Air-Cleaning Roof Tiles

Okay, so this story broke a few weeks ago, but we never got around to sharing it, which we felt absolutely needed to happen.  Now listen up because this is potentially groundbreaking...

Though we don't necessarily see many tile-based roofs on buildings around our immediate areas, many constructs in warmer climates tend to use the clay- and concrete-tile roofing alternatives.  Well now there is a special kind of roofing tile, and its manufacturer claims that it helps to clean our environment.  The tiles are supposedly smog-eating, since it is believed that their photocatalyst, titanium dioxide coating reacts with nitrogen oxides in the air, released by vehicle engines, for example.  How cool is that?  So the tiles' titanium oxide coating effectively absorbs the nitrogen oxides in the air, cleaning the air by converting the latter pollutant into harmless calcium nitrates.  Ground-breaking, wouldn't you say?  And the best part is that the calcium nitrates, formed by the roof tiles, are a common fertilizer that then simply gets washed down off the roof by natural rainfall.

Here's a short breakdown worth noting:

• For an average tile roof, this new technology adds only about $600-$1000 to the overall cost.
• These tiles on a 2,000 square foot house could oxidize, in a year's time, the equivalent of 10,000 miles traveled in a car.

These oxidizing roof tiles definitely do not track down and deal with correcting the source of air pollution problems, as skeptics correctly point out, however their effects on the pollution problem should not be needlessly overlooked as a result.  For more information, we implore you to visit Boral Roofing's website.  That is the company that has currently introduced these oxidizing tiles.

GADGET SPOTLIGHT: Portable, Solar-Powered Insect Killers

Now that spring is in full bloom (at least where we are), and summer is just around the corner, people begin to anticipate long, warm nights outdoors, be it for parties or just for leisurely rest.  Nothing can complement the perfect patio or deck area like a good insect repellant.  But why bother to use smelly sprays and candles? 

Don't.  There are several environmentally friendly solutions to the common bug problem.  Solar lanterns.  Granted, these lanterns will not work to save the planet, by any means, but they certainly do not hurt mother earth!  There are several types, all of which are growing in popularity, especially across the UK.  There are larger, ground-mounted devices, and then there are smaller, table-top devices.  We definitely recommend checking some of them out, as we are about to order for ourselves off Amazon.com.

Long live warm, beautiful [and bugless] summer nights...

Want to Go Green? There is an App for That!!

We did a little research into some smart phone applications that make "going green" easy. Here are some of the top ones that we found:

iRecycle- (Available on iOS) This free application makes recycling easier, in a sense.  Now, with iRecycle, people have access to over 1,000,000 ways to recycle various everyday materials.  The app also includes information on recycling locations, news regarding sustainability, and social sharing features.  This app is great if you are looking for a rather simple way to start making a shift towards becoming more energy efficient. (iRecycle currently has a    

Green Genie- (Available on iOS) This next app was voted #1 by Techcrunch.com and costs $0.99. However, despite the cost, through the information, tips, and resources that are available within this app, users have deemed it totally worth it.   Within the app you can expect to find news, green vocabulary, certified green products, links to various cost saving resources. Users also have the ability to share eco-friendly strategies with people from all over the world. (Green Genie currently has a 3 1/2 out of 5 star average based on 166 user ratings)

GoodGuide- (Available on iOS and Android) GoodGuide is the perfect application for ensuring that you are using products that are both healthy and eco-friendly. Users open GoodGuide and then use their mobile device to scan the barcodes of products.  GoodGuide allows you to set customized preferences about products and then pairs the items that you scan with those set preferences.  Also, GoodGuide features the social rankings of over 120,000 consumer products.  This allows consumers to see how the public has ranked certain products in terms of factors such as nutrition, animal rights, and environmental impact, to name a few.  (GoodGuide currently has a 4/5 start review based on 161 reviews)    

Tune in for more updates on eco-friendly apps that hit the marketplace!  

Companies Looking to Make a Difference, Look to Apple Inc.

Okay, so nowadays so many people look up to Apple Inc.  Apple is not only absolutely crushing it in the financial markets with their seemingly effortless climb in stock price, and in their overall products' technological advancements, but also with respect to environmental friendliness.

Most members of the general public would easily recognize Apple's success in the former two areas mentioned above, but what most don't recognize is the company's success in the latter area.  For instance, many don't realize Apple has included, since 2009, a completely awesome area of their site designated entirely to tracking their environmental footprint, with the intention to ever-improve their environmental friendliness by implementing new, greener procedures. 

From using less materials in their shipping all the way through to eliminating several harmful chemicals usually associated with consumer electronics, Apple Inc. is continually leading the way in the arena of technological, corporate firms' transitioning towards more green methods of production and distribution.  Their environmental footprint page is definitely worth checking out! Props, Apple!