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Ran Boydell

@ranboydell.bsky.social
1.7K followers 255 following 2K posts

Australian architect working in Aus+UK, pioneer of sustainable homes, built environment research, posts on #climatechange #netzero #architecture #housing #ecoart #leadership “Capacity is a state of mind.” David Schwartz www.ecohus.net #allmyownwork

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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Scientific American @sciam.bsky.social · 8h
After it rains, go outside and breathe in deeply. That wonderful earthy smell in the air? It’s called petrichor. And climate change could alter when and where it happens.
scientificamerican.com
How climate change is altering petrichor, the glorious smell after it rains
As the planet changes, so will this nostalgia-triggering scent
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 8h
The rise of solar and batteries is highlighting challenges as renewable energy advances globally
bloom.bg
China Is Facing an Energy Transition Dilemma in Pakistan
The rise of solar and batteries is highlighting challenges as renewable energy advances globally
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Passive House Plus @phplus.bsky.social · 16h
Nothing drives innovation like adversity. Facing up to the prospect of scarce energy and other resources, we can take inspiration equally from the Inuit and the most avant-garde of #passivehouse designers. lnkd.in/ddDW3amT
Inuit man inside an igloo
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
FT Edit @ftedit.ft.com · 16h
Chinese battery manufacturers are transforming power systems around the world by driving down costs and turbocharging performance. But they have also left governments reliant on supply from a single country — and vulnerable to interference. Today's Big Read is on #FTEdit 👉 ft.trib.al/Mxq9PVe
Stacked bar chart showing global battery storage additions by market from 2020 to 2036, in GW. China dominates and grows rapidly, with total global additions forecast to rise from about 160GW in 2026 to more than 300GW by 2036.Line chart showing global benchmark electricity costs from 2020 to 2026. Battery storage costs fall sharply, from about $185/MWh to roughly $70/MWh, dropping below CCGT, offshore wind and coal by 2026.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
The Conversation AUNZ @aunz.theconversation.com · 21h
A coal mine in the Hunter Valley region has sparked debate among politicians, environmental advocates and local residents.
theconversation.com
NSW’s largest coal mine project is set to expand. Here’s what authorities got wrong about the trade-offs
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 20h
Power use by electric vehicles is increasing at the slowest pace in at least three years in the US, the latest sign of cooling demand for EVs, according to the nation’s Energy Information Administration.
bloom.bg
US EV Power Demand Growth Slows to Three-Year Low as Sales Cool
Power use by electric vehicles is increasing at the slowest pace in at least three years in the US, the latest sign of cooling demand for EVs, according to the nation’s Energy Information Administration.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Andy Scollick @andyscollick.bsky.social · 20h
Very depressing.
rte.ie
Swiss glaciers suffer 'catastrophic' melt in 2026
Switzerland's glaciers, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change, have lost nearly 20% of their mass in five years, experts have said, with 2026 registering the second-biggest melt on r...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Doug Parr @dougparr.bsky.social · 20h
"In India, the government held an auction in August for renewable power delivered round the clock, with bidders required to match the typical supply of coal plants. It secured 1GW of solar and storage capacity at a lower cost than recent coal power contracts" www.ft.com/content/b847...
