Save the Manatees from the Impact of Spills like Piney Point

4/22/2021

Manatees in Florida feed on coastal seagrass, a species at risk from phosphorus surge

Manatees in their coastal habitat

Photo by NOAA on Unsplash

The manatees that inhabit Florida’s incredible, variable and complex coastal regions are one of four distinct populations. Ours is the only population in North America, and the creatures are amazing. They are huge and almost fluid, as they undulate and drift through clear water. Imagine an incredibly rotund but concurrently graceful aquatic ballet dancer!

On one occasion, ironically, in Clear Water, Florida, I experienced their passive and gentle presence. Unequivocally, the nuances around their life model require hard science. But it seems like, today at least, human political divisions are being superseded by the manatee. We are putting political division aside, in order to save a remarkable species.

The US is Now Poised to Break Out Around FPV

4/21/2021

The Popularity of Floating Solar Makes the Possibility of Cleaning Up Water Real

Solar panels sit on a floating dock next to a nanobubble aerator, waiting to be tested on Fish Fry Lake

Floating solar panels are set up to power this nanobubble aerator on Fish Fry Lake

The US has two-trillion dollars earmarked for climate action, and it's time to break out around FPV, fix impaired water, and reduce GHG too.

Floating Island International (FII) is reaching out to the international floating photovoltaic (FPV) community. The U.S. is poised to “Make America great... again” around the emerging alternative energy market.

Partner with Nature

4/20/2021

Nature-as-model, biomimicry, is the gentle arm-twister that pulls us towards sustainability

Willows growing on these floating islands are an example of hyperaccumulator plants, that suck up pollutants out of water

These willows are an example of hyperaccumulator plants, that accelerate removal of pollutants from water. They thrive on BioHaven Floating Islands.

Here at the Shepherd, Montana research center, where BioHaven Floating Islands were born, we marvel at the result when we partner with Nature. We partner with autotrophic life forms, like hyper-accumulator plants that cycle exponentially more nutrients (and other contaminants) out of water than regular plants do. We design BioHavens to give these superstars of the plant kingdom the best possible growth conditions, to help us fix water!

Get Smart About Floating PhotoVoltaics

4/19/2021

In a confused floating solar market, BioHavens offer a ray of hope for water quality that makes floating solar feasible and sustainable

If floating solar power generation is what you do, why not clean the water too?

If floating solar is what you do, why not clean the water too?

Today the nascent FPV (Floating PhotoVoltaics) market is confused. As China surges ahead, as France leverages the aggressive marketing efforts of Ciel et Terre (a provider of FPV), in the U.S., remarkable opportunities to develop sustainable solar projects are being missed. Italy has actually banned development of floating solar on reservoirs…truly a remarkable and confusing policy in light of the negative impact on alternative energy development by serious players like ENEL. Especially today when there is an emerging floating solar platform option that will enhance water quality.

Biomimicry is the Model for a Better Future

4/18/2021

Biomimicry - nature as model - will steer a course through the vagaries of human endeavor towards sustainable living

This BioHaven was launched in 2007 with perennial plants. It has been helping to reduce algae and fight greenhouse gas emissions for 14 years!

This BioHaven was launched in 2007 with perennial plants. It has been helping to reduce algae and fight greenhouse gas emissions for 14 years!

Clear vision through the fog of obfuscation, of fallacy, of misdirected anger, is rare. But it is happening. There is a movement that does not bow to misdirection or misinformation. It simply advances. The movement is called Biomimicry.

Biomimicry is the model for a better future.
The word has become science. It has no political connotations. It just is. You can measure it. Yes. It is factual, and you can live it. Actually, watch it unfold, as you engage it.

They Aren't Building New Real Estate Any More - Are They?

4/17/2021

Is it true… can we grow new real estate and take a bite out of greenhouse gas emissions in the process?

Aerial view of large floating island built for tern nesting habitat

Aerial view of large floating island built for tern nesting habitat

Who would challenge the obvious truth, the basic statement that “they aren’t making more real estate”? It’s clear in the general public’s mind that real estate is finite. Right? But is it? Since 2005, Floating Island International has “launched” 10,000 pieces of real estate around the planet - some large, some small, all of them representing new “land” that wasn’t there before. And these new islands actually grow over time, and as they grow, they fight climate change.

The Mission of Floating Island International

4/15/2021

It is almost 50 years since the Clean Water Act so why is water more polluted than ever?

The lake in the photo is covered by a green carpet of algae, which could turn into a harmful algae bloom in the right (wrong) conditions

The incidence of Harmful Algae Blooms is growing, in pandemic proportions.

Today as the entire planet battles a viral pandemic, it’s fitting that we consider water and the evolutionary forces it faces. Clean water is at the heart of the mission of Floating Island International.

The Clean Water Act(s), in place since October 1972, gave us clear direction, and blatant contaminant pollution became forbidden.

Nature as Business Model

4/9/2021

Biomimicry works for profit too!

Nature has many prototypes we can learn from, such as this natural floating island in Wisconsin.

Nature has many prototypes we can learn from, such as this natural floating island in Wisconsin.

Nature is the ultimate inventor. She has more prototypes under her belt than any other inventor, and we call it “evolution.” And evolution, which includes prototype development and testing, takes time. Not necessarily human scale time either.