The actions of migratory birds offer an interesting study of how animals interact with the environment.

Investigating hummingbirds can provide attention-grabbing lessons about these roaming creatures.

There are around 340 different types of hummingbirds which can be found in the Western Hemisphere, throughout the North and South Americas. Most are tropic residing, with some having a preference for spending their summers in North America, and colder days in tropical climates.

Hummingbirds use up enormous amounts of energy, which is one reason they relocate. The search for food fuels their migratory process, and since flowers are a staple in their diet they must find seasonal sources of nutrition. The visual birds love bright colors, like oranges and reds. Learning about local flowering plants that naturally attract hummingbirds can bring children’s attention to areas that may entice the hungry birds to visit.

To check their current migration status, Journey North has observational journal maps.

If the birds’ migratory path is not in their area, have kids take advantage of hummingbird webcams to get a sense of their behavior. If on the hummingbird migration route, there are ways children can help them along their travels. In addition to flowers and insects, hummingbirds love nectar. Homemade hummingbird food can be made using only sugar and boiled, cooled water.

Wild Bird Shop has a recipe for hummingbird food and feeding recommendations. Though it may seem that a lot of sugar is needed to flavor their food, their systems quickly process it and use it for energy to sustain their active nature.

Many may assume that since the birds are attracted to red, that their food must be dyed red to get their attention. However, using dyes to tint their food can actually harm them. Instead, their feeding containers can be decorated with a colorful adornment, like a red ribbon or shoelace. Adhesive red film or stickers can also be placed on the outside of the feeder and replaced as necessary.

Aside from filling them up with tempting liquids, the feeders will need to be periodically cleaned to deter mold growth and bacteria. Also, they will need to be checked for leaks since dripping nectar can attract insects and predators that can harm hummingbirds.

Along with learning about their yearly rapid-winged journey, kids can also benefit from explanations about threats to their population. Loss of natural habitats is a main danger to the species. Climate change has also affected migratory patterns, causing them to search for food in areas where it may not be readily available. Approximately 10% of hummingbirds are currently threatened or endangered species.

For types of hummingbirds documented by states and provinces check out hummingbirds.net. Birds are listed in descending order of sightings.

Look at these Ruby-throated Hummingbird projects for children’s activities that are adaptable for different age ranges.

Watching hummingbirds and learning about how nature and the environment influences their migratory patterns is a learning experience that kids will enjoy.

Image Source: Google Images

Designers that use their skill in combination with eco friendly undertakings to produce art and projects that give back in some way, through reducing waste or helping others, have more than just a physical ability.

However, inspirational missions aren’t just reserved for the exhibition spotlight. There are some outstanding examples of those who have taken their visions and turned them into proactive, meaningful events for children on their home front.

One such case is The Edible Schoolyard Project.

Nearly two decades ago, Alice Waters, a local resident of Berkeley, California who lived by Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School was not happy about the way the school appeared, stating that it looked as if no one even cared about it. The principal at the time, Neil Smith, had the idea to offer Waters a one acre plot by the school in an attempt to make a positive change for the school and neighborhood.

Knowing what would benefit the area’s children the most, Waters came up with the practical design of an edible schoolyard. Working with the school staff and diligent children, a community garden was created called the Edible Schoolyard Berkeley.

What began as a garden kept growing into more than just seasonal plots of produce, but a project that continues to offer educationally rich opportunities that foster healthy eating concepts in children.

The living space continues to provide nutrition and hands on learning, but is also a place to hold school and community events. The project also offers many resources, including information on developing similar project designs.

Student gardeners learn the value of agriculture, the benefits of fresh eating and the importance of conservation by learning about ecologically balanced ways to work with the land, like collecting and reusing rainwater. The garden’s layout continues to produce around 100 varieties of vegetables as well as herbs, flowers, berries and fruit trees.

Waters also instituted the Chez Panisse Foundation, which provides the opportunity for children to have real life practice in culinary and gardening environments, as well as making healthy foods available at school.

Planting the seed years ago that initiated so many beneficial supplements to children still continues to grow today, and resides in the care of students and devoted educators. Stable nutrition, which is crucial for learning, as well as the chance to be a part of a communally focused project is a lesson that can be kept and passed on at the same time.

Image Source: The Edible Schoolyard Berkeley

In looking for potential sources of energy waste, the rooftop may often be a forgotten about structure. As long as roofs are leak free and stable, sometimes not much more thought may be put into them.

There are, however, modifications that can be made to roofs to make them more energy efficient.

Darker roofing can clearly attract more heat, thus reducing energy savings. Cool roof designs use roofing materials that reflect light, therefore lessening heat absorption.

A lighter colored covering or a white roof can decrease energy consumption by as much as 20% on a hot day. Scientists have suggested that using reflective roof designs in highly populated areas could drastically reduce emissions. For example, a 1,000 square foot rooftop that has incorporated a cool roof design could annually save as much as a half-ton of carbon dioxide that is emitted from air conditioning units required to cool interior spaces.

