Solar panels are made from plant waste

March 28, 2022  |  EcoNote

Engineering student Carvey Ehren Maigue has found an innovative way to make a solar panel that functions even in cloudy weather. The product called “AuReus” harvests the unseen ultraviolet (UV) light that comes through dense cloud coverage. According to Maigue, preliminary testing shows that the…
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Solar-powered electric catamaran features a kite wing 

February 21, 2022  |  EcoNote

SILENT-YACHTS has unveiled its new SILENT 60, a solar-powered catamaran with a kite wing instead of conventional sails. The company, located in Mallorca, Spain, and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., says that the yacht’s 42 solar panels generate 17 kWp to power two electric motors of 200 kW each. The 60…
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Toray develops plant-based nylon

January 24, 2022  |  EcoNote

Japanese textile company Toray has launched a nylon fiber made entirely from plant-derived polymers. Toray says its new material, Ecodia ® N510, displays the same physical characteristics as conventional petroleum-derived nylon, with the equivalent strength and heat resistance, and excell…
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Flexible, versatile heater provides personal comfort

January 24, 2022  |  EcoNote

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a thin, flexible and plastic-free heater to help reduce energy consumption in homes and offices, and still offer individuals comfortable temperatures. When attached to seats, walls or floors, the heaters generate heat to the individual temperatu…
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Flexible, paper-based battery biodegrades in soil

January 10, 2022  |  EcoNote

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have created a paper-based battery that is fully biodegradable in soil after about a month. The battery could eventually be used in non-disposable, flexible electronic devices and smart fabrics. One version of the battery is just …
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Floating solar panels studied

December 20, 2021  |  EcoNote

A consortium led by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has launched a study on floating, flexible solar energy systems. IDTechEx reports that the system of floating units has been installed in the Fieldlab Green Economy Westvoorne in Oostvoornse Meer lake, near the Ma…
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Giving nonwovens another life

November 22, 2021  |  EcoNote

Studies show that sustainability concerns influence consumer buying decisions. In 2017 there was 10.1 million tons of nonwovens produced globally. That’s 270 billion square meters totaling $43 billion worth of textile money. Of that, Michael Savarie says, only about 37 percent of it was classi…
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Nature-based infrared wellness announced

November 8, 2021  |  EcoNote

Hologenix, the makers of Celliant, has introduced a fully biodegradable infrared viscose material that is embedded with an infrared mineral complex designed to harness and reflect human energy.  At the Advanced Textiles Conference at IFAI Expo 2021, the company’s chief supply chain officer, C…
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PrimaLoft® develops new manufacturing platform

October 25, 2021  |  EcoNote

For decades, insulation manufacturing methods have relied on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. These industrial processes, widely used by manufacturers across the globe, are leading contributors of greenhouse gas emissions. In response, many brands have focused on material solutions and certif…
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New, eco-friendly dying process for jeans developed

October 11, 2021  |  EcoNote

As much as consumers love blue jeans, few may realize their favorite casual clothes are not environmentally friendly to manufacture. Specifically, the process by which they’re dyed is the problem. A new coloration technique, however, has been developed that researchers at the University of Geo…
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