Author: Timothy Wiranata

A greenhouse that lets you produce crops and electricity simultaneously

Timothy Wiranata1 Comment
  1. Sustainability Problem: Food production will continue to be an exigent issue tied with population growth. The development of greenhouses has been revolutionary, but they are expensive to install and operate. Soliculture provides a sustainable solution that creates clean energy and optimizes growing practices.
  2. The LUMO technology commercialized by Soliculture and Solaria Corporation utilizes the Wavelength-Selective Photovoltaic Systems (WSPVs) to enhance light quality by converting green light to red light. The optimized light spectrum enhances power production from the solar panels and facilitates plant growth. Other features are as follows:
    • Reduces capital cost of installation – from solar energy incentives and grants
    • Offsets electricity bill with sustainable solar energy production
    • No harm on plants and energy production – positive effects on plant growth
    • Land use efficiency – co-producing crops and electricity
    • Energy monitoring with user-friendly online software

Sources:

Soliculture | Innovative Technology

http://www.soliculture.com/

This solar greenhouse could change the way we eat | UCSC NewsCenter

https://news.ucsc.edu/2016/05/solar-greenhouse.html

Solar greenhouses generate electricity and grow crops at the same time, UC Santa Cruz study reveals | UCSC NewsCenter

https://news.ucsc.edu/2017/11/loik-greenhouse.html

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Citizens around the world
    • Urban farms
    • Agriculture industry
    • Energy Markets
    • Energy Industry
    • Building contractors and architects
    • Groceries and supermarkets
  2. Next steps:
    • Do a feasibility study and engage with stakeholders to improve relations
    • Reach an agreement on costs and economic outlook
    • Initiate pilot-scale project through government funding

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

Comment on Conserving water, one shower at a time.:

“This is an innovative technology that building contractors should really think about when equipping shower heads in accommodation units. The technology does not only saves water but also saves money through savings on water/utility bill. The website even has a feature to count your annual savings!”

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Nature-inspired water collection system

Timothy Wiranata1 Comment

AquaWeb+inspirationsystem-aquaweb

  1. Sustainability Problem: In the next few decades, approximately 9 billion people will live in this planet, concentrating in urban areas. The current growth rate of food production won’t be enough to feed the mouths of everyone. Hence, a sustainable local food production solution will be in demand. Mimicking the way nature works, NexLoop created a water collection system to support urban sustainable agriculture.
  2. The AquaWeb can help urban local food producers collect, filter, store and distribute atmospheric moisture with a modular, all-in-one water sourcing and management system. Other features are as follows:
    • Harnesses freely available rain and fog
    • Distribute water using passive strategies to urban farms
    • Resilient to disturbances
    • Design and inspiration from cribellate orb weaver spider, drought-tolerant plants, and Jersey cow mushroom

Sources:

Nature-inspired water collection system wins $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize® – Biomimicry Institute

https://biomimicry.org/roh2017winner/

NexLoop | Home

http://www.nexloop.us/

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Citizens around the world
    • Urban farms
    • Agriculture industry
    • Building contractors and architects
    • Groceries and supermarkets
  2. Next steps:
    • Do a feasibility study and engage with stakeholders to improve relations
    • Reach an agreement on costs and economic outlook
    • Initiate pilot-scale project through government funding

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

 

Comment on The benefits of waste-to-energy technologies:

“A very interesting technology! However, I am curious on what will be done after the methane is captured. There will still be the liquid waste water right? Will it be used for other applications?”

Solar-powered Vertical City is a self-sustaining, green-infused tower planted into the ocean floor

Timothy Wiranata1 Comment
  1. Sustainability Problem: With rising sea levels and the ever-increasing population growth, alternative living solutions are in dire need. Italian architect Luca Curci has just unveiled a design that envisions a soaring zero-energy tower infused with greenery on each level that will be planted into the sea floor, resulting in what could be the future of self-contained architecture.
  2. The Vertical City tower is designed to reach a height of 2,460 feet with 180 floors. The tower will be layered with a membrane of photovoltaic glass to ensure there is sufficient energy for the entire building. Other features are as follows:
    • 190,000 square feet of mixed-use floor surface
    • Natural lighting due to perforated slots throughout the exterior
    • 66,000 feet of outdoor green space
    • Access possible through water, land or air

