UPDATE: Future Solar panels will be transparent, lightweight, flexible, and ultra-efficient

It’ll be as cheap as putting up wallpaper.” One principal advantage they have over conventional solar technology is that they can be engineered to react to many different wavelengths of light. That lets them convert more of the sunlight that strikes them into electricity.
Wow! That is some pretty exciting stuff. Why don’t we have perovskite solar panels right now? One answer is, there is often a huge difference between performance in the lab and performance in the real world. Another thing is that many perovskite solar cells use lead as a principal ingredient. And they deteriorate rapidly in the presence of moisture. Silicon solar cells may be clunky, but they last 25 years or more.

Siravam says that very few scientists are working on solutions to these problems. Instead, they are devoting their efforts to establishing new solar cell efficiency records in the lab. Read more: http://cleantechnica.com/2015/07/05/perovskite-solar-cells-what-this-breakthrough-needs-to-get-to-market/

CARBON CREDIT: Allianz has committed to a carbon reduction strategy and has for the first time fully neutralized carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

Roderick MacDonald and his team have developed the co-financing strategy for carbon projects. As Allianz said,  Karsten Löffler directs climate-related strategies. In Kenya, they invested in a company that undertakes forest conservation in combination with development initiatives for the local population. The first project will prevent the emission of 36 million metric tons of CO2 – about 100 times the annual emissions of the entire Allianz Group. In India, we co-finance a set of energy-efficient lighting projects. They will help reduce residential energy consumption and avoid the annual equivalent emissions of 1 million cars in Germany.

What are the critical emission sources within Allianz and what do you do to reduce them in an efficient manner?

Löffler: 98 percent of the Group's emissions come from energy, travel and paper, so the focus of our carbon reduction activities is on these areas. We have developed global policies to manage and reduce consumption, which in turn support the avoidance, reduction and substitution of emissions. For instance, our Green IT Hardware Purchasing Policy ensures that we purchase energy-efficient devices and that “Energy Star” and “EPEAT” are Group-wide standards for all IT purchases. We also have put efforts in raising awareness among our employees through interactive and engaging campaigns.

Does this also bring advantages for Allianz customers?

Löffler: We believe climate change is providing opportunities and threats at the same time. We capitalize on the first, for instance by being one of the largest renewable energy investors and through our carbon projects, and strive to protect our clients against the latter. We offer our customers over 130 green products and services across the entire business spectrum, e.g. green building insurance to cover facilities or offices that have been built or refurbished to be more energy-efficient.

What is going to be the future focus of Allianz’ climate engagement?

Löffler: Despite the lack of progress in international climate change negotiations, we see evidence of increasing regional, national and sub-national efforts towards introducing climate change legislation. This is particularly striking in Europe, but also in countries like China. There is a general sentiment that the economic costs of non- or delayed-action outweigh by far the costs of taking the necessary measures today.

MacDonald: The striking impact of climate change on weather patterns, biodiversity or water supply means that there is a strong economic rationale to be at the forefront of efforts in this area for an insurance and asset management company like Allianz. This is also the reason why we find it worthwhile to pursue direct carbon investments in key areas of climate protection. At Allianz, we seek to meet the rewarding challenges of the future today.http://www.finchannel.com/index.php/editorial-2/item/34590-

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Solar plane lands in Hawaii after record-breaking flight

Pilot Andre Borschberg and his single-seat aircraft landed at Kalaeloa, a small airport outside Honolulu. His nearly 118-hour voyage from Nagoya broke the record for the world's longest nonstop solo flight, his team said. The late US adventurer Steve Fossett set the previous record of 76 hours when he flew a specially-designed jet around the globe in 2006.
But Borschberg flew the Solar Impulse 2 without fuel. Instead, its wings were equipped with 17,000 solar cells that powered propellers and charged batteries. The plane ran on stored energy at night.
The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest of the plane's global travels as there was nowhere for it to land in an emergency..........................The plane's ideal flight speed is about 28 mph though that can double during the day when sun's rays are strongest. The carbon-fiber aircraft weighs over 5,000 pounds or about as much as a minivan or mid-sized truck. Borschberg and Piccard have been taking turns flying the plane on an around-the-world trip since taking off from Abu Dhabi in March. After Hawaii, the plane will head to Phoenix and then New York. Piccard will make the flight to Phoenix, organizers said in a press release.
The project, which began in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than $100 million, is meant to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. Solar-powered air travel is not yet commercially practical, however, given the slow travel time, weather and weight constraints of the aircraft.
The plane is visiting Hawaii just as the state has embarked on its own ambitious clean energy project. Gov. David Ige last month signed legislation directing Hawaii's utilities to generate 100 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2045. The utilities currently get 21 percent of their power from renewable sources. Read more: http://www.philstar.com/world/2015/07/05/1473534/solar-plane-lands-hawaii-after-record-breaking-flight

UPDATE: World Bank Report: Brick fields across Bangladesh expel more than 9.8 million tons of greenhouse gases each year

"due to a combination of old technology, weak environmental legislation and enforcement and lack of corporate responsibility." The website of the Bangladesh Ministry of Environment and Forests outlines plans to cut the fumes emitted from brick fields by introducing cleaner technology and practices, as well as closer monitoring, through the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project.  

