Sustainability is becoming the norm

Was watching Bloomberg TV this morning and saw Hybrid and Electric Cars being showcased inthe recent North American AutoShow. Sustainable technology is becoming embedded in all cars nowadays. The idea of getting more mileage out of an electric car is no longer a fantasy, we'll be looking at 50 to 60 miles to the gallon by 2020. In order to be more competitive, more car manufacturers are adopting "green" features into their mass market vehicles. Its a similar situation for air and rail industry, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 are more fuel efficient per passenger than a Toyota Prius. The modern train is 10 times more fuel efficient  of the Prius, travelling at higher speeds comfortably. The transportation industry is undergoing a change (positive) to develop more fuel efficient modes of transport.

Germany is heading most countries in developing electricity from renewable energy sources, a whopping 35% by 2020. China is increasingly worried about their air pollution situation, hence they have increased their renewable energy target this year to 49GW. Just a few months ago, China announced they are cooperating with Germany on energy policy, industrial collaboration and city wide renewable systems.  

Other industries are also integrating energy and emissions efficiency into their day-to-day operation with reduced cost, enhanced innovation and competitive advantage. In the last decade or so, industrial energy efficiency improvements have globally outpaced those of transportation, utilities and buildings. It is about time, all industry sectors ask the big Sustainability question not only within their corporate structure but also with their customers, suppliers, delivery chains and competitors. It is time to adopt green energy into their baseline design, manufacturing and delivery of products. 

Failure is not an option. Any company that falls behind will inevitably lose the edge and competitiveness against others who do. Germany is one such country to look up to, their green technology sector is going to be 15% of GDP, employing 4 million people by the year 2020. I urge more countries to have an aggressive policy to push the industry towards adopting sustainable technologies until it becomes the norm. 

Future uses of silk

Silk Material Science

I came across this field of Silk material science a few weeks ago. When i read the articles and reports on some of the amazing stuff coming from TUFTS University, i had to share it with the world.

The main person behind this research:

Background
Fiorenzo Omenetto is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and leads the laboratory for Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics and Biophotonics at Tufts University and also holds an appointment in the Department of Physics. Formerly a J. Robert Oppenheimer Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining Tufts, his research is focused on interdisciplinary themes that span nonlinear optics, nanostructured materials (such as photonic crystals and photonic crystal fibers), optofluidics and biopolymer based photonics. He has published over 100 papers and peer-review contributions across these various disciplines.

Since moving to Tufts at the end of 2005, he has proposed and pioneered (with David Kaplan) the use of silk as a material platform for photonics, optoelectronics and high-technology applications. This new research platform has recently been featured in MIT's Technology Review as one of the 2010 "top ten technologies likely to change the world."

Read more about his research by clicking the link here. They are specifically interested in engineered and biomimetic optical materials (such as photonic crystals and photonic crystal fibers) and novel/unconventional organic, sustainable optical materials for photonics and optoelectronics.

In particular, there is close collaboration with their own biopolymer expert, they have pioneered silk optics and are re-inventing silk as a green material for photonics and high technology applications.

TED Talks video

The video below shows Fiorenzo Omenetto  who shares 20+ astonishing new uses for silk, one of nature's most elegant materials -- in transmitting light, improving sustainability, adding strength and making medical leaps and bounds. On stage, he shows a few intriguing items made of the versatile stuff.

I think we have a promising future ahead of us, we need to spend more effort and time into research that could revolutionize the world we live in. Tell me what you think?

Biofuel Part IV - Sustainability Issues

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES

http://www.rodomotion.com/2010/08/20/52/

When we are dealing with sustainability there are three common areas that to be discussed namely social, economic and environmental. The diagram above clearly represents the three parts of sustainability, with a brief description of each. Also observe how they overlap and depend on each other to some extent. Sustainability is actually a complex issue hidden by its apparent simplicity.

