• Sustainability Problem
  • Most high output batteries use lithium oxide which is very expensive. Can catch fire if punctured and loose energy capacity over time with use.

• Summary of Power Japan Plus Technology
  • Uses organic cotton as its secret ingredient.
  • Modifies the structure of the cotton’s fiber to create unique properties. The result is a Carbon Complex that form the anode and cathode with an organic electrolyte as the the conducting fluid.
  • The batteries operate at a steady temperature, meaning expensive cooling systems are not needed when they are packaged into battery packs for electric cars.
  • It can be charged and discharged thousands of times without losing its energy capacity.
  • Generates more power than a lithium battery and can charge 20 times as fast.

• Stakeholders:
  • Electric Car Developers
  • Electronic device producers
  • Engineers
  • Consumers

• Deployment
  • The company has built a pilot production line in Okinawa that will begin manufacturing 500 to 5,000 batteries a month later this year.
  • Plans to sell batteries for use in electronic devices but would collaborate with electric carmakers and license the technology to their battery makers, earning royalties and consulting fees.
• Sources
  • http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/the-organic-carbon-battery-from-japan-that-could-spawn-the-next-tesla/362112/
  • http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1092056_dual-carbon-battery-same-energy-density-safer-longer-life-than-lithium-ion-says-power-japan-plus

 

• Sustainability Problem
  • For some, solar panels are a status symbol; that’s why so many people put them on their homes instead of fixing air leaks or changing light bulbs. Others prefer quiet money, believing the old dictum that “if you’ve got it, don’t flaunt it.” For example, real slate roofs are about the most expensive you can buy, but they last almost forever and they are really beautiful. The last thing you are going to want to do is cover them up with photoelectric or solar thermal panels.
  • How can we take advantage of solar thermal and maintain esthetic looks?

 

• Summary of Thermoslate System
  • Being dark, a slate roof absorbs a lot of heat; being stone, it has good thermal mass and holds it for a while.
  • In the Thermoslate system, slate roof tiles are integrated with thermal cells that are ganged into solar thermal “batteries”.
  • These then supply hot water that can be used for domestic purposes or the inevitable swimming pool. It also might keep the interior of the space a bit cooler, taking heat away from the roof and moving it to the pool.
  • Can provide up to two-thirds of a home’s hot water needs annually. Other homes with Thermoslate rooftops are reducing energy consumption by as much as 85 percent annually.

 

• Stakeholders:
  • Historical Sites
  • General Contractors
  • Plumbing Contractors
  • Homeowners

 

• Deployment
  • Atome Architectes renovated a French farmhouse

 

• Sources
  • http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/solar-thermal-system-integrates-invisibly-slate-roof.html
  • http://inhabitat.com/trailblazing-slate-tiles-with-hidden-solar-thermal-reduce-energy-use-by-85/

• Sustainability Problem
  • Nearly 20-30% of water production by the utilities is lost before it is delivered to a customer’s meter. Inability to detect the leaks correctly often results in fixing of the wrong pipe than the right one.
  • Costs for repairing the faulty pipes increase when assessment of water mains with conventional equipment including acoustic sensors, data loggers, electro-magnetic sensors, and visual inspections, lead to inaccurate results.
• Summary of Electro Scan’s Multi Sensor Technology
  • Electro Scan’s technology integrates low voltage conductivity sensor, high definition camera, pressure sensor and acoustic sensor to offer accurate results. It can be used to check both pressurised and gravity water mains while the pipes stays operational.
  • Equipped with a neutrally buoyant fibre optic cable, the technology can be used to assess conditions in ‘up to 2,000ft (610m) of water main from a single point of entry, accessed through fire hydrants, air valves, flow meters, gate valves, and pressure fittings.’
  • “If a pipe leaks electricity, it leaks water. Now we can provide a reliable, repeatable, and measurable solution for the water industry, based on our proven technology already being deployed in the wastewater collection industry.”
•  Stakeholders:
  • Local Government
  • Utilities
  • Engineers
  • Water consumers
• Deployment
  • Electro Scan, Inc. announced its sponsorship of seven (7) statewide workshops on Water Leak Detection that begin this week in California.
  • EPA Enforcement Actions and New Wastewater Collection Inspection Standards Create Strong Demand for Electro Scan Sales & Contract Services Miami, FL – February 1, 2016 – Electro Scan Florida, LLC announced the opening of new headquarters in Miami, Florida to support growing equipment sales and contract services in the Sunshine State. Electro Scan
•  Sources
  • http://www.water-technology.net/news/newselectro-scan-unveils-leak-detection-technology-for-water-utilities-4668518
  • http://www.electroscan.com/news/

• Sustainability Problem
  • Flexible barrier packaging poses a unique recycling challenges due to the variety of materials generally used as part of its makeup. Being able to produce recyclable packaging with ingredients that ensure barrier protection, along with stiffness, toughness and sealability of the package has been unavailable leading to packaging waste to end up in landfills or incinerators.

