March 9 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Europe Plans To Reduce Russian Gas Imports By 66% This Year” • Europe is planning to reduce consumption of Russian natural gas this year as it prepares for a complete break with its single biggest energy supplier over the war in Ukraine. EU officials outlined a plan to achieve energy independence from Moscow “well before 2030.” [CNN]

Wind turbines (Irina Iriser, Pexels)

• “Germany Rules Out Prolonging Its Nuclear Power Plants” • Berlin has ruled out extending the lifetime of its existing nuclear fleet, brushing aside energy security concerns after Moscow threatened to halt gas supplies to Germany in retaliation for Western sanctions in the Russia-Ukraine war. Closing the nuclear fleet is too far along to be reversed. [EURACTIV.com]
• “War in Ukraine: Fitch Ratings warns Russian bond default ‘imminent'” • Fitch Ratings has warned Russia is likely to soon default on its debts, as it downgraded the country’s bonds further into “junk” territory, almost to the bottom grade. The warning came after the EU, US, and UK said they will reduce or ban imports of Russian oil or gas. [BBC]
• “Vice Admiral McGinn: Renewable Energy Will Save Us From Dictators Whose Power Comes From Fossil Fuels” • Vice Admiral Dennis V McGinn wrote a piece for The Hill responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He argued that renewable energy will save us from dictators powered by fossil fuels and called for the US to up its game on renewables. [CleanTechnica]
• “Hydrogen Truck Maker Nikola Leads EV Stock Rally As Biden Cuts Off Russian Oil” • Nikola, which aims to replace diesel-fueled semis with trucks powered by batteries and hydrogen, was one of the biggest stock market gainers among EV makers after President Biden said the US was cutting off imports of Russian oil because of its invasion of Ukraine. [Forbes]

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Naytra Couture’s sustainable silk clothing uplifts artisans

Naytra Couture designs sustainable silk women’s clothing. The sustainable couture pieces include shirts, tunics and scarves — all made with zero plastics. “We have adopted an absolutely no plastic policy. We use 100% pure mulberry silk – no man-made fiber at all,” the company stated. Naytra Couture also works with manufacturing partners that are Standard 100 OEKO-TEX certified, and all packaging is eco-friendly. “Your Naytra tunic or scarf will come in a special design cotton bag, with a recycled paper box and with hand-tags made out from recycled paper,” the designers said. Related: Luxury vegan silk startup sets high bar for sustainable fashion How does Naytra Couture work? The company partners with female folk artists in Indian villages who create clothing designs based on traditional artwork motifs. As the Naytra Couture website explains, working with these artisans helps keep “the ancient folk art of Madhubani (meaning a “forest of honey”) alive.” The result is one-of-a-kind wearable art made of 100% silk. This female-founded, female-run company is driven by three key principles. These principles include eliminating the middleman to work with artists directly and pay them a fair wage. Additionally, the company donates a portion of its profits to support the elimination of curable blindness. Naytra, pronounced “neh-trah,” means “eyes” in Hindi and Sanskrit. This sustainable fashion house believes “our eyes are a window to our inner world — our feelings, thoughts and views of the universe.” Finally, the company’s third guiding principle is to “help mother earth by creating keepsake garments versus fast fashion.” Each tunic or scarf created by Naytra Couture is based on an artisan’s original painting. The designs are brightly colored, with animal and jungle motifs. If you’re looking for a statement piece or a treat to top off your wardrobe, Naytra Couture is a sustainable choice that uplifts underserved communities and helps make the world a better place. + Naytra Couture Images via Naytra Couture

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Naytra Couture’s sustainable silk clothing uplifts artisans

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3D printing powers this plan for a carbon neutral cacao village

Valentino Gareri Atelier has designed a village made using 3D printing and cacao waste for Ecuadorian chocolate manufacturer MUZE Cacao and nonprofit Avanti. This is the first of a planned global network of sustainable smart villages — a carbon-neutral circular economy for the cacao industry. The Cacao Eco Village is slated to be built in 2022 in Pedernales, a county in the coastal province of Manabi, Ecuador, where cacao farmers live. “We have pushed the circular economy core principles so much that they informed the design philosophy of the entire project,” said designer Valentino Gareri. “The cacao waste, result of the chocolate production process, will be re-utilized for 3D printing parts of the village. Waste is not only turned into a resource, but into architecture.” The sustainable architecture behind Cacao Eco Village focuses on five core principles: modular , functional, sustainable, tech-enabled and connected. This is no minimalist village of huts in the rainforest. The Eco Village will be a smart city. The modular principle is explored through extendable, replicable and adaptable spaces. The village will house co-living and co-working spaces and operate as a cacao processing plant, chocolate factory and educational and research center. Designers also hope to turn the village into an eco-tourism destination. The Eco Village is also self-sufficient through rainwater collection, solar power and natural ventilation. It will also incorporate local building materials such as bamboo , timber and 3D-printed structures formed of cacao shell waste biofilaments. “In the not-too-distant future, we will be able to design buildings entirely made of natural materials and recycle them at the end of their life cycle in order either to create new ones, or to return them back to nature,” Gareri said. How smart is this smart city? Eco Village is going for cutting edge with the use of blockchain, IoT (internet of things) tech integration, and NFTs.Still, Eco Village aims to keep the style of the village and its culture true to historical community traditions. The buildings use local and natural materials, and facades draw inspiration from the multi-colored Ecuadorian houses and the colorful fruits of cacao trees . Water tanks for rain collection are integrated into the rooftops. The shape of the rooftops was inspired by Ecuadorian art patterns. The Eco Village will also feature pedestrian/cyclist pathways and charging stations for electric vehicles . Cars and trucks are only allowed around the factory and production areas, making this a walkable and clean community. Designers are using a circular economy model as a creative solution for reducing the environmental footprint of the cacao industry, while also generating income, reducing resource dependency and minimizing waste .MUZE Cacao aims to create new ethical cacao-based products using the most out of the fruit (~80% is currently wasted). This will reduce waste and offset carbon while creating jobs for cacao farmers. The Village also hopes to be the Silicon Valley of circular economy innovators and attract inventors and testing facilities for AgTech, FinTech and FoodTech startups, manufacturers and researchers. + Valentino Gareri Atelier Via Dezeen Images via Valentino Gareri Atelier

