Green Technology

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary iii

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Origin of the report 1

1.2 Objectives 1

1.3 Scope 1

1.4 Methodology 2

1.5 Limitations 2

2.0 What is Green Technology 3

3.0 Prominent Examples of green Technology 7

3.1 Solar Energy 7

3.2 Biofuels 15

3.3 Green Building 21

4.0 Conclusion 33

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101) Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

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SUMMARY

In a world of rapid growth, both in terms of economy and population, human beings have

sought to influence the environment around them for a better, more efficient and easier

life. The resources that we have used up from the environment have often been non-

renewable and in our heedless march to glorious comfort, we have ignored the

consequences of the effect that we are having on the world we live in. With the results of

our negative impact on nature coming around to haunt us, there have been a rising global

awareness and movement to better ourselves. Green technology is a major part of it.

Green technology is the application of the environmental science to conserve the natural

environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement. The

main idea behind green technology is to provide sustainable growth. That is, using

resources from the Earth in a renewable fashion.

The following report outlines some aspects of green technology and discusses three main

ideas: Solar energy, Green Buildings, Biofuels.

In the report, it has been discussed how each of these technologies are environment-

friendly, how they are being used globally and what the advantages of use are. Each of

these technologies can be used in the everyday life of an individual as a source of energy,

as a mode of living and as an alternative source of fuel, which collectively can improve

the ecology and the habitat throughout Earth and check the currently deteriorating

conditions of the environment.


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1.0 INTRODUCTION

This report provides information on green technology otherwise known as environmental

technology. The goals of this report along with the means of acquiring information, its

span and shortcomings are discussed in this section.

1.1 Origin of the Report

As part of the course requirement of the Economic Geography & Environment

(G101) course, each group of students is required to prepare a report on any topic

related to the course. Our group has decided, with the approval of the course

instructor, to prepare the report on Green Technology.

1.2 Objectives

Our goals are to:

Introduce the concept of Green Technology; highlight its purpose and its

growing significance in the context of the modern global environment.

Describe sustainable energy generation technologies, possible solutions

such as electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural

environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human

involvement.

1.3 Scope

The report is based on secondary data available on the World Wide Web

regarding green technology.

3 particular types of technology; namely Solar Energy, Green Building

and Biogas.


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1.4 Methodology

The report is based on secondary data. Green Technology was first searched for

on the internet. Then the report was compiled using information available on

various websites regarding green technology.

As for the 3 technologies chosen, the three most popular green technologies were

chosen. This was done by taking a holistic approach and taking the technologies

which are supposed to have the biggest impacts in the near future.

1.5 Limitations

The main problem we faced when preparing the report:

No way to verify the authenticity of the data used to compile the report.


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2.0 Green Technology

The term "technology" refers to the application of knowledge for practical purposes.

The field of "green technology" encompasses a continuously evolving group of methods

and materials, from techniques for generating energy to non-toxic cleaning products.

The present expectation is that this field will bring innovation and changes in daily life of

similar magnitude to the "information technology" explosion over the last two decades.

In these early stages, it is impossible to predict what "green technology" may eventually

encompass.

The goals that inform developments in this rapidly growing field include:

Sustainability - meeting the needs of society in ways that can continue indefinitely into

the future without damaging or depleting natural resources. In short, meeting present

needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

"Cradle to cradle" design - ending the "cradle to grave" cycle of manufactured products,

by creating products that can be fully reclaimed or re-used.

Source reduction - reducing waste and pollution by changing patterns of production and

consumption.

Innovation - developing alternatives to technologies - whether fossil fuel or chemical

intensive agriculture - that have been demonstrated to damage health and the

environment.

Viability - creating a center of economic activity around technologies and products that

benefit the environment, speeding their implementation and creating new careers that

truly protect the planet.


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Green technology is a part of the modern environmental movement which can be traced

to attempts in nineteenth-century Europe and North America to expose the costs of

environmental negligence, notably disease, as well as widespread air and water pollution,

but only after the Second World War did a wider awareness begin to emerge.

Environmental awareness as we know it started in the late 1960s and early 1970s, though

the full glaring threat due to human exploitation of the environment was not realized until

the last couple of decades.

With effects such as global warming, extinction of animal species thanks to loss of

habitation, predictions of abnormal sea level rises leading to great variations in weather

patterns resulting in powerful hurricanes and flooding, protecting the environment and if

not reversing, at least reducing our heavy-handed dealings with nature has become one of

the foremost global issues. And one of the main problems is the carbon emissions of the

human population. One aspect of Green Technology is to reduce the carbon footprint of

every human, i.e. the amount of carbon emitted by a person due to his daily activities.

This involves everything from going to work to using the computer.

Green technologies include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Environmentally preferred purchasing

This government innovation involves the search for products whose contents and

methods of production have the smallest possible impact on the environment, and

mandates that these be the preferred products for government purchasing.

Green nanotechnology

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of materials at the scale of the

nanometer, one billionth of a meter. Some scientists believe that mastery of this

subject is forthcoming that will transform the way that everything in the world is

manufactured. "Green nanotechnology" is the application of green chemistry and

green engineering principles to this field.


