The extreme weather threatening the US and parts of Europe has already downed electricity for thousands of people and made it hard to access supplies. Be smart; be prepared. Build a family emergency kit to get you and your household through at least 72 hours without normal services, as comfortably and safely as possible.

Make a list of things each family member regularly uses and can’t do without. For instance, a baby will need diapers, many changes of clothes, moist towelettes and specific food. Anyone depending on medications should have seven days’ supply stored away. Feminine hygiene products, entertainment items, pet supplies – each person or pet has unique needs.

Discuss it with your family. They’ll remind you of things you may not have thought of. Make sure you have these things, then store them in an accessible place.

If you can, make up an individual box or package for each person, and put it where they can easily find it.

Now let’s look at an all-purpose list of indispensable supplies. Below is the Red Cross list, with our comments in parenthesis:

• Water: one gallon per person, per day: 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home. (We bought water purification tablets and used them to store tap water in tightly closed buckets. But plain non-perfumed bleach will also serve to sanitize water. Find instructions here.
• Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items: 3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home. (Store foods that your family likes. And a manual can opener)
• Flashlight (or two)
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Extra batteries for flashlight and radio
• First aid kit (Things to have in the first-aid kit )
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items (toilet paper, feminine hygiene products. Baby wipes can be used in a pinch for personal hygiene when no running water available. Also, shops that sell adult diapers often sell full-body moist towels; worth having for hygiene and comfort.)
• Copies of personal documents: medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies (plus marriage/divorce documents, bank account information). Put these documents in sealed, waterproof bags and keep them in a getaway suitcase in case of evacuation. Here is FEMA’s guide to safeguarding critical documents and valuables.
• Cell phone with chargers (and a portable power bank)
• Family and emergency contact information (put these names and numbers on everyone’s phones. Plus keep a paper copy taped to the refrigerator.)
• Extra cash
• Emergency blankets or sleeping bags
• Map(s) of the area

Depending on the types of disasters that are common where you live, also consider adding these things to your kit:

• Whistle (to call for help)
• N95 or surgical masks
• Matches
• Rain gear
• Towels
  Work gloves
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Plastic sheeting
• Duct tape
• Scissors
• Household liquid bleach
• Entertainment (and comfort) items
• Two-way radios
• Extra set of car keys and house keys (give a set to a trusted neighbor or friend)

We add:

• Moist antiseptic towels to sanitize areas.
• A portable solar-powered or hand-crank lantern, to avoid tripping in the dark.
• Several long-burning candles for comforting light; assuming that it’s safe to have fire burning.
• Two or three cigarette lighters. A cigarette lighter supplies fire many more times than a box of matches.

If the suppy list seems too long to deal with, the Red Cross sells emergency kits of all sizes on their site. But we recommend building your own kit that suits your particular needs.

Other notes:

Wash and dry all the laundry in the hamper, and don’t let more accumulate. If the power goes down or water stops running in the pipes, you’ll at least have clean changes of clothes. This is important not only for hygiene but for mental health: having to live in dirty clothes makes stress worse.

If it seems likely that running water might stop, improvise a toilet made from a tall, sturdy metal bucket, strong plastic bags to line it, and a tight lid. You can also order a portable toilet online.

If you wonder where to store the emergency supplies, stash the boxes or suitcases in unused spaces. Under a table. Under beds; under the sofa. On top of closets, or under a sink. In the space under the stairs. Out on the patio; in the garage – always assuming it’s safe to go outside. Put decorative items away and use the space for emergency storage. It might feel crowded, but you’ll restore order after the emergency.

The important thing is to stay safe and be prepared.

The post How does one start prepping? appeared first on Green Prophet.

I was in Munich, Germany, settling into my new temporary digs when my Couchsurfing host flung open the living room windows. “Lüften!” he exclaimed ardently.

The breeze felt nice, if not a bit chilly, on that late winter afternoon. But in a land where the people love cold plunging, I made like a local and embraced the briskness.

Although it was March 2020, finding fresh air had nothing to do with the impending Covid-19 pandemic. In fact, as my host explained, lüften is a German cultural tradition practiced multiple times daily.

Simply the practice of opening windows for natural ventilation, it is considered essential for well-being and doesn’t cost a dime. Even a short burst of air has a powerful impact, with the typical session lasting from five to thirty minutes.

