A collection of articles saved to Instapaper this last week (mostly from Flipboard)
There is creative reading as well as creative writing.— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Inspiring landlords to take part in the Green Deal
The UK Government are in the final planning stages of the Green Deal launch, their biggest home improvement scheme since the Second World War. The problems they face, however, are trying to get people involved and inspired enough to invest in the Green Deal.
‘Green’ solar cell made from plants news.cnet.com
A paper published in Scientific Reports today describes an improved method for making electricity-producing “biophotovoltaics” without the sophisticated laboratory equipment previously needed. Researchers said custom-designed chemicals could be mixed with green plants, even grass clippings, to create a photovoltaic material by harnessing photosynthesis.
Four hidden tricks for taking stellar iPhone photos by Sharon Vaknin
I hate to admit it, but my iPhone is always the first thing I reach for when I spot a photo-worthy scene. Sure, I own a digital camera, but my iPhone is always with me, packs an excellent camera, plus I have the option to edit and share photos instantly.
Why I’ve Stopped Pitching the Business Case for Sustainability By Jennifer Woofter
One of the most frequent questions that I get when I talk to people about my job as a sustainability consultant is this: How can I convince [my boss, my company, my crazy aunt, etc.] that sustainability makes good business sense?
Britain’s best stargazing locations telegraph.co.uk
One of the most ravishing sights on Earth should be the night sky – the brightest stars from the billions in our Milky Way, the streak of meteors, planetary neighbours such as Venus and Jupiter, the glow of other galaxies such as Andromeda.
Light pollution, however, means few experience this free glory.
AASHE Interview Series: John Robinson, Executive Director, UBC Sustainability Initiative
a detailed look into the making of a regenerative building, and what makes CIRS a new kind of “green” building.
John Robinson, the Executive Director of the University of British Columbia’s Sustainability Initiative sat down with AASHE to discuss the recently opened Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) building.
Stunning Timelapse Video Shows the True Beauty of Yosemite treehugger.com
There’s nothing like a good timelapse video to showcase the beauty of a place or an event. When that place is Yosemite National Park, it’s a recipe for an especially jaw-dropping few minutes. This video, called “Yosemite HD,” is the product of Project Yosemite, a collaborative project by Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty to capture the true beauty of the national park.
Building the Sustainability Brand Within
When we think about sustainability strategy we typically think about a series of initiatives around energy efficiency, waste reduction, and product redesign. But our traditional focus on carbon audits and generating Corporate Sustainability Reports (CSR), while important, emphasizes data collection and does not necessarily engage people in ways that generate synergy and build scale. Few companies capitalize on the opportunities sustainability provides for widespread employee engagement and improving the company culture – in effect, “building the brand within.”
‘Microplastic’ threat to shores bbc.co.uk
Microscopic plastic debris from washing clothes is accumulating in the marine environment and could be entering the food chain, a study has warned. Researchers traced the “microplastic” back to synthetic clothes, which released up to 1,900 tiny fibres per garment every time they were washed. Earlier research showed plastic smaller than 1mm were being eaten by animals and getting into the food chain.
Fairsnape 
Pingback: Read Later Connections: from green deal to stargazing and sustainability - isite - External Blogs - Construction Blogs & Opinion - ConstructionSpace from CareerStructure.com