Environmentally safer concrete

According to an article in the New York Times, a new bridge on I-35 outside of Minneapolis is built using a concrete blend that is friendly to the environment.

The bridge was built to replace a bridge that collapsed in 2007. The engineers were focused on finding a more durable concrete to prevent a future collapse. Their solution was to use multiple blends of concrete that were specialized for each component of the bridge.

Most of the concrete blends used in the project were made without Portland cement, the traditional bonding material with a high carbon footprint. Instead, Kevin MacDonald of Cemstone Products Company developed a way to use industrial waste products--fly ash and blast furnace slag--as the bond material.

Using these recycled materials reduces the carbon footprint of the bridge because their carbon output was already accounted for when they were originally produced. Portland cement also releases about one ton of CO2 for each ton of concrete.

MacDonald is just one of many researchers working on reducing the carbon footprint of concrete.

Harvesting manure for biofuel

According to an article in Environmental News Network, the world's largest biomass power plant is located in the Netherlands. It runs on chicken manure and provides power for 90,000 homes.

The power plant has a 36.5 MW capacity and generates approximately 270 million kWh of electricity annually. It uses the carbon dioxide and methane gasses produced by the manure to produce power.


Not only does this method of power production spare the carbon cost of traditional power sources (coal, oil, etc), but it prevents the methane and CO2 in the manure from escaping into the atmosphere.

The power plant will use about 440,000 tons of chicken manure per year, which is about one third of the total yearly amount produced in the Netherlands.

San Francisco boosts green economy

San Francisco is currently enrolled in two programs that have proved effective at stimulating a green economy, according to an article in CleanTechnica.

One program is geared around energy efficiency for commercial and multi-family residential properties. Known as SF Energy Watch, the program provides technical assistance and financial incentives. SF Energy Watch will pay for up to half of upgrade costs towards energy efficiencies.

The other program, Go Solar SF, provides incentives to install solar panels. Using a variety of federal, state and local incentives, residents can reduce the cost of a solar installation by about 50%.

Residents and businesses using Go Solar SF are responsible for 2MW of solar production, about one quarter of the total solar production in the city. They also provide about 150 jobs in the city.

Good news is growing trend

According to an article in Newsweek, good news is becoming more popular as we are increasingly inundated with bad news.

Daniel Stone writes that he wanted an alternative to all of the bad news he read, but as a journalist, withdrawing was not an option. He found the website of Ode, a monthly magazine targeting "Intelligent Optimists," as his go-to source for good news, but there are many other outlets, including Seattle radio station KJR-FM , the Good News Network, and this blog, Daily Hope.

The good news is, good news is more than just a cure for the bad news blues. According to studies, good news can have a positive effect on mental health, as well as blood pressure and sleep patterns.

Update: White House Vegetable Garden

According to a release by Slow Food USA, Michelle Obama has broken ground on the new vegetable garden at the White House.

She worked with a group of 26 area fifth graders on Saturday, March 21 (the first day of spring) to remove sod from the area they are planting.

Alternative hyrdo power source

Thursday's edition of The Columbian in Vancouver contained an article about an experimental form of hydro power. University of Michigan researcher Michael Bernitsas has developed a system to take advantage of the vortices naturally created by currents.

A vortex is an eddy or a whirlpool created by water (or air) flowing past an object. In rivers, vortices have traditionally been a challenge for engineers because of the pressure and vibrations they create in underwater structures. Bernitsas has worked for years to control these vibrations, but recently began work to harness them.

He designed a system of cylinders that are placed perpendicular to the river's current. The current causes the cylinders to move up and down which can be used to generate electricity.

Bernitsas hopes that his system will provide a greener alternative to hydroelectric dams. Unlike the turbines in dams, the cylinders do not contain blades and should reduce the level of risk to fish that traditional hydroelectric power has posed. The system is also designed to work with currents as slow as one knot, while dams require a speed closer to 5 knots to work. According to Bernitsas, most rivers in the world are flowing at speeds of 2 to 3 knots.

The system has yet to be field tested, but Bernitsas has several experiments lined up to determine its long-term viability. If it proves successful, Bernitsas' work has been considered as a possible option for use with the Columbia River Crossing Project in the Portland/Vancouver metro area.

Organic garden at the White House

One week ago, our blog was about Roger Doiron's campaign to establish an organic vegetable garden in the White House grounds. His work with Eat the View, along with other groups, including White House Organic Farm Project and others, has paid off.

Michelle Obama announced her intention to establish an organic vegetable garden at the White House. Though details are not confirmed yet, speculators predict that the garden will be planted on the South Lawn near the fountain. The residence staff is also expected to be responsible for the upkeep of the garden, rather than the National Park Service staffers that are generally responsible for the White House Grounds.

Once built, the Obama's garden will be the first at the White House since the Roosevelt's Victory Garden, built during World War II.

Activists hope that the White House garden will set an example to the nation about growing and eating healthy food. Obama seemed to confirm this when she said she "want[s] the White House to be a place of education and awareness."

