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Swimming pools and the irrigation of gardens require significant amounts of water.

Tom Merton | Ojo Images | Getty Images

The unsustainable consumption of the rich — including the use of swimming pools, garden irrigation and washing cars — is a key driver of urban water crises, according to a new study that calls for a fresh approach to tackling the issue.

Published in the Nature Sustainability journal this week, the peer-reviewed research looked at the South African city of Cape Town, which has experienced severe drought in recent years.

For the study, researchers split Cape Town’s urban population into five social groupings and then modeled water consumption.

“Despite representing only 1.4% and 12.3% of the total population, respectively, elite and upper-middle-income groups together use more than half (51%) of the water consumed by the entire city,” they said.

“Informal dwellers and lower-income households constitute together 61.5% of Cape Town’s population but consume a mere 27.3% of the city’s water.”

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The consequences of such an imbalance are severe, according to the analysis.

“Overall, these results support the argument that domestic water consumption in unequal urban areas such as Cape Town is likely to become unsustainable as a result of excessive consumption among privileged social groups,” it said.

“Specifically, privileged water consumption is unsustainable because in the short term, it disproportionally uses the water available for the entire urban population.”

Longer term, the report described what it called privileged consumption as constituting an environmental threat to the status of local water sources.

The report’s abstract said Cape Town, with its “highly unequal metropolitan area,” served “as a case in point to illustrate how unsustainable water use by the elite can exacerbate urban water crises at least as much as climate change or population growth.”

The study, which was led by Elisa Savelli at Uppsala University in Sweden, proposes a new approach to preserving water resources centered around “altering privileged lifestyles, limiting water use for amenities and redistributing income and water resources more equally.”

The research comes as access to water continues to dominate headlines. According to the United Nations, 2 billion people did not have access to safely managed drinking water services in 2020.

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Hannah Cloke is a hydrologist at the University of Reading in the U.K. and was a co-author of the study.

“We have shown that social inequality is the biggest problem for poorer people getting access to water for their everyday needs,” she said in a statement.

Over 80 major cities across the world have been hit by water shortages over recent decades, she said, adding that the study highlighted how the crisis “could get worse still as the gap between the rich and the poor widens in many parts of the world.”

“This shows the close links between social, economic and environmental inequality. Ultimately, everyone will suffer the consequences unless we develop fairer ways to share water in cities,” she added.

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Environment

This robot loves cleaning pools more than you do! Meet Fanttik Aero X Robotic Pool Cleaner

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4 hours ago

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April 26, 2025

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This robot loves cleaning pools more than you do! Meet Fanttik Aero X Robotic Pool Cleaner

Fanttik Aero X Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner
Image: Fanttik

Warm weather is nearly here, and there’s no better way to get your swimming pool ready than with the Fanttik Aero X Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner. Developed by a core R&D team with DJI lineage, led by the former product lead of DJI FPV (First-Person View), it brings drone sensor technology to the world of pool-cleaning robotics.

And for a limited time, Fanttik is offering a special discount of $300, which drops the price from $1,199.99 to just $899.99! Plus, you’ll receive a free gift when you purchase through Fanttik’s official website or Amazon store.

Introducing the World’s First S-FSD™ TurboClean Robotic Pool Cleaner

12 S-FSD™Precision Sensors | 6-Hour Working Time | 5,382 sq.ft Cleaning Area | 16,000 mAh | 2-Year Warranty

The Aero X is proudly branded as “The World’s First S-FSD™ TurboClean Robotic Pool Cleaner,” showcasing cutting-edge technology that makes pool maintenance faster and easier than ever.

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Intelligent cleaning with S-FSD™ Technology

At the heart of Aero X is Fanttik’s innovative S-FSD™ Technology, boasting 12 sensors (2 water immersion sensors, 2 sonar sensors, 1 gyroscope sensor, 1 accelerometer sensor, 4 power sensors, 2 speed sensors) and powered by AquaPilot™ intelligent path planning. AquaPilot™ provides real-time tracking and coverage, ensuring the robot efficiently cleans every inch of your pool. Its advanced navigation algorithm calculates optimal cleaning routes, thoroughly addressing the floor, walls, and waterline without missing a spot.