In the modern era, Germans have emerged as trailblazers in health and social care, but they have been practicing lüften for centuries to rid living spaces of stale air, odors, and even mold by regulating humidity. For these benefits, many landlords write lüften into their rental contracts.

Related: Improving the air quality of your home starting with your AC unit

Physically, lüften is a tried and true remedy for improving respiratory function, energy levels, and mood. We refresh our spaces with plants with much of the same motivation; lüften makes greenification a more immersive experience.

Lüften must invigorate a primal understanding that we are connected to the elements. When, for whatever modern reasons, we are stuck inside, we can swiftly invite in the great outdoors. Easy, breezy, beautiful.

See also: Eco-friendly upgrades every homeowner can make

I’ve never been a big fan of air conditioning, much preferring air that hasn’t been tampered with. It has always been a no-brainer for me to let fresh air flow inside during warmer weather, but now I happily crack the windows during the colder months too, actively recalling my old friend and the wisdom of his ancestors.

I brought lüften back with me from Germany, an unseen souvenir — often the best kind of memento.

The post Let the lüften in — and be healthier for it appeared first on Green Prophet.

Building back home and dignity can work with local, sustainable materials

Somalia faces one of the world’s most persistent displacement crises, with millions uprooted by conflict, drought, and climate-driven instability. As emergency camps grow into semi-permanent settlements, the need for long-term, affordable, and culturally grounded housing becomes urgent. A new proposal, Shelters of the Future, offers precisely that: a mud-brick modular framework rooted in Somali building traditions yet designed for resilience, dignity, and community.

Developed by designer Rabie Al Ashi in Saudi Arabia in collaboration with Kengo Kuma & Associates, Shelters of the Future won first prize in an international competition led by Somalia’s Ministry of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing (MoPWRH), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Young Architects Competition (YAC). It stands out for its elegant simplicity: a shelter system that relies on local materials, local skills, and local cultural logic.

With so much goodwill going into designing new refugee shelters from the western world –– see our 2014 article on refugee shelters from IKEA and designers in Jordan, we are still seeing Gazans and Somalis living under tarps.

Read our article: Refugee shelters we hate to love

Still, we celebrate ideas and appreciate this design because it works with vernacular materials and takes into account the local.

At the heart of the design is a flexible 4×4-meter module, a human-scaled unit pairing two enclosed rooms with a semi-open central space and a private garden. This small footprint is deceptively powerful: it gives each household privacy, a safe outdoor space, and the ability to arrange interior life according to Somali social norms. The module becomes a building block—units can be combined into courtyards, linear clusters, or circular compounds that echo traditional Somali settlement patterns. Compare this to the shelters Somalis have built in Yemen, below.

Materiality grounds the system firmly in place. Structures are built from mud bricks, acacia logs, palm leaves, and earth-based plasters—materials that are renewable, inexpensive, and readily available. Mud bricks in particular offer thermal mass, keeping interiors cooler during the day and warmer at night, an essential feature in Somalia’s hot, arid climate.

Construction is intentionally low-tech: shelters can be built by residents themselves, strengthening local craftsmanship and reducing reliance on imported humanitarian products that often fail in desert climates.

The design also incorporates passive cooling strategies—cross-ventilation, shaded openings, and breathable walls—to make life more comfortable without the need for electricity. Gender-sensitive layouts support safety and cultural expectations. Small gardens, livestock spaces, and shaded communal zones help rebuild livelihoods and social cohesion.

We’ve spent weeks in Sinai in the simple hushas there made from palm fronds and bamboo. They can be remarkably comfortable even at night when the cold winds blow.

Rather than treating displacement as a temporary emergency, this project is reframed as a human condition requiring stability, community, and dignity. By combining vernacular wisdom with adaptable modular planning, the project offers a model for refugee housing that is scalable, low-carbon, and deeply respectful of local identity.

For Somalia’s displaced families, a mud-brick home may be the most modern solution of all.

::IOM

The post Emergency housing and refugee shelters made from mud appeared first on Green Prophet.

Dogs have ways to communicate their stresses, but cats don’t. Still, you can interpret signs of anxiety or fear in your cat if you know what to look for.

The first red flag is changes in the cat’s behavior. If your usually laid-back cat has begun to avoid you, hides under the bed much of the time, acts surprisingly aggressive or tries to run away, something or possibly someone in the house is bothering it.

Another clear signal of distress for a house cat is when it pees or poos outside the litter box. Refusing food, or eating all the time, are signs of what we would call depression in a human; and so it is for cats.

