Clorox has just offered a sneak peek at a new mobile app designed to showcase the ingredients of its cleaning products, while the EPA is urging software developers to harness the agency's mountainous data streams for the public good.
We badly wanted to believe that plant-based PET bottles would solve our plastic woes, but that is not the case, according to a recent Slate story. Although PepsiCo’s 100% plant-based PET bottles have a lower carbon footprint and use renewable sources, as do these Heinz bottles made by Coca Cola, they are not biodegradable. So, unfortunately, when it comes to ending up in landfills, plant-based plastics are every bit as harmful to the environment as their petroleum-based predecessors.
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Post tags: 5 gyres, bisphenol A, bottle bills, Coke, ETHANOL, HDPE, pepsico, petroleum, phthalates, plant based PET, recyclable, Recycled Materials
Biofuel is a generic term for a variety of fuel sources in solid, liquid or gaseous form which are derived in some manner from biomass. Owing to the growing need of fuel for energy security and the concerns over greenhouse gas emissions from non renewable conventional fuel sources like fossil fuel, biofuels are increasingly being considered as a viable alternative. Therefore, it is not surprising that biofuels are being encouraged by government subsidies and huge investments are flowing in to increase the production capacity of biofuels.
According to an analysis of 81 tracked investments reported in Biofuels Digest, a whopping $8.737 billion had been invested worldwide in biofuels processing technology and feedstock development alone in 2009. Brazil topped the list with an investment more than $3.4 billion. The International Energy Agency predicts that 25% of the world’s transportation fuel needs may be fulfilled by biofuels by the year 2050. Now, what are the pros and cons of such mega scale ventures? Lets take a look at some of the facts:
The Good:
1) Better fuel economy:
Automobiles that use biodiesel get 30 percent better fuel economy than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles thereby saving money. Preliminary results of a 3 year fuel study done in Ohio comparing fuel economy of B20 and diesel showed that there was a 5-8% increase in mpg when using biofuel in some buses.
2) Renewable:
The raw material for biodiesel is either vegetable oil or animal fat. As such, they can be regrown and are thereby renewable in contrast to the rapidly declining stock of fossil fuels.
3) Reduces health hazards:
More than 10,000 people die from pollution caused by burning of fossil fuels in gasoline engines in the US alone . Upon burning, gasoline produces nitrogen oxide and acetaldehyde which then react with sunlight producing noxious smog. In addition gasoline also releases sulphates and sulphur oxides which contribute to acid rain. Biodiesel (E85 blend) on the other hand produces 80% less sulphates or sulphur oxides, produces fewer toxins and burns more efficiently than gasoline producing 40% less CO2.
4) Easy to make at home:
Biodiesel can be made at home and it reduces petro-diesel expenses by half. This encourages many DIY enthusiasts to produce bio-diesel at their own convenience.
5) Reduces dependence on fossil fuel:
In many developing countries which do not have adequate crude oil stock or infrastructure for oil refineries, biofuels can help to reduce the dependence on foreign oil. This could potentially lead to economic development in poor rural areas provided food security is not an issue.
6) Production of biofuels are cleaner than conventional fuels:
Crude oil extracted from the earth needs to be refined before it can be used in vehicles. The oil refining process releases several toxic compounds into the atmosphere like benzene, butadiene and formaldehyde, nickel, lead, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants that can lead to severe health hazards like cancer, asthma and heart disease. Biofuels production on the other hand converts soybean or corn into fuel and the process is far more environmentally friendly.
Can this be better?
Research is continually trying to improve the production and efficiency of bio-fuels and make it more and more sustainable. The Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced a big stimulus package of $786.5 million program for biofuels. While the 1st generation bio-fuels relied on food crops as their feedstock, the 2nd generation biofuels depended on lignocellulosic biomass e.g. corn stalk as feedstock. We have now moved on to 3rd generation biofuels which have improved feedstock owing to genetic engineering of the plant matter used in the production process.
The 4th generation biofuels currently under intense research are a combination of genetic engineering of the feedstock to sequester copious amounts of carbon with genetically modified microbes which make the fuels. Interestingly, a group of scientists in New Zealand have successfully devised a method to produce ethanol by using industrial waste gases produced by steel mills. Many scientists thereby see a great potential in biofuels in the nest decade.
