Researchers in Singapore have developed a new nanomaterial that functions like the best Swiss army knife in the world. The material, known as Multi-use Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), can produce energy, it can generate hydrogen, and it can even produce clean water. But that’s not all: The remarkable material can also be formed into flexible solar cells and it can double the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. And with bacteria-killing properties, it can also be used in new antibacterial bandages.

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Post tags: Darren Sun, desalination, green technology, hydrogen, lithium-ion batteries, Multi-use Titanium Dioxide, nanomaterial, nanoparticles, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Solar Cell, TiO2, titanium

The world is facing a serious water shortage. Humans are using more than 9 quadrillion liters of water per year (or 25 trillion liters per day), and more than one-third of people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water. For a long time, environmental groups have warned that desalination is not the answer to the shortage of freshwater because it is so energy intensive; depending too much on desalination would increase CO2 emissions while damaging marine habitats. But could new technology make desalination more sustainable? In honor of World Water Day, desalination company Energy Recovery has produced this infographic explaining how new advances in energy-efficient desalination technology could help provide clean water to those who need it most.

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Post tags: desalination, energy recovery, energy-efficient desalination, filtered saltwater, freshwater, saltwater, sustainable desalination, UN world water day, water issues, world water day

Many countries in the Middle East have been researching desalination – the process of removing salt from sea water so it is fit to drink. It makes sense especially in hot, dry countries where drinking water is not abundant. However, a team of European researchers from CORDIS believe they can make the entire process even more efficient, by harnessing the region’s high levels of solar power to develop a high-efficiency and low-cost desalination system.

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Post tags: "solar energy", CORDIS, desalination, drinking water, Middle East, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), reverse osmosis, RO-Solar-Rankine project, Solar Power, solar powered desalination

The answer to the growing water crisis in developing countries might be a postage stamp-sized device that resembles a computer chip. Researchers at MIT have developed a water purifier made out of soft silicone that separates out contaminants using magnetic fields — all without getting clogged.

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Post tags: desalination, desalination chip, Drought, eco design, green design, MIT, sustainable design, water issues

The shores of Arrecife on the island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands will soon be graced by a beautiful new concert hall. Dutch architecture firm, Henning Larsen, took first place in a competition in 2009 to design the structure which will be called the Palacio de Congresos. Like a beautiful piece of jewelry, the concert hall is meant to accentuate the city’s sea promenade and elevate the city’s identity. Along with the striking form, the structure incorporates a number of sustainability initiatives like a “semi-intelligent” shading facade to keep the interior cool, solar panels for energy and hot water and rainwater collection.

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Post tags: "solar energy", Canary Islands, concert hall, desalination, eco design, energy efficient, green design, henning larsen, henning larsen architets, intelligent facada, photovoltaics, rainwater, rainwater collection, shading device, solar hot water, Solar Power, solar shading, Sustainable Building, water conservation

Living in the desert comes with major advantages and disadvantages — excess solar power and not enough water, to be more specific. Now IBM and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology are teaming up to solve the water problem with solar-powered desalination technology. Eventually, the two organizations hope to construct a desalination plant in Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia that can harness sunlight to generate 7.9 million gallons of water daily — enough for 100,000 people.

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Post tags: "solar energy", desalination, eco design, green design, ibm, saudi arabia, Solar Power, water issues

House on the Water by Poland-based Formodesign is a stunning floating home that relies on the surrounding sea and radiating sun to keep it self-sufficient in terms of energy and h2o. Accessible only by boat, the cantilevered home rests offshore from a beautiful beach and is intended to be used as a rental home for those seeking a life offshore.

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Post tags: desalination, floating house, formodesign, greece, house on the water, natural ventilation, self-sufficient, Solar Power