A cat’s body language also gives away signs of stress. If you notice that your pet is freezing in place, panting, shaking, or sitting in a tense position a lot, it’s afraid of something, or anticipating trouble.

Observe if it often tries to make itself smaller by sitting motionless with its head low, the tail tucked under its body; or on the contrary, trying to look bigger by arching its back with all its fur standing on end. Defiant growling and yowling usually goes with that. It may be an attempt to intimidate some other cat in territory it considers its own.

Watch its face. If your cat’s eyes are wide open with dilated pupils, it’s in defense mode. It will stare ahead hard, or sometimes blink rapidly and look away instead. It flattens its ears to the head and pulls its whiskers back. It might hiss if you approach. You feel the menace in its posture and face. That’s because the cat feels menaced itself.

Passive signs of anxiety may include constantly licking its nose, rubbing its face on surfaces a lot, and constant licking of its hind legs to the point where the fur sheds off. An insecure cat may start following its human around all the time or on the contrary, become withdrawn.

Sometimes a cat’s stress relates to past events. This is common with rescue cats. A  black cat I adopted used to physically flinch at every little noise, a throwback to early trauma as a kitten abandoned in the street. It took many months of TLC and respect for his need to be left alone to gain his trust. But while he eventually enjoyed being talked to and petted, he forever remained nervous and on the watch, never sitting on my lap for more than a minute. I think it made him feel trapped, but then I’ll never know for sure. Here’s a post about how black cats are being protected in Spain until Halloween.

Chronic stress impacts a cat’s health in the long run. Feline idiopathic cystitis, where there’s inflammation of the bladder, is often ascribed to chronic stress. The bladder inflammation can become so severe as to cause a blockage of the urinary tract, a painful emergency condition. If you see your cat straining to urinate, peeing very little each time, choosing a cool surface to pee on, like a tile floor rather than the litter box, and/or meowing while urinating, take him or her to the veterinarian right away.

What might be stressing your cat? And how can you help it?

If your cat is sick and/or elderly, it will probably be living with some pain and stress. Here consistent veterinarian’s care is essential. Would you consider treating your pet with medical marijuana?

Different factors in the environment may lead to a cat’s stress, but most often it goes back to other cats. If one cat doesn’t get along with another in the house, being obliged to share can lead to fierce competition for the food and water, litter box, toys, and beds – even if each cat has its own. The solution is to separate the cats’ properties as far as possible, and have patience. With time, they may become friends. On the other hand, they may agree to live in peace only as long as their stuff stays separate, so keep observing them.

Neighborhood cats can bully a house cat. This is difficult to manage. The easiest thing is to let the cat decide when it’s safe to go outdoors: it will catch the scent of a neighborhood tough close by and stay indoors if it feels a threat in the air.

Sometimes cat stress comes from feeling trapped. A cat will let you know if you’re petting or holding it against its will. It will wriggle out of your arms or jump off your lap. If you insist on picking it up when it wants to be left alone, it may scratch or bite. Respect its feline independence.

Boredom and frustration cause stress. Cats need to scratch, and if denied a scratch pole or pad, or access to a tree, it will scratch the furniture. Some cats need lots of stimulation and roaming outdoors, or love wild gymnastics in the house. Almost every cat likes to climb and hang out in high places. Ever watched a cat watching you from the top of the fridge? If your cat must be kept indoors, arrange your home so there’s at least one place where your cat can leap from one height to another, and to a third or fourth if it’s possible.

Don’t panic if you find your pet delicately stepping along the thin ledge outside a high window. Rather than startling it with a shriek, just let it come back inside in its own good time.

Some cats are content with a safe life in a home with cozy hiding places and just a window to the world. Many need both: plenty of activity (usually at night) and a hidey-hole or two. And cats’ needs change. A pregnant cat slows down, and naturally, so does an older cat. There’s only one way to get to know your cat’s needs, and that’s by observing them.

Cats are conservative creatures. Change stresses them. A new food can upset a cat. Big upsets like moving house, the sudden absence of a beloved human, or a new person in the house (like a baby) may cause your pet to become withdrawn, or more vocal than ever. Obviously you can’t control every factor in a cat’s environment but consider that in many respects, care of a cat resembles care of another human. It’s happiest when feeling safe.

The post Cat stress symptoms – look for these signs appeared first on Green Prophet.

