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As stated by U.S. energy secretary Steven Chu, “a new revolution is needed in energy generation.”
Chu has recently stated that the Obama administration is not planning large scale “geo-engineering” projects, but is not discarding schemes such as “flat roofs” and reflecting sunlight back away from the Earth. Read news article
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Two inventors, former students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, have developed eco-friendly insulation made from mushrooms.
The “low-cost biomaterial” could replace Styrofoam and other plastics. Other advantages of the mushroom-derived insulation are that it can grow in the dark, grow at room temperature, and does not require expensive manufacturing equipment.
Read article
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The Official Blog of Tau Beta Pi 
Engineering design and development is clearly an important aspect of society’s transition to sustainability (along with better policy and cultural shifts as well). It’s great to see support from the Obama administration, as well as exciting new developments. One of the biggest challenges I see in making more rapid progress is helping others become aware of the role engineering can play in the transition to sustainability, and to help society support expanded investment in R&D. Have a look at Design Impact for thoughts on these issues: http://www.design-impact.org.