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC ISSUES

The industrial revolution in UK and USA and rest of the world has changed our social structure and standards of living for the better(mostly). The changing of energy source has a great impact on people’s lives and social behaviour. For example during the industrial revolution, coal was the primary fuel used to provide towngas to power street lights and power most of modes of transport. There is a historic relationship between coal mining and the development of industrialized countries today.

Non-industrialised countries however does not have this progressive stages as they jumped into relatively cheap oil being available in the 1950s which also happens to be the same time many countries obtained independence from colonialism. The world has since moved on from coal to petroleum based fuels which may not be much cleaner but it has made cheap fuel available to the average car owner leading to great changes in lifestyle[1].

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

The production of biofuels could unintentionally lead to negative environmental and social impacts. Potential competition with food crops may lead to increased commodity prices and increased demand for land may lead directly to deforestation to make way for new plantations. Biofuel production are also associated with social concerns such as labour rights, land conflicts and health concerns related to improper use of agrochemicals. Looking on the bright side of it, biofuel demand can create local economic benefits and bring about employment opportunities[2].

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Agriculture & Forestry

Production of biomass to be used to convert to energy is closely related with wider policies and practices for agriculture and forestry. The main consideration with such use is to make sure it is ecologically sustainable. It has to be renewable source of energy which means areas cleared to be used must be regrown later on. Biomass production for energy must not be at the expense of growing enough food to feed the world population which is only ethical[3].

We also have European Union and the USA facing problems with agriculture such as over-production of food, which is actively, encouraged by agriculture 1 subsidies. Such subsidies increase general taxes and the resulting surpluses affect world trade to the advantage of developing countries. In order to solve this problem, the European Union set aside land to maintain it unproductively or for growing biomass for energy. Such policies uphold the social benefits of an economically active rural population while at the same time bring environmental benefits by substituting biofuels for fossil fuels.

A major byproduct of agriculture and forestry is the waste biomass that is just thrown away but second generation biofuel technology can be used to convert these waste cellulosic biomass into useful bioethanol. The undesirable outputs of agriculture such as manure from intensive piggeries or farm animals can be biodigested to produce syngas bringing economic and environmental benefits for the rural population. Successful biofuel production facilities can utilize concentrated flows of biomass such as sawdust from sawmilling, straw from crops, and manure from penned animals and sewage from municipal works.

Developments in energy conversion from local crops are most likely going to be socially acceptable at the same time biomass used to replace fossil fuel use will bring about greenhouse gas benefits. Therefore it is desirable to achieve sustainable agriculture and forestry[4]. However greenhouse gas benefits of biofuel will depend on the system of cultivation, processing and transportation of feedstock.

Pollution

Biofuels fall under the renewable energy category as it is extracted from the flow of energy which already exists in the environment. The energy is then returned to the environment as it burns very efficiently producing nothing more than carbon dioxide and water. Minimum amount of air, water, thermal pollution may occur from material and chemical aspects but it is still in favour over fossil and nuclear fuels[5].

OTHER RELATED ISSUES

Food vs. Fuel debate

This is very appropriate

The main problem associated with first generation biofuel technology is the usage of food crops for the production of biofuels. It can be seen from history that liquid biofuels have been based on biomass obtained from grain, sugar and oil crops which are all important food crops, generally grown on the most fertile agricultural land available[6].

World population increases every year which means more food has to be produced to feed the increased population, those displaced by wars and those are just too poor to feed themselves. It is ironic because in European countries and the USA every year there are crop production surpluses going to waste while in some developing countries where people are starving, crops are exported out to developed countries for revenue. This is slightly out of topic and I am not trying to defend biofuel production but the reason why there is still a proportion of the world population starving everyday is because food is not efficiently distributed around the world.

