Sustainability & Green Living

Beverly Hills, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins has launched ZenWTR, a vapor-distilled alkaline water brand with a pH of 9.5, now sold at Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Amazon, QuikTrip, Kwik Trip, Bristol Farms and Erewhon, with H-E-B locations adding it starting October 5.

Collins, who previously founded FUZE, NOS, BODYARMOR and CORE Hydration, built ZenWTR through vapor distillation followed by ionization via electrolysis to hit the 9.5 pH mark. A proprietary blend of calcium, potassium and magnesium is added afterward for taste.

The flagship bottle is made entirely from recycled ocean-bound plastic

ZenWTR's signature 20-ounce bottle uses 100% recycled, certified ocean-bound plastic collected from coastal areas with limited recycling infrastructure. The company says this approach creates income opportunities for local collectors while diverting material from the ocean.

Dubai – September 17, 2026 -- Gorenje has launched the G600 dishwasher in the UAE and wider Middle East, an appliance the company says uses 10 percent less energy than the A-class industry standard while delivering full cleaning performance.

Smart Dosing cuts refills to once a month

The G600's Smart Dosing feature lets households fill the detergent container once and run up to 20 wash cycles, roughly a month of use, without refilling. The system automatically dispenses the precise detergent amount for each selected programme, aiming to reduce waste.

An optional UV light targets 99.99 percent of bacteria

An optional UV Light Function claims to eliminate 99.99 percent of bacteria and viruses, even during lower-temperature cycles such as Eco at 55°C. The machine offers six programmes: Eco, Auto, Intensive, Daily, Night, and Hygiene.

Hangzhou – September 17, 2026 -- Hoymiles has launched a DC V2X charger capable of delivering up to 22 kW, designed to plug directly into its HiOne All-in-One home battery system and let electric vehicles double as backup power sources for the house.

The charger lets EVs power homes during outages

Using Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology, the device can supply backup electricity when the grid goes down. It also supports Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functions, allowing households to help reduce peak demand and participate in virtual power plant programs. A built-in MID-certified meter tracks energy use for accurate monitoring.

Direct DC charging cuts energy loss and charging time

Unlike AC chargers that rely on a vehicle's onboard charger to convert AC to DC, Hoymiles' V2X sends DC power straight from solar panels and battery storage to the car, skipping that conversion step. The company says this reduces energy losses during charging.

Verona, Wis. – September 16, 2026 -- Everlight Solar has been voted Madison's People's Choice Favorite Solar Company for 2026, marking the company's third consecutive year receiving the honor from the Wisconsin State Journal's People's Choice Awards.

Local homeowners cast the votes that decided the win

The People's Choice Awards recognize businesses across Dane County chosen directly by the public for their service and community impact. Everlight Solar's third straight title reflects its ongoing work providing solar installations, customer service, and access to renewable energy for area homeowners.

The CEO credits the community for the repeat honor

"Being recognized by the Madison community for a third year means so much to our entire team," said William Creech, President and CEO of Everlight Solar. "We're incredibly grateful for the homeowners, families, and neighbors who continue to support Everlight Solar."

Ticonderoga – – September 16, 2026 -- Homeowners in Ticonderoga, New York, are increasingly asking whether heat pumps can reliably heat their homes through long, freezing winters, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Nate Charboneau of Champlain Valley Heating and Plumbing, LLC.

The article addresses lingering doubts rooted in older heat pump models, which often struggled once temperatures dropped well below freezing. Modern cold-climate systems, it explains, are built differently and designed specifically to hold up in northern regions with heavy snow, ice, and extended cold spells.

Heat pumps move warmth instead of burning fuel

Rather than generating heat by combustion, a heat pump transfers existing heat energy from outdoor air into the home, even when that air is cold. In warmer months, the same equipment reverses the process to provide cooling, making it a year-round system rather than a winter-only or summer-only solution.

Berlin – September 16, 2026 -- Zendure took home two honors at the Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026, with its SolarFlow 4000 Mix Pro home battery system winning Gold in the Sustainable Home Energy Storage System category. The awards were handed out during the opening of IFA 2026 in Berlin, where Zendure also received the Smart Energy Solutions Brand Award for its broader approach to home energy management.

The SolarFlow 4000 Mix Pro packs whole-home power into a plug-in format

The system is a plug-in, bidirectional, AI-driven home energy storage unit rated at 4 kW AC. A single unit stores between 8 kWh and 50 kWh, and capacity can scale up to 150 kWh when paired with Zendure's PowerHub, which supports up to 13 kW of total solar input. Zendure positions the setup for large households, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging points.

Largo, Fla. – September 15, 2026 -- Largo residents now have clearer guidance on how to dispose of used batteries safely, according to an article published by HelloNation detailing local drop-off points and handling rules.

Battery chemistry, not size, determines the correct bin

Pinellas County's 2026 Recycle Guide allows batteries labeled alkaline to go in household trash, but no batteries belong in mixed recycling bins. Rechargeable batteries, lithium batteries, and some button batteries require separate collection instead.

Two county sites accept household batteries near Largo

The Household Hazardous Waste Center at 2855 109th Avenue N. in St. Petersburg and HHW North at 29582 U.S. 19 N. in Clearwater both serve Largo residents. Both locations operate on specific schedules, so residents are advised to check the county's current calendar before making a trip.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- As mornings and evenings turn cooler, heating technicians are urging households to run three quick checks before switching on their systems for the season, according to the Deutscher Verband Flüssiggas e.V. (German LPG Association).

Berlin -- September 10, 2026 -- Midea used IFA 2026 to showcase a new lineup of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems built around the natural refrigerant R290, part of what the company calls its 'Green Vision, Blue Future' push.

Midea has sold more than 10 million R290 air conditioners since 2018

R290 carries an ultra-low global warming potential, near-zero CO2 emissions, no PFAS chemicals, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency than standard refrigerants. Midea says the 10 million-plus units sold since 2018 have cut carbon emissions by about 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, a reduction the company compares to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. A transparent demo unit at the booth let visitors watch the compressor technology operate live.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- EcoFlow collected nine industry awards at IFA 2026 in Berlin, with its STREAM home battery system, PowerRock 4000 portable power station and RIVER Gen4 power stations all recognized by European and international tech publications.

STREAM home battery system earns six separate honors

The STREAM platform received Best in Show awards from TechRadar, T3 and The Ambient, plus recognition from ComputerBILD's Messe-Highlight 2026, the home&smart Innovation Award 2026, and CHIP.de's IFA Highlights Award specifically for the STREAM AC 5000 model.