Earth and Industry » Innovation

eBay Testing 100,000 Reusable Shipping Boxes

Timothy B. Hurst — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:41:15 +0000

No, eBay doesn't exactly ship anything. For that matter, they don't even make anything that requires shipping. But with a community of millions of active eBay buyers and sellers, there's no reason they can't launch a product that could make a significant dent in the company's environmental footprint.

On Wednesday, the world's largest online auction unveiled its prototype reusable shipping container, The eBay Box, which the company is printing 100,000 of in three different sizes. The boxes will be available at first to select eBay sellers

The idea for the eBay Box emerged from eBay's 'Innovation Expo' that invites eBay employees to develop prototypes for new products and breakthrough innovations that benefit the company's buyers and sellers. Basically, The Green Box is a durable box designed to be used over and over and over again.

According to eBay's calculations, if every box gets reused at least five times, the boxes could "protect nearly 4,000 trees, save 2.4 million gallons of water and conserve enough energy to power 49 homes for a year."

And just like the old-school system of cards in library books or those inter-office envelopes, the Green Box leaves a space for users to sign and leave some information about what the box was used for or where it has traveled.

When the boxes reach the end of their usable life, because they are made from 100% recycled content, the FSC-certified corrugated cardboard and are fully recyclable.

As a fairly eBay user, I look forward to seeing one of these in my mailbox some day. Even more than that, I look forward to turning around and shipping something off in one -- whether I really needed to sell it or not.

Imagine H2O Launches ‘X-Prize’ for Water Innovation

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:50:07 +0000

$100,000 prize for water startups that save energy

Water. Most Americans think nothing of it. Turn on the faucet and we expect clean water to flow under good pressure at the temperature of our choosing. But to make all that happen, water requires energy and lots of it. A full 3 percent of electrical power generation is used to treat, pump and distribute water in the U.S. (to say nothing of heating it). And in California, that figure is as high as 19 percent.

Imagine H2O is turning the concern about the intersection of energy and water into an opportunity by opening a $100,000 global competition to find the world’s most promising water businesses that save energy.

Innovations could focus on a number of areas including water heating/cooling, pumping and transport or low-energy treatment. Entries for this year's competition, The Water-Energy Nexus, will be accepted beginning today, September 1, through November 15, 2010.

“Opportunities for saving energy exist at every stage of the water cycle,” says Scott Bryan, Director of Operations at Imagine H2O. “Many of these innovations could be attractive to all water users from utilities down to the individual consumer.”

Imagine H2O is a non-profit company created in 2008 "to inspire and help bring to market sustainable solutions to global water problems through entrepreneurship." The Water-Energy Nexus is the second contest Imagine H2O has held for water innovation. The 2009 contest, Water Efficiency, rewarded business plans that offered the greatest promise of breakthroughs in the efficient use and supply of water in agriculture, commercial, industrial or residential applications.

Like last year, this year’s $100,000 purse includes cash as well as access to the Imagine H2O Incubator Program that helps bring the winning ideas to market. Business incubators have the ability to not only provide seed money and in-kind support for startups, they can also be pivotal in bringing products to market.

“This prize highlights a big market opportunity for entrepreneurs,” says Tamin Pechet, Imagine H2O’s Chairman. “Tomorrow's water supply system will have to be an energy-efficient one.”

Photo: Some rights reserved by Chris Happel

UK government urged to evaluate biochar potential with trial schemes

The Guardian — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:56:57 +0000

This article was written by Jane Dudman, for guardian.co.uk on Thursday 12th August 2010 10.33 UTC

The idea of burying charcoal produced from microwaved wood to tackle global warming is still beset with scientific uncertainties, says the UK government's first report on "biochar".

The warning comes as a separate international study published this week said that as much as 12% of global greenhouse gas emissions could be offset by biochar.

Biochar involves burying cooked charcoal so that the carbon dioxide absorbed during the tree's growth remains safely locked away for thousands of years. The technique could remove billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year. But it has divided environmentalists, with backing from Gaia theorist James Lovelock and Nasa scientist James Hansen, but opposition from critics who say there is not enough to land carry out biochar on a large scale.