• Summary of Dow Chemical’s RecycleReady Technolgy
  • Enables the recyclability of polyethylene-based barrier packaging as part of existing grocery store drop-off recycling programs.
  • Is a major advancement that enables the recycling of packaging for products like granola and nuts, which was not possible before in flexible packaging.
  • With the introduction of RecycleReady™ Technology, converters will now have the ability to produce recyclable packaging with ingredients that ensure barrier protection, along with stiffness, toughness and sealability of the package. These recyclable flexible pouches incorporate multiple layers, but use only polyethylene as the basic raw material.
  • The technology aims to divert packaging waste from landfill or incineration, increase post-consumer recycling yields and aid the creation of a circular economy for plastics packaging.

• Stakeholders:
  • Producers of food products that require flexible packaging.
  • Consumers
  • Environmentalist
  • The general population

• Deployment
  • The single-polymer pouch first hit the shelves as Tyson Foods frozen chicken packaging in Mexico in 2013, after a 15-month development period.
  • Seventh Generation adopted the packaging in June of this year for its dishwasher detergent pods.
  • Beyond Organic began packaging nutraceuticals in it in September.
  • Marketing to other potential producers.
• Sources

http://www.dow.com/news/press-releases/breakthrough%20dow%20technology%20enables%20recyclable%20flexible%20plastic%http://resource-recycling.com/node/6760

http://resource-recycling.com/node/6760

 

• Sustainability Problem
  • How to make the most of wind and solar power at times to suit the national usage and not just at the moment when the sun shines or the wind blows.

• Summary of Storelectric – Compressed Air Energy Storage
  • Jeff Draper’s company Storelectric is already partnering with PwC and is in advanced detailed discussions with Siemens, Balfour Beatty and Alstom to finalize the design of and prepare a standardized roll out facility which can handle power out-puts of 500MW – equivalent to a power station.
  • The system involves the storage of compressed air in salt caverns below the ground through a compressor and stored at about 30 times higher than tire pressure. A system which is self sealing and strong.
  • The renewable energy would be on tap for the national grid to be used whenever and wherever needed.
  • Compressed air, unlike natural gas, is said to be not likely to explode .

• Stakeholders:
  • Local Government
  • Utilities
  • Architects
  • Engineers
  • Residents

• Deployment
  • The European Union has awarded Storelectric with technical approval as a Project of Common Interest.
  • In talks to establish three test sites, in Cheshire, County Down and Fife.

• References

http://www.lep.co.uk/your-lancashire/how-to-make-the-most-of-wind-and-solar-power-1-7936163

http://www.modernpowersystems.com/features/featurestorelectric-aiming-to-breathe-new-life-into-caes-4816226/

http://www.storelectric.com

 

Sustainability Problem

• As the world’s population continues to shift from rural to urban areas even a mild interest in driving can create a traffic problem. In countries such as China, with over a billion people, this translates to hundreds of millions of cars clogging roadways.
• Emissions from all this traffic (in addition to the heavy manufacturing that goes on in China) has led to some of the worst pollution in the world.

 

Summary of Transit Explore Bus

• A Beijing company that is designing/testing track-based vehicles that are tall enough to let cars pass under, given they are under two meters tall.
• The bus is two traffic lanes wide and can travel up 60 km per hour and carry as many as 1,400 passengers.
• Has the same function as a subway, but costs only 16 percent of what a subway would cost and has a significantly shorter construction and manufacturing time.
• It is powered by electricity and could replace up to 40 conventional buses, potentially saving up 800 tons of fuel annually and preventing 2,480 tons of carbon emissions.

 

Stakeholders:

• Local Government
• Urban and City Planners
• Architects
• Engineers
• Commuters
• General population

 

 Deployment

• Full-scale model is currently being built in Changzhou, China and will be tested by August.
• Based on how the test model goes several cities in China have expressed interest in this project.

 

Resources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/05/24/straddling-bus-cars-china_n_10121112.html

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/straddling-bus-china/

http://www.techinsider.io/what-are-chinese-straddling-buses-2016-5