Sources:

Solar Vertical City is a self-contained, green-infused tower planted into the ocean floor| Inhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building

https://inhabitat.com/luca-curci-envisions-a-living-vertical-city-powered-by-the-sun/

Vertical City | Luca Curci Achitects

http://www.lucacurci.com/portfolio/vertical-city.html

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Citizens around the world
    • The Gulf countries
    • Global and Local government
    • Building contractors and architects
    • Engineers
  2. Next steps:
    • Do a feasibility study and engage with stakeholders to improve relations
    • Reach an agreement on costs and economic outlook
    • Initiate the project or decrease scale of project (if denied by government)

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

Comment on OLLI – the self-driving electric mini bus:

“A very innovative idea! However, my concern is, how would Olli cater to many different passengers’ destinations? Will it be able to find the most optimal route to drop each passenger (like Via)? Or will it drop the passengers one by one according to when they stepped into the bus?”

 

Replacing the conventional small-format plastic packaging with edible and biodegradable material (seaweed)

Timothy WiranataLeave a comment
  1. Sustainability Problem: Reducing plastic waste is a dilemma. It is something that most consumers want to do but find it hard to do so. That is because plastic is readily available, cheap, convenient and durable. Now, an Indonesian-based startup has come up with a delicious and nutritious solution to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.
  2. Using seaweed as raw material, Evoware was able to come up with an eco-solution for problems concerning plastic waste. Evoware’s bioplastic products are eco-friendly, biodegradable and even edible and healthy for human beings. This will not just impact the environment but also for the livelihood of Indonesia’s seaweed farmers. Some benefits of bioplastics:
    • Food that works as flexible packaging
    • Has the same function as plastic packaging, plus it dissolves in warm water & is biodegradable
    • Shelf life: 2 years, without preservatives
    • Contains high fiber, vitamins and minerals
    • Maintains shore cleanliness
    • Improve seaweed farmer’s wellbeing and income

Sources:

Indonesian company Evoware makes edible seaweed packaging | Daily Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4969030/Indonesian-company-Evoware-makes-edible-seaweed-packaging.html

Evoware Hopes to Reduce Plastic Waste With Edible Seaweed Wrappers and Ello Jello Cups | Dogo News

https://www.dogonews.com/2017/10/8/evoware-hopes-to-reduce-plastic-waste-with-edible-seaweed-wrappers-and-ello-jello-cups

Ecolution for your future | Evoware

http://www.evoware.id/

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Retailers
    • Fast food chains
    • Hospitality industries
    • Food & Beverage industries
    • Consumers all over the world
    • Waste Management Facilities
  2. Next steps:
    • Invest more on advertising and outreach
    • Engage with multiple stakeholders to start a movement
    • Innovate further by introducing new products/alternatives and concepts

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

Comment on World’s first “negative emissions” plant :

“A very innovative technology indeed. Again, such ideas will always stumble upon large cost and scalability. And the fact that it needs a carbon-neutral plant to build upon means that it still needs further research since many power plants around the world are still not carbon-neutral.”

 

Bladeless wind turbines for the future

Timothy Wiranata2 Comments

  1. Sustainability Problem: Alternative energy is already being incorporated into the world’s energy mix. However, many people are still unsatisfied by its performance. A major problem is the balance between cost and efficiency. So, what can we do to address that?

  2. Vortex offers a less intrusive and more efficient wind turbine design by incorporating the scientific principles of natural frequency and vorticity. The turbine generates power by oscillating in swirling air caused by the wind bypassing the mast. Some advantages of this technology are:
    • Lower costs – no gears or bearings, reducing maintenance and manufacturing costs
    • Respectful of nature – no lubrication needed, noiseless, less carbon footprint
    • Accessibility – no energy and no training is required to operate
    • Scalability – lower height wind turbines available for micro power generation

Sources:

Vortex

http://www.vortexbladeless.com/

Can bladeless wind turbines mute opposition? | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jun/01/can-bladeless-wind-turbines-mute-opposition

The future of wind turbines could be bladeless | CNBC

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/29/the-future-of-wind-turbines-could-be-bladeless.html

Vortex .Bladeless Wind Generator.

