The Design Technology Blog

Category: sustainable

  • Plastic Bags

    Plastic shopping bags, carrier bags or plastic grocery bags are a type of shopping bag made from various kinds of plastic. In use by consumers worldwide since the 1960s, these bags are sometimes called single-use bags, referring to carrying items from a store to a home.. In recent decades, numerous countries have legislation restricting the sale of plastic bags, in a bid to reduce littering and pollution. Traditional plastic bags are usually made from polyethylene, which consists of long chains of ethylene monomers. Ethylene is derived from natural gas and petroleum. The polyethylene used in most plastic shopping bags is either low-density (resin identification code 4) or, more often, high-density. Color concentrates and other additives are often used to add tint to the plastic. Many ethical concerns arise concerning the plastic bag invention however. Firstly, it is not a biodegradable material meaning it could stay for millions of years in an ecosystem without decomposing. Nature cannot decompose it’s structure. This would become an obstacle in the sense that it could have long-lasting consequences. A way to reduce or eliminate the need for plastic bags is to bring your own cloth bags to the supermarket instead of using their plastic bags. Thus they would be losing money and their plastic bags would not make them any money.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_bag

  • Organic or Genetically Modified?

    Genetically modified food are foods that are derived from genetically modified organisms; products that contain specific changes to their original DNA. Organic products do not contain any genetic modifications. They are foods that are produced naturally without modern enhanced plantation methods such as the wide spread use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. A lot of controversy exists over the use of genetically modified products and over the years many people have returned to the fruits and vegetables that are produced using organic means. But what truly are the dangers associated with modifying food? Perhaps it has more benefits than weaknesses?

    The Old and the Healthy

    Organic food has always been thought to be the healthier alternative. Various pesticides have been identified by the EPA as cancer causing and dangerous for humans.  Organic products restrain from using such chemicals and as a result provide for a healthier lifestyle. Vegetables and fruits that are grown organically are able to sustain many of their natural nutritious values from minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. In the end, the toxic chemicals are not put out into our natural environment. Organic farming allows people to sustain harmony with the world we live in. Keeping our environment as it is is essential for its survival. But contrasting such benefits of an organic production are several negative sides to the whole “story”. Organic products are generally inefficiently produced and at a much slower rate than genetically modified ones.  Such inefficiency leads to increased costs of the organic crops and makes them more unattractive to the local customers. Such foods also have a shorter self-life. Genetically modified crops can last much longer after the harvest than organic foods.

    Leaps in Technology seem attractive

    Genetically modified foods however also pose as an attractive alternative. Farmers are able to grow crops that are resistant to pretty much everything. The local pests and rodents no longer pose any harm. Weeds need not be picked as they are tolerated by the crop. Different forms of bacteria or fungus can do nothing. Extreme environmental changes can be accepted by the crop without majorly affecting its quality. Whether it’s a drought or cold winter, the plant can continue growing. It is important however to keep in mind that genetically modified products do have a negative impact on the environment. Altering the natural existence of organisms (changing the DNA composition) can never have a positive result on the  surrounding ecosystem. The chemicals and pesticides kill and pollute the local plants and may also negatively affect the human digestive system.  It inevitably causes us to question what we are truly eating. Genetic engineering can truly alter a particular crop into something different.

    So…

    Whether organic or genetically modified, both routs have their benefits and disadvantages. However I believe that the question we need to ask ourselves is what we are trying to achieve. I reason that we are trying to receive a product that is of the best quality possible. The cost in most cases is irrelevant. We are entering a new era that promotes a sustainable lifestyle. Organic products are therefore a much better solution for all. They are a healthier choice for the us and our planet.

    Sources of Information

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food

    http://www.thcarson.co.uk/whyorganic.htm

    http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

    http://carthageagriculture.pbworks.com/w/page/15315791/Organic%20Farming%20Days%2024

    http://foodandorganic.com/disadvantages-of-organic-food.html

    http://wanttoknowit.com/disadvantages-of-genetically-modified-food/

  • Environmentally Friendly Toilets

    A Swedish company is selling dry toilets to help countries where water or sewerage systems are a concern. These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide.

    These toilets work by keeping the urine and the solid waste separate and using the second to create manure for farms. So far, the company has sold about 2,000 dry toilets, but the demand is growing worldwide. Read more…

    Here are some short excerpts from the India News article.

    ‘Don’t mix, don’t flush, don’t waste’ is the slogan of a Swedish entrepreneur selling dry toilets – a revolutionary concept that not only saves water but also converts human waste into manure.

    Sven Ingvar-Nilsson, 77, has been successfully using the dry toilet design for the last 11 years at his massive farm on the outskirts of this small Swedish town. He says that the concept not only uses human waste but also saves a lot of water that is wasted every time you flush.

    The urine section is rinsed using approximately 0.1 litres of water each use. The urine is led to a tank where it is collected for further transport, preferable for spreading as fertilizer in garden or agriculture. Solids fall into a bin housed in an insulated container in which negative pressure is created by a fan and vent.

    The solid waste dries and thus bacteria and viruses are eliminated by a simple and reliable method. After a drying period of six months the solids can be composed, burned or dug down in the soil where it is quickly broken down. A standard bin (holding 80 litres) will need to be emptied every three months for normal family use.

