Green Sense Radio

Getting beyond sustainability/Green Rush

The term ‘regenerative’ is being used often today in agriculture, food, biology, even in finance.  It means to restore, renew and grow - and it’s a way we can emulate nature instead of working against it in many aspects of human life. Emily Olson is the founder of ReGen Friends and works to bring regeneration beyond just a buzz word. 

As we continue our series on the ‘green rush,’ the massive growth of the cannabis industry as legalization spreads across the US, we’re joined by Damian Soloman, who’s had a long international career in indoor agriculture and now runs Plant Geek Consulting. 

Global worming/Insect light pollution

Earthworms, which are beneficial to the soil in some areas, are now heading into places like the northern forests of Canada and the U.S. - disturbing the soil and transforming ecosystems. It could result in large amounts of carbon stored in the ground to be released into the atmosphere. Dr. Justine Lejoly is one of the researchers with the University of Alberta who’s been looking into the phenomenon of ‘global worming.'

Even though we might take them for granted, healthy insect populations are critical for life on earth. We hear about insects dying off because of pesticides, climate change, or other causes we don’t yet understand.  One factor is light pollution - that is artificial light from homes and buildings. Dr. James Karl Fischer is the Executive Director of the Zoological Lighting Institute.

DHL pedal delivery bikes/Green Automotive News 2020 recap

 DHL has been trying out a by a new kind of cargo carrying bicycle to reduce pollution and traffic congestion. We’re joined by DHL Fleet Manager Chris Wessel to tell us more about Commercial Cargo Bikes soon to be whizzing through the streets of Manhattan. 

 Tom Appel, publisher of Consumer Guide automotive has a look back on the year in green automotive news with EVs, hybrids, high MPG cars and more.  

Green Rush part 2/Filtering storm water with sand

In our ongoing series getting to know the ‘green rush’ a bit better, we are meeting people innovators in the world of cannabis growing. One such person is Mike Lewis of Third Wave farms which occupies a unique niche as a supply chain consultant working  to maximize crop yield and quality.   

Stormwater that runs off pavements, gutters and lawns - picking up toxins and contaminants along the way - is usually discarded as pollution. But researchers at UC Berkeley have found a new way to use sand to soak up certain toxic materials from storm water which could unlock a new water supply. We’re joined by lead author Joe Charbonnet.   

Green Rush/Microplastics research

As the legalization of various forms of marijuana and hemp continues, we're seeing interest in farming it as a crop grow along with it. Bob Crumley, is the Founder of Founders Hemp and an early adopter and leader in the industry establishing one of its first vertically integrated companies. 

The world produces more plastic waste than ever, adding about 300 million additional tons per year—nearly equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. Close to 80 percent ends up in landfills or the environment.  It’s time to work on solutions and Northwestern University just launched a new program on plastics, ecosystems and public health. We’re joined by Dr. Aaron Packman, a Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering with Northwestern. 

New Ford Mach-E/Solar panel innovations

Consumer Guide Automotive Publisher Tom Appel shares Green Automotive news – the greening of the Jeep Wrangler and news about Ford’s new EV, the Mach-E. 

 

We’ve covered the innovation around solar cells being made from perovskite on Green Sense in recent months. An advantage is greater efficiency. However, in commercial use, the materials are unstable and contain hazardous water soluble lead. But a new team of scientists led by Letian Dou at Purdue University have come up with something new & improved. 

Farm labor/Not Coralated art installation

As we work on feeding the world while using less energy and fewer resources, Hort Americas brings technically advanced and most cost effective products to the greenhouse growers across north America. It also has its finger on the pulse of the indoor growing news. General Manager Chris Higgins joins us again on Green Sense.  

 

Visual art can often bring attention to causes and issues not only in what they display, but how they’re constructed. Currently at the Moody Center for the Arts at Rice University, students are combatting plastic waste by creating sculpture inspired by coral reefs. We’re joined by Jones College senior Alex Rovner who co-created the piece called ‘Not Coralated.’ 

Asphalt recycling/Every Bottle Back initiative

Asphalt, according to the USEPA, is#1 on the list of recycled materials in the US. At the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, they’re doing all kinds of research into how to improve reusing asphalt even more. We’re joined by Edith Arambula Mercado, Recyclable Materials Program Manager. 

 Coke and Pepsi and other beverage companies are working together to reduce their plastic footprint with the Every Bottle Back Initiative. We’re joined by Sarah Dearman, VP of New Ventures with the Recycling Partnership.

Great Lakes water levels/Stroodles biodegradable pasta straws

The Great Lakes, which supplies 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water, are currently at dangerously high levels. Scientists are starting to understand how climate change is connected and we’re joined by University of Michigan researcher Andrew Gronewald.  

When it comes to reducing plastic waste, a lot of places have been getting rid of plastic straws and switching to paper. But that requires resources too. But what about a waste-free option?  Stroodles are pasta straws that could be a novel, viable - and edible - alternative. We're joined by Maxim Gelmann, Stroodle Founder. 

Carlsberg's new sustainable beer bottle/100% renewable energy goal in Virginia

Carlsberg, a Denmark-based brewing company recently announced a new sustainable beer bottle made of paper, which has been in development for the last four years. We’re joined by Simon Hoffmeyer Boas of Carlsberg to explain what went into this world’s first.   

Virginia, a state with a long history with the coal mining industry recently made a commitment to meet all of its electricity needs by the year 2050 with an interim target of 30 percent by 2030. With a look at how the state might get there - and how other states could follow suit - we’re joined by Rob Sargent of Environment America.