Purdue EEE study finds that buying fewer snacks and ready meals could slash US carbon footprint, New Scientist

By comparing the grocery shopping of people in the U.S. to recommended dietary guidelines, researchers including Purdue EEE faculty member Hua Cai found that reducing overconsumption of junk food and ready-made meals could cut carbon emissions as much as going vegetarian. This research was also featured in Fast Company.

Why it's so hard to recycle electric-car batteries, Business Insider

Dead electric-vehicle (EV) batteries could become a huge waste stream as the cars gain popularity. Recycling the batteries would prevent them from being landfilled and reduce the need for mining rare metals. Purdue EEE's Rebecca Ciez discusses these environmental issues created by EV batteries and why recycling them is more difficult than one might think. 

Engineer helps make sure water is safe for people impacted by Marshall Fire, Channel 9 News

Purdue EEE professor Andrew Whelton answers questions on water contamination after wildfires. For the past four years, he has been traveling the nation in response to such disasters in order to educate and advise communities on how to flush out their water systems, since wildfires can lead to plastic piping leaching contaminants into the water supply.  

Headed back to the office? Make sure your building has flushed out its water, Popular Science

Office buildings that sit vacant for a long time due to the pandemic may experience stagnation has allowed metals and microorganisms to build up in its plumbing. Andrew Whelton and Purdue EEE colleagues including Caitlin Proctor studied a “green” building that conserves water by reducing flow and found it was contaminated with lead and copper. Their work on stagnant plumbing during the pandemic, which can also cause bacterial growth, was previously featured in The New York Times.

Mopping can create air pollution that rivals city streets, Science

The air in homes, schools, and offices can generate hazardous air pollution. Purdue EEE faculty member Brandon Boor demonstrated that cleaning for several minutes generates as many airborne particles as traffic on a busy city street.