Treating Urban Runoff with Constructed Wetlands

Constructed wetlands clean stormwater runoff by filtering the water through wetland plants, which uptake contaminants and nutrients.  The El Modena project is a good example of this type of Best Management Practice (BMP), and is an environmental alternative to conventional systems. 

MIT Researchers Discover Why Concrete Breaks Down

New research performed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could increase the density of concrete by 87% by adding a waste product from aluminum production.  This process could make concrete structures last longer.

Upper Mississippi Floodplain Becomes Wetland of International Importance

Portions of the Upper Mississippi River and the largest national wildlife refuge in the Midwest have been designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance Recognized Projects: April 2009

In April 2009, two projects have been recognized as good examples of smart growth development.  The Kardon Ponds project in Chester County, Pennsylvania; is a 47-acre brownfields infill site.  The Zurbrugg Mansion Redevelopment in Burlington County, New Jersey, is 34 unit mixed-use development.

http://www.delawarevalleysmartgrowth.org/projects.htm

Hybrid American Chestnut Trees Are Carbon Storage Champions

Researchers at Purdue University say that a new hybrid of the American Chestnut tree are excellent at trapping carbon from the atmosphere.  They grow faster and larger than most hardwoods, which mean they can trap a larger amount of carbon.  The American Chestnut has struggled from an introduced Asian fungus blight, which nearly wiped out the entire species.

Shredded Tires on Play Surfaces Could Be Toxic, EPA Admits

EPA documents show that more research is needed on tire crumb, recycled tires that are ground up for playground surfaces.  The tires contain toxic ingredients such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury and hydrocarbons.  Other concerns are toxins that can enter the lunges from particulates, fibers, volatile organic compounds and latex.  EPA currently promotes the use of tire crumbs in playgrounds.

New Version of LEED Tightens Energy Uses, Mandates Monitoring

The new LEED 3.0 version has tightened energy reduction standards and requirements to monitor and report how much energy a building uses.

NASA, Japan release Most Complete Topographic Map of Earth

Utilizing detailed measurements from NASA’s Terra spacecraft, a new digital topographic map of Earth has been released, and covers more of our planet than ever before.  This new map provides the most complete global digital elevation data, and can be used for many applications.

June 29, 2009
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2009/jun/HQ_09-150_ASTER_Topographic_Map.html