Showing titles in Environmental

Most of us give little thought to the hidden systems that bring us water and take it away when we’re done. But these underappreciated marvels of engineering face an array of challenges that cannot be solved without a fundamental change to our relationship with water.

A globe-trotting work of relentless investigative reporting, Waste Wars is the first major book to expose the catastrophic reality of the multi-billion-dollar global garbage trade. Journalist Alexander Clapp spent two years roaming five continents to report from deep inside the world of Indonesian trash traders, Turkish steel resellers, environmental whisper networks in the jungles of Guatemala, and a community of Ghanian burner boys trading in old electronics and has emerged to tell listeners what he does know: globalized garbage is a bizarre, illogical industry.

It's in our food, our clothes, and our homes. It's microplastic and it's everywhere—including our own bodies. Scientists are just beginning to discover how these tiny particles threaten health, but the studies are alarming. In A Poison Like No Other, Matt Simon reveals a whole new dimension to the plastic crisis.

In the twentieth century, wealth and power was dictated by access to oil. This century will have different kingmakers, perhaps different wars. We depend on a handful of metals and rare earths to power our phones and computers. Increasingly, we rely on them to power our cars and our homes. Whoever controls these finite commodities will become rich beyond imagining. Sanderson journeys to meet the characters, companies, and nations scrambling for the new resources.

In this wide-ranging, character-driven audiobook, science-journalist Emily Anthes takes us on an adventure into the buildings in which we spend our days, exploring the profound and sometimes unexpected ways that they shape our lives. Drawing on cutting-edge research, she probes the painkilling power of a well-placed window and examines how the right office layout can expand our social networks.

In Secondhand, Adam Minter delves into the vast, multibillion-dollar industry that resells used stuff around the world. He follows the trail of unwanted objects from the closets, garages, and storage units of Middle America to epic used-goods markets in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Ghana, India, Malaysia, and beyond. Secondhand takes us through the often painful and heartbreaking process of cleaning out a lifetime’s worth of possessions and shows that used stuff still has a place in a world that values the new and shiny.

Kristen Iversen grew up in a small Colorado town close to Rocky Flats, a secret nuclear weapons plant once designated "the most contaminated site in America." Full Body Burden is the story of a childhood and adolescence in the shadow of the Cold War, in a landscape at once startlingly beautiful and--unknown to those who lived there--tainted with invisible yet deadly particles of plutonium.

In Wasteland, journalist Oliver Franklin-Wallis takes us on a shocking journey inside the waste industry—the secretive multi-billion dollar world that underpins the modern economy, quietly profiting from what we leave behind.

In 2006, John Doerr was moved by Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and a challenge from his teenage daughter: “Dad, your generation created this problem. You better fix it.” Since then, Doerr has searched for solutions to this existential problem - as an investor, an advocate, and a philanthropist. Fifteen years later, despite breakthroughs in batteries, electric vehicles, plant-based proteins, and solar and wind power, global warming continues to get worse. Its impact is all around us: droughts, floods, wildfires, the melting of the polar ice caps.

The water coming out of your tap is four billion years old and might have been slurped by a Tyrannosaurus Rex. We will always have exactly as much water on Earth as we have ever had. Water cannot be destroyed, and it can always be made clean enough for drinking again. In fact, water can be made so clean that it actually becomes toxic. As Charles Fishman brings vibrantly to life in this delightful narrative excursion, water runs our world in a host of awe-inspiring ways, which is both the promise and the peril of our unexplored connections to it.

Building a Resilient Tomorrow does not dwell on overhyped descriptions of apocalyptic climate scenarios, nor does it travel down well-trodden paths surrounding the politics of reducing carbon emissions. Instead, it starts with two central facts: Climate impacts will continue to occur, and we can make changes now to mitigate their effects.

"Reduce, reuse, recycle," urge environmentalists. In other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. William McDonough and Michael Braungart argue in this provocative book that this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates back to the Industrial Revolution, a model that casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. They challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world.

