Brian Spaen
Brian is a staff writer for Green Matters.
More From Brian Spaen
U.S. Solar Capacity Increases Despite Forecasts Showing Installation Decline
More people are installing solar in the United States despite gloomy outlooks for solar.Elon Musk Says Tesla Could Dominate EV Market With 20 Gigafactories Worldwide
The electric vehicle market competition is ramping up but Elon Musk thinks tesla has the advantage.Honda Plans To Release 'Level 4' Autonomous Vehicles By 2025
Major automaker Honda is planning on releasing level 4 vehicles capable of driving themselves.Solar-Powered Well Achieves Water Harvesting In Deserts
Harvesting water in the driest places on earth is tough, but these solar powered wells may be a solution.Self-Driving Cars To Hit Atlanta's Streets This September
Self-driving cars will soon make their debut in Arlanta. Georgia Tech University will conduct a trial run through downtown as part of the Safer Roads Challenge.France Bans Supermarkets From Tossing Unsold Food
France passed legislation forcing supermarkets to quit wasting food, instead donating them to food banks, resulting in 200 less pounds of food wasted in one year.Ikea Is Officially Selling Solar Panels And Batteries In The UK
IKEA announced a partnership with Solarcentury whickw ill bring solar panels and batteries to UK IKEA stores for much cheaper than Tesla's Powerwall.Tonke Camper Provides Opportunity For Worldwide Off-Grid Camping
This camper by Tonke makes off the grid camping easier with it's sleek, slim design.Renewable Energy Sees Global Surge As More Companies Commit To 100% Renewables
More companies are committing to move their major energy consumption to 100% renewable options.Apple Hints At Autonomous Tech Beyond Just Self-Driving Cars
Apple's Project Titan is looking beyond self-driving cars with its new autonomy initiatives — but the details on what that could mean are tightly guarded.European Startup Adds EV Charge Points Through Peer-to-Peer Networking
Electric vehicles might have a new way to charge thanks to a startups new peer to peer networking technologyDutch Startup Reveals Solar-Powered Car With 500-Mile Driving Range
A start up in the netherlands has unveiled a solar-powered car with a 500-mile driving range.Police Station In Cincinnati Becomes World's First With LEED Platinum Certification
The first building in the world to receive a LEED Platinum Certification is a Police Station in CincinnatiBlack Market For Used Grease Converted Into Biodiesel Fuel Increases
Used grease is usually seen as a disgusting waste but it is now being reused as a biodiesel fuel that is proving to be efficientThese Solar Panels For Sidewalks Might Power Our Future Cities
New technology is being tested that would allow for solar panels to be installed in sidewalks and generate clean energy while walkingTesla's Solar Roofs Are Finally Available And They're Cheaper Than Expected
The new solar roofs from Tesla have finally been released to the public and the initial reaction is that they are cheaper than initially thoughtSustainable Architect Ignites Innovation In Cleveland's Underserved Areas
Sustainable architecture is front and center in Cleveland as the cities under served areas are now getting housing and being greenFlorida Brewery And E6PR Brings Biodegradable Six-Pack Rings To Market
The SaltWater Brewery in Florida just made an edible and biodegradable six-pack ring made from a mixture of excess barley and wheat that is already in the brewing process.This New Community In Arizona Will Feature Battery Packs In Nearly 3,000 Homes
A German-based energy startup will be putting solar generation systems all over Prescott Valley’s new homes in Arizona.Scientists Discover New Way To Save Bananas From Going Extinct
Over 50 years ago, bananas were temporarily extinct. Even though we tend to just call them “bananas,” there’s actually different species of the fruit available.Toyota's New 'Concept-i' Makes Self-Driving Cars Totally Customized
Toyota will be debuting a new concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October.Green Energy Giants Want To Power Puerto Rico's Future Grid
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has been greatly involved in the change, creating a disaster response form for those that want to send money or products to Puerto Rico.Panasonic's EV Solar Roof Gives New Meaning To Having A 'Sunroof'
Panasonic released a EV solar roof that will collect energy as cars drive to charge batteries.High-Altitude Wind Farms Could Be A Game Changer For Green Energy
Scientists from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have been able to locate areas in the Middle East where they can have consistent energy with high-altitude wind turbines.Virginia Gets Opportunity To Explore Offshore Wind Energy With New Partnership
Virginia has partnered with Dominion Energy to explore the potential for offshore wind energy as supplemental power.Elon Musk Explains Why We Need To Regulate Artificial Intelligence