Metal roofing that has a cool design integrated is also available. These can save energy due to the metal’s naturally reflective properties, which can help reduce heat absorption that makes a structure warmer. Metal roofs are typically long lasting, fully recyclable and have a low thermal mass that will not capture and store heat, as compared to some other roofing materials.

Also, protective roof coatings that combine light reflective pigments can be applied that come in a variety of lighter colors. These work in conjunction with cool design technology to further reduce energy loss.

Coolroofs.org has a pdf that offers an explanation of how cool roof designs work and gives the sketch below as an illustration.

Also included is a case study of a reflective roof application where researchers examined rooftop temperatures on a dark roof versus a lighter colored cool roof design. Solar reflectance, thermal emittance, and the environmental and money saving advantages of cool roofs are also explained.

Incorporating efficient designs, like cool roofing techniques, can drastically boost energy savings and reduce energy consumption.

Image Source: Coolroofs.org

Making naturally based cleansers at home is simple and often only requires a few ingredients.

Below are some organic recipes for homemade facial cleansers that can be modified to meet specific skin care needs.

Natural Beauty Community has many recipes for natural cleansers applicable for various skin types and facial issues. A suitable one for many is lavender facial cleanser which uses an oil method for gentle cleaning and only involves 4 ingredients. Lavender, grape seed, geranium and rose essential oils are all blended, then can be massaged onto the skin to loosen dirt and makeup and rinsed or wiped with a cloth.

Making Nice in the Midwest has many suggestions for all natural skin care, including one for a home-produced eye makeup remover. Using organic carrier oils, like vitamin E and olive oil, mixed with a bit of purified water is enough to remove most eye makeup. For tougher cosmetics, some alcohol free witch hazel can be added, but take care not to get remover inside the eye.

For an exfolitating cleanser that is recommened for normal to dry skin, try mixing a few drops of a moisturzing base like organic coconut oil or pure honey with a gentle scrubbing agent, like brown sugar. This will gently remove surface impurities without being overly abrasive, as the sugar granules break down when rubbed into the skin. For oily skin, use a healing substance like tea tree or herbal based oils like oregeno mixed with honey and crushed, colloidal oats to calm skin.

Clinical research studies have shown that the skin can absorb up to 60% of topical applications.

During the course of the day, women can use on average around 12 skin care products, and each of these  can contain approximately 10 varying chemical compounds, including toxic, synthetic chemicals. Some of the substances in products sold to make the skin healthier may also contain known carcinogenic agents.

Other chemicals may be unregulated, therefore some of their side effects may be unknown. One report shows that out of around 10,500 chemicals that are known to be used in skin and body care items, an unrepresentative 11% is all that has been safety tested (greenyour.com).

Homemade facial cleansers can be even more soothing as part of a skin care routine when you are comfortable with the ingredient list.

Image Source: Google Images

While some are shaped differently and vary in ergonomics, a keyboard has always been a plastic or metal slab with keys spread out on it.

That all changes in 2013. A company called TransluSense has debuted their Luminae Keyboard+ and Trackpad+ typing device.

It is a glass surface keyboard that uses state-of-the-art lasers and infrared sensors to detect finger movements and key presses on the glass. It’s curved for an ergonomic feel and design.

It comes pre-built with a trackpad, and can also be purchased with a detachable trackpad which acts as the keyboard’s mouse and number pad.

Another neat feature of the Luminae is that it is 100% customizable.

Users can download software programs straight from the manufacturer to customize the keyboard to their satisfaction. They can also purchase “skins” from the company, which are placed over the surface of the keyboard and display the keys. These skins can be images from your computer, or pre-created designs from the company.

Perhaps the best reason to applaud the manufacturers of the Luminae is the fact that keyboard garbage will be severely limited from our trash heaps each year. Because traditional keyboards have spaces in between the keys, it’s very easy to gunk it up to the point of throwing it away and purchasing a replacement. And when people lose keys from their keyboard, they often would rather buy an entirely new one instead of installing new keys.

The Luminae presents an obvious solution, since the keyboard has no moving parts, and can be easily wiped clean with a cloth. While the device is a bit on the pricey side, you’ll definitely get a lot of long-term usage out of it.

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The Clean Energy Map, from the Australian government, covers over 1200 projects that cover renewable energy, energy efficiency and pollution-reduction across 16 different government initiatives. The interactive map categorizes the projects by type, and allows users to search the full map or use GPS (or their postcode) to find projects near them.

“The Clean Energy Map features outcomes from measures such as the Renewable Energy Target, but also specific initiatives including clean technology, energy efficiency, and on-the-land based programs.

The Clean Technology Programs alone are helping fund over 220 projects and will generate over $331 million of investment in new capital equipment and save Australian manufacturers more than $30 million a year in reduced operating costs.”

According to Clean Energy Future, the government is helping to “secure a prosperous, clean and healthy Australia for future generations”, largely funded by the introduction of a carbon price.

“The Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future package is an important environmental and economic reform. It established a carbon price to drive and fund renewable energy, develop new technologies Australian industries can excel in, protect the environment and support communities and businesses.”

Explore Australia’s Clean Energy Map.

