Adele Peters
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Staff writer for @FastCompany focused on sustainability and social impact stories. Send me pitches at apeters at fastcompany dot com.
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Articles by Adele Peters
I tried plug-in solar and loved it—but there’s a catch
Getting solar installed on your roof typically involves weeks of planning and red tape and hiring an installation crew to do the work. I tried a very different option: a plug-in solar panel. Like the name implies, installing it essentially just means plugging it into an outdoor wall yourself. Then power starts flowing back into your house. A single panel, of course, generates a tiny fraction of what you’d get from a full rooftop system.
I tried plug-in solar and loved it—but there’s a catch
Now Today is HomePod mini 2 launch day, with the first pre-orders beginning to arrive to customers and the speaker now available to purchase at most Apple Store locations around the world. In the U.S., the HomePod mini 2 is priced at $149, with two-tone pink, green, and blue color options available …
IAs têm dificuldade para entender diferenças culturais, aponta estudo
Os modelos de inteligência artificial frequentemente têm dificuldade para compreender culturas de diferentes partes do mundo e relutam em admitir quando não sabem alguma coisa. Foi o que descobriram pesquisadores do laboratório canadense de IA Cohere Labs ao testar se os chatbots eram capazes de ir além de simplesmente falar o idioma de uma cultura.
How much will data centers increase your electric bill?
One of the biggest reasons most Americans don’t want a data center built nearby is that they worry it will drive up their utility bills. But whether those bills rise, and by how much, depends on the local power grid and the terms of the deal. In fact, the impacts have at times been counterintuitive, with new data centers in some cases actually driving down utility bills for other customers on the same grid. Consider North Dakota.
Startup testa transformar vulcão submarino em fonte de energia limpa
Em setembro, a startup Endurance Energy navegou 300 milhas mar adentro, no litoral do Oregon (costa leste dos EUA), para testar algo inédito: a geração de energia geotérmica em um vulcão submarino. Em um campo de fontes hidrotermais a cerca de 1,5 mil metros de profundidade, a equipe perfurou um poço de quase cinco centímetros de diâmetro e 16 metros de profundidade, que alcançou temperaturas de 260 °C sob o leito oceânico – o primeiro poço desse tipo totalmente revestido.
Change.org wants to turn your TikTok rant into local political action
Most Americans—more than 80%—don’t think that their elected officials care what they have to say. Change.org has been rebuilding its own platform to try to change that. The platform, founded in 2007, is best known for campaigns that have gone viral nationally, like a petition to get justice for George Floyd in 2020 that got nearly 20 million signatures. Of course, most petitions don’t have that kind of audience.
How Google is building a gigawatt-scale power plant—without building a power plant
The company is racing to deploy a range of solutions, from state-of-the-art geothermal technology to new types of long-duration batteries. But virtual power plants are an important part of the picture. Google first announced a smaller agreement with Voltus in June for 100 megawatts (one-tenth the size of the new deal). That VPP was quickly oversubscribed, and that “really gave us the confidence that there was more to do here,” Zuckerman says.
How Google is building a gigawatt-scale power plant—without building a power plant
As hyperscalers pour billions of dollars into new power plants for data centers, Google is also investing in something different: making better use of the existing grid. The tech giant announced a new deal today for a gigawatt-sized virtual power plant (VPP), which appears to be the largest deal of its kind from a hyperscaler. The approach shrinks overall power demand at key moments.
A former L.A. parking lot is becoming an experiment in rehabilitation
A block and a half away from a bleak-looking concrete jail in downtown Los Angeles, a former parking lot is being transformed into a new vision of what rehabilitation can look like. The project, called the Robert K. Ross Center for Hope and Healing just broke ground. It will include affordable apartments for low-income residents, including people reentering society after incarceration.
This startup just tested turning an underwater volcano into a power plant
Last month, a startup called Endurance Energy sailed 300 miles off the coast of Oregon to test something new: deploying geothermal power at an underwater volcano. In a vent field around 5,000 feet underwater, they drilled a two-inch-wide, 52-foot-deep well that tapped into 500-degree heat beneath the ocean floor—the first fully encased well of its kind.
This startup wants to make clean energy the default for data centers
The U.S. is on track to add a record 86 gigawatts of new wind, solar, and battery storage capacity this year—roughly the size of the U.K.’s entire grid. And there’s far more clean energy in the pipeline, with low-cost proposed projects that could help meet the surging demand from data centers. So why are data centers increasingly turning to polluting gas plants instead of clean energy?
This startup is turning fallen leaves into biodegradable plastic
The startup’s formulation includes not only lignin and cellulose, but minerals from leaves to strengthen the bioplastic. Production is designed to be low cost, both because of the cheap feedstock and because it doesn’t require the expensive step of fermentation. The plastic can be used in existing industrial equipment to make products. One potential application is on farms, where huge plastic sheets are commonly used to reduce weeds and erosion.