Earth Hour

March 28 is approaching quickly. Next Saturday, the organization Earth Hour is asking people to turn their lights off for one hour to "vote for the Earth." Leaving the lights on, on the other hand, is a vote for global warming.

Earth Hour was started in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million people turned their lights off for one hour. By 2008 it was a global phenomenon and major landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Colosseum participated in the event. Over 50 million participated that year.

This year, Earth Hour has a goal of 1 billion votes for the Earth. Those interested can find out more information, including how to spread the word at their website.

Oregon beer company embraces solar power

Lucky Labrador Brewing Company, based in Portland, OR has been using solar energy for the past year to heat water used in the brewing process, according to an article in Scientific American.

The brewers use solar heated water in the first stage of the brewing process. During this stage, malted barley and other grains are steeped at temperatures around 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The heated water extracts sugars from the grains which are fermented by yeast later in the process.

Unfortunately, 100% of the entire brewing process cannot be powered by the sun, because one stage requires boiling water. The solar installation at the Lucky Labrador brewery can only heat water to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, 32 degrees short of the boiling point.

The solar installation cost $70,000 up front, though the brewery recovered all but $6,000 of that investment through various tax credits and opportunity grants. They also saved $3,000 on energy costs in the first year of operation, at which rate the installation will be paid for by early 2010.

The installation consists of sixteen 4' X 10' solar panels on the roof of the brewery. Lucky Labrador Brewing Company operates three pubs in Portland.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Clean water, cheap

University of North Carolina scientists have developed a water filtration system that is cheap and relatively easy to manufacture.

The system is based on traditional methods of filtering water through sand, which is effective to a certain degree. However, using sand or crushed rock only leaves the water at risk for certain contaminations.

UNC researchers utilize a short section of PBC filled with sand and small amounts of ferric chloride and a pH buffer. It filters water 30 to 50 times faster than more conventional (and expensive) methods. It is also easy to manufacture and requires little training to use.

The filter works because the added chemicals force contaminants to stick to the sand, leaving clean water free to run through.

Renewable energy on the rise

According to Finnish scientist Professor Peter Lund, 40% of the world's energy will come from renewable sources by 2050. He made this projection at the Copenhagen Climate Congress.

He estimates that 25% of our power will be from wind and the other 15% from solar, based on current market projections. According to Lund, renewable energy technology will have to gain dominance in the energy markets by 2030 to meet this goal.

White House lawn may soon become edible

According to an article in the Telegraph over 85,000 people have signed a petition encouraging the Obama's to start an organic vegetable garden on the White House grounds.

The petition is led by Roger Doiron, the founder and director of Kitchen Gardeners International. Doiron is working to localize food systems and his non-profit spans 100 countries with 10,000 members. He has also written articles appearing in the New York Times, International Herald Tribune and the Washington Post.

Doiron intends the garden to be a large project, big enough to fulfill the vegetable needs for the entire White House, with any surplus going to local food pantries. There is a history of raising food in the White House grounds, though the last vegetable garden was Eleanor Roosevelt's Victory Garden during World War II.

The petition is available to sign online at www.eattheview.org. It will be delivered with a package of heirloom seeds, ready for planting.

Full text of petition below:

We, the undersigned, are petitioning President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama to plant a large organic food garden or Victory Garden on the First Lawn with the produce going to the White House kitchen and local food pantries. The White House is "America's House" and should serve as a model at a time of economic and environmental crisis. In planting this garden, the Obamas would not be breaking with tradition, but returning to it (the White House has had food gardens before) and leading by personal example on global challenges such as economic security, food security, climate change, healthcare policy and energy independence.

Update: LED streetlights in Anchorage

Anchorage has added itself to the list of cities that are switching over to LED streetlights. New York City and Los Angeles currently have plans to make the change. An earlier blog post provides full details.

The City of Anchorage is replacing one fourth of its streetlights with LED bulbs. The 16,000 new streetlights should save the city about $360,000 per year, with an initial outlay of $2.2 million.

Anchorage is participating in a program known as the LED City program, which is also working with Raleigh, North Carolina; Toronto, Ontario; Tianjin, China; and Torraca, Italy.

Public transport up, vehicle miles down in US

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently announced that ridership of public transportation in 2008 was at its highest level in 52 years.

Americans took 10.7 billion trips via public transportation this year. This number represents a four percent increase over 2007. The increase can be traced to the high gas prices over the summer, as well as the worsening economic conditions in the fall and winter.

Increased public transportation ridership has led to a diminished number of cars on the road. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) decreased 3.6% in 2008, which represents a huge savings in greenhouse gas emissions.

Public transportation ridership is up 38% since 1995, which vastly outpaces the population growth in the same period (14%).

Switching to public transportation can save up to $8,000 per year, according to APTA, which is a substantial number in any time, but especially in this recessionary period.

Blue energy?

We have all heard of hydroelectric power and its accompanying benefits and challenges. Though it is a zero-waste source of energy, the environmental-and often social, geographical, etc-impacts of damming a river are considered too high by many to consider it a sustainable source of energy. Tidal power, likewise, has potential environmental impacts that keep some from embracing it.