The report, commissioned by the government, looks at the stability and potential benefits of biochar in soil, as well as at the risks, including the danger of contaminants getting into soil. In addition to economic and logistical challenges, the report noted there are many scientific uncertainties about the role biochar might play. It is not clear how long the carbon would stay trapped in the soil or whether it enhances the quality of the soil as supporters claim, said Saran Sohi, leader of the University of Edinburgh's UK Biochar research centre and one of the report's authors.

However, the report concludes "biochar has a high carbon abatement efficiency" and calls for more pilot schemes that could potentially "advance rapidly the science, engineering, regulation and socioeconomic evaluation of biochar systems in the UK context".

The other study, Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change led by scientists in the UK, US and Australia, paints a more positive picture. Biochar could offset 1.8bn tonnes of carbon emissions annually in its most successful scenario, it said, without endangering food security, habitat or soil conservation.

"These calculations show that biochar can play a significant role in the solution for the planet's climate change challenge," said the study's co-author Jim Amonette, a soil chemist at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. "Biochar offers one of the few ways we can create power while decreasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. And it improves food production in the world's poorest regions by increasing soil fertility. It's an amazing tool."

Separately, biochar experts said last week that global sustainability efforts are being hampered by an emphasis on English language research.

At a seminar in Tokyo, Professor Shinogi Yoshiyuki from Kyushu university, said researchers into sustainable technologies around the world needed to share information.

"This is a global issue and we need to create a global network [of information]," he commented. Yoshiyuki is vice-president of the Japan Biochar Association, which was set up last year to highlight the results of 30 years' research into biochar technology in Japan.

Sohi, who was at the seminar along with sustainability experts from the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change, said his team's visit to Japan was "a real opportunity to collaborate and link up research".

He acknowledged that his report was based largely on English-language biochar research, but said there has been a willingness in both Japan and the UK to collaborate in researching the technology further.

• Jane Dudman's travel expenses in Japan were paid for by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations. They had no say in the content of this article.

• This article was amended on 17 and 18 August. The original referred to a separate US study published this week. This has been corrected.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

The 4 Best Ways to Go Solar Without Breaking the Bank

Timothy B. Hurst — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:00:30 +0000

So, you've been thinking about taking the leap and putting some of your hard-earned money into solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. Well, guess what? It's not nearly the leap it used to be. Several innovative financing structures have emerged in the last few years that allow more people to get into solar than ever before -- and for less money than ever before.

1. Solar Leasing

Do you want solar panels on your roof but you’re afraid about making the financial leap to full ownership? Leasing solar panels might be the best option for you, especially if you have an above average solar resource, lots of extra roof space and little to no money to put down.

Solar leasing, also known as a Solar Power Purchase Agreement, is a pretty simple (and cheap) option. Each month customers make a lease payment which covers the solar power system that produces some or all of the electricity you use in your home or business. If you consume more than you produce, the remainder of your electricity is purchased from the utility. Unlike other rooftop solar ownership models explored here, a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains the solar PV system.

Like most other leasing programs (eg. cars, office equipment), servicing and repairing your solar system is done by the solar lease provider, usually at no cost to the customer. As such, you will not be eligible for the 30 percent federal Investment Tax Credit. But--and here’s the kicker--solar leases usually require no upfront cost. Some companies will charge a $1,000 upfront fee for service. But the more money you put down upfront, the less your monthly lease payment will be.

Most solar leases have a 10 to 20 year contract period, normally transferable to a new owner of the home. If you stay in your home and your panels are still pumping out the watts by the end of the lease period, most companies will give you an option to buy.

Several companies have jumped into the solar leasing game including Sungevity, Solar City and groSolar, but do some research to learn which ones have had success operating in your area and whether solar is the right choice for you economically. (Continued...)

Company Developing Sustainable Packaging Made from Coconuts

Timothy B. Hurst — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:35:34 +0000

Whole tree hopes to take a coconut-flavored bite out of the cardboard packaging industry

Texas-based green materials firm, Whole Tree Inc., the same company that last year made a big splash with the news that it was working on developing car parts made from coconut fibers, announced that it is now testing the waters in the sustainable packaging industry.

Working with Compadre, an Austin-based packaging design and engineering company tasked with bringing the coconut-fiber packaging to market, Whole Tree will work to develop packaging applications using a composite material made in part from coconut fiber.

The coconut-based material is strong and stiff, which allows Compadre to form the material into various shapes for packaging applications. When molded, the material is called Coir Form.