However increasing worldwide demand for food indicates that these crops should not be diverted significantly for energy production, as we need to set our priorities right which is to eradicate world hunger. In order for biofuel production to be a major contributor to world energy supplies, the feedstock and land cannot be related to food. For example there is a need to push for a cheaper, more energy efficient process for producing bioethanol from easily available lignocellulosic materials such as corn stalks, straw, wood, sawdust and other woody residues rather than from food crops[7]. This will be widely accepted by everyone including the most cynical critique of biofuels.

Support for Biofuels

Bioethanol from corn...literally

There needs to be support from the public and governments of the world to bring biofuels to a whole new level and to reduce usage of fossil fuels. Biofuels industry has the potential to create over a million jobs in the US alone and add over $50 billion to the economy each year[8]. Governments can encourage the use of biofuels by having smaller tax on biofuels than on fossil fuels. This will not be useful if the amount of biofuel blended in the total fuel mix is small unless there is a mandatory requirement for all transport fuels to be sold with a certain percentage of biofuel. Policy changes towards biofuels should be encouraged such as introducing subsidies to producers of biofuel as part of the general agricultural subsidies[9].

 

CONCLUSION

The only constant in this world is change and the influence of modern science and technology will always ensure to older technology. It is hard to predict the long term effects of changing our energy supply but the sustainable nature of biofuels should be a great boon for the world in providing a better socio-economic stability[10]. The only way out of the current situation is to move forward and embrace biofuels technology.

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[1] Twidell J., Weir T., Weir A.D., Renewable Energy Resources (2006) Taylor and Francis (2006) Chapter 1.6 Social Implications

[2] Department of Transport – Carbon and Sustainability reporting within the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, Jan 2008 Section 2: Biofuels and the Environment pp 18. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/govrecrfa.pdf

[3], [4] Twidell J., Weir T., Weir A.D., Renewable Energy Resources (2006) Taylor and Francis (2006) Chapter 11.11.1 – Bioenergy in relation to agriculture and forestry: pp 389

[5], [6], [7] Twidell J., Weir T., Weir A.D., Renewable Energy Resources (2006) Taylor and Francis (2006) Chapter “ food vs. fuel”

[8] Tickell J., Roman K., Tickell K., From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank (2000) Biodiesel America, The Solution: Renewable Fuels pp 21

[9], [10] Twidell J., Weir T., Weir A.D., Renewable Energy Resources (2006) Taylor and Francis (2006) pp393 

Follow up with this four part series on BIOFUELS by clicking the link below:
Part I, Part II , Part III, Part IV

Green School in Bali

Introduction
When i first heard of this "Green School" idea in Bali, i was skeptical and i have reasons to back me up on this. But first lets look at the concept and the listen to what John Hardy has to say about his dream of building a green school at Ted Talks.

This is an introduction to Green School in Bali, founded by John and Cynthia Hardy. The school is a non-profit organization funded by the Sustainable Educational Trust. The eight-hectare campus features a rigorous curriculum with an environmental focus in an entrepreneurial context. International Baccalaureate (IB) program offered. The school will be accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS)

The Issue With School Fees & Local Effect

The school fees they are charging at his "Green School" is too much, none of the local balinese children can actually attend this school. How is it benefiting the local community? 

Here's what a teacher from South Korea has to say:

Actually, for an international school running a foreign curriculum, Green School is pretty cheap. The international school in South Korea where I work charges $30,000USD a year for tuition, and many people here can afford it; we're full to bursting. Our tuition is standard for the country, and I'd imagine that Green School's tuition is reflective of international school tuition fees in Indonesia. As for cost, offten the company for whom the parents work pay students' tuition as part of their benefits package.

A lot of people on this board who are criticizing the school for not taking local Balinese children don't understand what an international school is. International schools are generally intended for children of ex-pats who are already in the country anyway, not for local children. Perhaps it works differently in Bali, but in South Korea the Korean government doesn't allow international schools to accept locals. Nor can our students matriculate to Korean universities; they have to go overseas.