Battery-equipped induction stoves just took a major step toward the mainstream. Copper—maker of a 120-volt, plug-in induction range with an internal battery—raised $28 million to expand production and enter new markets. As American consumers race to replace their polluting indoor gas stoves and ovens with solutions that work, Copper is a step in the right direction.

The financing was led by climate-focused investor Prelude Ventures with participation from Building Ventures and existing backers Voyager, Collaborative Fund, Climactic, Designer Fund, Necessary Ventures, Leap Forward Ventures, and Climate Capital.

The round comprises equity and venture debt. Prelude Ventures led the Series A; the company also confirmed venture debt in the capital stack. “Copper has built a category-defining company… we were particularly impressed with the team’s relentless execution and the strength of their patent portfolio covering batteries in appliances,” said Mark Cupta, Managing Director at Prelude Ventures.

Copper CEO and co-founder Sam Calisch added, “This new capital will enable Copper to scale into additional products, helping millions upgrade their homes, ditch gas, and support the clean grid.”

Americans have been wary of gas appliances since news came out that cookstoves leaking methane gas may be causing health problems like cancer in the US.

Why is Copper a game-changer?

Most induction ranges require a 240-V circuit and an electrical panel upgrade—an expensive non-starter in older buildings. Copper’s range plugs into a standard 120-V outlet; its built-in battery supplies bursts of extra power when needed for searing or boiling. That design slashes installation cost and complexity for landlords and homeowners, accelerates gas-to-electric switching, and opens the door to using millions of small, distributed batteries as flexible grid resources.

The model is already landing fleet-scale deals. New York City’s Housing Authority (NYCHA) selected Copper for a $32 million program to install 10,000 stoves in public-housing apartments—part of a push to reduce indoor air pollution and electrify kitchens without rewiring buildings.

Beyond cooking, embedded batteries can form a virtual power plant (VPP)—so appliances help the grid ride through peaks and avoid gas peaker plants. Copper piloted a California VPP in 2024; broader analyses show VPPs can deliver substantial capacity and consumer savings if programs are funded and scaled.

The science and public-health case for switching from gas

Induction eliminates combustion indoors. Multiple studies from top universities find that gas and propane stoves raise indoor nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) to unhealthy levels, contribute to childhood asthma, leak climate-warming methane, and can emit benzene during use. Key findings come from Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability and collaborators (NO₂ exposures, methane leakage), Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (health burden estimates), and peer-reviewed studies on benzene emissions.

For renters and homeowners, a plug-in induction range removes the need for an electrician and panel upgrade, delivering fast, precise heat and cooler kitchens. Early reviews have praised performance; press reports put retail pricing around $5,999 for Copper’s least-expensive model, with potential incentives available depending on location and policy. $6 grand for a stove is a luxury item that we believe will limit buy-ins, but which will accelerate copy-cat appliance makers, especially from China, to fill the void for lower income earners who want to get rid of gas appliances.

Copper’s financing signals investor appetite for electrification that solves retrofit pain points and unlocks grid value. Expect copycats and adjacent products (battery-equipped heat-pump appliances, water heating, and laundry) to follow.

The company says it will expand its platform into additional products—with patents covering batteries in appliances providing defensive moats.

Related reading on Green Prophet

• Solar batteries 101: what homeowners need to know
• Distributed energy and the Texas grid
• Virtual power plants in Europe’s energy reset
• DIY solar: what to know before you install
• 8 ways to make your home more sustainable
• Heating systems 101 (gas, electric, heat pumps)
• Ventilation and indoor air quality at home
• How air filters cut indoor pollution
• Cookware safety: what to watch
• Cooking in clay: traditional, low-tox alternatives

The post Replacing gas with Copper’s battery-equipped $6000 induction stove appeared first on Green Prophet.

If your energy bills have been creeping up—or skyrocketing—you’re not alone. Many homeowners feel the weight of high power costs, but the root cause often goes undiagnosed. There are several common culprits that could negatively impact your energy bill, from aging HVAC systems to outdated insulation and inefficient appliances.

Understanding what’s behind your home’s high energy use is the first step toward making smarter and more cost-effective choices. And if you’re thinking solar could be part of the answer, you’re on the right track. Define Solar in NJ explains what to look out for to help you uncover real savings.

Hidden Energy Wasters in Your Home

1. Old HVAC Systems

Your heating and cooling system is likely the biggest energy draw in your home. If your HVAC unit is more than 10–15 years old, it may be working overtime just to maintain a consistent temperature. Older units lose efficiency, and even with regular maintenance, they can’t keep up with today’s energy standards. A poorly performing HVAC system can account for 40-50% of a home’s total energy use.

