EcoHearth: Come Home to the Earth

An intimate understanding of the local ecology is necessary for successful agriculture—and it may be important to extend this knowledge to the smallest of lifeforms. According to Dr. Teruo Higa, a proponent of natural, sustainable, chemical-free farming, soil treated with beneficial microorganisms can produce healthier, more productive plants. To this end, he has created a proprietary mixture of beneficial bacteria and yeast called Effective Microorganisms (EM). Although the scientific jury is still out on its effectiveness, its potential is great for vastly increasing food yields while reducing chemical pollutants in the environment. Read on…

According to Celtic history, the concept and practice of harnessing tidal power has been around for at least 2000 years; the mill at Eling, Ireland, has been operating for 900 of them. But wave energy isn’t just an ancient concept. The past 50 years have seen a rapid expansion of imaginative technologies for tapping the power of the ocean, and the ideas just keep getting better. Three of the most promising are: tidal turbine arrays, wave converters and ocean thermal electric conversion, or OTEC. Read on…

Before the Toyota Prius, the Chevy Volt and the Honda Insight--way back in the 1930s and 1940s respectively--were the Fuller Dymaxion and the Ford Soymobile.

The Dymaxion looks rather strange: two wheels in front and one in back. From above, it has the shape of a snowshoe. It was created by the late Buckminster Fuller, best known for his unique geodesic dome, a building design and significant architectural achievement. Read on…

A company with origins in NASA’s Mars program claims to have developed a revolutionary energy source. The normally secretive California-based Bloom Energy Corporation issued a press release (pdf) on February 24, 2010, introducing its fuel cell and allowing 60 Minutes a rare look at the technology. The Bloom Energy Server™, also called the Bloom Box, promises constant, renewable power that removes dependence on the power grid, produces energy more efficiently than current methods and allows users to greatly reduce their carbon footprints. Read on…

The excitement generated by a recent study stating that 90% of petroleum-based plastics can be replaced with plant-based bioplastics is understandable—since it would mean reduced demand for oil, lower CO₂ emissions and biodegradable plastics. Unfortunately, the figure has been misinterpreted beyond the study’s intent. Due to several limitations, this lofty goal won’t be attainable any time soon, but that does not reduce the promise of bioplastics. Read on…