This startup is turning fallen leaves into biodegradable plastic
First-generation bioplastics were made from food crops like corn and sugar. A new biomaterials startup is using something very different: the autumn leaves collected by cities each fall. The startup, Perennial Polymers, extracts the natural polymers in leaves—lignin and cellulose—to make plastic that can easily break down. It’s an approach that can ultimately be less expensive than making other bioplastics, the company says.
This startup is turning fallen leaves into biodegradable plastic
"On Mars, nature will do the same jobs for us that she does on Earth — create fertile soil, shelter, oxygen and food." A new genetically engineered …
This startup is turning fallen leaves into biodegradable plastic
The former West Virginia senator has a warning for negotiators, though: “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” There’s cautious optimism that Congress can pass a bill by year’s end to overhaul the federal permitting process for energy projects — even from the man who failed twice to land …
Carros elétricos já têm mais espaço nas vendas no Brasil do que nos EUA
O atual governo dos EUA fez de tudo para frear o crescimento dos veículos elétricos (VEs). Mas, em uma reviravolta irônica, a guerra de Trump contra o Irã está impulsionando o setor em todo o mundo. Depois que os Estados Unidos atacaram o Irã, no fim de fevereiro, e os preços do petróleo bruto dispararam, as vendas globais de veículos elétricos também aceleraram.
Patagonia just made a brilliant change to its website—and it could change the way we shop
On Patagonia’s website, starting today, you can shop for new and used clothing at the same time. The company first launched its resale platform, Worn Wear, nine years ago, making it a pioneer in the brand-owned secondhand clothing space. The platform lets customers send back used clothing in exchange for a gift card; the clothing is then cleaned, repaired, and sold at a deep discount to someone else. But until now, you had to open a different website to actually buy refurbished Patagonia clothing.
Here’s how much Trump’s Iran war is boosting EV sales around the world
The Trump administration has done everything it can to slow the growth of EVs. But in an ironic twist, Trump’s war in Iran is boosting the EV industry globally. After the U.S. attacked Iran in late February and the price of crude oil soared, global EV sales also surged. A new report from Ember, an energy think tank that is tracking EV sales in 56 countries, found that 49 of them have hit new records for EVs this year.
The 4 next big things in food and agriculture for 2026
Climate change is making food harder to produce, even as agriculture remains a major source of emissions. At the same time, farmers are contending with labor shortages, rising costs, and pressure to get more out of every acre. New technologies are helping them do that, from robotic beekeeping and AI systems that reduce crop loss and pesticide use to tools that identify the genes behind more resilient crops.
The 4 next big things in food and agriculture for 2026
He volunteered at a food bank. What he saw surprised him. Michael Jensen’s social media post struck a chord and led to an outpouring of donations to the nonprofit in Washington state. When Michael Jensen started volunteering at a food bank in Port Townsend, Washington, this past April, he was afraid he would have to say “no” a lot — to tell people they …
Este arrecife artificial del MIT busca combatir la erosión costera y salvar playas
Para combatir la erosión, el arrecife de Coastal Assembly trabaja en armonía con la naturaleza, en lugar de ir en contra de ella. Hasta hace poco, una playa en una pequeña isla de las Maldivas se estaba erosionando. La solución habitual sería dragar arena para intentar reponer la perdida, pero esto solo funciona temporalmente y puede dañar los ecosistemas marinos.
Por qué Apple podría ser la única Big Tech que cumpla sus metas climáticas en la era de la IA
Hace una década, las empresas tecnológicas eran vistas como líderes climáticos. Avanzaban más rápido que el resto del sector corporativo estadounidense en la transición hacia energías limpias. Ahora, las metas climáticas de Apple contrastan con una industria cuya creciente demanda de centros de datos está impulsando un mayor uso de combustibles fósiles. Esas mismas compañías son señaladas cada vez más como “villanos climáticos”.
Uma bolsa que vira colete salva-vidas quando o metrô alaga
Uma nova bolsa de tecido esconde uma função inesperada: em caso de enchente, ela pode se transformar em um colete salva-vidas. No dia a dia, a Lifeline funciona como uma bolsa comum. Em uma emergência, pode ser desdobrada, colocada sobre a cabeça e inflada quando o usuário puxa um cordão. Apesar da aparência funcional, o objeto não foi criado para chegar às lojas.
This MIT spinout designed an artificial reef to save shrinking beaches
Until recently, a beach on a tiny island in the Maldives was eroding away. The usual solution would be to dredge sand to try to replace what was lost—but that works only temporarily, and it harms marine ecosystems. Two years ago, a Marriott resort on the island experimented with something different: using an artificial reef designed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers to repair the beach. Within six months, across a 300-foot shoreline, the depth of the beach grew by 90 feet.