2. Poor Insulation

Insufficient attic or wall insulation can cause temperature fluctuations, forcing your HVAC system to work harder. Air leaks around doors, windows, or ductwork are also a common (and fixable) source of energy waste. If your home feels drafty in the winter or too hot in the summer, insulation may be to blame.

3. Outdated Appliances

Appliances that are more than a decade old can consume significantly more power than newer ENERGY STAR-rated models. Refrigerators, water heaters, washers, and dryers are often responsible for quietly draining energy, especially if they’re used regularly or operate inefficiently.

4. Phantom Load

Even when turned off, electronics like TVs, computers, and gaming systems can draw small amounts of power—known as “phantom load.” It may not seem like much, but across dozens of devices, it adds up.

Pinpoint the Problem

If you’ve noticed your energy bills climbing, it might be time for a home energy assessment. A professional can evaluate your HVAC system, appliances, insulation, and other factors to determine what’s using the most energy.

From there, you can consider whether you want to make any significant improvements or consider alternative solutions. Solar can work in tandem with any upgrades made or help close the gap of inefficiencies to ultimately reduce household energy costs.

Solar Power: The Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Switching to solar power is both an environmentally friendly decision and a smart financial move as well. You can dramatically reduce or even eliminate your monthly utility bills by generating your own electricity. When paired with energy efficiency upgrades, the benefits of solar become even better. Rather than spending money on ever-rising energy costs, you can invest in your home’s long-term value.

Take the Next Step Toward Efficiency

If you’re serious about cutting energy costs, it’s essential to examine your home’s energy profile holistically. Start with an energy assessment or consultation from a reputable solar energy services provider. Once that is completed and any current inefficiencies are identified, you can consider how solar power fits into the broader solution.

About Define Solar

Define Solar, serving NJ and PA, specializes in professional solar installations with an unmatched commitment to communication, quality, and detail. With years of experience and a track record of helping numerous families, the company delivers reliable, world-class service. Every project is tailored to meet individual client needs, ensuring exceptional results.

The post Define Solar Based in NJ Explains Why Your Home Might Be Using More Energy Than It Should (And What to Do About It) appeared first on Green Prophet.

A silent chemical assault is underway. A new nationwide study has revealed that children in the United States — especially toddlers aged two to four — are regularly exposed to dozens of industrial chemicals during their most vulnerable developmental years. Many of these chemicals are not even on the radar of public health monitoring systems.

The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, tested urine samples from 201 young children as part of the NIH-supported Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. Researchers screened for 111 chemicals commonly found in household items, plastics, food packaging, cosmetics, and furniture.

Related: why glass is emitting more microplastics than plastic bottles

What they found is deeply unsettling: 96 chemicals were detected in at least five children. 48 were found in more than half. 34 were found in over 90% of the children — including 9 not tracked in national health databases like NHANES.

“These are not rare or accidental exposures,” said Deborah H. Bennett, the study’s lead author and professor of public health at UC Davis. “This is a daily, invisible flood of chemicals entering the bodies of children at a stage when their brains and immune systems are still forming.”

The Toxic Alphabet of Modern Childhood

Phthalates and phthalate alternatives – Found in toys, food wrap, vinyl flooring, and shampoo

Parabens – Used in creams, cosmetics, and even medications

Bisphenols (BPA, BPS) – Found in plastic containers, canned food linings, and receipts

Benzophenones – Common in sunscreens and cosmetics

Pesticide residues, flame retardants, and combustion byproducts – Lurking in food, furniture, and air

Children are especially vulnerable. Their smaller bodies mean higher exposures per kilogram, and behaviors like crawling, mouthing toys, and touching floors mean they are constantly in contact with contaminated surfaces. In some cases, the children’s chemical loads were higher than their mothers’ levels during pregnancy, pointing to postnatal environmental sources — the home, the daycare, the playground.

Related: the problems of Dollar Store plastic

The data also revealed disturbing patterns: Chemical exposures were highest among younger toddlers and racial/ethnic minorities, reflecting systemic environmental injustice. While some older chemicals like triclosan and certain phthalates are decreasing (likely due to public pressure and reformulations), new unregulated substitutes like DINCH and emerging pesticides are on the rise.