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Recycling

It is a worldwide phenomenon, which is a basic application towards the concept

of Green Technology. It shows and encourages people to reuse items that can be

reusable. Items like saving cans of food or drinks, paper etc. have been

encouraged by the governing bodies around the world, to be recycled so that it

can be used in the future for several other purposes. It can thus help protect the

environment and cause less waste/pollution.

Green chemistry

The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to

reduce or to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances

Water Purification

It is the whole idea of having dirt/germ/pollution free water flowing throughout

the environment. Many other phenomena lead from this concept of Purification of

water. Water Pollution is the main enemy of this concept, and various campaigns

and activists have been organized around the world to help purify Water.

Considering the amount of water usage that is under current consumptions, this

concept is of utter importance.

Sewage Treatment

Sewage Treatment is a concept that is really close to Water Purification. Sewage

Treatment is the process of cleaning sewage water and making it reusable; a sort

of water recycling.

Green building

Green building encompasses everything from the choice of building

materials to where a building is located.


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Renewable Energy

Energy that can be replenished easily is the easiest way to explain renewable

energy. For years we have been using sources like wood, sun, water etc. for

means for producing energy. Energy that can be produced by natural objects like

wood, sun, wind etc. is considered to be renewable. Fossil fuels are considered

non-renewable as they take a very long time to form.

In this report, the green technologies discussed can have a direct effect on an individual

helping to better the environment by:

using clean fuel

using renewable energy

living in an environment friendly home


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3.0 Prominent Examples of Green Technology

There are three important types of Green Technology.

3.1 Solar Energy

The heat and light energy radiated by the sun is collectively known as solar

energy. Although solar energy has been harnessed by humans since ancient times,

the need for harnessing solar energy has never been greater than it is at this point

of time when the threat posed by global warming is rising at an ever increasing

rate.

One of the most widely used sources of energy, fossil fuels, contributes

generously to global warming. Moreover, fossil fuels which provide almost 80%-

85% of the worldwide energy are scarce and distributed unevenly under beneath

earth’s surface. If solar energy is used as an alternate source of energy to fossil

fuel further global warming could be reduced to a great extent. On top of that

sunlight is the most abundant and a never ending source of energy.


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The Earth receives 174 petawatts (PW; 1PW=1015

W) of incoming solar radiation

at the upper atmosphere. Approximately 30% is reflected back to space. Earth's

land surface and water bodies absorb almost 51% of the solar radiation. 19%

energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and cloud. Water from the different water

bodies around the globe absorb energy thus, evaporating and rises causing

atmospheric circulation or convection which returns almost 7% of the energy

absorbed by the land and oceans to space. The latent heat in water vapor carries

back 23% of the energy, absorbed by the land and water bodies, to the clouds and

atmosphere. Sunlight absorbed by the oceans and land masses keeps the surface at

an average temperature of 14 °C. By photosynthesis green plants convert solar

energy into chemical energy, which produces food, wood and the biomass from

which fossil fuels are derived. The total solar energy absorbed by Earth's

atmosphere, oceans and land masses is approximately 3,850,000 exajoules (EJ;

1EJ=1018

J) per year. Photosynthesis captures approximately 3,000 EJ per year in

biomass. The amount of solar energy reaching the surface of the planet is so vast

that in one year it is about twice as much as will ever be obtained from all of the

Earth's non-renewable resources of coal, oil, natural gas, and mined uranium

combined.

Solar energy can be harnessed in different levels around the world. Depending on

a geographical location the closer to the equator the more "potential" solar energy

is available.

Applications of solar energy

Solar energy can be applied in various ways. Starting from generating electricity

to air-conditioning a house to cooking, solar energy can be used in a number of

day to day life activities. A few of them are listed below.

a) Designing and Urban Planning

Solar architecture involves positioning buildings so as to reduce extreme

exposure to the sun and using materials with lower heat capacities in the


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buildings. It also includes painting buildings with light colors so as to

reflect sunlight and designing houses with a large number of windows.

The advantages from adopting such procedures are that the buildings get

less heated which reduces the need for using air-conditioners which in turn

saves a lot of energy. More windows also helps in the same way because

they allow better ventilation and they also allow more day-light to enter

the buildings thus, reducing the need for using lights during the day time.

b) In cultivating

Agriculture seeks to harness solar energy in order to optimize the

productivity of plants. Techniques such as timed planting cycles, tailored

row orientation, staggered heights between rows and the mixing of plant

varieties can improve crop yields. Applications of solar energy in

agriculture aside from growing crops include pumping water, drying

crops, brooding chicks and drying chicken manure. Greenhouses convert

solar light to heat, enabling year-round production and the growth (in

enclosed environments) of specialty crops and other plants not naturally

suited to the local climate.

c) Solar Lighting

As mentioned above using daylight in order to illuminate interiors is one

way to save a lot of energy. Day lighting design implies careful selection

of window types, sizes and orientation. When day lighting features are

properly implemented they can reduce lighting-related energy

requirements by 25%. Hybrid solar lighting is an active solar method of

providing interior illumination. HSL systems collect sunlight using

focusing mirrors that track the Sun and use optical fibers to transmit it

inside the building to supplement conventional lighting. In single-story

applications these systems are able to transmit 50% of the direct sunlight

received.


