Energy conservation in a small number of households could go a long way to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, scientists are reporting. Their study, which measured differences in energy demands at the household level, appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Our sustainable future: A greener, more sustainable source of ingredients for widely used plastics

Taking inspiration from trees, scientists have developed a battery made from a sliver of wood coated with tin that shows promise for becoming a tiny, long-lasting, efficient and environmentally friendly energy source. Their report on the device — 1,000 times thinner than a sheet of paper — appears in the journal Nano Letters.

Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions

Our Sustainable Future: An environmentally friendly battery made from wood

Confronting Climate Change - Stop-Gap Measures to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Big environmental footprints: 21 percent of homes account for 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions