Welcome indoors, solar cells
Scientists have developed organic solar cells optimized to convert ambient indoor light to electricity. The power they produce is low, but is probably enough to feed the millions of products that the internet of things will bring online.
Microbes are degrading infrastructure, compounding health implications
Microorganisms growing inside aging buildings and infrastructure are more than just a health issue, according to new research. The research examined the impact of fungal mold growth and associated microbes within structures on a university campus. The study focuses on the observed biodeteriorative capabilities of indoor fungi upon gypsum board material (drywall) and how it affects a building’s age and room functionality.
Microbes are degrading infrastructure, compounding health implications
Microorganisms growing inside aging buildings and infrastructure are more than just a health issue, according to new research. The research examined the impact of fungal mold growth and associated microbes within structures on a university campus. The study focuses on the observed biodeteriorative capabilities of indoor fungi upon gypsum board material (drywall) and how it affects a building’s age and room functionality.
5 ways to beat fall allergies
Fall can be tough for people who have seasonal allergies — and this year could be particularly rough. Ragweed is the biggest trigger in the fall, releasing pollen from August until October. Extreme weather patterns like lots of rain and…
A chilling truth: our addiction to air conditioning must end | Letters
Kudos to Stephen Buranyi for drawing attention to the growth of air conditioning worldwide and the accompanying taste for cold in a time of global warming (Blowing cold and hot, The long read, 29 August). Having lived and worked in…
Striking LEED Silver-targeted tower to rise in the heart of Philadelphia
The heart of Philadelphia will soon be transformed with Schuylkill Yards, a $3.5 billion master-planned neighborhood in University City that will include two ground-up mixed-use towers, one of which will target LEED Silver certification. Developer Brandywine Realty Trust recently unveiled designs for the pair of towers — dubbed the East and West Towers — designed by global architecture firm Practice for Architecture and Urbanism (PAU). The glass-enveloped buildings will combine modern design elements with historical references, from color palettes inspired by the traditional materials common in the area to the window typology of the old Pennsylvania Railroad railcars.
Doctors are prescribing houseplants for anxiety, depression, loneliness
A medical practice in Manchester, England is giving patients indoor plants to help boost wellness.
The Building Decarbonization Coalition’s quest to build an all-electric future
The organization’s founder and director, Panama Bartholomy, chats about the magnitude of the challenge and what it means for companies.
Sanders Explains His Plan for a Climate Revolution in a Wildfire-Devastated Town
Bernie Sanders wants the United States to combat climate change like a nation at war. The Democratic presidential candidate detailed his new climate platform on Thursday in Paradise, California, while surrounded by devastation that wouldn’t look out of place on…
Passive House Institute’s look at kitchen fans is less than exhaustive
Can a recirculating fan deliver the indoor air quality we should demand?
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