"Conquer the EPA 608 Exam: Your Comprehensive Guide to Refrigerant Handling Certification" is an essential resource for technicians in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of refrigerant management, from understanding basic refrigeration cycles to handling high-pressure and low-pressure systems, and servicing small appliances. It delves into the properties and handling of refrigerant blends, environmental and ethical responsibilities, and the latest advancements in refrigerant technology. Key chapters provide detailed insights into ...

What do the fires in Lahaina, Maui (2023), the floods in North Carolina (2024), and the fires in Hollywood, California have in common (2025)? American citizens lost their lives, their properties, and the U.S. Government was no where to be found. In "Fires, Floods and Foul Play: Uncovering the Shadows Behind Environmental Catastrophes," Wayne C. Robinson embarks on a revealing journey through the devastating events that have shaped communities from Hollywood to Maui, and more recently, to the flood-stricken areas of North Carolina hit by Hurricane Helena. This book explores the intersecting ...

Conquer the NABCEP Energy Storage Installation Professional Exam (ESIP): Your Guide to Renewable Energy Storage Solutions is a comprehensive resource for aspiring and experienced professionals seeking to master energy storage systems and achieve NABCEP ESIP certification. This guide covers essential topics like energy storage fundamentals, battery technologies, system design, safety protocols, and troubleshooting, with practical insights tailored to the needs of the renewable energy industry. The book begins with foundational concepts, explaining the principles of energy storage and its ...

Enter the vibrant world of carbon credits with 'The Green Revolution: Unveiling the Carbon Credit Boom'. As the planet grapples with the challenges of climate change, the carbon credit industry emerges as a beacon of hope, bridging economics with sustainability. Discover within: 🌿 A comprehensive overview of the carbon credit landscape, its origins, and its meteoric rise. 🌿 Demystifying carbon credits and offsets: What are they? How do they work? 🌿 A deep dive into the benefits and critiques surrounding carbon trading. 🌿 Proven strategies and insights for investing in the ...

Conquer the FE Environmental Exam: A Basic Guide to the Fundamentals of Engineering Environmental Discipline offers a straightforward approach to help candidates prepare for the FE Environmental Exam. Designed for individuals seeking a basic understanding of environmental engineering concepts, this guide covers essential topics such as water resources engineering, air pollution control, wastewater treatment, soil mechanics, and sustainability practices. Each chapter provides clear explanations and practical examples, making complex topics accessible to those at the early stages of their ...

Conquer the NABCEP PV Commissioning & Maintenance Specialist Exam (PVCMS): Your Guide to Advanced Solar System Care is the definitive resource for solar energy professionals preparing for NABCEP certification. Designed for those tasked with ensuring solar systems operate reliably and efficiently, this guide covers all critical aspects of PV commissioning and maintenance, from initial inspections to troubleshooting and long-term care. The book begins by exploring the fundamentals of photovoltaic systems, providing a solid foundation for understanding system components, configurations, and ...

Conquer™ the Water Well Exam: Your Guide to a Career as a Water Well System Provider is a comprehensive study guide designed to help aspiring professionals master the essential knowledge and skills needed to pass the water well certification exam. This book covers a wide range of topics, including groundwater hydrology, well design and construction, pump installation, and maintenance practices. Each chapter delves into the critical aspects of water well systems, providing detailed explanations, practical insights, and real-world case studies that highlight the challenges and successes ...

Conquer the BEAC Certified Environmental Auditor (CEA) Exam: Your Concise Guide to Regulatory Compliance in Oil and Gas provides an essential overview tailored for professionals pursuing certification in environmental auditing within the energy sector. This guide is designed to complement more detailed study materials by offering a targeted summary of the key concepts and practical applications specific to oil and gas operations. The book explores critical topics such as environmental laws, regulatory compliance, and risk management, all framed in the context of high-stakes oil and gas ...