The Green Frontier

Recycling

2012-02-08T22:30:00.000-08:00

In the quest for sustainability the most important concern is recycling.
Recycling comprises the collection and restructuring and conversion of various materials. Presumably one of the most important materials to be recycled is plastic. Plastics are found in different grades according to the different type of resin used in manufacturing. The most common types used in making recycled goods is the PET

(polyethylene terephthalate) which is primarily found in in soft drink bottles and similar containers. PET has a tougher chemistry is found to be useful in manufacturing although less difficult to process than tough PVC which is becoming more common enough in the recycling process. HDPE is much more common in recycling usage than any plasic--being used for plastic lumber, truck cargo liners, waste receptacles and much more. Unfortunately biopolymers, and materials like polyhydroxyalkanoate, and polylactic acid are not yet widely enough in usage to create a large enough industry to be beneficial economically although this is gradually changing with more companies making the choice to use biopolymers.

Another material that has recently begun to be recycled is carbon fiber which is used to make a variety of high tech and durable and lightweight materials. Carbon fiber is made of very thin fibers, which is actually more dense than steel.Previously it was an improbable recyclable, but it was discovered the fiber can be recycled by being shredded and then ground into granules. The recycled fiber is much cheaper than the new and will give advantages to companies who can manufacture using the recycled carbon fiber. Carbon fiber usually is made into sheet form or manufactured as a type of woven fabric.

Recently carbon fiber in the recycled form has been used for making heated garments which can also be used to remotely control nano technology like the ipod.

Paper products are the largest component of solid waste, waste paper is recovered and made into pulp which is used in making new product. Recycling paper saves a large amount of energy, it is estimated that using recycle saves 40% of energy compared to making paper from the new pulp. In addition a large amount of space is made available in landfills by recycling common items like newspapers and phone books. The paper is separated into different grades which are used for higher end products or lower end like newsprint depending on the grade.

New York City's solar power push

2011-08-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

New York City's solar power push

Earth Friendly Homes

2011-01-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

This home made from straw bales is solar heated and cooled. Energy efficient homes can be made from many different materials including natural and manmade materials.

Vetsch Architektur

Some are peaceful and grotto-like as this one displayed above by architect Peter Vetsch. In the quest for the peaceful modern home one may find themselves on the ultimate quest. Perhaps we may be looking for something almost spiritual or very modern. Homes can be made from materials the same as used by the ancients, adobe, the clay found in every part of the world, or built into the earth, as a part of the earth.

Architect Nader Khallili

Vetsch Architektur

This above is an example of an ancient Scottish home, built into the earth.

Below is an example of a rammed earth home built in the desert.

Prefab Straw Home

Making an existing home energy efficient and adding solar and thermal heating is a possible option also, with so many options for construction available. Green Roof construction is an example of something that can be done as a form of reconstruction to make a home more energy efficient.

Chicago City Hall, although not a home is certainly eco-friendly due to
green roof construction which is cheap and can be easy to maintain.

Like Chlorophyll: Enhancing the Solar Cell With Molecular Reaction of Porphyrins

2011-01-05T09:14:00.000-08:00

The solar cell technology as nanotechnology can be enhanced with the interaction of chlorophyll. This plant molecule which converts light into energy can be recreated in similar fashion in the lab as Porphyrins. The same reaction to create a reaction that releases energy would further enhance the solar panel and create more electricity than previous forms of solar panels.
http://apl.aip.org/resource/1/applab/v87/i12/p123102_s1?isAuthorized=no

Research using this self repairing solar cell nanotube technology shows how photochemical cells degrade or break down over time and this new technology allows the cells to regenerate.

Scientists develop self-repairing solar cell - Mimics natural process | TechEye

2011-01-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

Scientists develop self-repairing solar cell - Mimics natural process TechEye

What's Up With Climate Change And The Ozone Hole?

2009-11-28T13:18:00.000-08:00

What's Up With Climate Change And The Ozone Hole?