Honestly, the fact that he's aiming for even that many Balinese students is pretty impressive from an international school perspective. However, I will add that Green School does not have a good reputation among international educators or among the international school circuit in Indonesia.

I think for this concept to benefit the balinese, it must be replicable on a local scale because Bali belongs to the Balinese, no question. I would not be surprised if people come to this conclusion that there is alot of exploitation for personal profit, thinly disguised as social altruism.

One thing is clear in my mind, bali doesn't need any more rich expats who are going there to live a western lifestyle where it's cheap and easy. but if they want to go there, live in a bamboo house (and are prepared to maintain it over the years), shit in a compost toilet, grow your own food and survive on a local wage, take part in ceremony and uphold balinese tradition, then i have nothing for you but respect.

Education Is Key to Sustainability

Education is very important and the greater impact can be achieved with children who are taught sound practices. This man, John Hardy, after all the criticism he might get has made more of an impact, teaching over a hundred kids the importance of sustainable living, creating a community of green, nurturing people whose goal is to remove their carbon footprint as best they can.


I cannot stress how important education is without an example from my own observations. In most developing countries such as India or Bangladesh, cooking gas (LPG) is very cheap. Often maids or cooks are hired by people for do their daily chores. Sometimes one household will have 2 or even 3 maids for a relatively well-to-do family because labour is also very cheap. I have observed countless number of times these maids/cooks leave the stove running for hours even if they're not cooking. Such wasteful practice, but it is because they've never been to schools, or even if they have been to one, never really had proper civic/moral education. A proper education will give someone at least a moral obligation to try and not waste energy unnecessarily.

Back to the topic of Green school,  they talk about "educating the whole child," Certainly, getting mud between toes and building a school that looks like summer camp will make many kids appreciate the experience more. 


Is Green School just an idealistic one-off project?? I am convinced that ideas from Green School is transferable because of the major concepts behind it. LEED building principles award points for innovation and the core categories focus on the environmental results rather than the methods used to get there, but nonetheless as green building has gone mainstream. we’ve limited ourselves to a toolbox of best practices and variations on the same themes of renewable energy, water conservation, reuse and other elements. 

The psychological and health effects of this school I image are great, between the organic foods, lack of toxics and access to fresh air and daylight. Lessons taught in the school – organic gardening, taking responsibility, are among the most valuable effects the Green School will have on the future. One question remains in my mind – how were the resources gathered to build this, and how do we secure resources to do this on a large scale? 


Maybe it should be something like this? the new School of the Arts in Singapore

Biofuels Part I - Intro & History

INTRODUCTION

There is an ever increasing demand for oil and the world is already struggling with high prices, international insecurity and environmental anxiety as it tries to meet the current demands for oil. An alternative to petroleum based fuels is required to overcome all of these problems. The fascinating concept of turning biomass into a combustible fuel or biofuel has been around for a very long time but it has not received the attention it deserves mainly due to lower oil prices over half a century ago. However the time has come when it can no longer be swept below the carpet as we enter a new level of consciousness about our fuel consumption and awareness about the impact n the environment.   

This literature review is an attempt to merely address these issues regarding biofuel production, their usage and their impact on a global scale.

 

Figure 1-Burning fossil fuels releasing billions of tons of CO2

Figure 2 - Coal mining destroying the environment and natural beauty

HISTORY OF BIOFUELS

The fact must be acknowledged that biofuels technology has been researched and shown to be workable before the world plunged into the fuel crisis of the 1970s. Only after the fuel crisis a few decades ago which involved major oil producing countries cutting the supply of petroleum based products in order to drive the price of oil up by almost $40, that the world renewed its interest in alternative fuel technologies. This is good news for the environment because we can avoid scenes in the Middle East such as the picture shown below where natural gas is burnt off before crude oil can be extracted, creating so much pollution.