Why Apple may be the one Big Tech company to hit its climate goals in the AI era
A decade ago, tech companies were seen as climate leaders, moving faster than the rest of corporate America in the transition to clean energy. Now, as soaring data center demand pushes them toward greater use of fossil fuels, these same companies are increasingly cast as climate villains.
Why Apple may be the one Big Tech company to hit its climate goals in the AI era
U.S. Politics Now Democrats weigh how to handle data center vote that could benefit a GOP foe POLITICO - By Jordain Carney, Amelia Davidson and Nico Portuondo • 21m “They say they’re for more affordability,” embattled GOP Sen. Jon Husted said.
Diesel prices are surging. These shippers say Tesla’s electric trucks can save money over time
Tesla just landed the largest-ever U.S. order for electric heavy-duty trucks: 2,500 Tesla Semis, which would double the number of Class 8 electric trucks on the road. A coalition of companies including Microsoft and PepsiCo is behind the order, which Tesla expects to deliver in 18 months. A financing partner is purchasing the trucks and will lease them to shippers.
Electricity prices are rising. So are power outages. I tested 3 new home batteries that can help
I spent the last few weeks hoping that my power would go out. I’ve been testing three new portable home batteries designed to make backup power more accessible—and help save on energy bills. In the past, using battery backup for a home often meant spending $10,000 or more on equipment, and thousands more to hire an electrician and upgrade your electrical panel. The smaller devices I tested don’t need professional installation; they just have to be plugged into a wall.
Electricity prices are rising. So are power outages. I tested 3 new home batteries that can help
MELBOURNE, Australia — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday he was extremely concerned about OpenAI 's breach of an Australian health department website that the artificial intelligence company took too long to reveal. Understanding AI Anthropic and OpenAI CEOs call for AI development to …
Este celular vem com uma chave de fenda — e foi feito para durar
Ao retirar o novo Fairphone da caixa, encontrei algo que não costuma acompanhar nenhum outro celular: uma chave de fenda. A ferramenta é uma pequena parte de um esforço maior da empresa para fabricar um aparelho que possa ser realmente consertado pelos usuários — e que dure o máximo possível. Se a tela quebrar, basta desaparafusar a estrutura e fazer a substituição em casa. Com a mesma chave, é possível remover cerca de 12 componentes, da porta USB-C aos módulos das câmeras.
Patagonia will give you $100 to get your friends to vote
You probably know friends or family members who didn’t vote in the last election. Patagonia wants to offer you $100 to nudge three of them to vote in November. The company is investing $11.2 million in the nontraditional get-out-the-vote campaign. The dollar amount (you get your money as a credit, not in cash) was inspired by a startling fact: An estimated 11.2 million environmental voters—Americans who see the climate and environment as a top priority—don’t vote.
This tote bag turns into a life jacket just in case the subway floods
A new tote bag has a hidden feature: In a flood, it doubles as a life jacket. Most of the time, it’s an ordinary bag. But in an emergency, you can unfold it into a vest, slip it over your head, and tug a cord to inflate it. The conceptual product, designed by a collective of artists, points to the absurdity of adjusting to life with climate change. “The whole premise of this thing is, why the hell should this even exist?” says Phil le Brun, one of the creators behind the project.
I tried the new Fairphone, a phone designed to be repaired
When I unpacked a new Fairphone from its box, I noticed something that doesn’t come with any other phone: a screwdriver. The tool is one small part of the company’s bigger effort to make a phone that users can actually repair—and that lasts as long as possible. If your screen breaks, you can easily unscrew the case and replace it yourself. Using the same screwdriver, you can take out a total of a dozen components, from the USB-C port to the camera modules.
Planted recauda 31.8 millones de dólares para construir granjas solares con robots y menos terreno
Las granjas solares tienen un problema de terreno. Cuando se planificó un nuevo proyecto en un suburbio de San Luis, la junta de zonificación del condado rechazó el diseño, argumentando que ocupaba demasiado espacio y estaba demasiado cerca de una urbanización vecina. El promotor recurrió entonces a una empresa emergente llamada Planted para replantear el plan.
What if AI data centers didn’t need new power plants?
A new data center in southwest Texas isn’t connected to the grid—but it also didn’t require building any new power plants. Instead, a startup called Rune used modular technology to plug in directly at a solar farm, running on solar power that would otherwise be wasted.
What if AI data centers didn’t need new power plants?
A new data center in southwest Texas isn’t connected to the grid—but it also didn’t require building any new power plants. Instead, a startup called Rune used modular technology to plug in directly at a solar farm, running on solar power that would otherwise be wasted.
This startup just raised $32 million to build solar farms using robots—and much less land
Solar farms have a land problem. When a new project was planned in a St. Louis suburb, the county zoning board rejected the design, arguing that it took up too much space and sat too close to a neighboring subdivision. The developer then turned to a startup called Planted to rethink the plan using a digital twin and robots. The result: The project used 40% less land to produce the same amount of power, allowing it to move forward.
