Co-operative living offers a not-for-profit way to avoid the property casino – here's how one group did it. Read more
Magazine
Building houses from straw is proving an attractive proposition to some councils and residents, thanks to their energy efficiency. Read more
View a gallery of straw homes here
Many countries are investing in techniques of utilising CO2 for manufacturing processes – but UK is getting left behind. Passing carbon dioxide through slag left over from steel-making turns the waste product into a strong material that can be used for construction. Pumped into greenhouses, it provides a growing boost for crops. Put into tanks of algae, it can be used to make biofuels. Waste carbon dioxide can even be cleaned up to "food grade" and injected into fizzy drinks. Read more
Recycling
The Ampera's battery lasts 50 miles and an internal combustion engine gives the car a further range of about 310 miles. Read more
Transport
Their detractors say are they too pricey and tricky to charge. But a select fleet of drivers in Oxford and London has been testing a prototype electric Mini. Were they won over? Read more
You'd like to produce your own food, but when you try to put your name down for a council allotment you are told the waiting list is really long. Why? And is there any point in waiting? Read more
Agricultural researchers believe that building indoor farms in the middle of cities could help solve the world's hunger problem. Experts say that vertical farming could feed up to 10 billion people and make agriculture independent of the weather and the need for land. There's only one snag: The urban farms need huge amounts of energy. Read more
Photo Gallery: Feeding the World with Vertical Farms
With global population expected to surpass 7 billion people this year, the staggering impact on the environment is hard to ignore. Read more