Figure 3 - Oil wells in the Middle East burning off natural gas

Nearly more than a century ago, in the Paris Exposition in 1900 the first successful use of biofuels was demonstrated in a diesel engine by Rudolf Diesel apparently operating on peanut oil[i]. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine showed interest in biofuels however the early history of biofuels has been presently inconsistently. It is only appropriate to include a statement made by Diesel in chapter called “Liquid Fuels” in his book Die Entstehung des Dieselmotors where he mentions the use of vegetable oils for fuel: “For [the] sake of completeness it needs to be mentioned that already in the year 1900 plant oils were used successfully in a diesel engine…a small diesel engine was operated on arachide (peanut) oil by the French Otto Company. It worked so well that the only a few insiders knew about this inconspicuous circumstance. The engine was built for petroleum and was used for the plant oil without any change. In this case also, the consumption experiments resulted in heat utilization identical to petroleum”[ii].

Diesel stated in later papers that the diesel engine was tested on peanut oil at the request of the French government and worked so smoothly that only a few people were aware of it. The engine was made to be used with mineral oil but it worked with vegetable oil without at changes to the engine. At that time, the French government wanted to test the use of peanut or earth-nut oil to power engines, which grows in abundant quantities in their African colonies. This can be cultivated on site and be used to provide power and industry from their own natural resources and not having to import coal or liquid fuel[iii]. Diesel continued his work in major cities such as St Petersburg, and London to show that vegetable oils work as efficiently as the natural mineral oils[iv].

However the world turned a blind eye to these new findings and continued to use mineral oil or petroleum based fuels to power their engines as this was cheaper at the time. As wars broke out throughout history, vegetable oils have still been used as emergency fuels for example during World War II, Brazil stopped exporting cottonseed oil so that it could replace the diesel oil imported from other countries and become self-reliant. Also during this time, researchers in India started researching on vegetable oils for the development of domestic fuels[v]. However the work on using vegetable oils as diesel fuel stopped when petroleum based diesel fuel became easily available at low cost.

In modern times, biofuel is produced from many different sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, used frying oil and biodegradable wastes. To determine which vegetable oil was used for biofuel production, geography, climate and economics were considered. For example, in the United States, soy bean was considered the prime feedstock as it was widely available and the excess unsold crops were processed and sold as biodiesel. While in tropical countries such as Malaysia, huge plots of land were cleared to grow palm trees to obtain palm oil. Throughout history different feedstocks were investigated these included palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, castor oil, non-vegetable sources such as industrial tallow and even fish oils[vi].

Over the last century, the world has become accustomed to petroleum based transportation fuels, lubricants and other useful products derived from fossil fuels. However in recent times, oil prices have been escalating ever since the 1970s fuel crisis and global climate has been changing drastically. Perhaps it is time to learn a few lessons from history and adopt the idea of biofuels for the benefit of humanity and to save the planet instead of taking the easiest and cheapest way out.

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[i] Knothe G, Jon Harlan Van Gerpen, Krahl J (2005) The Biodiesel handbook, AOCS Press, University of Michigan USA pp 2

[ii] Diesel, R., Die Entstehung des Dieselmotors, Verlag Von Julius Springer, Berlin, 1913 Chapter: Liquid fuels

[iii] Diesel, R., The Diesel Oil-Engine, Engineering 93: 395-406 (1912); Chem. Abstr. 6: 1984(1912)

[iv] Diesel, R., The Diesel Oil-Engine and its Industrial Importance particularly for Great Britain, Proc.Inst.Mech.Eng. 179-280 (1912); Chem. Abstr. 7: 1605 (1913)

[v] Chowhury, D.H., S.N. Mukerji, J.S. Aggarwal, and L.C. Verman, Indian Vegetable Fuel Oils for Diesel Engines, Gas Oil Power 37: 80–85 (1942); Chem. Abstr. 36:53309 (1942)

[vi] http://www.new-ag.info/06-6/focuson/focuson2.html

You can follow up on the series on BIOFUELS by clicking on the links below:
Part II , Part III, Part IV