Swapping out banned chemicals for understudied alternatives is what scientists call “regrettable substitution.” It’s regulation on a delay — and children are paying the price.

What Can Parents Do to Reduce the Toxic Burden?

While we can’t control every exposure, there are concrete steps caregivers can take:

Avoid plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7, which may contain bisphenols and phthalates

Buy “paraben-free” and “fragrance-free” personal care products. Buy or make your own food wraps from fabric scraps and beeswax. Package lunches and food in steel, not plastic containers.

Ventilate homes, dust with a damp cloth, and consider buying air cleaners with HEPA filters

Wash hands before meals, especially after outdoor play or contact with plastic items

Limit pesticide exposure — wash produce well and consider organic options when possible

A Call for Chemical Accountability

Ultimately, this is not just a parenting issue. It’s a policy failure. Most of the 40,000+ chemicals used in consumer products in the U.S. are poorly regulated, with minimal long-term health data.

As Green Prophet has reported before, environmental chemicals are linked to declining fertility, disrupted hormones, obesity, and neurodevelopmental disorders — all of which are now rising in childhood populations.

“This study should sound the alarm,” said Jiwon Oh, postdoctoral scholar and co-author of the study. “We urgently need better biomonitoring, stronger chemical safety laws, and corporate transparency. Our children shouldn’t be the test subjects for industrial shortcuts.”

This is a pivotal moment. Conscious parents and policymakers alike have the opportunity — and the obligation — to push for a healthier future. Because these chemicals aren’t just in the air or water — they’re in our children. And that makes this not just a science story, but a moral one.

The post Toxins in tiny bodies: American children are carrying invisible chemical burden appeared first on Green Prophet.

5 Ways to Help Your AC Beat the Heat

The post Why Your AC Might Be Struggling—And What You Can Do About It appeared first on Green Prophet.

If you picture an eco-village, you might imagine a simple dwelling with permaculture gardens and a very slow, rural pace of life. While often true, this rustic image undermines the technology that is increasingly being used to achieve their sustainability – technology that we shouldn’t be frightened of or avoid, but use to harness a greener way of life.

Energy solutions

Energy independence is a big part of eco villages. While solar panels are the visible, sung heros here, the real magic lies in integrated systems underpinning them. Smart microgrids are used to manage locally generated power from diverse mix of sources like solar, micro-hydro, or even wind. They balance loads and incorporate battery banks for storage, which reduces the reliance on external grids. 

Advanced solar integration can be expressed through Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), in which the solar cells become part of the building fabric itself. The real MVPs, though, are the energy efficiency monitoring systems, such as smart meters and community dashboards, which can track both generation and consumption. Through finding patterns, or possibly using machine learning, it’s possible to better align the two so there’s no waste (this is even more important when many dwellings share energy).

Intelligent water management systems

Water is life, and eco-villages treat it as such through age-old conservation and reuse techniques. Rainwater harvesting isn’t just barrels, it means having integrated roof catchments feeding into systems with first-flush diverters that automatically discard the initial, most contaminated runoff. Water then passes through staged filtration, like sediment traps, then by sand or gravel, before collection in large cisterns. Again, IoT sensors are often used to help determine and notify of capacity and cleanliness levels.

For accessing this water, particularly for irrigation, choose a submersible pump for its efficiency – this can quickly transfer water in a reliable way. Further along the cycle might be constructed wetlands, which are carefully designed shallow beds. They’re planted with aquatic vegetation and use natural microbial processes within their gravel and sand substrates to purify greywater (sometimes even pre-treated blackwater), making it safe for irrigation with minimal energy input.

Waste not, want not

“Waste” is a resource that’s awaiting transformation. Composting techniques like vermicomposting (using worms) or Bokashi (fermentation) help process organic matter into rich soil amendments. Of course, these are old techniques that don’t require much technology.

However, investing in some innovative technology can open more doors to transformation, as not all transformation can be naturally captured. Some communities employ anaerobic biogas digesters, which are sealed tanks that break down food scraps and animal manure in an oxygen-free environment. This produces methane gas for cooking or heating as well as a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. IoT sensors, again, can track microbial activity to help boost gas yields.

Technology as the invisible foundation

Energy, water, and waste are the three flows that need to be managed by intelligent technologies. This infrastructure is frequently “unseen” because it’s designed to be integrated and harmonious with natural systems, rather than intrusive (it’s not consumption-led). Harmony between dwellings can be difficult, and this is where integrated systems can communicate. It goes to show that such communities are not anti-technology, but instead are simply selective about only using technology that benefits them and aligns with their values. 

