Sustainability problem:

California is the most populous state in America. Where does it source its water? The Sierra Nevada’s snowpack and state reservoirs, accumulating water from precipitation.

In years of drought and exceedingly hot temperatures, water supply from the snowpack and reservoirs fall short. In such years, the state pulls from and depletes its aquifers for groundwater. California must save water and all citizens are encouraged to do so.

Technology:

Each citizen can play a role in conserving water, and this applies to the mundane daily shower. This is where Nebia comes in. Nebia is a start-up, back by Tim Cook and Eric Schmidt, providing a shower product capable of saving up to 70% in water in comparison to traditional showers of the same duration. The Spa Shower System, which is its first product, creates a cloud of mist by creating more droplets with less water, covering 10 times the surface of a traditional shower head. Yet, per the company, the technology does not compromise on comfort or efficiency, guaranteeing temperature and pressure.

Stakeholders:

• California residents
• Customers
• Investors
• Large institutions piloting the product
• Competitors

Development/Implementation:

Business development:

• Develop pilot projects with large institutions (currently working with Equinox, Apple, Google, Stanford University)
• B2B campaign: target large clients such as hospitality groups and residential real estate developers

Communication plan:

• Digital marketing push to encourage B2C sales
• Simultaneous PR campaign
• Develop presence and buzz tech and water management conferences

Operations:

• Land first large business partner then expand operations
• Scalability is compromised by high cost

Sources:

https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-02/documents/ws-ourwater-california-state-fact-sheet.pdf

http://www.businessinsider.com/nebia-shower-head-launches-2017-10

https://nebia.com

Comment on ‘A Pill that won’t let you forget to take it’

I see value of this technology, beyond application for Alzheimer patients. High risk patients after hospital discharge often require a strict and precise dosage of medication post-surgery. If patients do not follow the regimen, it can lead to readmission to the ER. I see this as a sustainable option for both patients and ER services.

https://makeasmartcity.com/2017/11/21/a-pill-that-wont-let-you-forget-to-take-it/

Prior weeks’ comments:

Week 1 (9/21): See comment here  https://makeasmartcity.com/2017/09/21/cut-food-waste-boost-kitchen-profits/#comments

Week 2 (9/28): Comment on ‘Smart Cities empowered by Blockchain

I also wrote about blockchain’s potential in my post for this week, in the context of IBM providing Blockchain technology to its food retailer customers for increased food security. This is exciting, given the many applications. I am particularly interested in its application for the fashion industry. As large fashion conglomerates are trying to clean up their supply chain and provide more transparency to the consumer, this technology will surely be a crucial mechanism.

https://makeasmartcity.com/2017/10/06/smart-cities-empowered-by-blockchain-bt2443/

Week 3 (10/5): Comment on ‘New Textile Technology Makes Leather Alternative from Discarded Pineapple Leaves’

This week, I also wrote about alternative leather sources. Modern Meadow bioengineers real leather from producing collagen from fermenting a specific strain of yeast. In my opinion, faux-leather is not as strong of an alternative as fashion and luxury companies do not want to compromise on quality and mentalities are unlikely to change overnight. What I like about Modern Meadow, if scalable, is that it could present a true alternative combatting animal cruelty, without compromising the sustained growth of retailers. What remains to be seen is whether Modern Meadow is less GHG intensive than sourcing real leather from animal skin.

https://makeasmartcity.com/category/fall-2017-week-3-week-of-102/

Week 4 (10/12): Comment on ‘Long Lasting Produce!’

When reading about these ‘Hazel’ technology, the first thing that comes to mind is ‘why is this not being used everywhere’? Is it cost, or simply that the word has not gone out yet? I would love to know more about cost of this product and discuss with companies such as Driscolls for example. In any case, this technology so far looks like a win-win.

https://makeasmartcity.com/category/fall-2017-week-4-week-of-109/page/2/

Week 5 (10/19): Comment on ‘Turning Climate Pollution into Fish Feed’

In one of my posts, I also discuss fish feed, its implications for sustainable farming and environmental challenges (ocean depletion). In researching, sustainable fish farming, I explored the topic in further depth: overfishing is not simply an issue of direct consumption but also of fish feed, as you explain in your post. This makes technologies like this one and Entocycle very relevant in solving this sustainability problem. I wonder, though, whether research is comprehensive on ensuring that Novo Nutrient is safe for humans consuming the fish it feeds.

 

 

 

 

 

Sustainability problem:

Good health and well-being is the third Sustainable Development Goal as outlined by the United Nations in 2015. In the United States, life expectancy remains far behind that of other developed countries. Yet, the US is spending way more per capita on medical treatment. In addition, life expectancy in US cities varies dramatically from zip codes to zip code, per median household income. Cleary, we are challenged by inefficiency and access: communities are not receiving the appropriate care they need.

Technology:

City Block is a start-up within Sidewalk Labs, Google’s parent company’s urban innovation group. It focuses on providing healthcare to low income communities in urban areas, by leveraging technology to better customize care and follow-up with each patient. Through its Neighborhood Health Hubs set up in targeted neighborhoods, City Block plans to provide hyper localized care by trained providers and connect patients and care professionals through their proprietary digital platform, Commons. Hubs will provide treatments for depression, substance-use disorders, anxiety, and others, including serious mental. Healthcare innovation has typically only reached high income communities. By contrast, City is partnering with Medicaid for coverage.