This startup just raised $32 million to build solar farms using robots—and much less land
Solar farms have a land problem. When a new project was planned in a St. Louis suburb, the county zoning board rejected the design, arguing that it took up too much space and sat too close to a neighboring subdivision. The developer then turned to a startup called Planted to rethink the plan using a digital twin and robots. The result: The project used 40% less land to produce the same amount of power, allowing it to move forward.
This startup just raised $32 million to build solar farms using robots—and much less land
One of the best things to do when visiting the United States is explore the country's beautiful national parks. As the third largest country in the …
Maersk está probando un cilindro giratorio gigante para reducir el consumo de combustible en los buques de carga
En un buque de carga repleto de 8,700 contenedores, no hay mucho espacio para nada más. Pero en una nueva prueba a bordo de uno de sus buques, Maersk está haciendo una excepción con una vela rotatoria gigante: un cilindro giratorio de entre 10 y 12 pisos de altura que aprovecha el viento para ayudar a reducir el consumo de combustible. La prueba se realiza en un momento en que los costos del combustible para el transporte marítimo siguen disparándose.
Want free solar panels? This startup can help
Building a large solar farm typically takes years, thanks to permitting and grid connection delays. But a startup called Resilience Energy is rolling out a faster way to add clean energy: It pays to install solar and batteries across a network of homes, then sells power back to the grid at peak moments. Homeowners get free equipment, and their electric bills can drop by 60%-80% while they use it.
Want free solar panels? This startup can help
2 hours ago You may not drive a diesel car. You’re still paying for diesel. This story was originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Diesel prices hit an all-time high on last week. Then another, and another. According to AAA, the average price of diesel as of …
This Pennsylvania botanic garden is a living, breathing building
Longwood Gardens West Conservatory and Waterlily Court is a winner of Fast Company’s 2026 Innovation by Design Awards. Listen to this ArticleMore info Start a morning standing inside the white steel glasshouse at Longwood Gardens West Conservatory and Waterlily Court, a redesigned horticultural garden spanning 1,077 acres in Pennsylvania’s Brandywine Valley that reopened in November 2024, and the biophilic elements of the building’s design seem obvious.
The best sustainability focused design of 2026
See all the honorees of Fast Company’s 2026 Innovation by Design Awards in the sustainability and circular design category. Listen to this ArticleMore info The sustainability category of Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards honors projects that use inventive design to meaningfully reduce harm to the environment.
Maersk is testing a giant spinning cylinder to cut fuel use on cargo ships
On a cargo ship packed with 8,700 shipping containers, there isn’t much room for anything else. But in a new test aboard one of its vessels, Maersk is making an exception for a giant rotor sail—a spinning cylinder 10 to 12 stories tall that harnesses wind to help reduce fuel use. The test comes as shipping fuel costs continue to soar. In some areas, the price has risen as much as 76% since the Iran war started.
¿Por qué Google ayuda a los propietarios a comprar bombas de calor?
Google financiará descuentos de hasta 10,000 dólares para que algunos hogares de California instalen bombas de calor y otras tecnologías capaces de ayudar a aliviar la presión sobre la red eléctrica. Si vives en cierta zona del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco, Google podría ayudarte a comprar una nueva bomba de calor, e incluso podría ofrecerte hasta 10,000 dólares por hacerlo.
Why Google is helping homeowners buy heat pumps
If you live in a certain part of the Bay Area, Google might help you buy a new heat pump—and could offer you as much as $10,000 to do it. In an innovative new proof-of-concept program, the tech giant is partnering with the utility company PG&E and nonprofit Rewiring America to find a new way to unlock more grid capacity.
Why Google is helping homeowners buy heat pumps
15 hours ago Apple has three new flagship iPhones launching next week: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and iPhone Ultra. Apple’s Pro models will have several advantages over the Ultra, but here are three ways the high-end Ultra will come out on top. #1: Larger (and smaller) displays iPhone Ultra will have two displays …
Why Google is helping homeowners buy heat pumps
If you live in a certain part of the Bay Area, Google might help you buy a new heat pump—and could offer you as much as $10,000 to do it. • New report: El Niño 2026 is now the strongest in 1,000 years.
¿Cuánta energía consume realmente la IA con agentes? Un científico rastreó cada instrucción que envió
Como científico climático, Zeke Hausfather utiliza inteligencia artificial a diario para la investigación y el análisis de datos. a diario para la investigación y el análisis de datos. Sin embargo, le intrigaba el consumo energético de la IA detrás de todo ese trabajo. Así que, durante ocho semanas este verano, registró las 1,138 instrucciones que introdujo en Claude Code y calculó el consumo eléctrico que generaban en los centros de datos.
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