ft.com
The trouble with China’s bigger, better batteries
It’s the world’s fastest-growing power technology — and Beijing is dominant
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"Housing has become a primary engine of inequality, reinforcing divisions between the asset-haves and have-nots and disproportionately affecting minority groups. Far from offering security and safety, for many in Europe housing is now a primary cause of suffering and despair." Tim White
theguardian.com
Across Europe, the financial sector has pushed up house prices. It's a political timebomb | Tim White
We’ve been living in a great experiment: can finance provide basic human rights such as housing? The answer is increasingly no, says researcher and writer Tim White
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
“We see and feel it every day: workers who can no longer afford the city they build, young people who cannot leave their parents’ home, tenants pushed out of their neighbourhoods after renovation, empty buildings while people sleep on the street.” European Citizens Initiative
theguardian.com
How Europe’s housing crisis is fuelling a new movement
As soaring rents and house prices across Europe​ feed into the political discourse, campaigners believe they have a rare opportunity to force housing to the top of the agenda
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
James Murray @james-bg.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Equally, the government's point - that it is not making nearly loudly enough - that it is trying to fix decades of underinvestment while dealing with painfully tight fiscal constraints is also entirely fair.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/09/2026
The Fall of the West by Owen Jones review – a bracing history of the changing world order
theguardian.com
The Fall of the West by Owen Jones review – a bracing history of the changing world order
A journalist charts a quarter century of geopolitical hubris and economic overreach
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Prof William Ripple @williamripple.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
We invite everyone (nonscientists) to endorse the Declaration of a Planetary Emergency, part of the upcoming World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity: A Third Notice. Add your name and share widely. Endorsement helps show public concern about the future of our planet. forms.gle/vAARd7mv2yS7...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Michael Burchert @michaelburchert.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
How the transition is no longer a luxury? Do you know the Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS) Program: Utility companies cover the upfront cost of installing green tech (like better insulation or heat pumps). The user then pays them back slowly on their monthly utility bill,
Heat pump with hot water tank in a large straw house
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 29/09/2026
Coastal damage is already mounting months before the heaviest rains typically arrive.
bloom.bg
California Faces Billions in Damages From El Niño Storms, Starting Now
Coastal damage is already mounting months before the heaviest rains typically arrive.
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"Virtual power plants are an aggregation of thousands (or even millions) of consumer devices into one orchestrated system that fits into the wider grid like a traditional power plant. Everything from home batteries and rooftop solar to smart thermostats and even EV batteries can be incorporated."
bbc.com
A virtual power plant hidden in Vermont homes is keeping the lights on during storms
Spread across thousands of ordinary homes, this "power plant" has become Vermont's largest power source. It's protecting owners from outages and providing cheaper, cleaner energy.
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"In 2021, Berliners voted to nationalize the big corporate landlords’ housing stock. The ruling parties refused to implement the decision."
jacobin.com
Berlin’s Election Can Make Socialized Housing a Reality
It’s been five years since Berliners voted by referendum to expropriate the big corporate landlords. The ruling parties blocked the move, but next month’s state elections could produce a left-wing gov...
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"This balance between personal freedom and the freedom of others is already precarious but in the face of global crises it is especially under strain. Liberalism cannot govern economic inequality or ecological disaster except by pitting the freedom of future others against the currently privileged."
theguardian.com
A leftwing victory in Berlin shows people want freedom, and liberals cannot deliver it | Eva von Redecker
Die Linke’s surge was propelled by a compelling promise: for voters to have the freedom to stay in their city. This is how to fight back against the far right, says writer and philosopher Eva von Rede...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Michael Burchert @michaelburchert.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Wow, the memo that timber, earth, straw, hemp construction are the quickest ways to affordable, sustainable housing clearly hasn’t got through to the Western Australian government. Nor has the fact that sprawl is a dramatic misguided development that is very difficult to rectify. Climate arson.
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
“This widening gap between demand and sustainable supply highlights a structural imbalance that threatens both ecological integrity and the long-term viability of forest-based economies.”
