WorldGreen

Photo: Empa The Previous Record was 17.6% Scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have made flexible solar cells made of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) with a light-conversion efficiency of 18.7 percent, a new world record. This milestone, about 1% higher than the previous record, might seem like a small step forward, but when looked at in the context of constant incremental improvement, it is significative. What truly matters is the rate of improvement, and how it can be leveraged (1-2% multiplied by many gigawatts of capacity makes a ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hitting the swap meet and flea market is a great way to find new-to-you stuff while keeping goods out of the landfill and recycling stream. It's a greener way to shop. But you also want to know what you're doing while you're there so that you get the best deal. The Consumerist has tips on haggling, including a video that will enlighten you on how to bargain for the best price. Plus, it makes heading to the flea market, rather than some big-box shop, a must-try experience. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Image via YouTube video Earlier in the month, we pointed out the innovative ideas coming out of the Toyota Ideas for Good competition, including hacking a Prius into an energy-generating roller coaster car. Well, the winners for the competition have been announced and the creative ideas that repurpose Toyota technology are truly impressive. From better bike helmets to solar-powered ventilation for homes in developing countries, check out videos from each winning idea. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

CNET has a great review of various electronics buy-back programs, including how much you can expect to get for specific devices from the different programs. If you're looking to sell back old gadgets (which is *way* better than just recycling them), then be sure to check out this review. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Image via WellHome Exactly how much electronic waste do we produce? Which electronics become e-waste, and at what rate? A new infographic from WellHome explores these stats, and it's quite a wake-up call! Click through to check out the graphic in full.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Environmental education is something too often overlooked in school curriculum. Michelle Nijhuis of Yale e360 interviews Charles Saylan, co-founder and executive director of the California-based Ocean Conservation Society, about his new book which poses the question: What can the U.S. educational system do to improve students' understanding of the environment and its importance in their lives? The interview is chock full of great insight into why the environment isn't given more priority in the classroom, and what can be done to change that fact. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo by robstephaustralia via Flickr CC Even if you're a friend of sharks, if you like fishing in the open sea you run the risk of snagging a shark here and there. And if you're a commercial fisherman, you're no stranger to sharks showing up as a significant part of your bycatch. It's estimated that tens of millions of sharks end up as accidental bycatch every year. However, a new high-tech fish hook could help keep sharks safer from fishing lines. The SMART hooks are magnetic and have a special metal coating that produces a voltage in se... Read the full story on TreeHugger

How hurricanes will respond to climate change, the future of agriculture in a warming world, and the link between tornadoes and global warming have long been cause for concern here on TreeHugger. But attributing any one event or phenomenon to climate change is both impossible, and probably counterproductive. Peter Freed over at Terrapass has a short but important piece on new research t... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Photo via LittleFootprint Lighting Made of recycled materials - including plastic recycled from e-waste - and sporting high efficiency LED bulb, the Read the full story on TreeHugger

Yale e360 has an excellent video on Africa's impending water crisis. "s temperatures in the region have risen and water supplies have dwindled, the pastoralists have had to range more widely in search of suitable water and land. That search has brought tribal groups in Ethiopia and Kenya in increasing conflict, as pastoral communities kill each other over water and grass." If you watch any videos today, make it this. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger