World’s first high-capacity flash charging electric bus

I thought this was awesome, and definitely something that can catch on in Bellingham. The latest in electric vehicles, this new technology has the ability to charge a high capacity electric bus in only 15 seconds. Developed in Switzerland, this bus will be charged for 15 seconds at selected stops, which allows the vehicle to charge while passengers are exiting and entering the bus. At the end of the bus line, there will be about a 3 to 4 minute charge to fully recharge the batteries, all at about a 400 killowatt boost. This is an invention that can only further the benefits of public transportation, and is paving the road in stopping the use of gas vehicles altogether. Below is a really cool video explaining it a bit more:

The Natural Cure to Save Crops

Growers in the UK are turning towards a new way to combat grey mold- without the use of pesticides. This is being done using bumblebees, and is the newest way in keeping strawberry crops as natural as possible. So what is grey mold? It's formal name is botrytis cinerea, and it manifests after the fruit has been picked and causes major damage to crops all across the world. So how can bumblebees help? The bees are routed through a one- way system in their hive through a tray of harmless fungus spores which, when delivered to flowers, ensure that the fruit is protected as it grows and protects it through the fungus. They've been called the "flying doctors", and I think this is a great alternative to dangerous pesticides  I'm curious to see if it catches on in the US.

Canada's Greenest House?

I love to read about green houses and green living, and this recent article I found was really interesting. In Peterborough, Ontario, a man named Chris Magwood is calling this single family home Canada's Greenest House. So how is it so green?

The house is built with actual prefabricated straw, and is insulated using Durisol insulated blocksbelow. The interior is finished in wood and plaster, and is chemical free. They avoided plastic foam whenever possible, and uses a complete rainwater collection and filtration system. The list goes on, and this home carries a price tag of about US$ 630,709. It's a pricey endeavor, but this was one of the few green houses that I thought was very aesthetically pleasing as well. Though it may not be worth the cost to you, I think these ideas are solid and will continue to push the housing market into a more sustainable direction.