Happy World Environment Day! With the launch of our specialist energy consultancy division, environmental news is something we’re particularly tuned into here at Thirty 30 Media. It’s not just us either: caring for our lovely planet has been the hot topic across the media this year, and businesses too are rushing to make their organisations both sustainable and environment-friendly.
Trees of Hope
In a bid to reduce the carbon footprint left by our cities’ streetlight networks, Danish start-up Allumen have come up with an, ahem, enlightening idea.
Researchers are working to identify the genes that gives bioluminescent microalgae their distinctive blue glow. Once they’ve done this they could, in theory, tweak them and add them to trees and plants, genetically engineering them to softly glow.
Obviously, this project is still in its earliest stages, so no one knows how successful it will be. We hope it will be, though, if only because light up shrubs would be extremely aesthetically pleasing. Oh, and to save energy, of course?
Solar Panels For All
In 2015, the tech wizards over at Google launched a nifty little programme in the US, designed to help people who like the idea of solar panels, but aren’t sure their homes are built for it.
Project Sunroof uses both Google Earth data and 3D modelling processes to access individual roofs in terms of both their solar energy potential, and the money-saving benefits of going solar.
Sounds neat, right? Well the good news is that Google have teamed up with energy giant EON, and rolled the programme out here in the UK last week.
Perfect for people like us here at Thirty 30 Media HQ in Manchester, who often doubt whether our office sees enough sun to make solar panels worth it?
Plastics Lose Their Seat
Across the UK, hospitality businesses have been taking steps to reduce their plastic waste by cutting down the amount of single-use coffee cups they get through.
Last week, the Scottish Parliament announced a blanket ban on plastic cups across its cafes, estimating that this would prevent around 450,000 cups being sent to landfill each year. Instead, drinks will be served in reusable ceramic mugs.
Westminster introduced a ‘latte levy’ on the coffee it serves in the London Parliament, but perhaps whether to ban the plastics altogether should be one of the Prime Minister’s questions?
Bin and Gone (Automatically)
Are the days of Damon Albarn getting ‘rudely awakened by the dustman’ behind us? Well, maybe if he lives in Barking.
Envac have been working on automated bins that filter both rubbish and recycling, before disposing of it automatically through an underground pipe system. The bins have been selected to serve almost 10,000 homes in Barking, and are due to be rolled out in 2019.
Not only could this put an end to rude awakenings, it is estimated that the bins could reduce the emissions produced by traditional vehicle collections by a massive 90%. Win win!
Boaty McNoFace?
You’ve heard of driverless cars, but the latest innovation to be tested out is the automated boat, designed to transport goods and passengers alike in watery cities such as Amsterdam and Venice (watch this space, Manchester!).
Not only is it hoped that the boats will cut congestion and pollution on the canals, they are also fitted with environmental sensors, to help monitor water pollution and pH levels.
They’re currently being tested in swimming pools by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, though they’ll need adapting to cope with waves and stronger currents before being released on the open water.
Maybe don’t hang up the gondola hat just yet, then.
