Greener, Cleaner Dishes… Without Detergent

Dr. Youngblood at work. Via Treehugger.

A water-favoring, anti-oily treated surface. Via Discovery News.

Imagine the possibility of grease and grime being lifted from your dishes with just water. Jeffrey P. Youngblood, an associate professor at Purdue University, and his colleagues are currently in the process of formulating a coating for dinnerware that will eliminate the need for polluting dishwater soap.

This coating, made up of long chains of polymers, is based on perfluorinated end-cap polyethylene glycol amphiphilic macromers that had been polymerised with a variety of comonomer. This eco-friendly alternative to the harsh chemicals of traditional phosphorous soap contains a Teflon-like molecule that repels oil while allowing water to filter through and rinse off surfaces.

Youngblood and team have engineered the polymer chains to have different properties, leading to different cleaning solutions. One causes oil to gather into easier-to-clean beads, and, like other potential methods, simply has the oil “remove itself.”

One may argue that the coating material itself is not very eco-friendly due to the usage of the Teflon-like molecule, but Youngblood states that the elimination of soaps and detergents streaming into our waterways will be more than a good tradeoff for the minimal polymer coating that will run off from treated products.

The next step for Youngblood and his team of researchers is working with plastic substrates, anti-fog products, as well as easy to clean paints.

Via Treehugger. Read on at Discovery News + Chemistry World. Read more on the harmful effects of phosphorous soap at Treehugger.

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Nanosys is Working to Improve LED Light Quality

Image via Treehugger.

Nanosys is currently working on LED technology that will greatly improve the quality of light produced. They describe it as “spectrum engineering for LCD device displays using Nanosys’ QuantumRail™, where high-brightness applications call for improved color gamut, saturation and power efficiency from LED sources.” Using nanotechnology, fluids are created out of semiconductor materials, which are then layered over blue LED lights, the most energy efficient of the hues. All colors displayed will be more vivid and just as energy efficient as present LED technology.

With the advancements made, Nanosys has discovered how to produce LEDs in any color that are far more saturated than current LED-backlit LCD displays and in warmer tones. Standard blue LEDs are used with the addition of a nanomaterial based phosphor material to create warm white lights, a process nature uses that provides a greater wavelength range. They claim that energy input can remain low while boosting picture quality.

Nanoysys CEO, Jason Hartlove, estimates that we will see around 60% of notebooks made in 2010 utilizing LED backlights. With mandates such as the ones in California, the television market is also sure to jump on a technology that creates displays of higher picture quality without consuming additional energy.

Via Treehugger.

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Sustainability and Anti-Weapons Initiatives Meet at the London Olympic Stadium

The design proposal for the new 2012 London Olympic Stadium by Populous (formerly HOK Sports) boasts many green building initiatives, not least of which is their use of recycled guns and knives as structural steel. In the last year, the Metropolitan Police have collected more than 52 tonnes of scrap metal from old keys, knives and guns and now it’s being melted down to form the structure of the new stadium!

Sustainability doesn’t stop at the structure, the design also features a host of other environmentally friendly materials such as a façade of hemp.

Furthermore, and possibly most exciting, the entire stadium will be prefab and flat-packed. This construction technique not only significantly reduces the environmental impact of the structure as it is constructed but allows for the entire stadium to be broken down and shipped off to the next host city for reuse. The potential is enormous! Gone are the days of reconstructing massive stadiums every two years for a single use, this new system effectively eliminates wasteful obsolescence.

Currently, talks are underway with Chicago, but London organizers hope that their offer is taken up by whoever wins the games. If the plan goes forward, this would be the largest amount of seats ever moved from one place to the next, and the first time in history that a stadium of this size has been moved.

Via Inhabitat.

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A Greener Cell Phone

Nokia has teamed up with designer James Barber to answer our question Can a Cellphone Really Be Green? Their answer: yes. The new, green (literally) design looks at both energy consumption and the embodied energy in phone production. Because of the short lifespan of the phone, embodied energy was as much as 3 times greater than the energy used by the phone in its lifetime. As a result, Barber has developed a durable phone to last at least 5 years and to be roughly 85% recyclable.

The phone’s planned longevity – as opposed to planned obsolescence – features easy access and removal of components to allow the user to upgrade features as technology improves. The device comes apart with the removal of just one screw and features a list of ingredients on the inside of the cover so users can see just how much is recyclable. For example, the green plastic it is made of can be melted, re-molded and reused without any discoloration.

Problems, however, abound. The phone’s aesthetic design is seriously lacking and finding takers who are willing to hang on to it for 5 years might prove difficult. Contract renewal is every 2 years with major service providers and huge monetary incentives and rebates are offered on the latest and greatest technology, until we see this trend shifting, I doubt many consumers will be persuaded to stick with their current phone beyond the 2 year renewal period. Furthermore, it often seems to be the case that purchasing replacement parts and upgrades, as the design proposes, is more expensive and time-consuming than simply purchasing a new device, especially a cellphone.

Interested in green cellphones? Then you should also check out the Reclaim by Samsung. Featuring 40% corn-based plastic casing, free of phthalates and polyvinyl chloride, and near devoid of brominated flame retardants this phone definitely takes a stride in the green direction. The charger also lights up when the battery is fully charged to remind users to unplug. The manufacturers moved beyond the phone as well, improving other elements of the overall product — the packaging is made from 70% recycled materials; the manual is online only (rather than printed and packaged with the phone); and Sprint will also donate $2 to the Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre Program for each Reclaim purchase.