  • Concentrated Solar Power

    Solar power has been around for a good amount of time now.  Solar panels are effective green sources of energy, but they don’t harness much power and they are very expensive.  The average house uses around 3.85 kw a day (http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/how-many-solar-panels-does-it-take-to-make-one-kilowatt.shtml) and you need around 5 panels to generate this power which cost around 280 dollars each according to (http://www.dmsolar.com/solar-module-1.html).  This may not seem too expensive, but if you consider powering thousands of houses through one solar plant then the space needed and the amount of panels needed increases.  With the increased panels comes an increased cost and it just isn’t practical considering the amount of power that comes from other sources of power.  However, concentrated sun power does require space, but cuts costs because it uses mirriors instead of a vast amount of panels to direct beams of sunlight to a central sun tower.  This slashes costs and utilizes the power of the sun more efficiently.

    CSP (Concentrated Solar Power) creates power from a steam turbine usually.  The directed sunlight is converted to heat energy which allows a heat engine to spin a steam turbine.  According to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_solar_power) a typical concentrated solar plant can produce power at about $2.50-$4.00 per watt.  Therefore a typical plant producing around 250 megawatts costs around $600 million to $1 billion dollars to manufacture.  This for of power is a competitor for the transition from fossil fuel for multiple reasons.  One is that the power from the sun is free and unlimited if the plant is placed in strategic areas.  Another comparison that wikipedia mentions is that CSP plants can produce “12 to 18 cents per kilowatt-hour” which can be compared to a nuclear plant in Arizona which produce “1.65 cents per kilowatt-hour.”  The nuclear plant still more efficiently produces power, but the solar plant can be judged as a competitor in the green power category.  With continued advancement in CSP it could be possible to make them even more efficient and less expensive, but they are still much more valuable than the typical solar plant that doesn’t concentrate the sun’s power.

    Concentrated Solar power can be the wave of the future in the power industry.  All that need to be done is that it must become cheaper and more cost effect.  CSP is starting to pave the way to this much needed improvement to allow for the complete harnessing of the suns power and true renewable energy.

    Sources:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentrated_solar_power

    http://www.dmsolar.com/solar-module-1.html

    http://www.solarpoweristhefuture.com/how-many-solar-panels-does-it-take-to-make-one-kilowatt.shtml

    Image soure: http://blog.hasslberger.com/img/concentrated-solar-power.jpg

  • Factor 10 House, Chicago

    Factor 10 House Chicago

    The Factor 10 House, designed in 2003, gets its name from its philosophy. The designer, Marc L’Italien, claims that the structure consumes one-tenth of the environmental resources. In other words, it minimises the ecological footprint by a “factor of 10.”

    The designer had the following initial goals in mind:
    – The occupant’s health
    – Efficiency of the energy
    – Efficiency of the resources
    – Environmental responsibility
    – Affordability

    Primary four features include:

    – Size reduction
    – Improved efficiency
    – Extended life span
    – Impact reduction
    Using these four strategies, the F10 house is a long awaited solution to the issue of buildings. They consume 42% of all energy, 30% of all raw materials and create 40% of all air pollution. Factor 10 house not only reduces the environmental impact but also decrease living expenses.

    F10 House demonstrates to the general public that sustainable design doesn’t have to look any different than traditional housing. It also motivates surrounding neighbourhood citizens to make improvements to their own homes.
    (more…)

  • Plastics used to make cars

    Bend New Materials into Futuristic Shapes

    New materials for car bodies may soon transform the auto industry. Auto engineers can mold these carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics into virtually any shape. The materials are both strong and light which increasies fuel efficiency and safety at the same time. Cars built entirely out of plastic could be the wave of the future, making metal a thing of the past when it comes to cars.

    New, innovative cars made almost entirely of plastic are paving the way for what you may be driving in the future.

    A mechanical engineer at Porsche Engineering Services in Troy, Mich., says, “With plastics you can design cars which are very bold, and that gives you an advantage to sell nicer cars.”

    Plastics have gained a lot of ground over traditional metals used in cars, making it possible to build almost an entire vehicle completely of non-metal material.

    Mechanical engineers use a lightweight, high-strength aerospace material called carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic. It’s used in the doors, hoods, fenders, chasis and also in support frames for the engine and transmission. You can mold the plastics into very complicated shapes that maybe you can’t do in steel, plastics help cars lose weight to go farther on fuel.

    New materials, like plastic, are usually tested on high-end vehicles first. Once the materials are proven to be more efficient and cost effective, they eventually filter down to affordable consumer vehicles.

    BACKGROUND:

    Student designers at the College for Creative Studies are creating new plastic polymer materials as alternatives for automobile elements typically made of steel. The designs were part of a semester-long project and the automotive division of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

    ADVANTAGES:

    Among other advantages, plastics can significantly reduce the weight of a vehicle, improving fuel efficiency by reducing drag, and also cutting down on emissions. Because plastic can be more easily molded, components can be tailored for more comfortable human-ergonomic features, as well as more streamlined, aerodynamic shapes. Less material can be used than with steel components and the durability of plastics results in a longer, more reliable vehicle lifetime.

    SOURCES:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber-reinforced_polymer

    http://www.azom.com/Details.asp?ArticleID=1662

    http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/09/08/9153976/plastics-use-in-cars-rises-as-emissions-laws-get-tough.html

    http://news.softpedia.com/news/New-Materials-Boost-Hydrogen-Cars-039-Efficiency-54358.shtml

  • Treehugger

    In Treehugger’s own words …  “TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. We publish an up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly radio interviews, and regularly updated Twitter and Facebook pages.”

    Treehugger is divided into three areas of  ‘getting informed’, ‘interact’ and ‘take action’ which include extensive sub – categories.

    http://www.treehugger.com/best-of-green/