VAREA, LLC

05/04/2020

These conservatories are a statement in sustainable engineering and apply a suite of cutting-edge technologies for energy-efficient solutions in cooling. This suite of technologies can help to achieve at least 30% savings in energy consumption, compared to conventional cooling technologies.
1) Minimising Solar Heat Gain
The two conservatories are fitted with specially selected glass that allows optimal light in for plants, but reduces a substantial amount of heat. The roof is fitted with a sensor-operated retractable sails that opens automatically to provide shade to the plants when it gets too hot.
2) Cooling only the occupied zones
The Conservatories apply the strategy of cooling only the lower levels, thus reducing the volume of air to be cooled. This is achieved through thermal stratification – ground cooling by chilled water pipes cast within the floor slabs enabling cool air to settle at the lower occupied zone while the warm air rises and is vented out at high levels.
3) De-humidifying the air before cooling
To reduce the amount of energy required in the cooling process, the air in Flower Dome is de-humidified by liquid desiccant (drying agent) before it is cooled. This desiccant is recycled using the waste heat from the burning of the biomass. .
4) Generating energy and harnessing waste heat
Electricity is generated on-site to run the chillers that cool the Conservatories. At the same time, waste heat is captured in the process to regenerate the liquid desiccant. This co-generation of energy is achieved by the use of a Combined Heat Power (CHP) steam turbine that is fed by horticultural waste from the Gardens and other parks around Singapore. This reduces dependency on the electrical grid.
https://m.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/the-gardens/sustainability-efforts.html
🇸🇬
📸Kevin Jung

05/01/2020

“Plant for Pakistan”
As a green stimulus, Pakistan sets virus-idled to work planting trees. 🌳🤜🤛🌏👏👏🌳


🎥 Vareaworld
💻 https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/pakistan-hires-laborers-for-planting-10-billion-tree/

04/28/2020

Hamilton Pool is a natural spring formed in the limestone bedrock and fed by an underground river, which also feeds the small tributaries and lush flora surrounding the pool. The abundant freshwater has allowed a diverse population of trees and vegetation to emerge surrounding the pool, forming what is now a protected nature preserve.
The preserve is home to the Golden-cheeked Warbler and a great variety of other birds. The diverse vegetation of Hamilton Pool ranges from semi-arid species in the uplands to riparian species in the canyon. The uplands of the preserve are a juniper and oak savannah with a variety of native grasses and wildflowers. Several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay (western-most colony of this eastern species), and chatterbox orchid are known to occur in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.
A unique natural area surrounds this pool, collapsed grotto and canyon, formed by thousands of years of water erosion. Lush plant communities, a variety of wildlife species and natural shelter attracted the area's first inhabitants. Cultural remains date back over 8,000 years.
In addition to the impact from the visiting public, cattle, sheep, and goats grazed the delicate ecosystem for several decades, resulting in changes to the native vegetation. In 1980, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department cited Hamilton Pool as the most significant natural area in rural Travis County.

https://parks.traviscountytx.gov/parks/hamilton-pool-preserve
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hamilton-pool
📸Andrea Woelffer, Anna Dai @ Hamilton Pool Preserve

04/26/2020

Every year, 4.8 - 12.7 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 150 million metric tons that currently circulate our marine environments. .
This affects sea turtles at every stage of their life. At birth, they aren’t able to traverse the beach after they hatch because of our plastic beaches and even if they make it to the ocean many start consuming plastic thinking they are jellyfish. 🥚🏖🌎🌍🌏🐢

04/09/2020

Researchers have determined the ages of two whale sharks for the first time ever, with data that resulted from nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War. While researchers could count the growth bands in a whale shark vertebra, nobody was clear on exactly how many years each band represented. So an international team used an inventive approach to figure things out.
Scientists typically date artifacts using Carbon-14, a naturally occurring radioactive isotope. By measuring its levels in an object, they can discover its age. So when nuclear weapons were tested in the 50’s and 60’s Carbon-14 levels increased - entering the atmosphere, then the earth and water, and then gradually into the bodies of plants and animals.
By using two techniques - counting growth rings in whale shark vertebra and testing levels of Carbon-14 - the researchers were able to compare carbon levels to growth bands and determine how many years each growth band represents. It turns out, one band = one year, dating the two whale sharks at 50 and 35 years old, and putting whale sharks’ estimated lifespans at 100 years old!
What do these findings mean? Now that we know growth bands are created once a year, we realize that whale sharks grow slowly - their population is most likely unable to survive high losses due to overfishing or habitat destruction. This information is key to whale shark conservation research, and can be used in population models and future aid efforts.

02/25/2020

Astral Power Brings Solar Energy to The Cancer Resource Center! Read more on Varea:

ITHACA, N.Y., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Astral Power, Inc. announced a new community partnership with the Cancer Resource Center (CRC) of the Finger Lakes, where Astral Power will help supply local, clean, and renewable energy to this local organization dedicated to create and sustain a communi...

02/25/2020

We like seeing eco-friendly options spring up in unique ways. Ecotrade created an app for scrap catalyst recycling. Read more about it on Varea:

DOVER, Del., Feb. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Ecotrade Group, a leading recycler of scrap catalytic converters, is giving the traditional automotive recycling sector a complete makeover by injecting digital elements into the trade. This is done in the form of a mobile app — the company’s Eco Cat A...

02/20/2020

Canadian Solar Begins Construction on Solar Power Plants in Japan. Great news! Read more on Varea:

GUELPH, Ontario, Feb. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Canadian Solar Inc. (the “Company”, or “Canadian Solar”) (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world’s largest solar power companies, today announced it has commenced construction on two solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects in Japan. The first is a 13...

02/20/2020

WEC Energy Group to increase ownership in three wind farms. Read more on Varea:

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 19, 2020 – Read the original article on PRNewswire. WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC) today announced that the company has agreed to increase its ownership interest from 80% to 90% in three Midwest windfarms: Blooming Grove Wind Farm, Thunderhead Wind Energy Center and the Upstream Wind...

02/19/2020

Introducing Varea, LLC, a newly-certified Minority & Woman-owned tech & energy startup.