theguardian.com
UN warns of ‘narrowing window’ to restore world’s forests
Food and Agriculture Organization urges governments to make forest restoration a national priority
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 28/09/2026
As global birthrates hit historic lows, researchers looked back at the baby-boom era and found federal mortgage programs played a part in the U.S. population upswing after World War II. nyti.ms/4dWY1bp
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
This new tool, the Carbon Impacts Tracer, which translates carbon emissions into real-world climate impacts like heat exposure and coral bleaching, looks super useful. ➡️ carbonimpactstracer.com
theguardian.com
New tool directly links carbon emissions to amount of environmental and economic damage caused
Carbon Impacts Tracer can be used to estimate climate impact from emissions across eight different factors, including lost food production
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Covering Climate Now @coveringclimatenow.org · 27/09/2026
Nearly three-quarters of the 72 five-year plans adopted this year by China focus on climate change and energy. Dig in to this searchable database to learn more: buff.ly/tHajrdO
buff.ly
Interactive: What China’s dozens of ‘five-year plans’ say about climate and energy
Almost three-quarters of the 72 five-year plans published by China this year include policies or targets related to climate change and energy, according to Carbon Brief analysis.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
So BoM, are you saying there have been no climate events worthy of a Special Climate Statement in Australia in 2.5 years? Not even the heatwave in January 2026 that saw 49C reached somewhere in Australia for 6 days in a row, and the worlds most southern 50C on record? www.bom.gov.au/climate/curr...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 28/09/2026
Weirdly fascinating survey - most Github users **oppose** data centre constructions where they live, but would happily support wind and solar construction climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications...
Survey results showing GitHub users’ local building support: 85% back solar farms (61% strongly), 78% back wind farms (53% strongly), 66% back nuclear power plants (39% strongly), while 58% oppose local data centers (32% strongly).
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Josie Glausiusz @josiegz.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
“I feel as if we are holding a spoon and trying to empty the sea,” said Ahmed Alyan, a UN engineer. 61m tonnes of rubble: Gaza aid workers face delicate task of clearing ruins concealing up to 10,000 bodies www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
61m tonnes of rubble: Gaza aid workers face delicate task of clearing ruins concealing up to 10,000 bodies
Removal of war debris, in which lives, memories and unexploded Israeli bombs lie buried, is one of largest clearance operations in modern history
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
The Sydney Morning Herald (unofficial) @smhaustralia.nzcow.com · 28/09/2026
📢 A University of Melbourne building designed by a renowned architect is not receiving Heritage Victoria’s backing for protection and is a step closer to demolition.
smh.com.au
Academics and heritage authority at odds over university building by NGV architect
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"Housing shortages, coupled with tax arrangements that diverted investment funds into suburban house-flipping ventures instead of productive activities, pushed up the cost of putting a roof over your head and drained household incomes." Ian Verrender
abc.net.au
Why younger Australians are facing a tough economic future
In 40 years, with an estimated population of 40 million, Australia will be more indebted and face what increasingly appears to be a permanent budget deficit.
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Ran Boydell @ranboydell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"This is the first time that we are creating agents, and not tools." Yuval Noah Harari #AI
abc.net.au
Migration cuts, AI and rising interest rates mean an era of long-term disinflation
The Reserve Bank will increase interest rates on Tuesday, but three new factors entirely outside the bank's control are pulling rates in different directions.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 28/09/2026
'The AI-pocalypse is a mirage distracting us from AI's unsustainable development'
lemonde.fr
'The AI-pocalypse is a mirage distracting us from AI's unsustainable development'
The highly hypothetical dangers of AI overshadow the very real environmental, social and political risks, writes Stéphane Foucart in his op-ed.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Aarne Granlund @aarnegranlund.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026
”Net annual CO₂ emissions increase by 0.47–1.8 gigatonnes (1.2–4.8% of 2024 global energy-related CO₂ emissions).” AI seems to be like SUVs and compounding aviation growth, continuing the high supply and demand of fossil fuels. #AI #Growth #ClimateHeating www.nature.com/articles/s44...
