PNC Achieves New Green Milestone: The Largest Living Wall in North America

Photo courtesy of Living Green Technologies.

The word ‘green’ when associated with the banking industry has always meant money. While that will always be true, we can now add eco-conscious and energy efficient to the word association.

PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has just completed the installation of a six story living green wall, which the company claims is largest such structure in North America.

“The PNC wall is a living, breathing wall of plants spanning 2,380 square feet on the south side of the bank’s Pittsburgh headquarters. The wall is made up of 602 two-foot square panels, each containing 24 evergreen plants,” according to Green Living Technologies, which built the living structure. The company is a privately owned international provider of living green walls and roofs.

There are two types of green walls, with one called a green façade, composed of climbing plants, such as ivy, adhering to a building. The other type, which PNC has, is a living wall that is separated from the actual building structure by anywhere from a few inches to a foot, and is composed of modular panels of vegetation with irrigation systems.

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Scientists Discover Select Bug to Pit Against UK Invasive Plant Species

Japanese Knotweed photo courtesy of Y2U.co.uk.

Most of us don’t like bugs. And if your like me, if you see one in the house, your immediate reaction is to find a slipper to kill it. Sorry to the bug lovers!

In nature though, as with all other creatures, they serve a particular useful function. Researchers at the British University of Leicester have found an insect to combat the Japanese Knotweed, a widespread invasive plant species that was inadvertently let loose upon the country a little over a century ago.

Most people in the UK are very familiar with the problem, but to get everyone else up to speed, this knotweed causes the country problems, which according to the CABI (a nonprofit with expertise in agriculture and the environment) include the following:

• Infrastructure Damage: pushing through asphalt, building foundations, and concrete retaining walls.
• Recreational Nuisance: impeding access for anglers and boaters.
• Impeding Biodiversity: crowding out native vegetation and limiting animal species diversity. CABI describes it as having “the biodiversity of concrete.”

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U.S. Renewable Energy Council Joins With China In Launching Online Business Platform

Photo courtesy of ACORE.

WASHIGNTON, D.C. - The American Council On Renewable Energy has launched a website to help U.S. companies connect with Chinese companies and institutions that are working to expand and finance renewable energy development projects in China.

“China has made clear its commitment to advance renewable and clean energy solutions for meeting its vast and growing energy needs,” said ACORE President Michael Eckhart, adding that, “this has tremendous business implications for U.S. companies who are financing or building renewable energy products and services.”

The site provides English language news updates on activities in Solar, Wind, and RE Policy. In addition, the site provides information on other initiatives underway across China, including information on regulations for doing business in China, downloadable market analyses and reports, and contact information on key industry and government decision makers.

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Scientists Using Genetically Engineered Potato Plants to Produce Base Chemicals Found in Common Household Products

The greenhouse of the Lumen building at Wageningen University. Photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org.

WAGENINGEN, Netherlands - Plant Research International and the Microbiology science group, both part of Wageningen University and Research Centre, have jointly developed potato plants that are capable of producing itaconic acid, a chemical ingredient used in common household products.

The itaconic acid is a vital component in products such as acrylic fibers and rubbers, reinforced glass fibers, artificial diamonds, and lenses. The acid is also used as an additive in fibers and ion exchange resins to increase their abrasion, waterproofing, physical resistance, and dying affinity, as well as improve their duration.

It is also used as a binder and sizing agent in non-weaving fibers, paper, and concrete paint. Additionally, itaconic acid is used in water treatment systems to help prevent contamination by metallic alkali.

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