Dillo Dirt™ at Hornsby Bend

Posted on May 1, 2015 by Misty Chase

dillodirtOne of my favorite school field trips was to the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant in Austin, Texas. I found the processes of turning sludge and wastewater into useful products fascinating. For instance: Dillo Dirt™.

Dillo Dirt™ is a unique Texas product created in 1989 and recognized with a first-place award by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Biosolids Recycing. It was the first program in the state of Texas and one of the oldest in the nation.
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Flying drones down to the farm

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Hannah Weaver

www.precisiondrone.comIn the United States, roughly 40% of the land, or 915 million acres, is dedicated to farming. That land provides an estimated 32% of the corn, 50% of the soybeans, and 30% of the cotton for the planet, according to reports from the EPA and USDA. The progression towards more efficient, accurate farming practices will benefit not only our domestic economy, but the supply of crops globally. Continue reading →

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Deepwater Horizon oil spill: 5 years later

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Banks Team
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The benefits of solar power

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Misty Chase

Fossil fuels emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. According to the EPA, the main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of oil, coal, and natural gases for energy and transportation. Alternative energy sources such as solar power do not produce CO2 emissions. Solar thermal uses the sun to provide heat, and in turn inverts that heat into chemical fuels or electricity that can be transported and used elsewhere.
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Texas House Bill 40 would ban local fracking bans

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Carissa Ries

The Texas Legislature introduced House Bill 40 this week. The House Committee on Energy Resources voted 10-1 to approve the legislation for consideration by the full House. HB40 is among a number of bills filed after Denton residents voted a city-wide ban on fracking into effect last November. This bill seeks to “explicitly confirm the authority for regulation of oil and gas activities within the state”, and thereby preempts any municipality from superseding state law and oil and gas regulation by the Railroad Commission (RRC). Continue reading →

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Homes made from recycled plastic bottles

Posted on March 27, 2015 by Misty Chase

The shortage of low-cost homes and growing number of homeless people is a global challenge. Many charities and organizations, such as Eco-Tec, are finding alternative ways to save money as well as build sustainable homes out of recyclable plastic bottles. Continue reading →

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