Azores: Termas do Carapacho distinguished with sustainability Award (with video)

Combine the health welfare is the concept of the Termas do Carapacho, in Graciosa island in the Azores. The use of these thermal baths dates back to at least 1750, when they were used in the prophylaxis of rheumatic diseases, liver and skin of colitis, being the most common form of treatment soaking baths. The thermal waters originate in an aquifer underlying the Furna do Enxofre and emerge to a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius.

In 2010, the spas have been remodeled, an investment of almost € 3 million regional government and this site which for a long time was associated with medical problems also became a space of relaxation.

"A part of the offer is very linked to the use of thermal water and then we also have the issue of SPA", explains Carlos Basu, from the Windows of nature â€" the company that operates the baths-the green economy.

In these spas, water is the main raw material and there are several possibilities to enjoy this natural resource. For those who want to take advantage of the thermal properties of water, but can't handle the higher temperatures the pool, vichy bath or hydromassage is an option. Then there are also massages, jacuzzi and other treatments that use the thermal properties of the waters.

Currently, work at a spa four employees receiving training and environmental sustainability. "The employees themselves have a formation at the level of the nature and the biosphere to be defenders of these agents," explains Carlos Basu. For this reason and also for other environmental criteria, the company that runs the Termas do Carapacho received the Green Key â€" an award that distinguishes tourist complexes that promote sustainable tourism and environmental education.

The green economy was acquainted the Termas do Carapacho. See the episode 331 here.

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The tallest residential building in the northern hemisphere

Cities are increasingly crowded and the architecture evolves with this drastic demographic transformation. In 432 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York, is the tallest residential building in the northern hemisphere, which will start to receive the first owners next year.

With 425 feet tall, the building is 96 floors and was designed by Rafael Viñoli. The building has "only" 104 apartments, which each cost between €13,5 million ($ 42.2 million) and € 75 million (£ 237 million).

The building has all the concessions possible and imaginary: wine cellars for storing wine temperature control, terraces, spa, swimming pools and a therapy room and massages.

"We have set up a monument in New York, which can be seen from all five boroughs and is an addition to the iconic landscape of the city," explained Harry Macklowe, the Macklowe Properties.

In the future, this will be one of the major trends of the cities, the construction in time. But, unlike this precious architectural jewel, the buildings will be crowded with families, colacando new social and environmental challenges the communities that, in itself, need some advice in these areas. In New York and other large global metropolises.

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Portuguese researcher distinguished by NASA

Ana Julia Knight, researcher at the Center for biological engineering (CEB), the University of Minho (UMinho), was awarded by NASA in the 12th International Workshop on environment and alternative energies, an event dedicated to the subject

"Increase the Resilience of the space mission through Sustainability". Anne Knight was awarded the 2nd Prize in the category Best Oral presentation, having been the only distinguished in the Portuguese event.

The researcher, which integrates the research group BRIDGE â€" Biorrecursos group, Bioremediation and Biorefinery, the CEB, was recognized for his work "Engineered bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites deep", a project focused on the use of anaerobic microorganisms to clean soil and groundwater contaminated with aliphatic hydrocarbons â€" the principal constituents of crude oil or petroleum products.

His research focuses on seeking solutions for soil contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons, an environmental problem with global impact.

Organized by NASA and the European partners â€" European Space Agency (ESA) and the Centre for the pollution prevention program (C3P), the event took place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States of America. Researcher's participation in the event was funded by the Luso-American Foundation (FLAD).

This is the second time that NASA rewards the work developed by the Center for biological engineering at the University of Minho. Already in the 2013 Edition of this initiative, in Frascati, Italy, Angela Abreu, researcher at CEB, won the prize for the best Oral presentation, with the work "Biohydrogen production using bionanocoatings is highly efficient immobilizing hydrogen-producing bacteria".

Biological Engineering Center (CEB) at the University of Minho is a highly technological research center, which operates in major areas of biotechnology and bioengineering. Since 1995, and since 2002 awarded the degree Excellence, the Centre's main objective is the integration between engineering and the life sciences, in order to promote the development of innovative industrial bioprocesses.

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Portuguese Architects develop new concept of sustainable penthouse

The Portuguese Architects Michele Maika and Tiago Barros developed a new concept of sustainable penthouse, a project that visualizes a new solution to live on top of the buildings, in an urban environment. "There's top floors which are forgotten in the cities, and can be rethought and readpatados," explained Green Savers Tiago Barros.

The architects propose an apartment with slanted Windows and which form a perfect angle, offering 360-degree views over the city. The Windows are connected by a green roof slightly curved.

The terrace has multiple functions: it can absorb rainwater, providing insulation to the apartment, reduce urban air temperature and create a habitat for birds in the city. It consists of precast concrete slabs, waterproof membrane, a drainage layer and a auto-irrigação system and live plants.

Inside the penthouse for three different spaces, one for relaxation, a dining area and a bedroom. All have the same size and the partition walls have all necessary equipment to life on a day-to-day basis, since machines for the kitchen, storage and cables. Access to the apartment is through the pre-existing building.

