovered some alarming data that indicates water bill increases across major cities in the United States, leaving many people unable to afford water utility services.
This study highlights problems within the entire water utility system and the individuals experiencing them.
Read full article here.
Sustainability
"Zero Mass Water creates boxy solar panels that generate flows of pure, potable water instead of electrons. It offers access to safe water for homes or businesses in arid parts of the world or places with unsafe tap water. That need is set to grow as climate change dries out regions and alters weather patterns."
Zero Mass Water's Hydropanels, solar panels which generate drinkable water, is receiving backing from companies such as BlackRock and Breakthrough Energy. With the momentum its gaining, the Source Hydropanels will likely be a common component for off-grid living in the near future.
Read full article here.
"Through the data we’ve been collecting over the last several years, we’ve seen institutions double their food purchases from local producers, with 22% of public food dollars invested into the local economy and creating hundreds of new jobs. The institutions with whom we work have also markedly increased their purchases of environmentally sustainable and fairly produced food."
The toll that quarantine measures have taken on the farm industry is heavy, to say the least. And it has forced individuals and small communities to reassess their food distribution system entirely. This article addresses small-scale farming as a solution to long-term food management.
Read full article here.
"Pumped hydro takes advantage of the efficiency of converting electricity to mechanical motion using an electric motor, and converting it back again using generator."
Renewable energy, the concept sought by industries worldwide, may be closer than expected according to former US Energy Secretary, Steven Chu.
By using pumped hydro on the decline of a hill, mechanical energy can be converted to electrical energy and vice versa, simply by utilizing the flow of water downhill which spins the generators. The water can then be pumped back uphill as needed.
Read full article here.
WATER TECH
"The nanorods absorb intense levels of light and convert it to heat localized on the surfaces — a process far more efficient than heating the entire volume of water. And because it uses sunlight, the method is low-cost and sustainable. The same part of the nanorod also acts as an electron-transfer catalyst to promote destruction of micropollutants."
A team of researchers have found a way to use a nanoparticle in water purification. Trace amounts of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in drinking water can be safely removed with the use of nanorods.
Read full article here.
"The MACS approach to the nanoscale design of functional materials opens up completely new horizons across a wide range of disciplines—from physics and chemistry to biology and engineering. Thus, it has the power to enable radical advances in advanced technology—catalysts, biosensors, materials for renewable energy generation and storage.
A newly invented machine, called the Matrix Assembly Cluster Source (MACS), has been used to design a breakthrough water treatment method using a solvent-free approach. This new technology is yet another promising step toward water sustainability.
Read full article here.
Self-Sufficiency
"It may take some tweaking to get a perfectly square shape. If the diagonal measurements are unequal it means I have a parallelogram. The idea is to turn that parallelogram into a rectangle or square which will be the ultimate shape of our house. Equal tape measurements signify we had right angles for all 4 corners. Now we knew exactly where the house would sit."
A longtime homesteader in Nova Scotia shares his knowledge of proper layout and organization of home, garden, and livestock.
Read his experiences here.
Permaculture
"Truly sustainable food production is related to one’s capacity to intervene in a timely way, maintaining and hopefully building the natural capital of the farm, such as healthy soil and biodiversity, over which one has stewardship, whilst at the same time harvesting a surplus of nutritious food."
Farming, for millennia, has been a necessary way to cultivate food for large communities. But are there ways of growing food in manners that aren't so resource-dependent?
Patrick Holden, founding director of Food Sustainable Trust, shares his experiences with farming and his reasoning for supporting a nature-based approach to agriculture.
Read full article here.
"Urban environments can benefit from permaculture most — birds, butterflies, and other small animals can shelter and feed on the plants and water sources. People can grow and harvest organically grown food. And the concrete environment surrounding the garden is softened by the plants and flowers that grow. Here are other ways permaculture in an urban environment can benefit a community."
Permaculture and food forest principles provide an excellent strategy for growing food in a sustainable manner. But can these principles be applied to the urban environment? This article published by Permaculture Research Institute suggests so.
Read full article here.
Preparedness
"Many natural disaster scenarios can cause serious damage to your home and you may not be able to get it repaired right away. I’ve seen tarps on roofs for six to nine months after a hail storm, just because it took that long for the local roofing companies to get around to all the houses they had to repair."
Survivalist or not, having an emergency supply of food and other useful items is wise, especially in light of recent events. While most supplies might contain the common items of canned food and water, there are other items and concepts that are often overlooked. This article highlights those things.
Read full article here.
Climate and Environment
"The so-called "Godzilla dust cloud" is the largest of its kind in the past 50 years, scientists say. It's expected to reach states near the Gulf Coast — including Texas, Louisiana, and Florida — by Wednesday or Thursday this week."
The Saharan Air Layer, an 800-million-metric-ton dust cloud, makes it's way westward across the Atlantic ocean every year. This season, the dust cloud's widest parts stretch to about 1,500 miles, the largest it's been in over 50 years.
Because of it's unexpected size, concerns are being raised in the eastern United States where it will potentially hit the hardest.
Read full article here.
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