Energy and Environment News Roundup – 4.10.14

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

ENERGY POLICY 

EU seeks cheaper power, curbs renewable subsidies (via ABC News/AP)

UK risks brownouts without power from Scotland (via Bloomberg)

New England power generators oppose Massachusetts proposed clean energy mandates (via ClimateWire)

Arizona utility’s long-term plan calls for more renewables, less coal (via Renew Grid)

EMISSIONS 

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels just hit their highest point in 800,000 years (via Climate Progress)

Carbon trading in China: Short-term experience, long-term wisdom (via C2ES)

California issues first forestry offsets for carbon market (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

GWEC: Global installed wind power capacity will almost double in five years (via Renewable Energy World)

Chinese solar module prices may increase up to 20% in the US in 2014 (via Greentech Media)

Offshore wind advances in Rhode Island, Texas, Georgia (via CleanTechnica)

Majority of Americans support renewable fuel standard, poll shows (via The Hill)

Net metering update: What do recent decisions tell us? (via Greentech Media)

A breakthrough for utility-scale solar on contaminated lands? (via Greentech Media)

Stanford researchers develop less resource-intensive way to make ethanol (via MIT Technology Review)

COAL 

China plans ban on imports of coal with high ash, sulfur (via Bloomberg)

CLIMATE 

Climate changes to result in bird, reptile shifts (via ABC News/AP)

Obama targets climate change in wildfire strategy (via The Hill)

TRANSPORTATION 

Cars become biggest driver of greenhouse gas increases (via Bloomberg)

The US Navy has found a way to turn seawater into fuel (via Huffington Post)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY 

Walmart and GE team up for global LED rollout (via BusinessGreen)

How Japan replaced half its nuclear capacity with efficiency (via Energy Collective)

LA, DC top cities for Energy Star buildings (via Energy Manager Today)

Big manufacturers urging Ohio lawmakers to keep energy-efficiency benchmarks (via Columbus Business First)

FRACKING 

Researcher: 2014 slated to be most active year for global shale drilling (via Houston Chronicle)

ENVIRONMENT 

P&G pledges zero deforestation by 2020 (via GreenBiz)

Wildlife in Gulf of Mexico still suffering four years after BP oil spill: report (via The Guardian)

GRID 

Wind, solar energy driving electricity storage technology (via Climate Central)

Grid operator endorses $590 million power project for Houston area (via Houston Chronicle)

OPINION 

Shale gas blooms in China? Not so fast (via Breaking Energy)

Obama Administration’s enthusiasm for coal sales undermines its climate program (via Center for American Progress)

Cowboys and Indians against Keystone XL (via Politico)

Why California’s drought isn’t going anywhere (via Climate Central)

Making climate adaptation finance work (via World Resources Institute)

Can a fair price for solar energy win over utilities? (via Grist)

5 DIY Moss Decor Ideas

5 DIY Moss Decor Ideas

You know that we love adding a bit of green anywhere we can in our space, and these simple moss decor ideas are a great way to bring a little bit of the outdoors in.

Moss is easy to keep alive and does well in low light, which makes it a perfect plant to bring indoors. Caring for live moss decor is a lot like caring for a terrarium. I was able to keep a terrarium thriving for years while killing countless plants in my garden, so you know this stuff is easy to maintain. Just like with a moss terrarium, you just want to mist your moss decor with water every few weeks to keep it happy.

5 DIY Moss Decor Ideas

5 DIY Moss Decor Ideas

1. Centerpieces and Wall Art - Display pretty moss on tabletops and even use it to deck out a mirror frame to give it an earthy look.

2. Typography Art - Typography art is super hip right now, and you can make your typography wall art stand out by covering it in moss instead of paint or decoupage.

5 DIY Moss Decor Ideas

3. Bath Mat - Talk about easy to maintain! The water that drips onto this mat will help keep the moss happy.

4. Door Wreath - You can hang this pretty moss wreath on your front door or on the wall inside your home. I think it would look very pretty hung over the mantle of a fireplace!

5. Picture Frame - This is a similar idea to the mirror frames I mentioned above, but on a smaller scale.

Have you created any cool DIY moss decor? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!