There is a third way to extract energy from water that has not received as much attention. Currently at use in the Netherlands and Norway, osmotic power uses the conflicting powers of salt water and fresh water to produce electricity. The two types of water are brought into contact by passing through anion and cation exchange membranes, which generates chemical potential energy, which is than converted into voltage.



Until recently, the technology has been prohibitively expensive to install but a recent development has made it cheaper. The membranes can now be made with polyethylene plastics, the same material used for most grocery bags.

Like other forms of hydro power, there are zero emission associated with the process, though there is an initial carbon debt due to manufacture and installation of the equipment. The only waste produced by the osmotic process is brackish water, which could have an impact on the area water systems.

Inventions improve access to water for world's poorest

The Hippo Water Roller was developed to ease the difficulty of transferring water long distances in Africa. In many parts of rural Africa, villagers have to walk up to five miles--more in the dry season--to access water.

The traditional method for water transport has been to balance a large container on the head, which can cause spinal problems. It is also difficult and time-consuming, and generally villagers can only transport about five gallons at a time.

The water roller works much like a lawn mower, but instead pushing around a blade and motor, villagers are able to push a 24-gallon barrel of water. The design makes the effective weight of the barrel 22 pounds, which is relatively easy to push.

The water roller frees up time for children to attend school and for women to attend to other domestic tasks, as well as income-earning tasks. 24 gallons of water is enough to meet daily needs for five people. The Hippo Water Roller Project also provides education about clean water practices and drip agriculture.

Another invention, known as the Solvatten (Swedish for "sun water"), uses solar energy to purify water. It has a ten liter capacity and takes several hours to reach a safe temperature. The device has been tested on water containing E.coli at high concentrations and has successfully purified it. It also contains a physical filter to rid the water of larger impurities.

A test program of the Solvatten is being run in Nepal this year, with cooperation from UNESCO and ENPHO.

Endangered Species Act restored

In his last days in the White House, former President Bush repealed a law that requires developers to seek a threat assessment from the Department of Fish & Wildlife before undertaking development. The purpose of the assessment was to determine the level of risk to endangered species in the area.

Bush's change defied 35 years of precedent, but he claimed that the rule was a hindrance to the economy because it slowed the rate of development. However, it put the fate of some species in the hands of those not qualified to make the right decision.

Obama restored the original act today. He said, "Throughout our history, there's been a tension between those who've sought to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations, and those who have sought to profit from these resources. This is a false choice. With smart, sustainable policies, we can grow our economy today and preserve the environment."

The decision has been lauded by environmentalists and some congressmen. This decision marks the first major step in Obama's goal to let policy be guided by science, rather than partisan politics or ideology.

The future of the electric car (Pt. 3)

It was announced Monday that London mayor Boris Johnson is looking towards adopting "hire an electric car" idea from France.

London is already planning to implement a similar idea--but with bicycles--in 2010, which is also inspired by a French program, Vélib. Both programs work much like Zipcar; there are bicycles or electric cars available at set places around the city and users pay a fee to drive them around. They could be returned to any station.

Johnson has created a task-force called the London Electric Vehicle Partnership to encourage automakers to develop more efficient electric cars. They are also studying the charging infrastructure in the city and beginning tests.

In France, the program is set to begin at the end of 2009 with 700 pick-up points throughout Paris.

The future of the electric car (Pt. 2)

Another organization is working towards the goal of electric cars as well. Repower America is an organization promoting the goals originally conceived by Al Gore in a July 2008 speech.

Like Project Get Ready, Repower America recognizes the difficult first steps to making electric cars a viable option. However, rather than work on consumer confidence, Repower America is directly tackling the infrastructure necessary for plug-in electric cars.

The basic goal of Repower America is to convert to 100% renewable energy in America in 10 years. One of the main tenets of this goal is to completely revamp and modernize the electrical grid, which would include adding access for plug-in electric cars. Revamping the grid is necessary to take full advantage of renewable energy sources, as many operate with peak and low hours (solar, wind, etc) and require energy storage and transfer capabilities not currently possible.

As advocates from Repower America work to make their goal happen, systems will be designed to conduct the necessary transfers and storage of energy, which will impact how electric car owners receive and pay for the energy they use.

The future of the electric car (Pt. 1)

Worldchanging recently published a story regarding Project Get Ready, an advocacy organization for the electric car. Project Get Ready is an initiative by the Rocky Mountain Institute, a self-describe "think and do" tank run by L. Hunter and Amory Lovins.

Project Get Ready was designed to tackle the biggest problem facing the electric car: consumer confidence. Because of the significant changes in infrastructure necessary to make electric cars a viable option, consumers are hesitant to buy into the system, unsure of their investment risk. Project Get Ready is working with individual cities to create a structure that will increase confidence:

To create such an ecosystem, incentives need to be put in ranging from financial incentives, to “luxuries” (like parking spots), advertising, job training, education, service, and more.

The initiative is currently working with three cities, Portland, OR; Indianapolis, IN; and Raleigh, NC, but they would like to increase that number to 20 to help meet their goal of making 2% of cars in the US electric by 2015.

More information about the specific goals of Project Get Ready and how to get involved is available here.