Climate change catastrophe took just months - Times Online

2009-11-18T05:54:00.000-08:00

Climate change catastrophe took just months - Times Online

The Shape of Biopolymers as Beauty and Structure

2009-08-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

The Shape of Biopolymers as Beauty and Structure
Shape ....Versatility....Function
The miracle of biopolymers has existed for the last 100 years. Safe and biodegradable with a multiplicity of uses and products biopolymers are made from plant material. Biopolymer is a material which can be processed from sugar, nucleic acids, polypeptides (protein) and with further processing can make a variety of different products including high tech materials. PLA or poly lactic acid is a thermoplastic made from corn starch or sugar cane and is used for a variety of packaging, materials, cups, waste disposal bags, coatings for paper materials as well as made for fibers for clothing. It provides an alternative to polystyrene plastics and polyethylene plastics which while in production release more toxins into the air and environment. One of the goals of sustainable production is production with less toxins and the biodegradability of the product. Biopolymers can be made strength and toughness to have a wide variety of uses and is comparable to traditional thermoplastic. Soypolyols made from soy resin produce thermosets, such as different types of foams, polyurethanes, and flexible foam from which different types of insulations, furniture padding and mattresses are made. Current automobile manufacturers are currently using soy foam in the new cars in production for the coming year. As the production of biopolymers increase the costs of production is lessened and can be considerably less to produce than comparable products. There is no product which can exist with no environmental impact but the pleasant alternative of these natural products is a good point for further development.

The Spectrum of Biocomposites

2009-08-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

The biocomposite industry has been evolving fairly rapidly over the last few years, in the advent of rising oil prices. Natural fiber composites are generally made from processing the fibers into a polymer pellet form. The bast plant/stem fibers being formed from kenaf, jute fairly rapidly over the hemp, Kenaf, Kudzu, flax and other fiberous plants. Non-bast fibers are made from corn, soy hulls, paper fiber, and wheat straw. For an example the resin polyhydroxy butyrate PHB combined with hemp is used to make a sturdy moldable wood like material.
Wood bioplastic composites are made with less cost and without deforestation. A more recent developed from recycled plastic and wheat uses less energy and costs less makes tough, durable fencing materials and similar decking materials with strength, durability and weather resistance. Composites create beautiful marble and granite like materials made from agriculture fiber, sunflower hulls and other assorted biomaterials. Industrial grade particle board is made from different biomaterials mixed with resins suitable for furniture making.
As an industry, biocomposites are distributed on the market in a variety of forms. The polymers i.e. plastic resins are used to make several types of biocomposite products. Bioplastics are becoming an important industry with the developing biocomposite blends. New production plants are currently being built to produce bioplastics and biocomposites here in the US as well around the world.

Photo Study Rainforests

2009-08-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

Scientists have found evidence indicating rainforests play a significant
role in climate change and temperatures on a global level. It is estimated
50% if the world's plants and animals are in rainforests. Rainforests range
around the world mostly formed from the melted water from glaciers and
snow melt. Rainforests are one of our most ancient resources and also
have played a vital role in providing wood pulp, rubber and other products
harvested from the trees. In recent times, effort is being made to preserve
rainforests which are disappearing too quickly due to modern logging techniques
as well as strip mining and other processes causing mass deforestation occurring
as fast as 6,000 acres an hour.

Sustainable Construction Materials

2009-08-29T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sustainable construction is advantageous to the environment due to less harmful impact from toxic waste and depletion of natural resources, particularly living resources like trees which are one of our most important legacies especially when enmassed in forest areas. Sustainable or green construction materials generally cost less especially as production increases. Green construction materials made from biocomposites and other natural products as well as recycled materials are cheaper than other materials. Sustainable construction materials encompasses a wide range of biobased or lignin based materials. For example thermoplastics made from recycled materials, biopolymers, adhesives,

like those used in roofing materials, wood and agro based plastics or biocomposites, and soy polyol foams flexible and rigid for insulation, used for floors installations and other uses. Sustainable construction gives another direction for industry to progress in ways that can protect future generations from the pollutants and waste materials as well as toxic chemicals used in manufacturing.