Day: July 11, 2021

Many sustainability-minded consumers are moving away from single-use plastic products and turning to reusable alternatives. In the kitchen, trendy alternatives include bamboo drinking straws and beeswax sandwich wrap.  Those consumers likely assume that reusables have fewer environmental impacts, but just how green are these products? University of Michigan researchers compared the lifetime environmental impacts of common kitchenware products—both single-use plastics and reusables—and uncovered some surprising and counterintuitive results.

Internationally experienced consultant Devni Acharya has been appointed to drive Arup’s work across climate change, the circular economy and resource and waste management in Asia Pacific.  Based in Singapore, she will work with clients to navigate the climate crisis using circular economy approaches and to developing strategic net zero programmes.  Devni has consulted on projects across the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, advising cities, investors and developers on circular economy projects as they work towards their net zero carbon targets and total value ambitions.

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) is tasked with supercomputing, high-end computational science, and advanced networking for science. One of its most important tools in advancing computational science is the annual ASCR Leadership Computing Challenge (ALCC). The competitive program grants 1-year allotments of high-performance computing (HPC) time to scientists from industry, academia, and national laboratories whose work advances scientific and technological research in DOE mission areas, such as fusion energy, geosciences, high energy physics, and materials sciences.

Crypto-mining firm CleanSpark is looking into microgrids in order to make bitcoin mining more sustainable.  Microgrids will be used in conjunction with the current power grid to incorporate solar, wind, hydro and other sustainable options.  Big names in the industry along with environmentalist groups have been speaking out against the massive energy usage of crypto mining.

Lotus may be embracing electrification but the British automaker is giving combustion engines a fitting send-off, with the 2022 Lotus Emira promising supercar focus with sports car pricing. Unveiled today, the Emira may be the last of the gas-only Lotus models, but it taps the automaker’s newest platforms and tech.  That means the Lotus Sports Car Architecture underneath, and a choice of two gas engines – including one new to Lotus, from partner Mercedes-AMG – delivering the performance. AMG’s 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four will be the standard drivetrain, while the 3.5-liter V6 from long-standing partner Toyota will be the upgrade.