"The intrinsic properties of coir fiber are truly amazing," says Dr. Walter Bradley, Distinguished Faculty at Baylor University in Texas and founder and chairman of Whole Tree. "It also has a natural burn resistance and natural resistance to mildew and microbial attack."

Dr. Bradley says the material can be made with variable densities, which can produce a number of property combinations, which will allow for creative and variable solutions for customer needs.

via Packaging Digest

Tennessee Gets in on Solar EV-Charging Stations

Timothy B. Hurst — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:06:46 +0000

Taking another step in building out its electric vehicle charging infrastructure, the state of Tennessee is now home to the first of several solar-powered EV-charging stations. Collaborating with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the nonprofit Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) ,' the U.S. electrical products firm Eaton developed a 'solar-assisted electric vehicle charging station (not pictured).

The first station will be erected at EPRI's lab in Knoxville, Tennessee, and working with TVA, one of the biggest power producers in the U.S., more will be installed around the state in coming months.

"Solar-assisted electric vehicle charging stations are a crucial step toward the development of a regional system of clean fuel for electric vehicles," said Tom Schafer, general manager of Eaton's Commercial Distribution Products Division, in a statement.

The prototype charging station used by EPRI and TVA, also known as a Smart Modal Area Recharge Terminal (SMART), will provide information on energy usage, the time when the equipment is used, the amount of solar-generated electricity produced and stored, and the potential impact of load clusters. Load clusters occur when several vehicles are refueled at the same time and they can put stress on the localized distribution system. An issue that utilities are investigating possible solutions for, including advanced battery and smart-grid systems

Additional stations are planned for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Nashville, Chattanooga and another site in Knoxville.

Image: Design of EV-charging station by Johnston MarkLee unrelated to solar-assisted EV charger.

The Mercury Train: The Concorde of High Speed Rail

Zachary Shahan — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:03:15 +0000

Let's say you're a leading design firm like Priestmangoode, for example, and you're trying to get high-speed rail lines built across the UK. What's the most effective way to sway public opinion and influence leaders? When you've got something as cool to show off as the Mercury Train, just make a video about it.

Priestmangoode's Mercury Train is designed like a modern-day version of the iconic Mallard train. Of course, as with any train aimed at getting 225 mph, the Mercury has longer lines and an elongated nose cone.

"We've tried to create a new British design icon, like Concorde, the Spitfire or the Routemaster bus," said Paul Priestman, one of the founders of Preistmangoode.

The interior is designed to be more than just comfortable. The airy glass-encased first-class cabins have couches and soft furnishings, a fully stocked bar and a viewing deck. It has cabins designed for business meetings or family trips. And it even has a children's play area.

The goal is: get people to leave their cars at home. The tactic: design something that is more attractive.

"An iconic train design will be one of the most successful weapons in the battle to persuade people to leave their cars at home," Priestman said. "Train travel needs to be as exciting as flying and as sexy as the latest car."

Image Credits: PriestmanGoode

Ford Engineers Soy-Based Rubber Auto Parts

Beth Buczynski — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:02:47 +0000

Automobiles are a major source of pollution in the United States, and in addition to making vehicles more fuel efficient, some car companies are looking for new ways to make individual car parts more environmentally-friendly.

Funded in part by grants from the United Soybean Board (USB), Ford researchers have found that by using renewable soy oil as a 25 percent replacement for petroleum oil, they can more than double rubber's stretchability and reduce its environmental impact.

Ford has is seeking a patent for its discovery, and soy-based rubber is already being considered for radiator deflector shields, air baffles, cupholder inserts and floor mats in future Ford vehicle programs.

Haste, Not Waste

According to the International Rubber Study Group, the automotive sector accounts for more than 50 percent of worldwide rubber consumption, which exceeded 22 million metric tons in 2008. Automotive rubber usage is expected to rise more than 4 percent through 2013. Using oil and other soy fillers, Ford hopes to replace carbon black, a petroleum-based material traditionally used to reinforce rubber.

In 2008, Ford was the first automaker to demonstrate that soy-based foams could be formulated to pass stringent requirements for automotive applications, starting with seat foam in that year's Ford Mustang and headliners for the 2010 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. The new 2011 Ford Explorer will become the 23rd model to feature soy foam.