Stakeholders:

• Sidewalk Labs
• Target low-income communities
• Medicaid
• Healthcare providers

Development/Implementation:

• Roll-out of first clinic in NYC in 2018
  • Finalize and test proprietary data management and communication platform
  • Complete development of care offering and processes
  • Hire and train community health workers
  • Partner with Medicaid for coverage
  • Customer acquisition campaign
• Expansion to other locations in NYC and other US cities

Sources:

https://www.sidewalklabs.com/blog/announcing-cityblock-bringing-a-new-approach-to-urban-health-one-block-at-a-time/

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-health-care-spending/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/03/08/this-chart-is-a-powerful-indictment-of-our-current-healthcare-system/?utm_term=.11bcb593df66

https://www.athenahealth.com/insight/zip-code-might-key-health

Comment:

https://makeasmartcity.com/2017/11/02/new-textile-technology-makes-leather-alternative-from-discarded-pineapple-leaves/

I enjoyed learning about this leather alternative from pineapple leaves. I’m very interested in fashion tech and especially new textile technologies to address animal welfare and environmental issues. This reminds me of Modern Meadow, a technology company growing leather derived from collagen, the same animal protein found in animal skin.

Sustainability problem:

Global livestock farming generates 7.1  gigatons of CO2 annually, which represents 15% of human induced GHG emissions.

To top it off, our global population is fast increasing (10 billion by 2050), and so is our meat consumption (+ 4.5% by 2024).

At this rate, it is evident that our GHG emissions from livestock farming are only going to increase at accelerating speed.

Technology:

Lab-grown meat. There are studies showing that lab grown meat’s carbon footprint is less intensive than slaughtered meat’s.

Currently, fetal serum is taken from unborn calves to grow muscle tissue. The current technology produces about a pound of meat for $9,000.

Stakeholders:

• alternative meat producers
• investors
• livestock farms meat producers
• slaughterhouses
• consumers
• government

Development/Implementation:

• Improve technology to reduce the cost of production
• Launch consumer product
• Elaborate communications campaign and educational programs
• Partner with food suppliers and retailers

Sources:

http://www.memphismeats.com

https://www.wsj.com/articles/startup-to-serve-up-chicken-strips-cultivated-from-cells-in-lab-1489570202

https://gizmodo.com/behind-the-hype-of-lab-grown-meat-1797383294

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311914608911

Additional thoughts:

This technology could revolutionize the way we consume and feed ourselves. Currently though, the only proved advantage is related to animal welfare. Although there are some studies showing a lower associated GHG footprint than with traditional meat, more research needs to be done. Finally, product cost remains astronomical and scaling strategy unknown.

Comment on post ‘Not a Plastic Bag’: This is a very promising technology. I would say that part of the current problem associated with alternative plastic bags is the lack of clarity to the consumer. Are they actually more sustainable? If so, which ones are best amongst the many options? This is a case where consumers need to be better informed in order to actually put pressure on retailers to adopt such technologies and create systemic change.

Sustainability problem:

Food waste is both a critical environmental issue and an economic challenge.

Some keys facts to consider:

• $218 billion is spent annually in the US to grow, process, transport, and dispose 52 million tons of food that is never eaten!
• Food waste consumes 21% of all freshwater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Technology:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Spoiler Alert is a software company founded by two MIT Sloan graduates to help organizations manage and track unsold inventory.
• Spoiler Alert’s online management platform creates secondary markets to sell remaining inventory to discount buyers or connect with/donate to NGOs.
• It allows companies to generate new revenue and tax benefits, as well as minimize waste costs by reducing food surplus.

Stakeholders:

• Farms
• Food businesses
• NGOs
• Civil society impacted by GHG emissions and climate change
• Local government
• Waste management facilities

Development/Implementation:

• Organizations such as farms, food businesses and NGOs must acquire and install the technology.
• Integrate or sync the technology with existing inventory management systems.
• Train employees on the use of the software.
• Increase awareness of the tool: the success of the secondary marketplaces depend on scale.

Sources:

1. http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/matt_greenstein/how_right_kpis_can_help_eliminate_food_loss_waste?utm_source=email&utm_medium=community&utm_content=title&utm_campaign=sbnews201732&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWTJFMk5tUmhOekkxWkdKaCIsInQiOiIwSlh1bTc2RHpSREhwOFQxbkJ4YVM1Ump1M3JWTmtQcmVoUmpDVTh5YVlHdFh5Z0ZjSTFrZTJsMUhzQ0tzekFuV3NxQTcycEVBWTZQUkVWdFwvYVB6b1ZDT2o0eHl3OEJSclJmdkZmK1lwM2VSbFZPZ3RyTVJzekFvWUhlc2hhYVwvIn0%3D
2. http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/business_models/hannah_furlong/spoiler_alert_can_app_close_food_waste_loop
3. https://www.spoileralert.com
4. http://blog.spoileralert.com/environmental-impact-of-food-waste

 

UNI: amr2184