The post The unseen tech behind eco villages appeared first on Green Prophet.

Owning a home means investing in comfort, safety, and financial security. Keeping your property in tip-top shape is a way to protect those goals. But if you’re one of the growing numbers of eco-conscious homeowners, you’re also focused on reducing your property’s carbon footprint.

One of the areas where you can make a significant impact is by moving away from conventional HVAC systems. Your home’s heating and cooling equipment typically accounts for at least half of your energy use. By switching to environmentally conscious HVAC solutions, you’ll increase your property’s sustainability while maintaining its comfort and value. Below are a few ideas for eco-friendly temperature control to consider.   

Ductless Mini-Split Systems

Chances are you already have central AC and heat. Although your equipment may be of the high-efficiency variety, you can lower your energy use even more. By moving away from conventional HVAC systems, you can only use the energy you need at the moment.

How? With a ductless mini split system, you can install separate units in each area or room of your home. These systems are often more eco-friendly than centralized solutions because you can adjust the temperature by zone. Instead of using energy to have the entire property at the same temp, you’re heating or cooling one area.

As you’re sitting in your living room on a steamy summer evening, you’ll keep your cool while binging. When it’s time to get some sleep, you can ramp up the air conditioner in your bedroom. Cooling in the other parts of your home can taper down so you’ll have less waste. You’ll also eliminate the need for pricey ductwork, including periodic cleaning and repairs.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps can cut your electricity use for heat by as much as 75%, which is pretty substantial. Even if you live in a milder climate, you can experience colder temps that call for more than electric blankets. And while high-efficiency furnaces offer the promise of rebates and using less natural gas, you’re still dependent on fossil fuels.

Converting to a heat pump means the equipment is using air within or outside your home, depending on the season. If it’s warmer, the pump moves hot air outside. During the cooler months, the pump does the opposite. It moves air from the outside into your home to make it warmer.

Systems like these are known as air-to-air solutions. However, heat pumps can also be geothermal. These systems use heat from the ground to make your home more comfortable during chilly weather. Some heat pumps can use existing ductwork while others operate on the mini-split or ductless concept.

Solar Power

Living in an area with ample sunshine holds advantages besides promoting feelings of happiness. It’s an opportunity to use the sun’s natural energy to power your home. Solar panels, shingles, and windows are ways to make the switch.

Of course, you’ll want to enlist the help of the pros before you get the work done. They’ll be able to tell you how many panels you’ll need and what side to install them on. Contractors will look at obstructions to sunlight, including trees. They’ll gather data about your home’s size and energy needs.

If you decide to install solar panels, you may have the option of leasing them. This route can reduce upfront costs and might make sense if you won’t be in your home for decades. If you’re worried about potential damage from hail or the look of panels on your roof, consider more discrete options. Windows and roof shingles with built-in solar technology can help you convert while maintaining the same exterior appearance.

Swamp Coolers

A swamp cooler works by using evaporated water to cool your home’s interior. These cooling systems use 60% to 80% less electricity than central AC units. However, swamp coolers work best in dry climates.

So, if you live in the southwestern United States, you’ll be in a better position to convert to a swamp cooler. In humid climates like Florida or the northeast, evaporative cooling systems may not work well. There are additional considerations such as the higher water use. Swamp coolers typically require between 3,000 and 12,500 gallons of water each year.    

Higher water use can be a concern in states where there are already supply challenges. Dry climates naturally get less precipitation, which can lead to tighter water restrictions. During droughts, the restrictions can be even more challenging. But if your home is smaller and uses passive cooling techniques, a swamp cooler could be a good fit. Passive cooling techniques take advantage of natural ventilation and shading to keep indoor temperatures comfortable.

Eco-Friendly Temperature Control

Your home is a haven from the outside world. It gives you a place to unwind, enjoy life, and protect you from the elements. A home can be more about the memories you make living in it than the structure itself. Still, conscious homeowners are also mindful of how certain changes can add to a property’s sustainability and market value.

A home’s heating and cooling solution is considered one of its major components. Indoor temperature control is a must in terms of comfort and safety. While conventional HVAC systems do a good job of maintaining both, the equipment is dependent on fossil fuels. This reality isn’t necessarily the most energy-efficient or realistic as governments introduce climate change initiatives. Switching to sustainable solutions is an investment in the property’s future.            

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