The Bad:
1) Biofuels vs food:
The biggest criticism that biofuels face is the impact on food prices. Growing food crops for biofuel like corn or vegetable oils has led to the scarcity of such crops as food resources and recent price hikes in essential commodities. This is affecting the marginalized disproportionately as farmers divert more and more land for growing biofuels instead of less lucrative food crops.
2) The environmental issue:
Large tracts of rainforests are been cleared to make way for palm plantations for biofuels. This destructive process emits huge amounts green house gases to the atmosphere as carbon locked in pristine forests escapes when the trees are felled and burnt. Moreover the wildlife thriving in these rainforests are wiped out in the process. Thus biofuels have emerged as a serious threat to the environment in these tropical countries.
3) The land hunger:
The first generation biofuels required a vast area of land to produce a liter of fuel or a megawatt of electricity. In densely populated countries and with the growing human population worldwide there clearly is not enough land left to make this process sustainable for long. Biofuels are thereby competing with agricultural land and this has created land management problems in some countries where land use patterns have changed over the years due to biofuel production. Add to this the copious amount of water that goes into the production of cash crops for biofuel. In the near future, water will become a precious resource and will not be able to meet the demand for growing biofuel crops.
Can this be avoided?
Improved land management practices using a multi-pronged approach can resolve the land and water management issue to some extent. Second generation biofuels use only the lignocellulose part of biomass (e.g. corn stalk) rather than the crop itself. Thereby the risk of food crisis can be mitigated while having enough by-products from agriculture for biofuel production.
Third and fourth generation advanced biofuel technology goes a step further in reducing the dependence on crops for biofuel production. A combination of conventional fuel and biofuels eg. the E85 blend in hybrid vehicles can reduce the environmental impacts of using biofuels alone. One has to be able to merge economic and environmental concerns in the future in biofuel related issues. Equity and sustainable development are key issues to be considered in almost every major initiative and biofuels are no exceptions here.
The Ugly:
The unprecedented growth of plantations for biofuels in some countries is an issue of major environmental and social concern. The vast tracts of forests that have been cleared to make way for palm plantations may take decades or centuries to be restored if at all. The huge loss to biodiversity in the process is alarming. Add to this the green house gas emissions which took place when these forests were (or still are) being cleared and burnt to establish the plantations.
It may seen an irrecoverable damage and we might have to pay heavily for it. Given the impact of climate change that concerns us all in this planet, biofuels need to looked at with a different lens altogether. What seems apparently so ‘environmentally friendly’ need not be so green at all. This leads me to my next question:
Why are we so critical?
It will perhaps not be an exaggeration to state that in almost every developing country (particularly in the tropics), environmental concerns are of paramount importance today. This is due to the trajectory of economic development in many of these countries. Sadly enough, this trajectory may not often be environmentally friendly or socially sustainable. Biofuels are an excellent example of this. Forests are undervalued in contrast to the short term economic gain of growing crops or plantations for biofuel.
This has led to large scale deforestation in several tropical countries. Biofuels, thereby pose a risk to all the ecosystem services provided by these forests like clean air, water and medicinal plants to name just a few. This has been aptly pointed out in the statement made by the conservation director of the UK Charity RSPB(Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), Mark Avery. He stated that biofuels “threatens to accelerate the destruction of some of the world’s most precious habitats and wildlife. Without environmental standards, biofuels will be little more than a green con.”
Biofuels are currently a hotly debated, controversial issue. While it has several benefits, the negative impacts are also considerable and cannot be ignored. With the rise in funding for research and better technological advancements for cleaner and greener energy we might just be able to reach a middle ground with biofuels as well. International collaborations to effectively reduce the threats to biodiversity and food security can go a long way in ushering in a new future for biofuels.
Our demands for fuels is only expected to rise in the near future and the natural resources that we have at our disposal(land, water, fossil fuel) may be extremely limited to meet our growing needs based on the classical Malthusian philosophy. Let’s hope that improved technology in biofuels can help resolve the energy issues to a considerable extent in the future.