Telsa founder Elon Musk thinks AI could be dangerous if not regulated in some fashion.SolarGaps Uses Solar-Powered Window Blinds To Generate Electricity
Window blinds are the newest household item that can actually generate electricity from solar power and lead to more sustainable homesSingapore Researchers Develop Air Conditioner That Uses 40% Less Energy
Researchers at the National University of Singapore created a water-based air conditioner that doesn't use mechanical compressors, saves electricity and can save drinking water.The 2018 Super Bowl Stadium Offsets 100% Of Its Own Energy
The location of the 2018 Super Bowl — U.S. Bank Stadium — offsets 100 percent of its electricity with renewable energy and energy-efficient technology.Extra Heat Generated From Bitcoin Mining Fuels Local Greenhouse
A Canadian-based mining farmer has created a way to use the heat that is generated in the Bitcoin process for agriculture, fueling a local greenhouse.New York Dairy Farm Goes Vegan With 100% Plant-Based Milks
Elmhurst Milked is a New York dairy farm that now uses nuts, oats, and rice to create milk — transitioning to cruelty-free and plant-based products.How Solar Energy Producers Are Preparing For The Aug. 21 Eclipse
Wondeirng how the solar eclipse will effect U.S. energy production? Here's how the biggest solar energy producers are planning for the possible dip in power generation?How One Company Is Getting Rid Of Ocean Trash One Bracelet At A Time
A new organization is trying to raise money and awareness to ocean plastics by selling bracelets in efforts to clean up beachesQuantum Dots May Soon Convert Windows Into Solar Energy Sources
Solar panel technology would be incorporated into windows with Quantum Dots, a nano technology involving transparent luminescent solar concentration (LSC) panels.'Casa Pollo' Is An Eco-Friendly Home Built From Recycled Materials
Off the coast of Chile, Casa Pollo — made from recycled materials such as zinc plates and reused wood — sits on Chiloe Island.This Paint Reflects Sunlight On Streets To Help Keep Cities Cool
A grey "cool pavement" with reflective paint could help keep metropolitan areas with a lot of sunlight cooler, thus lowering energy costsThis Solar-Powered Home In Argentina Includes Gardens On Every Level
Gardens are not just meant to be in the backyard anymore as there are beautiful homes in Argentina that have them on every level of the houseRyanair Commits To Going Plastic-Free On All Flights By 2023
Over the course of five years, Ryanair has committed to eliminating all plastics from their flights and installing a carbon offset scheme for their customers.Chile Uses Geological Advantage To Push Renewable Energy
Chile is home to 15 percent of the world's volcanoes and is aiming to harness that geothermal power to generate 16,000 megawatts of energy.GM Focuses On Sustainability With Tires Made From Natural Rubber
In an effort to become more sustainable General Motors is focusing on making tires that come from natural rubber from renewable sourcesThis Billionaire Is Giving Back By Giving Away His Fortune To Save The Ocean
One of the richest men in Norway is giving back by donating large sums to organizations that are trying to save the oceanMercedes-Benz Enters Solar Energy Market In US With Home Batteries
Mercedes is not only making cars as they have entered the home energy market in the United States producing batteriesButterfly Wings Could Be Key To Solar Panels Absorbing More Light
Researchers from the California Institute of Technology and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have looking into how to improve thin solar cells.Volvo Switches From Diesel To Electric Cars In Vision Of Cleaner Future
In a vision by executives of a cleaner and more sustainable future Volvo is moving away from Diesel and towards Electric Vehicles100% Biodegradable Tea Bags Are Coming To The U.K.
The Co-op, a U.K. retailer, is introducing a new tea bag that doesn't have polypropylene in a collaboration with their tea supplier, Typhoo, and sustainable fiber company, Ahlstrom-Munksjo.This All-Avocado Restaurant In Brooklyn Is A Haven For Foodies
A new all-avocado restaurant called Avocaderia opened in Brooklyn and all their menu options from breakfast to smoothies features the trendy fruit.This Simple Filter Makes Seawater Safe To Drink
The Graphene filter has the incredible ability to repel water while absorbing all the nasty material.Michelob Ultra Goes Green With Beer Made From Organic Grains
Michelob Ultra's new "Pure Gold" edition features organic grains and sustainable packaging.Florida Panthers Center Sustainability With 'Green Month' March
The Florida Panthers will host promotions throughout "Green Month" to educate fans about environmental conservation and recycling.This 'Nanowood' Is The Biodegradable Alternative To Styrofoam We Need
“Nanowood” hopes to provide benefits similar to styrofoam, with the plus of being biodegradable.