Environment

Using wheels to reduce a carbon footprintFacilities' new electric vehicle is powered by a battery and generates no emissions.

Carbon capture? Go for the sourceNew analysis shows pulling CO₂ from the air would not be cost-effective in the foreseeable future.

Christoph Reinhart appointed associate professor of architectureWorld renowned building scientist and architectural educator joins department

With changes, the grid can take itMIT report shows that with new policies, U.S. electric grid could handle expected influx of electric cars and wind and solar generation.

Highly efficient oxygen catalyst foundNew catalyst, made of inexpensive and abundant materials, could prove useful in rechargeable batteries and hydrogen-fuel production.

How to get the message across on climate changeAs the science of climate change gets clearer, the public gets more confused. Are there ways to fix that?

What can make a dent?Given the enormous scale of worldwide energy use, there are limited options for achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

At your service in the Stratton Student Center: one Greenbean recycling machineZoe is the Greenbean recycling machine near the stairs on the first floor of W20. Part of a pilot program sponsored by the MIT Department of Facilities, Zoe is taking community recycling to the next level.

MIT and Cyprus Institute expanding collaborative research, education

New books from the School of Architecture + PlanningAddressing the environment, cities, architecture, angry people and ‘Creative Magic’

MIT receives local and regional recognition for energy programs

Science school for judgesMIT and the Broad Institute open their doors to the judicial community for a workshop at the intersection of science and the law.

Said and Done for September 2011The humanities, arts and social sciences monthly digest

Shake, rattle and … power up?A new MEMS device generates energy from small vibrations.

Boston Harbor Islands environmental monitoring effort aided by MIT Sea Grant internsElledge and Matthews collect and contribute to larger effort to observe and define changes on the islands' shores.

Improved buildings could make a big dent in climate changeNew MIT report on concrete buildings shows many areas for major reductions in their lifetime carbon footprint.

Paving the way to greenhouse gas reductionsNew MIT report on concrete roadways shows opportunities for significant carbon-footprint cuts.

On thin iceThe most recent global climate report fails to capture the reality of the changing Arctic seascape, according to MIT researchers.

Research update: Improving batteries’ energy storageNew method allows a dramatic boost in capacity for a given weight.

How to choose a catalystMIT researchers provide a simple principle to predict which materials will perform best in fuel cells and metal air batteries.

Coal-to-liquid fuels poised for a comebackWith rising energy prices, could coal-to-liquid conversion become an economical fuel option?

Report: Natural gas can play major role in greenhouse gas reductionThe cleanest of fossil fuels, it is far more abundant than previously thought and can have significant impact at little cost, MIT study finds.

The price of fresh airHow costly are the health damages from air pollution in China?

MIT signs international charter, deepening commitment to campus sustainability

When is it worth remanufacturing?MIT study shows sometimes it saves energy, sometimes it doesn’t — and sometimes it makes things worse.

In the World: New water-filter factory in GhanaAfter years of development, production of ceramic-pot water filters should soar with opening of new facility.

Hood appointed first Taylor FellowVisiting professor is an award-winning landscape architect and urban designer