Check out the Fanttik Aero X Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner’s S-FSD™ Technology in action here.

4X cleaning efficiency with TwinFlex™ dual system

TwinFlex™ Dual System = SwiftCruise™ Wheel System + AdapDrive™ Brush System, the Aero X ensures every inch of your pool sparkles.

  • SwiftCruise™ Wheel System: With specially designed smaller front wheels and larger rear wheels, Aero X easily maneuvers around pool edges, corners, and tricky areas, adapting smoothly to different pool shapes and surfaces, including concrete, ceramic tiles, vinyl, fiberglass, and more.
  • AdapDrive™ Brush System: Its wide 15.7-inch rotating brush (the widest brush in the pool robot, vs. industry standard of 11.8–14.2 inches) dynamically adjusts its rotation speed for superior cleaning of hard-to-reach areas, delivering an impressive cleaning speed. Your pool will be spotless and swim-ready faster than ever.
  • Large-Scale Cleaning, Zero Battery Anxiety: Aero X with runtime up to 6 hours, with 16,000mAh, the largest battery capacity in wireless pool-cleaning robots, covering a cleaning area up to 5,382 sq.ft. Equivalent to cleaning 12 medium-sized home pools or 2.5 standard tennis courts in a single full charge.

Smart control at your fingertips

Managing your pool cleaner has never been simpler. Use the Fanttik app to set cleaning modes or control the robot in real time without removing it from the water. Need a quick adjustment? The handheld remote provides precise control, letting you target specific areas effortlessly.

User-friendly design for effortless maintenance

Fanttik’s Aero X isn’t just powerful—it’s incredibly user-friendly. Monitor the filter basket status through the app for optimal performance. When the battery runs low, Aero X intelligently docks itself at the poolside for easy retrieval. Real-time voice prompts make operating the Aero X an intuitive and enjoyable experience.

Ultimately, what Fanttik’s Aero X gives you is much more time for fun. You get more time with family and friends to enjoy the water and relax outdoors. Isn’t that the entire point of having a pool? The Aero X works hard and smart(comes with a 2-year warranty), so you don’t have to.

Award-winning design and trusted partnership

The Aero X is a recipient of the prestigious American Good Design Award, which is recognized for its innovation and excellence.

Fanttik, the official partner of the UFC, Brooklyn Nets, and NASCAR drivers Noah Gragson and Cole Custer, has leveraged years of expertise to perfect this outstanding product.

Don’t miss this limited-time offer on the Fanttik Aero X Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaner!

Enjoy a $300 discount for a limited time, dropping the Aero X from $1,199.99 to just $899.99 [page displayed discount + check the coupon (if available) + use code ELECTREKPOOL (for Amazon) at checkout], plus receive a free gift: 1X Fanttik W10 Apex Mini Chainsaw (able to cut 135 pieces of 2″ pine) OR 1X Fanttik C8 Nano Electric Scissors (easily cuts cardboard, carpet, and leather).

This exclusive offer is available on Fanttik’s official website and Amazon store. Act fast to revolutionize your pool maintenance experience this summer!

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Amazon and Nvidia say all options are on the table to power AI including fossil fuels

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7 hours ago

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April 26, 2025

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Amazon and Nvidia say all options are on the table to power AI including fossil fuels

Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amazon and Nvidia told a room of oil and gas executives this week that all options are on the table to power artificial intelligence including fossil fuels such as natural gas.

The tech and energy industries gathered in Oklahoma City at the Hamm Institute for American Energy to discuss how the U.S. can meet the growing energy needs for AI data centers. 