The pollution is causing serious health hazards. The brick kilns spew out vapor that is harmful to eyes, lungs and throats. These pollutants pose a risk to children's physical and mental development.There's also a heavy environmental cost beyond the air pollution the brick kilns cause, particularly since forests are cut down to provide fuel for the furnaces.Meanwhile, the brick workers serve the rapid development of Bangladesh's cities. But what, Petralla asks, do they gain from such growth? "They are only slaves of it, and they cannot use their production," he said. "It's pure injustice." - Raffaele Petralla is an Italian photographer. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

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UPDATE: HEALTH Risk of Extreme Weather From Climate Change to Rise Over Next Century

"The report estimates that the exposure of people to extreme rainfall will more than quadruple and the exposure of people to drought will triple compared to the 1990s. In the same time span, the exposure of the older people to heat waves is expected to go up by a factor of 12, according to Peter Cox, one of the authors, who is a professor of climate-system dynamics at the University of Exeter in Britain. By the end of the century, the report estimates, the exposure to heat waves each year for older people around the world is expected to be around 3 billion more cases than in 1990. The number of times people of all ages are exposed to drought would increase by more than a billion a year. The rise in exposures to extreme rain would be around 2 billion a year by the end of the century, in part because populations are growing. Even without climate change, the health problems that come along with economic development are significant, the authors note. About 1.2 million people died from illnesses related to air pollution in China in 2010, the report said. Most broad climate reports do not go further than explaining the science, but much of the Lancet report is dedicated to policy prescriptions to slow or stop climate change and mute its effects on health. It notes that using fewer fossil fuels “is no longer primarily a technical or economic question — it is now a political one,” and urges governments to enact changes that would accomplish that." 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: WASHINGTON — More people will be exposed to floods, droughts, heat waves and other extreme weather associated with climate change over the next century than previously thought, according to a new report in the British medical journal The Lancet.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/science/risk-of-extreme-weather-from-climate-change-to-rise-over-next-century-report-says.html?_r=1

CLIMATE CHANGE PEACE BUILDING: UN agriculture agency teams up with global wholesale markets union to boost urban FOOD SECURITY

Recognizing the growing challenge of feeding city dwellers, who will become the world’s majority by 2050, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Union of Wholesale Markets today signed a partnership aimed at reaching the urban poor and reducing food waste estimated at 1.3 billion tonnes every year.
“More efficient wholesale markets, and overall urban market outlets, can result in more affordable means to reach the city poor with healthy food,” Eugenia Serova, head of FAO’s Agro-Industry Division said in a press release issued today in Budapest, Hungary, where the partnership agreement was being signed.
“If close to 90 per cent of the expected increase in the global urban population in the next two decades will take place in cities in Africa and Asia, it makes much sense to build solid knowledge on how to strengthen urban market systems,” according to Ms. Serova.
FAO said the partnership with the wholesalers, who function as brokers who sell agricultural goods purchased directly from producers in bulk to businesses and resellers, is aimed to promote sustainability and inclusiveness in the wholesale sector, including developing “best practices” for reducing food waste.
“Gathering more detailed information on how much food is lost and wasted at the wholesale level, developing sound procedures to improve logistic efficiencies in urban markets and with suppliers and buyers while preventing and managing waste across the sector are key goals of the partnership,” the agency said.
According to FAO, roughly one third of the food produced globally for human consumption – approximately 1.3 billion tonnes every year ¬– is lost or wasted. The losses are increasingly concentrated in cities – over half of the world’s population today lives in cities, and by 2050 nearly two-thirds of people will be city dwellers.
FAO says it estimates that over 40 per cent of root crops, fruits and vegetables are lost wasted, along with 35 per cent of fish, 30 per cent of cereals and 20 per cent of meat and dairy products, and total food waste represents an economic value of some $1 trillion annually.
“By developing best practices for designs and operations of wholesale markets and a more efficient flow of information along the urban food supply chains, the new collaboration aims not only to cut down on food losses and waste but also to enhance producers' access to markets, improve food handling, and make fresher, safer produce more equally available to city consumers,” it said.
The World Union of Wholesale Markets network connects wholesale marketers in 43 countries, according to FAO, making it an ideal partner in collecting data that will result in a series of reports and activities targeted at helping wholesalers find new ways to improve efficiencies, ensure better supplies of quality produce, and cut down on waste.

Read the Source:  http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50989#.VWi6slLeums

WELLNESS FOR PEACE: Things to Do to Have an Energy Efficient Home By Spaces Contributor

1. Upgrade Appliances Whether you’re remodeling a kitchen or laundry room Energy Star appliances should be on your to-buy list. These stoves, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers have been certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality. 2. Low-Flow Shower Heads By installing low-flow shower heads in bathrooms, you’ll conserve hot water and lower your hot water costs at the same time. 3. Wall-Mount Toggle Switches By investing in wall-mounted toggle switches, you can cut off the power to the electronics, like TVs and computers, when you’re not using them more easily than having to pull various cords out of wall sockets. 4. LED Bulbs An easy project to tackle, switch to LED lights in your lamps and overhead fixtures throughout your home. 5. Increase Insulation Add insulation to your attic or increase the amount in your walls to eliminate excessive heat loss or heat gain. 6. Update Windows If you currently have single-pane windows, replace them with new ones that are double-paned or insulated. They redirect ultra-violet rays and control how heat comes through the windows. 7. Seal Ductwork Older homes may have bad air flow with the culprit being leaky ductwork. Improve the home’s comfort by sealing and insulating ductwork. 8. Under-Floor Radiant Heat Besides being more efficient than most types of heat sources, radiant heat can also come from a variety of sources including gas, oil, wood and solar. Allergy sufferers love this because it doesn’t blow small particles into the room. 9. Solar Water Heating System Because the sun is technically free, your water heating bills should decrease from 50-80% with a solar water heating system. Pro.com is a website founded in 2013 by service industry entrepreneurs and former Amazon executives to simplify home services -- especially research on contractor fees and qualifications. Source: https://homes.yahoo.com/blogs/spaces/9-smart-projects-for-an-energy-efficient-home-175808681.html