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Energy players
    • Wind energy market
    • Financial Industry
    • Technology Industry
    • Utility companies
    • Consumers all over the world
  2. Next steps:
    • Demonstrate feasibility by conducting field tests for micro and macro scale power generation
    • Introduce this innovative technology to the market by establishing partnerships and investing in outreach
    • Quickly and efficiently scale up the solution to a mass market

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

 

Comments on Improving access to medical supplies with drones

“A very interesting concept indeed. I am hopeful that this will be the future of shopping, where drones deliver everything to our homes. However, the constraint right now is the drone technology itself. In cities with developed infrastructure, the drones will need to have a top-notch maneuvering ability to avoid buildings. Although your post is focused towards cities with less developed infrastructure, this can prove to be the next challenge.”

Zero emissions Hydrogen-based liquid fuel

Timothy Wiranata2 Comments
  1. Sustainability Problem: The energy mix is a significant problem that needs a quick resolution. The negative effects of greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel have been scorned for the past decade. Many experts agree that the complete shift to renewable energy needs to be completed soon.
  2. HySiLabs has developed a technology that maintains the advantages of a liquid fuel, without generating emissions. It consists of a hydrogen-based liquid fuel system that releases hydrogen on-demand and consumes it directly for a wide range of applications. Due to its stable liquid and non-explosive nature, the HySiLabs fuel is easily transported and stored at standard conditions while employing well-known liquid-handling logistics and already-existing infrastructure. H2 fuel is a better liquid fuel alternative by adding the following aspects:
    • Zero emissions: the only non-emissions-generating liquid hydrogen source that requires no energy input to produce hydrogen.
    • Safety: avoiding the need to store explosive gas by producing it on demand and as needed
    • Transportable: similar to the liquid transportation and storing logistic
    • Easy to use: liquids can be stored at room temperature and atmospheric pressure

Sources:

HySiLabs

http://hysilabs.com/fr/

HySiLabs | InnoEnergy – pioneering change in sustainable energy

http://www.innoenergy.com/venture/hysilabs/

HySiLabs, the fuel of the future that comes from the South | ENGIE Innovation

https://innovation.engie.com/en/news/news/hydrogen/hysilabs-the-fuel-of-the-future-that-comes-from-the-south/4875

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Energy players
    • Financial Industry
    • Technology Industry
    • Utility companies
    • Consumers all over the world
  2. Next steps:
    • Introduce this innovative technology to the market by establishing partnerships and investing in outreach
    • Quickly and efficiently scale up the solution to a mass market
    • Expand and strengthen the management team

By Timothy Wiranata

UNI: tw2618

Biodegradable Eco-bags

Timothy Wiranata6 Comments
  1. Sustainability Problem: Waste is a recurring problem that has persisted through decades of innovation towards unnatural manufacturing and processes. Delving deeper, plastic waste is a big issue because they do not degrade easily. It can take hundreds of years for plastic to break down. With an estimated worldwide consumption of 1 trillion plastic bags every year, a better solution is needed.
  2. AVANI Bio-Cassava Bag could be the solution:
    • 100% biodegradable, compostable and disposable – degrades within 90 days
    • Made from cassava starch and all-natural resins, 100% renewable – contains no conventional plastic
    • Safe for consumption – dissolves in lukewarm water
    • Can be recycled along with paper
    • Durable – look, feel and perform like plastic

Sources:

BIO-CASSAVA BAG | Avani Eco

http://www.avanieco.com/product/eco-bags

Plastic you can drink: A solution for pollution? | CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/16/world/cassava-plastic/index.html

Cassava carrier bags: Indonesian entrepreneur tackles plastic scourge

https://phys.org/news/2017-02-cassava-carrier-bags-indonesian-entrepreneur.html

#IAMNOTPLASTIC

  1. Stakeholders:
    • Supermarkets, grocery shops
    • Retailers
    • Hospitality industries
    • Food & Beverage industries
    • Consumers all over the world
    • Waste Management Facilities
  2. Next steps:
    • Invest more on advertising and outreach
    • Mass production could be a significant progress
    • Innovate further by introducing new products/alternatives and concepts

 

By: Timothy Wiranata

Columbia UNI: tw2618