The Big Tech companies have invested mostly in renewable power in an effort to slash their carbon dioxide emissions, but they are now navigating a changed political environment. President Donald Trump has ditched U.S. commitments to fight climate change as he seeks to increase fossil fuel production, particularly natural gas.

There is now growing public acknowledgment from the tech industry that gas will be needed, at least in the near term, to help fuel AI.

“To have the energy we need for the grid, it’s going to take an all of the above approach for a period of time,” Kevin Miller, Amazon’s vice president of global data centers, said during a panel discussion Thursday. “We’re not surprised by the fact that we’re going to need to add some thermal generation to meet the needs in the short term.”

Amazon remains focused on slashing its carbon emissions, Miller said. It is the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and is investing in advanced nuclear and carbon capture technology to reduce the environmental impact of its energy consumption, the executive said.

But those advanced technologies will not come online until the 2030s and Amazon needs steady and secure power now, Miller said.

“We’re very explicit that meeting customers’ demands for capacity is first and foremost in our priority list, and so having access to power is first and foremost what we focus on,” Miller said. “And we have a goal to be net-zero carbon as a company by 2040 and are very focused on that.”

Nvidia is also focused on environmental impact but wants “all options on the table” as AI faces an energy crunch, said Josh Parker, the chipmaker’s senior director of corporate sustainability.

“At the end of the day, we need power. We just need power,” Parker said at the panel. “We have some customers who really prioritize the clean energy, and some customers who don’t care as much,” the executive said.

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark called for data center developers to be realistic about the energy sources that are currently available. Anthropic estimates that 50 gigawatts of new power is needed by 2027, equivalent to about 50 nuclear reactors. AI demand can help drive the development of “new and novel sources” of power over the longer term, he said.

The idea of using coal, however, was met with unease. Trump recently signed an order that aims to boost coal production, citing demand from AI. The Amazon and Nvidia executives did not answer directly when asked during the panel whether they thought coal had a role play in powering AI.

“You have a broader set of options than just coal,” Clark said. “We would certainly consider it, but I don’t think I’d say it’s at the top of our list.”

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Global energy giant RWE halts US offshore wind because of Trump

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21 hours ago

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April 25, 2025

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Global energy giant RWE halts US offshore wind because of Trump

RWE US offshore wind
Photo: RWE

Global renewable developer and energy giant RWE has halted its US offshore wind operations “for the time being” because of the “political environment” the Trump administration has created.

RWE, Germany’s biggest electricity producer, said in March that it had dialed back its US offshore wind activities. But now, CEO Marcus Krebber said in a speech transcript, which he’ll deliver at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Essen on April 30, that its US offshore wind business is now closed (but it wasn’t all bad news): 

In the US, where we have stopped our offshore activities for the time being, our business in onshore wind, solar energy, and battery storage has so far been developing very dynamically. At the start of this year, we reached an important milestone when our US generation capacity hit the 10 gigawatt mark. The construction of a further 4 gigawatts is secured.

He went on to say that renewables have created regional value and jobs, but that the company remains “cautious given the political developments.” RWE has introduced more stringent requirements for future US investments:

All necessary federal permits must be in place. Tax credits must be safe harbored and all relevant tariff risks mitigated. In addition, onshore wind and solar projects must have secured offtake at the time of the investment decision. Only if these conditions are met will further investments be possible, given the political environment.

About half of RWE’s installed renewable capacity is in the US, where it’s the third-largest renewable energy company through its subsidiary, RWE Clean Energy. RWE holds the rights to develop US offshore wind projects in New York, Louisiana, and California.

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RWE paid $1.1 billion for the New York lease area in 2022, where it’s meant to develop the 3 gigawatt (GW) Community Offshore Wind with the UK’s National Grid. Community Offshore Wind was projected to come online in the early 2030s and expected to power more than a million homes.

The developer paid $5.6 billion for the Louisiana lease in the Gulf of Mexico in 2023 as the lone bidder for development rights, and the Canopy Offshore Wind project off Northern California was not expected to be completed for another decade.

Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build

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