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3D printing powers this plan for a carbon neutral cacao village

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This DIY project shrinks an M1 Mac mini to half its size - Input

This DIY project shrinks an M1 Mac mini to half its size  Input

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Sustainable design makes this forest home timeless

Atelier C by Nicholas Francoeur is an artists’ residence in Quebec that transcends common forms of green design. The house incorporates multiple sustainable design strategies and has even received LEED Platinum certification. The house is clad in charred cedar that complements the white aspen used for the soffits and ceilings. This dark, cedar exterior juxtaposes with the bright, airy interiors. A selection of tall, rectangular windows creates vertical framed views to the outside. This verticality and rhythm further emphasize immersion in the lush woods. Related: Off Grid House takes remote sustainability to new heights One of the clients’ main requests was to incorporate spaces for working on their creative pursuits. The couple practices writing, photography and music, thus requiring ample workspace. To meet this requirement, Atelier C boasts four studios. The two south-facing studios are dedicated to music and fabrication. The two that face the north are for photography and writing and are integrated into the floor plan as spaces that one circulates through instead of as two separate rooms. For Atelier C, Francoeur intended to shift from typical green architecture and infuse the project with beautiful, modern details that support sustainable design strategies. For him, the house’s functional components needed to be aesthetically pleasing, too. One such example is the mono-pitched roof and overhangs. Beyond their elegant appearance, they manage climatic conditions to enhance user comfort and project longevity. During the harsh winters, the roof slope and overhangs efficiently drain off the snow. In the warmer months, they limit direct sunlight in the summer afternoons, keeping the interiors naturally cool. To further support these thermal comfort strategies, the house uses double the insulation required by code, minimizing energy needed during colder months. Sustainable material choices were also an important consideration for the project. The clients opted to use natural materials wherever possible, including cellulose insulation and various types of timber . The designer also selected furnishings to limit Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions without sacrificing aesthetics. Another green design aspect Francoeur considered is longevity. This meant prioritizing well-crafted technical details and a timeless design. Creating spaces with the intent of aging well is crucial, as architectural details become elegant and follow universal design principles instead of seasonal trends. Furthermore, the meticulous design details mean the project won’t require frequent renovations , thus minimizing costs and environmental impact. Through his work on Atelier C, Francoeur has been able to prove that sustainable architecture need not be unattractive and purely functional. Instead, through well-crafted details, environmentally-friendly design can be timelessly beautiful. Project collaborators include general contractor Renovia Inc., structure by Maisons Éléments, kitchen work by À Hauteur d’Homme, and cabinetry by Xavier Hackenbeck. + Nicholas Francoeur Photographs by Raphaël Thibodeau and Ronny Theriault

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Sustainable design makes this forest home timeless

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Luminia connects projects to clean energy and sustainability

California -based clean energy company Luminia has launched novel financing solutions and advanced technology to support commercial properties adopting sustainable improvements. Luminia has created a suite of solutions to foster sustainable development and transform existing commercial properties. Formerly known as SD Renewables, Luminia is a leader in providing sustainable technology and financing solutions. The company has a long-standing history of developing renewable infrastructure and real estate assets. Now, the brand wants to use its skills and leadership to help businesses overcome obstacles to meet sustainability goals. Carondelet High School in Concord, California, is one example of how Luminia’s solutions can work. Currently, the school operates exclusively on solar power . In partnership with Sun Light and Power, the school now enjoys a reduced carbon footprint and lower energy bills. “Luminia provided us with a financing solution under a very short timeframe, and it turned out to be a better option than what others were providing. Luminia viewed us as a partner and wanted to serve us properly, treat us well and make us a priority – which was extremely important to us,” said Noah Galabow, CFO of Carondelet High School. Luminia’s team of professionals helps guide the company. For example, Luminia co-managing partner David Field has worked with a platform that executed over 8,000 residential solar transactions worth over $350 million. Jim Kelly, another co-managing partner, has over three decades of experience in commercial real estate . “Over the last three decades I have grown acutely aware of the challenges in financing sustainability improvements for the commercial real estate industry. This experience guided our approach to inventing new ways for commercial property owners to achieve their ESG targets,” Kelly said. The solutions offered by Luminia come at a time of increased interest in eco-friendly properties. Businesses pushed to innovate are seeking sustainable technology for their projects. By addressing financing obstacles, Luminia can encourage companies to embrace clean energy and other sustainability features. + Luminia Via BusinessWire Lead image via Pexels

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Luminia connects projects to clean energy and sustainability

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I paid $200 to transform my crumbling driveway into a modern space but critics say it looks like it won’t l... - The Sun

I paid $200 to transform my crumbling driveway into a modern space but critics say it looks like it won’t l...  The Sun

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