Bangladeshi officials have announced that there are now over one million homes powered by solar energy in the country. In a flurry of expansion, Bangladesh went from 7,000 solar-powered homes in 2002 to the one million mark only 9 years later.
The reason solar power has caught on so quickly there is that most rural homes are off the electricity grid and renewable energy is the easiest way to for those people to get access to power. Approximately 60 percent of the population doesn't have access to reliable electricity, so non-governmental organizations have been working in the country to provide low-cost loans for solar panel installations.
The country hit the one million milestone 18 months ahead of schedule and officials believe that there will be 2.5 million solar-powered homes by 2015.
via Yale e360
Washing machines are the best option to clean clothes. But, what if the water is polluted? There are many slum dwellers facing such a trouble that forces them to wash their clothes the dirty way. Paying heed to this apathy is Robert Forrester, who has designed a portable washing machine christened “Kingfisher.” The portable washing machine is manually operated and is a much better way of washing clothes, as it sans any usage of power.
It has been specially conceptualized for urban Bangladesh that will clean polluted water to ensure hygienic laundry. The design comprises of a drum wherein dirty clothes can be stored. It comes fitted with an extendable handle that is used for dragging the drum till the canal or river. It comes with an inlet attachment, which is used to place in the inlet hose. The hose is placed on the surface of the canal/river and water is drawn into the filter using a pump.
The powerful ceramic filter eliminated all sediments and bacteria present in water. It also has activated carbon that further eradicates presence of any chemicals. After filling the barrel, it is locked with the help of a watertight lid.
A handle is present to rotate the drum that causes necessary agitation to remove dirt from garments. After washing, water is shifted to the base through a grill. This is further filtered and collected through an outlet. The water is absolutely clean and can be used for cooking/bathing.
[Cheers Robert]
Wind Turbines are emerging as the most promising clean energy technology for the fossil fuel-addicted world. Currently, it costs less per kilowatt of energy than solar power which is reflected in the growth of wind energy generation by 31.7 percent in the last year to reach a respectable 2 percent of the global energy output. If this growth rate is sustained, wind energy would double every three years.
As we know it
The typical wind farm consists of horizontal axis wind turbines made of aerodynamically designed blades of fibreglass composite materials with a sweep diameter of 30 meters to 80 meters mounted on hollow steel tubular or lattice work steel towers that range in height from 25 to 75 meters. When the wind blows, the rotor blades rotate at 10 to 30 revolutions per minute and generate electricity. Such a wind turbine typically would produce around 800 kilowatts of power at wind speeds of about 15kph. Larger wind turbines, with power output upto 5 Megawatts have also been commercialized which have sweep diameters of over 110 meters and correspondingly taller towers. Modern wind turbines are provided with pitch and yaw controls so that the turbine blades can be moved to face the wind direction (within a narrow range , of course) to optimize power output .
Need for change
While wind energy has the advantage of ‘zero fuel cost’ , it is capital intensive . The installed cost of a wind turbine is over $3000 per kilowatt which is three times the cost of fossil fuel burning power sources. Wind turbines need an air velocity of at least 15kph to function. Moreover, wind speeds fluctuate with gusting and swirling effects. The wind turbine designs at present do not handle these conditions efficiently.
The wind farm as in the picture above needs a lot of open space between towers, that is, some half acre around each tower to ensure that steady wind streams apply on each set of rotor blades and to provide space for the maintenance take down of the rotors. Researchers are working on several aspects to improve the efficiency of wind power generation . Some of these changes are evolutionary while others attempt to be entirely new approaches.
What’s next
First some interesting evolutionary changes:
1. GE, a leading wind turbine manufacturer, has launched a suite of electronic controls and software products to improve efficiencies. The WindBOOST control system that can be retrofitted on their 1.5 MW wind turbines continually optimizes the rotational speed with power demand from the grid and is said to increase output from 1.5 MW to 1.6 MW. Related products like WindInertia , aim to stabilize the operation of their 1.5 MW and larger wind turbines in conditions of demand surge or fall by utlizing the inertial energy in the rotating blades. Another product named WindLayout helps layout planning of the wind farm to optimize wind power generation.
