Biobattery That Can Supply Various Types of Energy
by: Jetson Green, 2015-03-31 15:54:31 UTC

The prototype of a promising biobattery has recently been developed by researchers at the German Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Energy and Safety Technology. The battery they developed is actually a highly efficient biogas plant which is capable of transforming different types of organic raw materials, such as straw, scrap wood and sludge into different energy sources like electricity, purified gas and engine oil.

They’re currently still testing it, but it is proving to be very modular and cost-efficient even on the small scale. The prototype battery the researchers built is capable of processing 66 lbs (30 kg) of biomass per hour.

Biogas  is a source of renewable energy capable of generating electricity with little impact to the environment. In addition to that, it can also be used to create fertilizer, biofuel and engine oil. The main drawback until now, however, is that this is only possible with a limited variety of raw materials.

The biobattery developed by the Fraunhofer Institute eliminates this obstacle, because the battery they created is capable of accepting a variety of input materials, which would otherwise cost a lot of money to dispose of while also taxing the environment. These include biomass waste, sewage sludge, straw, scrap wood and manure. The biobattery is capable of turning all these into useful energy, while also being very flexible and highly modular.

The battery works by allowing the raw materials to pass through a sluice in an airless environment and into a continuously rotating screw. In the next step, the input material is heated and broken down into bio char and volatile gases. These gases are partially purified and collected, with the rest condensed into a liquid containing a mixture of water and high-quality oil.

These end products have many uses. The oil can become fuel for ships or airplanes; the gases can be used in a combined heat and power plant to produce electricity, while biochar makes good fertilizer.

Another key advantage of this battery is that is it economically viable even on a small scale, meaning that it requires a small investment and still bring profitable results. Since the battery is also modular, it can easily be slowly upgraded over time to achieve higher efficiency.

Sustainable-smart-resilient-low-carbon-eco-knowledge cities? Choose your label carefully
by: TU delft news, 2015-03-25 14:35:00 UTC
Smart cities, eco cities, sustainable cities, intelligent cities. Researchers from TU Delft, Fudan University (China) and Westminster University (UK) conclude that it makes quite a difference which ‘label’ a metropolitan area chooses. This week they report on their findings in the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Biomimicry 3.8 in the news
by: Biomimicry 3.8, 2015-03-20 17:15:06 UTC

A new type of company lures activist entrepreneurs

…(E)ntrepreneurs say B status is about more than how they market themselves. It keeps them honest. Consider Biomimicry 3.8, which helps Fortune 500 companies create products based on nature’s designs–for instance, a carpet tile with a pattern that mimics the forest floor, making the replacement of worn tiles unnoticeable. Managing director Nicole Hagerman Miller says undertaking the annual B Corp audit keeps her company on mission. “It does hold us true to this commitment. It helps us go further, even though we feel we’re progressive.”

Saporito, Bill. “Making Good, Plus a Profit” Web blog post. Time Business. Time Inc., 15 Mar. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2015.

LEAOS Carbon Urban E-Bike Wins 2015 Red Dot Product Design Award
by: Sustainable Design News, 2015-03-31 04:26:16 UTC
LEAOS Carbon Urban E-Bike has won the 2015 Red Dot Product Design Award. LEAOS is the first E-Bike with a consequent unbroken designline including handlebar and fork.

Spíritree: Biodegradable burial urn turns cremation ashes into a living tree
by: TreeHugger Design, 2015-03-27 12:00:00 UTC
Designed to gradually break down, this lovely design will serve as a memorial to a loved one, while helping to nurture a growing tree

Materials Monday looks at Shou Sugi Ban
by: TreeHugger Design, 2015-03-30 13:58:10 UTC
This traditional Japanese method of finishing wood is having a dramatic resurgence.

Nestlé, SAB Miller Increase Revenue up to 20% with Supply Chain Improvements
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-03-27 11:47:07 UTC
Nestlé, SAB Miller and UPS are among the 25 companies that have increased their revenue as much as 20 percent and cut supply chain costs up to 16 percent by implementing sustainable supply chain practices, according to a World Economic Forum report written in collaboration with Accenture. Beyond Supply Chains – Empowering Value Chains identifies […]

Volvo Beats Carbon Reduction Goal by 10M Tons
by: Environmental Leader, 2015-03-27 11:50:49 UTC
Volvo last year reduced the total lifetime CO2 emissions of its products by 40 million tons against a 2008 baseline, beating its goal by 10 million tons, according to the automaker’s 2014 sustainability report. The company also exceeded its target to reduce CO2 emissions from its production plants by 0.2 million tons (12 percent), compared […]

Påhoj is a Bike Seat and Stroller in One
by: design milk, 2015-03-26 14:00:52 UTC

If you have kids, you know that the last thing you need is yet another THING to carry, remember, and lug around. That’s why I really love this Påhoj concept. Swedish designer Lycke von Schantz has transformed the simple bike seat into a stroller so you can bike with your kid to the park, the store, wherever and not need to worry about their little legs getting tired – the seat simply transforms into a very basic stroller. Not only is this a great inventoion for parents who are exhausted and don’t need any more “stuff”, but it encourages parents to get out there and bike – a more environmentally and healthy way to get from one place to another. It also sets a great example for the little one.

Lycke says, “Growing up in Lund, Sweden’s largest bike city, and living several years in Amsterdam, biking has always been the natural way of transportation for me. Why should becoming a parent put an end to that?”

Watch a video about Påhoj:

Påhoj has been safety tested at BRIO´s former test lab in Osby, Sweden.

We’re keeping an eye out for this project – it’s coming to Kickstarter soon!

Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2015
by: Sustainable Design News, 2015-03-06 11:09:41 UTC
The 2015 Red Dot Design Concept Award is now open for entries. Designers, design studios, manufacturers, and universities are called on to submit their best product ideas, prototypes and ready to launch products.