The remediation of heavy metals (HMs) in soil is always an important topic, as environmental contamination by HMs is of serious concern. Numerous potential advantages, especially integrated with biochar produced from various biomass, might provide an ecologically beneficial tool for achieving the UN’s sustainable development objectives for greener soil remediation. The aim of this study was to address how the soil-science professions may best successfully utilize biochar for greener remediation of HMs-contaminated soils. In this context, the biochar preparation method from different agricultural feedstock, and its use as a soil amendment for remediation of HMs-contaminated soil, were discussed. Furthermore, biochar-based nanocomposites containing functional materials have lately attracted much interest because of the unique properties emerging from their nanoscale size compartment, and present good promise in terms of reactivity and stability. The utility and potency of biochar-based nanocomposites, on the other hand, are determined by their ability to adapt to particular site circumstances and soil qualities. This overview summarized the current advances in the application for the remediation of HMs-polluted soils. Future views on the usage and possibilities for deploying biochar-based nanocomposites in polluted soils were discussed.

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One of the stable trends in development of the world electric power industry is the transition from monotony to diversity in its evolution. It is characterized by a wide range of the strategic tasks solved by a set of the used energy resources and a changing spectrum of the possible energy technologies. However in the thermal energy supply of consumers in Russia for almost 100 years there is practically the only system of water heat supply that does not meet modern ecological, anthropogenic, technological and social requirements which motivated authors to conduct research on the alternative system of electrical heating. Materials for the study of the two heat supply systems were the actual parameters of alternative systems and their implication in technological and economic spheres as well as the impact on environmental indicators. Research methods include system approach, analysis of statistical data and authors’ estimates. Result of comparing of the two alternative heat supply system is the classification of their positive and negative factors at the qualitative and quantitative levels of assessment. The conducted research has shown the significant advantages of the new electric heat supply system which is more in line with the requirements of sustainable development of Russian cities, preserves health and improves quality of life of their inhabitants.

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