Newest Questions
2,220 questions
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Are zero waste shops still more sustainable if they are delivering?
I used to rely on a local zero-waste / refill shop for most of my food shopping. Since moving, I no longer have anything similar within reach. While looking for alternatives, I came across an online ...
- 101
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1
answer
10
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Combining odd-placed solar panels with existing hybrid/off-grid installation
I plan to build a hybrid installation, with LifePo4 bank and some cheap inverter (e.g. Anenji 11KW) with 2 MPPT strings support.
If solar input won't be enough to cover needs, it will get some energy ...
- 111
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52
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Do smart meters raise privacy and radiation concerns?
Frankly, I have some concerns about my newly installed smart meter. There are two main issues:
Privacy: It collects data every minute. Will the power company know when anyone is home or when I'm ...
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58
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How best to dispose/recycle, not donate, clothing?
I am looking to downsize and want to trim down my wardrobe quite a bit.
(Most of my stuff started out fairly sturdy: cotton jeans and heavy T-shirts and has just been worn out).
The first bucket, ...
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ReCiPe normalization factors
I am building a web-based LCIA application into which I'm hardcoding (for the time being) ReCiPe impact categories as follows:
def impact_definitions
{
# --- Midpoint indicators ---
...
- 101
2
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1
answer
59
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Should we avoid chopping down trees and instead installing solar panels away from forests?
Solar panels are frequently installed to areas that used to contain forest. While solar panels have environmental benefits, there is a possible question of whether the forest areas should be left as-...
- 5,585
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52
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Who would be the most relieved that MethaneSat has suddenly gone silent?
I'm not a conspiracy theorist, and since I don't own an armchair, I'm not even an armchair conspiracy theorist. Sometimes I just like to have a little fun.
After reading The BBC's July 4, 2025 $88m ...
- 425
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What support or prizes does XPRIZE offer to first-stage winners of the 2025 Carbon Removal competition? Is this the minimum achievement expected?
What kinds of prizes, grants, or resources are typically offered to first-stage winners of the 2025 XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition to help with team formation and early development?
Also, why is ...
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6
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256
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What are some practical ways to reduce energy consumption?
I'm trying to make my household more energy-efficient, both to lower utility bills and to reduce environmental impact, but I’m facing a few challenges and would love advice on practical steps.
Current ...
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3
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103
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Can I melt and reuse plastic for another product at home?
In my area, there is a lot of plastic and polyethylene waste which destroys our nature. Can I melt waste plastic for reuse purposes? This would be helping the environment because plastic can be ...
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GREET model not available
I need to use the GREET emissions model in my activities, but it seems that is not available now from the ANL site. Can someone help me in obtaining it, or tell me when it will be available?
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2
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101
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What sustainable food storage methods are inexpensive?
I'm trying to improve sustainability with limited funds. I'm having trouble finding food storage containers at my local thrift shops.
Previously, I bought "reusable" plastic storage dishes. ...
- 33
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21
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Brand audit - consider producer or distributor of products?
I am conducting a brand audit of discarded waste in Germany. At times food products are produced by company A but then sold through company B as their own company B brand. Examples are the brands ...
- 1,708
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2
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124
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What are the best ways to make my home more energy efficient in reducing carbon footprint with photovoltaics?
Photovoltaics are a crucial element in harnessing renewable energy. They convert sunlight directly into electricity, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas ...
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2
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60
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Can you re-use packaging silica gel for moisture retention in plant pots?
I've often wondered whether the innumerable small packets of 'DO NOT EAT' silica gel in packaging have the same content as "Water Retaining Granules" that are sold for flower pots and plant ...
- 1,006
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98
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Coal fired electricity generation
Are there any home-sized coal fired electric generation devices available on the market?
- 11
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99
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Increasing lifespan instead of births
Given that the earth can only cater to so many living individuals, and there is room, why doesn't the world focus on increasing lifespan instead of births?
Thanks.
EDIT: if n people give yield to m ...
2
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1
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74
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Wind turbine cable lines and size
Why is it impossible to find the cables to connect a turbine to the batteries and the inverter on personal size wind turbines?
I've called several electricians and none of them know how to wire one.
I'...
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2
answers
200
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How many solar panels should a beginner install?
I have been living in a fairly isolated house for about 7 years now and am seriously considering installing some solar panels. Recently I have also become interested in all the topics of ...
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1
answer
104
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Avoiding frequent replacement of eyeglasses lens + frames due to lens degradation?
In the past decade or so it's become fairly common for me to notice that eyeglasses have their lenses' coating degrade over time. You tend to see delamination / bubbling of sorts after 2 or 3 years ...
2
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2
answers
63
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Is it more sustainable to use algae oil for power generation compared to traditional diesel?
This question explores whether using algae oil, which can be grown in non-arable land and requires less water, offers a more environmentally friendly solution for powering generators than relying on ...
3
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1
answer
56
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What is the "Battery operating range" on an inverter?
I'm looking at the SUN2000-3-10KTL-M1 hybrid three-phase inverter's specs here : https://app.simpla.be/uploads/companies/3838/product/638284693443385632_Huawei_TDS_SUN2000-3KTL-10KTL-M1_EN.pdf
I see ...
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50
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Removing detergent from fabrics
How can I remove laundry detergent that has accumulated in my household fabrics? Rinsing in a washing machine in hot water and agitation is not very effective but very wasteful, it takes many hours of ...
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3
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What is the most environmentally-friendly generative AI?
With public release of ChatGPT, access to conversational, generative AI became more widely available. There were various publications noting how energy intensive that technology was (here's one ...
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35
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New Markets for recycled HDPE oil container
I read that one of the most common uses for recycled HDPE from oil containers is making new oil containers or plastic lumber. However, recycling center processors are becoming less incentivized to ...
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3
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1
answer
72
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Need help with battery capacity
Hello I am new to solar energy. I am thinking about buying a home off the electrical grid with what looks like a big enough solar installation (16 565w panels in the south of Spain) with many hours of ...
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1
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108
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What is an environmentally friendly alternative to a door stop?
There are times when doors do not stay open on their own.
There are factory made door stops available. However, shipping these door stops long distance, from the door-stop factory, to a retail store ...
- 233
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3
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62
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What is more sustainable than a ferro-magnetic metal plate for a cellphone mount?
People often mount cellphone and tablets to parts of their car so that they can use GPS navigation or so that their children can watch movies while in the car.
Cellphone often have a non-magnetic ...
- 233
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26
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Comparing environmental impact of different jobs, with and without accounting for job multiplicities
How can I compare the sustainability (environmental impact/footprint) of different types of jobs, comparing, one with another?
What if these jobs were multiplied by their multiplicity (number of ...
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13
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Software to compute each person's total sustainability footprint in a connected manner
Is there any software to compute each person's total sustainability footprint in a connected manner?
Thanks.