Neodymium, lanthanum, dysprosium. They don’t have the same ring to them as gold and platinum, but they could very well be the high-cost, rare elements that define our environmental future. Neodymium, for example is essential to electric motors in hybrid and full-electric vehicles and is also used in the generators in wind and tidal turbines.

It’s a sign of the times. As we continue to use our brains to figure out better ways to create and use electricity, we need more and more rare metals that, ten years ago, were hardly used at all. Indeed, in the next few years, demand for rare earth metals will likely outstrip supply by about 40,000 tons. Unless, of course, a lot of new supply comes online very quickly.

Most of the world’s rare-earth metals come from China, but China is starting to use more and more of its supply while exporting less to the rest of the world. Toyota, with their 70% market share in hybrid vehicles, is starting to get worried. Every Prius electric engine uses 1 kg of neodymium and every Prius battery uses 10 kg of lanthanum. Of course, those numbers will get higher as Toyota expands the range of the car.

Different batteries with different chemistries might use more or less of certain metals, but there’s no doubt that new sources are going to have to be opened up for production of these rare metals. Already mines in Canada and California are slated to open or expand for the production of rare-earth metals. Of course, that’s mixed news for the environment. Mining is, of course, extremely destructive to local areas, but the elements being mined could lead to a significantly more stable planet overall. Of course, the choice is likely one our economy will make for us.

One can hope that these problems will be solved the same way they were created, with our brains, and not with our mining rigs. Battery chemistry that uses no lanthanum isn’t far off. Though it’s hard to imagine an engine or generator that doesn’t use neodymium’s magnetic properties. But one can always hope.

Via Reuters

Original post by Hank Green

Is the electric car sparking a musical revolution? Why is the Earthrace boat getting a bulletproof hull? Is a video game about playing outdoors really going to encourage kids to play outside? Today’s Eco-Beat has the scoop on all the latest green news and tips.

Electric Cars Rock With the release of Neil Young’s much maligned green car concept album and now this single by They Might Be Giants entitled “Electric Car,” a new wave of car-inspired tunes are hitting the streets. I don’t think the e-car has found its anthem quite yet, though.

Earthrace Boat Joins the Sea Shepherd Crew You may or may not have followed Earthrace as the biodiesel powerboat circumnavigated the globe in a record 61 days. Now, the famous tri-hull speedster is being re-purposed to literally “block harpoons” in the Sea Shepherds’ battle against Japanese whalers.

A Video Game About Playing Outdoors What better way to encourage children to play outdoors than to design a video game which simulates playing outside? Right? Well-intentioned as it may be, US Fish and Wildlife Service’s “Neighborhood Explorers” seems like a dubious way to encourage budding nature lovers.

Refining Your Taste in Olive Oil If you love to cook, then you probably heat up some tasty extra virgin olive oil nearly everyday. As the popularity of the oil grows, so does its agricultural footprint. Grist has put together a list of five organic olive oils to help you indulge while reducing your foodprint.

Eco Cleaning Tip: Oxygen Bleach Scrubbing stubborn tile and grout can be frustrating, but instead of busting out the napalm or other noxious chemicals to help you lay waste to mold and mildew, go for the oxygen bleach. Unlike chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach basically breaks down into oxygen and water.

Green in a Flash:

• Are cell phone towers destroying the planet’s bee population?
• Will there be a cash for clunkers scheme for inefficient household appliances?
• About 2/3 of US biofuel production capacity is going unused thanks to the biofuel bust.

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Original post by Hank Green

Whether you have just moved in to a new home or have been settled in one for years, it is important to keep up with termite prevention.

Original post by contact.us@alistapart.com (Margot Bloomstein)

If you’ve got plumbing questions or need plumbing help, be sure that others have probably encountered the same issues.

Original post by contact.us@alistapart.com (Margot Bloomstein)

Sean Welsh and Louise Hornor of Richland, Washington, were drawn together in 1997 at a motorcycle campout and they’ve been together ever since. Their shared passion for adventure soon became a permanent way of life – they road trip across America in a beautifully remodeled bus called the Odyssey.

When Sean’s high-tech Silicon Valley firm went belly-up, Louise sold her business and the pair decided to make their dream a reality. Nomads at heart, the couple purchased their home-on-wheels in 2001 to start renovations and tour full-time. They began downsizing their possessions Noah’s Ark-style, taking only what could fit in a 40-foot bus. In 2004, they finally moved in – with three pets, mind you. (more…)

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Original post by contact.us@alistapart.com (Margot Bloomstein)