2. Other such evolutionary efforts include one by Purdue University and the Sandia National Labs to embed sensors on the blade tips to monitor wind forces and signal for the wind turbine to turn to optimize its position for increased power output. Catch the Wind, a Virginia based company, installs optical beam lasers on wind turbine towers that can sense wind direction 300 meters away and gain time for the wind turbine controls to respond. Another research team from the University of Syracuse and Minnesota has found that the wind resistance on rotor blades can be reduced if tiny grooves of 40 to 225 microns are formed on the blade surfaces by an etching process or by the deposition of a coating. This is said to improve turbine output by 3%.
What difference will it make:
Such continuous improvement is necessary to advance the technology and often work on such advances lead to new breakthrough changes that are needed to promote wider adoption of wind turbines.
Problems:
The problems with evolutionary change as always is that it is slow and the improvements appear small in relation to the cost and time in making the change.
Some new approaches to increasing wind turbine performance
3. Plastic and Steel Funnel
One interesting new idea by Leviathan Energy Inc is to build a plastic and steel structure, called “Wind Energizer“, near the base of the wind turbine tower to channel and direct the wind to the “sweet spot” of the blade to increase the energy output.The picture shows a computer model depicting that the Wind Energizer has increased the wind velocity near the tips of the blades in comparison with the centre of the rotor. Leviathan Energy claims an amazing 15-30% increase in turbine output besides longer life for the turbine blades by reducing shear forces on them.
4. The Wind Lens
Another new approach that has attracted attention is that of the Wind Lens by researchers at the Kyushu University, Japan.
The picture above shows a series of circular hoops of 112 meter diameter on a floating hexagonal platform. The hoops have ribs that capture the wind and turn the turbine blades at the centre. Prof. Yuji Ohya of the university says that the hoop intensifies the wind just as a lens intensifies light rays and suggests that energy output could be three times higher than the present wind turbines.
What difference will it make:
Such breakthrough concepts need to be worked on to take the technology from its present limits to new highs.
In summary
While the growth of wind energy industry by 31.7% is heartening, it remains three times as expensive as fossil fuel power plants. The world needs new technologies, both evolutionary and new concepts, to achieve breakthrough reduction in cost to enable wider usage of wind energy.
Supercars have always been and will still continue to be a car enthusiast’s dream. Add environmental consciousness to that and the result is a green supercar. Some of the upcoming green supercars are not just incredibly powerful but also boast the latest green technology that will hopefully reduce our ecological footprint. The aesthetic appeal of the cars combined with their speed and efficiency are truly remarkable and does make the first and second generation of electric cars look boring, slow and ancient. Most of these trendy cars are scheduled to go into production in 2012-2013. Let’s take a sneak peek at some of these modern age marvels.
1) BMW’s M1 Supercar:
Description
BMW is expected to launch its fuel efficient and high performance M1 supercar by 2012. The car is expected to be a low-ridge car with 2+2 seating and a three-dimensional head up exposition to display navigation, speed limits, speed and fuel economy. In addition there will be the advanced version of the iDrive cabin control system. The advanced 1.5 liter three-cylinder engine is based on the Efficient Dynamics concept. The highest speed is expected to be around 155mph and the engine output is expected to scale 350bhp and 800Nm of torque. Whats more, the car will gain a speed of 60 mph in less than 5 seconds.
2) Lampo 3:
Protoscar’s prototype Lampo3 goes a notch higher. With its 550 horsepower and 900 Nm (660 lb-ft) of torque, the third-gen targa-topped electric vehicle is a powerful green supercar with a sporty look. The Lampo3 is a 2+2 coupé which can reach a speed of 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds with the highest speed being around 136 mph. The supercar has three electric motors mounted on a tubular steel chassis and can be charged quickly within 90 minutes. It can give a comfortable range of 124 miles owing to its superior 32 kWh battery. However, the car is not for sale just yet. The car will be developed further before it goes into full production.
3) Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell:
The Mercedes Benz SLS AMG E-Cell is truly a class of its own. Expected to release in 2013 this electric car can accelerate to a speed of 62 mph in just 4 seconds with the highest speed being more than 155 mph. Whats remarkable about this car is that it attains such high velocity in sheer silence unlike the noise associated with older electric models. The 528 hp, 649 lb/ft of torque coupled with a weight of 4400 pounds and AWD acceleration is a great combination for a big electric supercar. The current range of the car is a limited to 90 miles. However it is expected to grow to more than 130 miles later.