A meta-analysis of thousands of climate papers that expressed a position on anthropogenic global warming found that over 97% of them endorsed the theory of human-caused global warming.

That finding runs contrary to public perceptions of climate change, according to lead author John Cook:

“There is a gaping chasm between the actual consensus and the public perception.” – Cook

A poll taken in 2012 by the US Pew Research Center indicated that fewer than half of the Americans surveyed believed that scientists were in agreement about human-caused global warming, and in order to truly move forward with effective policies and strategies, there needs to be some consensus and support from the general public.

“This is significant because when people understand that scientists agree on global warming, they’re more likely to support policies that take action on it.” – Cook

The results of the study, which involved 24 scientists and science enthusiasts analyzing the abstracts of previously published climate papers, culminated in a paper, called “Quantifying the consensus on anthropogenic global warming in the scientific literature”, which is available at IOPScience.

In order to help spread the awareness of the issue, a new website, The Consensus Project has been launched, so head over there to get more informed about human-caused global warming.

Currently, for each ton of steel produced from iron ore, almost two tons of CO2 emissions are generated, so reducing that figure would be a big step in the right direction. The new method goes above and beyond that, however, and produces just pure oxygen, enabling a possible carbon-free future for steel production.

The process used by the researchers, molten oxide electrolysis, was being pursued as a possible way to produce oxygen on the moon (using iron oxide from the soil there), and one of the unintended consequences of this method was that is also produced high-quality steel. But among the challenges for this research was coming up with a non-consumable anode for the process, which usually requires expensive materials such as iridium or platinum.

The team solved that issue by developing an alloy made from chromium and iron – both of which are considered abundant and inexpensive. The alloy was used to success on a small scale, and while much work remains to be done to scale it up, the researchers are working to develop a commercially viable prototype over the next couple of years.

In addition to producing less GHG emissions, the new method of producing steel is said to be 30% more efficient than current methods:

“The electrolytic route actually consumes less energy.” – Donald Sadoway, professor of materials chemistry at MIT

The research is published at Nature: A new anode material for oxygen evolution in molten oxide electrolysis

But if the main components of these portable computing devices lasted for ten years instead of just a couple of years, and the core of the device, such as the CPU, memory, etc., is in your smartphone instead, it could mean far fewer of these in the e-waste pile.

One company is working to that end, by developing what they call a Casetop, which lets you dock your smartphone to a keyboard and display and in essence, turn your smartphone into a laptop.

Livi Design claims that not only can the Casetop outlast laptop and netbook battery life by a factor of 3 (while also charging your smartphone), but that because it is compatible with most smartphones (from 14 different manufacturers), it’s a truly universal accessory.

The specs of the Casetop:

• 11.1 Inch 720p HD LED Backlit LCD Screen (1080p optional)
• 56 Watt Hour Battery Pack
• Full size 78-key keyboard
• 2x 1 Watt High Fidelity Speakers
• Standard HDMI Input
• MHL Video Input, Power Output.
• Dual mode Micro USB.
• 3.5mm Audio Output
• Full-size ‘Always Powered’ USB for charging other products

According to the current Kickstarter campaign, Casetops are adaptable to over 200 phones, and have multiple locations for attaching them to the device. Livi Design also has 17 other options for upgrading and personalizing them, such as solar charging or wireless video.

The key idea behind the Casetop is that because it uses your smartphone as the core, when you get a brand new phone, you also get an upgraded computer, because the hardware and the operating system on the phone have been upgraded. If it could completely replace a laptop or netbook for users, then it has the potential of greatly reducing the amount of resources consumed in the name of mobile computing.

And it gets even better, because it’s priced at just $249.

Quite different than the look of the first basic natural fiber monobloc chair, there are many other designs that incorporate naturally produced resources and construct them into sturdy, eco friendly seating. Some designs stand out for their unique composition of organic materials.

For example, the Sushi Daybed from Pie studio is a handmade floor chair made from the dried stalks of the woven water hyacinth, which is a renewable, fast growing fiber. Water hyacinth can quickly take over an area and those that find it bothersome are relieved to see it harvested and put to creative use.

The Peanut Chair is produced from Zelfo, which is a fully biodegradable and strong, yet still flexible medium. It was created by Australian designers without the use of glues and toxins present in traditional chair manufacturing. Using a process similar to how plant cell walls function, Zelfo mimics a natural, durable design. Made from recycled paper and other organic raw bases like flax, jute and sugar cane, the plant fibers and other natural compounds form a sleek look.

An experimental furniture concept that takes advantage of the properties of sugar cane, which can be formed into solid pieces, was a student design that also integrated a byproduct of the cane plant. Called bagasse, this derivative is not used and is normally burned. Inventively using this typically thrown out resource, a pulp is made and implementing a papier-mâché technique it is then molded into remarkably solid furniture pieces.

Using sustainable materials to create artistic, eco friendly fixtures is a model for responsible design. Thinking of ways to also use up typically thrown out resources takes it a step further, and artists who can formulate smart designs help to offer an original supply of inspiration.

Image Source: Monobloc chair from Werner Aisslinger and BASF – The Chemical Company