However, please remember that the most sustainable and eco-friendly cellphone option is the one you already own and keep for as long as possible!

Via Treehugger and Green Packs.

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It Tastes Fishy, but It’s Sustainable!

Sun-dried squid bottles. Image via Inventor Spot.

The traditional Ika Tokkuri sake bottles, which are incredibly eco-friendly, are currently going through a revival in Japan. What makes them so green? The Ika Tokkuri bottles are made from squid. The squid skins are stuffed with grains of rice and then sun-dried until it can hold its own form. When using the squid skin bottle, you’ll inevitably get a slight fishy taste. That’s perfectly alright for many though, since this has been said to make the drink smoother and milder. Each bottle can be used 5 to 6 times and (to ensure that nothing goes to waste) can even be eaten afterwards!

Via Inventor Spot and Core77.

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Growing Green At A Manhattan Public School

PS 166, an elementary school on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is making conscious efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and is teaching its students about the values of going green. It has recently signed up for the fourth annual Green Cup Challenge, an inter-school energy reduction competition, sponsored by the non-profit Green Schools Alliance. PS 166 will be one of 109 public and private schools in 22 states participating.

The Challenge, which takes place in New York from January 15th through February 12th, during peak (winter) energy use, asks participating schools to measure and reduce their electricity usage with a view to combating global warming. Top performing schools have achieved 18% energy reductions, saving thousands of dollars in utility costs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2009, the Challenge helped 120 schools to reduce aggregate carbon emissions by 2.5 million pounds, the equivalent of taking 220 cars off the road for one year.

The Challenge not only contributes to national carbon reduction but teaches children valuable lessons about lifestyle choices and energy conservation. Children are being encouraged to make signs reminding everyone to “turn off lights,” and “power down computers” while other students are being made “Climate Captains” to ensure that energy-saving practices are being implemented. Additionally, the program has created a Green Team of 5th grade students to make sure the school is meeting its goals. By putting such responsibility in the children’s hands, the Challenge teaches conscious living to preserve the environment as well as enhances their math and science skills as they compare weekly meter readings.

Growing green as certainly become a trend for PS 166. This is not the first green initiative the school has undertaken. Starting in November, it is now participating in a pilot Styrofoam tray recycling program funded by the Department of Sanitation, that will allow it to divert about 100,000 styrofoam trays each year from landfills to a designated recycling center. Additionally, the PTA is providing its classrooms with green cleaning supplies to reduce environmental and health impact. With some 132,600 schools in the U.S., one can quickly envision the positive impact that a national greening campaign could have on our youth.

For more information on PS 166’s green initiatives, visit the school’s website. To learn more about the Green Cup Challenge, click here.

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Urban Agriculture In A Shrinking City

Bryan Christie’s depiction of Hantz Farms.

In order to ameliorate the situation of diminishing population and the stunted economy of Detroit, multimillionaire John Hantz, of Hantz Financial Services, is proposing to invest $30 million to the cause of developing urban farming in Detroit. The agriculture to follow, to take form as pods or “lakes” of farms, is likely to assist in supporting in local businesses through supplying markets and restaurants with fresh produce, inciting tourism, and, ultimately, attract investors to the newly prospering land market.

The empty land, which can sustain three times the population it is currently housing, will be used to build large-scaled farms for profit. These modernized pastures will be tourist friendly, intended to be lakes around 300 acres large with room around it for future development from potential investors. Hantz hopes to attract sightseers with trellised system growing, in neat, compact lines, in contrast to the rural produce picking with which we have become accustomed. The initial crops will be lettuce and heirloom tomatoes based upon the soil compactness of the abandoned residential areas. Hantz Farms is designed to be visually stunning and utilize cutting edge technology. There are plans to implement compost heated greenhouses along with hydroponic and aeroponic systems to reduce cramping while increasing productivity within the given space. “Detroit could be the nation’s leading example of urban farming and become a destination for fresh, local and natural foods and become a major part of the green movement… Hantz Farms will transform this area into a viable, beautiful and sustainable area that will serve the community,” Hantz says.

Phase one of Hantz’s plan is to begin in the spring of 2010 with 50 to 70 acres on the east side of the city, to which the American Institute of Architects (AIA) deems “… particularly well suited to become a pioneer in urban agriculture at a commercial scale.” In the meantime, the farms will be using conventional farming techniques before perhaps going organic, which takes 3 years to attain certification. After receiving approval from the city officials, work would commence immediately and is hoped to be completed within six months.

Via the Huffington Post

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Solé Tiles: An Integrated Solar Solution For Clay Tile Roofing

Solé Power Tiles are electricity-generating “barrel-style” tiles which can be installed in an integrated way with US Tile’s traditional clay tile roofing. The Solé Power Tiles install like a standard tile with no penetrations into the tile itself. The benefit to the consumer or developer is that the solar components are not readily visible.

Solar energy is a renewable alternative to power plants that burn fossil fuels, finite resources that contribute to pollution, global warming, as well as the reliance on imports for our energy security. Photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight into electricity, powering everything from lamps to air conditioners in a residential or commercial building.

In PV systems, direct current (DC) electricity is produced. Appliances and machinery, however, operate on alternating current (AC). The DC energy produced by the panels is fed into an inverter that converts the DC power into AC power, which then feeds into the main electrical panel that powers a home or business. Any excess generation is fed back into the utility grid. Over a year, as a utility customer, your electricity bill is reduced by the energy you produce.

To learn more visit ustile.com and srsenergy.com.

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