4) Porsche Panamera S Hybrid:
Porsche’s new Panamera S Hybrid is the most fuel-efficient Porsche till date and a leader in the luxury hybrid class. The eight speed transmission supercar has a total of 380hp (333 from the 3.0-litre V6 engine while 47 from the electric motor counterpart) and gives a comfortable mileage of 35-40 mpg. It reaches the 0-60 mph mark within 5.7 seconds and its highest speed is 168 mph.
Overall the rear wheel drive hybrid drives just as well as gas powered versions. Priced at $95k in USA, Porsche tags it as “economical”.
5) Chevrolet Mi-Ray Hybrid:
Talk about a lightweight carbon fibre shell in a supercar and Mi Ray is the way to go. “Mi” means future in Korean and this dynamic sporty looking hybrid supercar has been designed at GM Advanced Design studio in Seoul. It boasts of a 4 cylinder 1.5 l turbo-charged engine coupled with carbon fibre and carbon fibre reinforced plastic body. It has scissor shaped doors and is extremely sleek in design. Within the city it is all electric while the gasoline engine kicks in for faster mode.
6) Jaguar C-X75 Supercar:
Jaguar’s new hybrid C-X75 is all set to go into production in late 2013. This true predator is expected to have a power of 780 hp owing to its RE-EV (range extended electric vehicle) concept. The car will have 4 electric motors at four corners and it produce a remarkable output of 1180 lb-ft torque. The supercar will reach an acceleration from 0-100km/h (62mph) in 3.5 seconds and will have a range of 110 km on its full electric mode and 900 km on hybrid mode. The maximum speed is expected to be 330 km/h.
The C-X75 RE-EV concept can run on a variety of fuel sources: LPG, diesel, biofuel or natural gas, in addition to four electric motors. In the conventional mode the car produces only 28 grams of CO2/km. The C-X75 will have a sexy look even inside the car. Storm Grey ‘Bridge of Weir’ leather seats, hi-end ’surround sound’ hi fi and a custom made clock are just to name a few.
7) CMT-380:
Capstone’s new hybrid electric supercar CMT-380, comes with an advanced micro-turbine which is incredibly silent and amazing. This prototype is expected to be launched in 2013. The vehicle reaches 60 mph from rest in 3.9 seconds, has a maximum speed of 150 mph. On full electric mode the car has a range of 80 miles while it can run up to 500 miles on a full tank of fuel. The exhaust emissions are really low and make it a green supercar to watch out for.
8) Electric Renault DeZir:
Trendy and sexy, the Renault DeZir is a league of its own. The aerodynamic chassis coupled with a 150hp electric motor makes this car an incredibly attractive supercar. The car can reach the 60 mph mark in 5 seconds and gives a range of 100 miles. The higher torque and power make it a pleasure to drive. The car is also lightweight as its body chassis is made from Kelvar. Be prepared for an incredible driving experience in this new green supercar.
9) Porsche 918 Spyder:
Description
Another interesting Porsche to watch out for is the 918 Spyder. This plug-in hybrid reaches 62 mph is just 3.2 seconds and boasts of an unheard of 94 mpg. The maximum speed of the 918 is 94 mph (electric mode) while 199 mph on combination. Its low range on pure electric mode of 16 miles is more than made up for in its high 500 hp power due its powerful V8 engine. The production is expected to commence in September 2013 for left hand drive only. The price tag is set at € 645,000 in addition to other charges.
10) BMW’s Turbodiesel Hybrid Electric Car:
The sturdy BMW turbodiesel hybrid is a great combination of high performance and green technology. The 2+2 hybrid with gullwing doors has a top speed of 155 mph, power of 255 hp and an output of 590 lb-ft of torque making it a powerful supercar on the road. The hybrid is an all-wheel drive with a 3 cylinder turbodiesel engine with a pair of electric motors. The supercar is also high on efficiency owing to its efficient Brake Energy Regeneration technology. The coolest thing about the car is that its roof and doors inserts become automatically darker based on ambient light due to its polycarbonate glass inserts.
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