31 | December | 2013 | Indoor Air Quality Lab

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 12.31.13 share

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

ENVIRONMENT

China says 8 million acres of farmland now too polluted for food (via Climate Progress)

Losses from Yosemite wildfire could reach $2 billion (via ABC News)

NATURAL GAS/FRACKING

Natural gas is trying, but it just can’t kill coal (via Motley Fool)

Study says majority of Americans don’t understand fracking (via The Hill)

EMISSIONS

Earth’s carbon dioxide levels now 61% higher than 1990 (via RTCC)

DOE stands by “social cost of carbon” (via The Hill)

New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions drop 19% since 2005 (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES

All new Australian power plants will be renewable through 2020 (via CleanTechnica)

How wind is helping deliver record-cheap solar (via EarthTechling)

EIA: US biodiesel production hits high in October (via Green Car Congress)

Shipping container with rollable PV panels inside could become instant 100kW solar plant (via TreeHugger)

CLIMATE

96% of nightly news segments on extreme weather don’t mention climate change (via EcoAffect)

GRID

Massachusetts makes smart grid mandatory (via Greentech Media)

California’s risky path to grid reform (via Navigant Research)

OIL

North Dakota community evacuated after oil train collision and fire (via Los Angeles Times)

TRANSPORTATION

Number of US public charging stations climbed 30% this year (via Autoblog Green)

California ISO rolls out roadmap on vehicle-grid integration (via Renew Grid)

TAR SANDS

Scientists find 7,300-mile mercury contamination “bullseye” around Canadian tar sands (via Climate Progress)

Posted: | Categories: Alberta, australia, biodiesel, Cal-ISO, california, California ISO, canada, carbon dioxide, China, climate, Climate Change, coal, department of energy, DOE, eia, emissions, environment, EV charger, Extreme weather, fracking, grid, Masschusetts, natural gas, New York City, News, north dakota, oil, Oil train, renewables, smart grid, Social cost of carbon, solar, solar pv, tar sands, Transportation, Wildfire, wind, Yosemite

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Window Crafts: Make a DIY Dry Erase Board share

We love window crafts, and this simple DIY dry erase board is a perfect way for you to get organized for the new year!

Bonnie - one of the writers I work with at Crafting a Green World - created this sweet upcycled dry erase board using an old window that she found, and I love the simplicity of it! She used her board to write a sweet saying, but you could use yours as a to-do list or even to keep track of your groceries and reduce food waste.

The genius of this project is that a window is basically already a dry erase board! A dry erase marker will wipe off of glass almost as easily as it does off of proper a dry erase surface, so there's no need to treat the glass at all.

This Crafting a Green World window craft doesn't require sanding and painting, but if you want a more modern look you can grab some medium grit sandpaper and zero VOC paint to refresh the window that you're using. To get clean lines, use masking tape to cover the glass and remove any hardware before painting. A vibrant jewel tone or fresh coat of bright white would look great!

Once you're painted - or not! - you just need to gather the short list of supplies that Bonnie calls for and make your dry erase board! Here's what you'll need:

an old window
recycled paper
glue or tape
a dry erase marker

Got your supplies handy? Head over to Crafting a Green World to get your window crafting on!

Posted: | Categories: Craft Recycled, crafting with windows, crafty reuse, creative reuse, DIY, reuse, upcycling, window crafts, windows

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