nature.com
AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model - npj Climate Action
npj Climate Action - AI-driven productivity gains enable more CO₂ emissions than they avoid in a global energy–economy model
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Wallpaper* @wallpapermag.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Danish designer Hans J Wegner created some of the 20th century’s most recognisable chairs. Here Wallpaper* explores the stories behind the designs www.wallpaper.com/design-inter...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Wallpaper* @wallpapermag.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
‘Comfort and curiosity belong together in a house,’ says its architect www.wallpaper.com/architecture...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Wallpaper* @wallpapermag.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Isay Weinfeld and landscape architect Rodrigo Oliveira collaborate in this São Paulo house, where modernist-inspired, contemporary architecture goes hand in hand with tropical planting www.wallpaper.com/architecture...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Wallpaper* @wallpapermag.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The German artist’s one-off sonic installation set the scene for Louise Trotter’s latest runway show www.wallpaper.com/fashion-beau...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 27/09/2026
FT Exclusive: Andy Burnham will launch a new version of the controversial Help to Buy scheme through which hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers got on to the housing ladder under the previous Conservative government. ft.trib.al/G2Am743
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 27/09/2026
Thousands march for climate across France: 'I wish there were more of us, after the summer we've just had'
lemonde.fr
Thousands march for climate across France: 'I wish there were more of us, after the summer we've just had'
From Bordeaux to Paris, organizers say 120,000 people took part in 260 demonstrations 'for the climate, for life, for peace, for social justice.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Wallpaper* @wallpapermag.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
London-based firm Spinocchia Freund designed this grand Courchevel residence to be a luxury retreat for all seasons www.wallpaper.com/design-inter...
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The biggest scandal in the energy transition? Huge amounts of energy lost as rejected heat. Great talk with @mliebreich.bsky.social on Cleaning Up about why we may be measuring the transition all wrong. Plus hydrogen, heat pumps and systems thinking. youtu.be/7xDH8ZqJvqo?...
youtu.be
The Scandal at The Heart of The Energy Transition | Ep275: Jan Rosenow
YouTube video by Cleaning Up Podcast
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Virgíl Al-Hawkíns @crymsondawn.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is AI slop made to make it look more chaotic and disorganized than it is. Around 16-17 seconds this guy & an SUV appear in the middle of the road.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Andrew B. Watkins @windjunky.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
While all the talk has been about 2027 being odds on to be the globes hottest year on record (as post-El Nino years see a global boost in warmth), 2026 has quietly slipped into a "more likely than not (ie >50%)" chance of becoming the globes hottest year. dashboard.theclimatebrink.com#global
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 27/09/2026
Sydney retiree bids to be first to travel Australia on electric motorcycle
abc.net.au
Retiree travelling 18,000km around Australia on electric motorcycle
Ed Darmanin has spent the past three months riding an electric motorcycle around Australia, carefully calculating every kilometre between charging points.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 27/09/2026
Australia's historic stone buildings could crumble without a new generation of stonemasons
abc.net.au
Heritage buildings on cusp of ruin as stonemasons retire
Unless a new generation takes up the trade, the craft will be lost to time, and the buildings with it.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
ABC News Australia @news.abc.net.au · 26/09/2026
Australian scientists develop world-first satellite technology to measure eucalypt flammability
abc.net.au
Scientists develop tech to measure eucalypt flammability from space
Homegrown technology to monitor the flammability of eucalypt forests could be Australia's first satellite mission for Earth observation, if scientists can raise the funds.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Ketan Joshi @ketanjoshi.co · 26/09/2026
I feel like one of the most radical, best and most rebelliously good things you can do right now in the informational online space is just....give people credit, love, support and shoutouts. Even if they just inspired you or prodded a thought you built on, name them and thank them loudly.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
The New York Times @nytimes.com · 26/09/2026
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com “The solution to the whole ever-expanding A.I. terror starts with remembering the lessons of the 2008 crisis: No company should be too big to fail,” Bethany McLean writes in a guest essay.
nyti.ms
Opinion | What Happens if the A.I. Bubble Bursts
It’s as though 2008 never even happened.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Charles Taggart @sikolnam.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Pretty hard to solve for a housing shortage when all your construction capacity is allocated to building data centers. But those data centers will ultimately take the jobs of the people who would have needed homes, so it’s fine.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Jeremy Cole @jeremycole.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The funny thing is that this is not even good for datacenters because they are all competing with each other driving up the prices of the limited resources they need to be constructed, and then most of these will be insolvent within this decade. It’s a shit ton of money to throw in the burn pile.
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Reposted by Ran Boydell
Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
chat is this good?
all construction dropping massively.
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