Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.2.14

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

EMISSIONS 

Chinese researchers pin Beijing’s smog on fossil fuels (via Climate Progress)

CLIMATE 

Climate change models underestimate likely temperature rise, report shows (via The Guardian)

NUCLEAR 

South Korea nuclear regulators approve restart of three reactors shut in May (via Reuters)

RENEWABLES 

Trina set to build giant 1GW solar farm in Western China (via BusinessGreen)

UK opposition to new EU green energy targets could risk “half a million jobs” (via The Guardian)

Brazil’s ethanol sector, once thriving, now buffeted by forces man-made & natural (via Washington Post)

Credit Suisse Projects ~85% of US energy demand growth coming from renewables through 2025 (via CleanTechnica)

Ethanol futures plunge most in two weeks as cheaper corn reduces costs (via Bloomberg)

Massive Minnesota solar project gets major legal boost (via Climate Progress)

OIL 

Forget Keystone: Will Podesta put Arctic drilling in his crosshairs? (via National Journal)

North Dakota train derailment shows dark side of America’s oil boom (via Time)

TRANSPORTATION 

For 2014, many automakers already prepared for E15 (via Autoblog Green)

Ford C-Max Solar Energi concept hybrid can fully recharge from sun (via Green Car Congress)

Are Ford and SunPower about to make the grid irrelevant for EV charging? (via Greentech Media)

5 Ways to Craft with Old Windows

greenhouse built from salvaged windows

There are lots of fun ways to craft with old windows! Here are five of our favorite projects.

Whether you're replacing the windows on your own house with more efficient ones or you stumbled across an old window in your travels, there are many ways to reuse these relics than tossing them in the landfill! Check out these project to craft with old windows and keep them out of the waste stream!

1. DIY Dry Erase Board - Glass makes a perfect dry erase surface, so it's a snap to turn an old window into a message board to keep you organized.

2. Build a Greenhouse - If you're looking to craft with old windows and you have quite a few of them, you can turn them into a greenhouse and grow food all year long.

build a reclaimed raised garden bed

3. Window Garden Bed - Don't want a whole greenhouse? You can also use old window frames to create a raised garden bed.

4. Window Chalkboard - With just a few supplies you can turn a salvaged window into a chalkboard!

5. Picture Frame - Check out this awesome technique for using a window to frame large prints.

Do you like to craft with old windows? I'd love to hear about what you're making in the comments!

Image Credits: Window Greenhouse by oviddawen, Raised Garden Bed from video tutorial