Soy Ploy?

The USB promotes this research under the assumption that increased demand for soy-based products supports American farmers, but there are questions about whether or not this is a responsible use of a food crop. Additionally, there are concerns about the way soy is being cultivated by the agricultural industry.

Since its introduction in 1992, 90 percent of U.S. soy farmers have switched to genetically engineered seeds marketed by biotech giant Monsanto. Although less toxic than the dreaded atrazine, glyphosate (Roundup Ready soy's active ingredient) is highly toxic to plants and fish. The idea of dousing 12 million acres of American farmland with such a chemical every year is frightening for anyone dependent on municipal water.

Although they aren't as well-funded, Ford is exploring the use of other renewable sources for foam, like grape seed and sunflower oil. Ford is also considering the viability of post-consumer recycled resins to make underbody systems, post-industrial recycled yarns for seat fabrics, cylinder head covers made from re-purposed nylon carpeting and molded into, and wheat straw-reinforced plastic parts.

Image Credit: Flickr - june29 /OpEdNews

World’s First Hybrid Solar-Coal Power Plant Opens in Colorado

Timothy B. Hurst — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:26:18 +0000

Preheating water with solar energy will reduce coal use by 2 to 3 percent at Colorado coal-fired power plant.

In a traditional coal-fired power plant, coal that has been pulverized into a fine dust is burned to heat water until it becomes steam. The steam then turns the blades of a large turbine, which turns the generator and produces electricity. But if the fresh water is heated before it enters the boiler, less coal is needed in order to make the steam -- and that is the principal behind Xcel Energy's brand new solar-coal hybrid power plant in western Colorado.

The $4.5 million Colorado Integrated Solar Project connects thermal energy from a new parabolic-trough-concentrating solar plant built by Abengoa Solar with the steam cycle of Unit 2 at Xcel Energy's (NYSE:XEL) existing coal-fired Cameo Generating Station on the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado. Xcel officials say it is the first actual demonstration of the concept using parabolic-trough solar technology anywhere in the world.

If this project works as we expect it to," says Marty Smith director of environmental policy at Xcel, "it would be possible to scale up the solar integration part to the point where it could possibly provide up to 10 percent of the peak generating capacity of a generating unit on a sunny day."

Xcel expects the pilot project to increase plant efficiency by three to five percent.

The project’s demonstration goal is to produce the equivalent of one megawatt of electric power from renewable solar energy at the plant’s existing 49-megawatt coal generating unit. But its larger goals are to show that you can use less coal while generating the same amount of electricity, reduce emissions from the plant, and test the commercial viability of concentrating solar integration.

"We have the opportunity over time to produce a lot more electricity from the sun and do it in a way that really saves money for the company and for the customers," says Xcel's Smith.

The hybrid solar-coal project is the first under Xcel's Innovative Clean Technology Program, an initiative to test promising new technologies with potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions and result in other environmental improvements. Xcel Energy was one of the first utilities in the U.S. with a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and has reduced emissions by a cumulative 26 millions tons since 2003.

Some critics make the argument, however, that the best case scenario of a 10 percent reduction in coal consumption at the Cameo plant only legitimizes an excuse to pollute and prolongs the life of an already dirty power plant.

The real question is whether the hybrid technology can be scaled up so that solar can replace even more coal in thermal power plants -- and whether it is worth the cost.

A Cardboard Box that Sprouts Life at the End of Its Own

Timothy B. Hurst — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 18:43:16 +0000

It's no secret that we like talking about cardboard boxes. From fully customizable cardboard boxes that can be formed into just about any shape, to others that could revolutionize the pizza box, there's clearly tons of room for growth and sustainable improvements to cardboard boxes. But the new Life Box design from Paul Stamets does something no other cardboard box does, it sprouts.

According to its creators, Stamets' Life Box and Tree Life Box "builds upon the synergy of fungi and plants by infusing spores and seeds together inside of packaging materials that can be planted."

Planted Planet Productions, distributors of the Life Box suite of products say it could be ideally suited for DVD/CD mailers, pizza boxes, shoe boxes or even sleeves for hot beverage cups. They even suggest that some day the Tree Life Box could some day qualify for up to one ton of carbon credits, but I think they have some serious product testing and independent verification before that happens.

h/t Inhabitat; greenUPGRADER