"These urban typologies can be instsaladas on various terraces across town. The sustainable penthouses can be essential to animal life in the city and help improve the environment and conditions for the well-being of its citizens ", Tiago Barros concluded.

Tiago Barros is already a well-known architect in Green Savers. Record your 2011 interview and other of his projects. The Lofty Corner, the Digital Revolution, the Passing Cloud and Sky Network.

. fancybox-wrap {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; z-index: 8020; }. fancybox-skin {position: relative; /* margin-top: 20px! important; */backgroun d: #222222; color: #74b32e; text-shadow: none; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; }. fancybox-opened {z-index: 8030;} . fancybox-opened. fancybox-skin {-webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba (0, 0, 0, 0.5); }. fancybox-outer,. fancybox-inner {position: relative;} . fancybox-inner {overflow: hidden;} . fancybox-type-iframe. fancybox-inner {-webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch;} . fancybox-close {backgroun d: url('wp-content/themes/codistage/styles/fancybox/exit.png') no-repeat; width: 25px; height: 25px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 5px; }/*. ng-gallery-image img {width: 565px; height: 393px;}*/Uma penthouse sustentável. Ou será terraço? 1 of 8 jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var thumbContainerWidth = 0, thumbs = Array(), selectedIndex = 1, thumbIndex = 1, imageOffset = 7; $ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail-box '). each (function () {thumbs.push($(this)); }); /* thumbnail navigation */$ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-next '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex < == (thumbs.length-imageOffset)) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left:-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex]). position (). left}); thumbIndex + +; } }); $ ('. ng-greensavers-thumb-prev '). unbind (). bind (' click ', function (e) {e.preventDefault(); if (thumbIndex > 1) {$ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). stop (). animate ({left: $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). position (). left + ($ (thumbs [thumbIndex-1]). position (). left-$ (thumbs [thumbIndex-2]). position (). left)}); thumbIndex--; } }); $ (window). load (function () {/* set thumbnail container width */$ ('. ng-gallery-thumbnail '). each (function () {thumbContainerWidth = thumbContainerWidth + $ (this). width () + 10; }); $ ('. ng-thumbnails-container '). width (thumbContainerWidth); }); });

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Friendships more unsuspected of nature

We have long known that there are animals that coexist daily, as the Heron-Buckaroo and the cattle, but we don't always have examples of these mixtures, a perspective that is wrong. In fact, it can be a jungle out there, but many of the animals that compose it live peacefully. This series of photographs that we published in the photo gallery below are proof of that friendship doesn't choose species: cats and mice, dogs and cats, crocodiles and butterflies, all coexist peacefully.

The photos have several sources but were compiled by the Daily Mail to prove that wildlife is not a world of dog, literally, and that the scenarios more Dantesque turn out to be created by being smarter on the planet, the man â€" but that we knew a long time ago.

Got any pictures of two animals in perfect communion? Send it to info@greensavers.pt. We would like to add your photo to our art news.

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A belt that turns into a scooter

If he thinks he has seen it all when it comes to sustainable mobility, then watch this belt-or scooter-which transforms into a scooter â€" or belt. The invention is the designer Adam Torok, who believes that the future of mobility will be dominated by humans, so I thought of something that could be part of our clothing.

"The more efficient vehicles and crossing two points in a minimum space of time are our legs. But there is something more important, storage, "said Torok the City Lab.

"Various methods that have been developed in recent years will become obsolete if a vehicle is designed to be completely portable, usable and part of our apparel," continued the designer. Vehicles like this.

Torok designed the vehicle for his thesis at the University of West Hungary â€" Institute of Applied Arts. The belt weighs 1.8 pounds â€" Yes, it's heavy, but it's as if we went back to the era of the Wild West, with large belts â€" and the scooter is not the most stylish. But it works and will be on sale soon, ensures the designer.

According to the website, the only problem of this system is, eventually, drop us your pants. And there's a certain amount of reason on this idea, actually.

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The urban jungle of New York City housed unknown frog species since 1937

For almost 80 years, the biologist Carl Kauffeld claimed to have heard a new species of frog croaking on the outskirts of New York. His discovery turned out to fall on deaf ears and the animal has never been sought since 1937. At least until recently.

With the help of genetic testing and bioacústicos, Rutgers University researchers have confirmed the existence of the frog heard by Kauffeld and registered it as a new species.

The search for the frog started in 2009, when the biologist Jeremy Feinberg, Masters student at Rutgers, he heard a strange croaking on Staten Island. As he was scattering the possibility of the existence of a new species of Leopard Frog, were getting reports of the existence of the frog in other places, from North Carolina to Connecticut.

The animal was spotted and proven already as a new species â€" Rana kauffeldi, in honor of Carl Kauffeld, and common name Leopard Frog-Atlantic coast. "The discovery of a new species of frog in the Northwest is a remarkable event," says Feinberg, cites the Dodo.

"After some discussion we agreed that it was fair to baptize the species in honour of Carl Kauffeld. We wanted to recognize their work and perpetuate its discovery ignored for almost 80 years, "adds the biologist.

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