Chemicals: Villains of the Natural World...or Not

Recently, something fascinating was brought to my attention by a speaker on biomimicry. Interested in what that means? Read on to learn more...

There is a common misconception. This misconception is that chemicals are man-made hazards that pollute and threaten an otherwise chemical-free natural world.

Chemical [kem-i-kuh l] (noun)
1. a substance produced by or used in a chemical process.
2. of or relating to, used in, or produced by chemistry

Chemistry? Remember chemistry class? The science class that tried to teach you about the structure and property of substances and the changes they go through. And the Periodic Table of the Elements! Everyone knows that. But most of those elements didn't seem so evil...Carbon, Oxygen...the building blocks of life are contained in that colorful table.

So maybe chemicals aren't pure evil. Certainly combinations of them can be harmful to the health of living things - but chemicals are the building blocks of everything - natural and not.

There is this perception that the word "chemical" is evil, yet nature offers some incredible natural chemical solutions to very real world problems. Seashells inspiring self-assembling in nanotechnology. Plants inspiring biodegradable plastics made from CO2. Peacocks and butterflies inspiring color with light instead of pigments.

If we are going to truly understand chemistry enough to make real change - we need to stop villainizing chemicals and look to understand them instead. Biologists are being invited to the design table. Taking inspiration from nature to design for a sustainable future.

"Learning about the natural world is one thing. Learning from the natural world, that's the switch. That's the profound switch." -Janine Beynus, Biomimicry
Learn more at biomimicry.net
http://biomimicry.net/inspiring/

Guest Blog - Guide to Government Incentives for Green Commercial Trucks

This blog post comes to you from Brittany Richards, editorial coordinator for Software Advice.

Have you noticed 18-wheelers on the road and wondered how much gas it takes to fuel them? Since I was young, I’ve always noticed big trucks and asked myself that question. Well, in my time as the editorial coordinator for Software Advice, a company that helps buyers review transportation management system technology, I’ve learned that it takes tons of gas (literally) to fuel commercial fleets.

For large companies that own or manage large fleets of commercial trucks, reducing fuel consumption is one of the most tangible ways an organization can positively impact both the planet and its profits. We frequently hear from buyers that are interested in technology to measure, analyze and (in-time) reduce fuel consumption across its fleets to bring down costs and help reduce overall consumption.

One way to greatly reduce consumption and costs is to combine this technology with the purchase of new, energy-efficient trucks. And thankfully, there are a number of government incentives to reimburse and reward companies for the purchase of green(er) vehicles.

However, it’s important to consider who qualifies for these programs. Many incentive programs commonly stipulate vehicle type, fuel type, state/region of operation, vehicle weight limit, fleet size and overall company revenue. In addition, the application for each type of incentive is nuanced, and each program has its own requirements.

To help buyers better understand the government incentive process, Software Advice contributor Janna Finch has put together a comprehensive guide that breaks down the federal, regional and state incentive programs and provides contact information for each program. In addition, the guide provides a quick, four-step process to help guide your application process. For more detailed information on these programs, check out the guide here.