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d) Water Heating

Solar hot water systems use sunlight to heat water. In low geographical

latitudes (below 40 degrees) from 60 to 70% of the domestic hot water use

with temperatures up to 60 °C can be provided by solar heating systems.

The most common types of solar water heaters are evacuated tube

collectors (44%) and glazed flat plate collectors (34%) generally used for

domestic hot water; and unglazed plastic collectors (21%) used mainly to

heat swimming pools.

e) Heating, cooling and ventilation

Solar heating, cooling and ventilation technologies can be used to save a

large amount of energy.

Thermal mass is any material that can be used to store heat—heat from the

Sun in the case of solar energy. Common thermal mass materials include

stone, cement and water. Historically they have been used in arid climates

or warm temperate regions to keep buildings cool by absorbing solar

energy during the day and radiating stored heat to the cooler atmosphere at

night. However they can be used in cold temperate areas to maintain

warmth as well. The size and placement of thermal mass depend on

several factors such as climate, day lighting and shading conditions. When

properly incorporated, thermal mass maintains space temperatures in a

comfortable range and reduces the need for auxiliary heating and cooling

equipment.

A solar chimney (or thermal chimney, in this context) is a passive solar

ventilation system composed of a vertical shaft connecting the interior and

exterior of a building. As the chimney warms, the air inside is heated

causing an updraft that pulls air through the building. Performance can be

improved by using glazing and thermal mass materials in a way that

mimics greenhouses.


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f) Cooking

Solar cookers use sunlight for cooking, drying and pasteurization. They

can be grouped into three broad categories: box cookers, panel cookers

and reflector cookers. A basic box cooker consists of an insulated

container with a transparent lid. Panel cookers use a reflective panel to

direct sunlight onto an insulated container. Reflector cookers use various

concentrating geometries (dish, trough, Fresnel mirrors) to focus light on a

cooking container.

There are also technologies such as the solar bowl and Scheffler reflectors

when installed use solar energy for cooking.

g) Electricity generation

Sunlight can be converted into electricity by using solar panels, which are

large flat panels made up of many individual solar cells, photovoltaics

(PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental

technologies. PV has mainly been used to power small and medium-sized

applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to off-grid

homes powered by a photovoltaic array. For large-scale generation, CSP

plants like SEGS have been the norm but recently multi-megawatt PV

plants are becoming common.

h) Solar Vehicles

Vehicles running on petrol and gas contribute considerably to air

pollution. Scientists have been working on developing environmentally

friendly cars which will run on solar power. Some vehicles use solar

panels for auxiliary power, such as for air conditioning, to keep the

interior cool, thus reducing fuel consumption.


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Methods of storing solar energy

There are several ways of storing solar energy. Some of them are listed below:-

a) Batteries for storage

Batteries are the most common methods for storage of solar energy. There are 2

types of batteries available. They are nickel cadmium and lead acid. The lead acid

batteries are cheap and preferred for solar energy storage. They are similar to your

car battery. The nickel cadmium battery also functions in the same manner but are

expensive. However the nickel cadmium batteries discharge more electricity and

also last longer.

Due to the mechanism fitted in the solar panels the battery gets charged even

when there is not enough sunlight concentration on the panels. Thus it is possible

to run all your electrical appliances in all circumstances where the light that hits

the solar panels may differ in amounts.


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b) Natural zeolites for solar energy storage

Zeolite is a mineral made of alkali or alkaline earth metal with crystal water.

Experiments conducted using the 13X synthetic zeolites have shown positive

results for solar energy storage. Further studies showed that natural zeolites

could be used as replacements for the synthetic zeolites for solar energy storage.

The amount of radiation that the solar energy emits differs with the weather

changes, the season and day and night conditions in the same place.

c) Sensible heat storage

For the solar energy units that have middle and low temperatures the cheapest

way of storing energy is to use water and stones. The energy that is collected by

the collectors increase the temperatures of the storing mediums to allow storage

of the energy in these mediums and when required the heat is used. In this

method of solar energy storage the concentration level is low and the duration is

also short.

d) Latent heat storage

In this type of solar energy storage the medium for storing the energy has

features like absorption of big energy, less volume and corrosion and greater

repeating capabilities. At present the most effective mediums for this type of

solar energy storage are hydrate carbonates, nitrates and sulphates. In latent heat

storage method the energy storing density is high with longer periods of storage.

The medium can be cooled easily also which makes it difficult for the medium to

crystallize.

e) Chemical reaction energy storage

Here, the endothermic reaction of the chemicals is used for storing the solar

energy. When the process is inversed the heat is released. Here some inorganic

oxides are also used as the medium. By using this method you benefit by storing

heat in larger quantities and for longer periods of time. For the generation of high


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temperature by the endothermic reactions the equipment that is needed is very

costly.

Zeolites have the unique characteristics to absorb and deabsorb water which

makes it the preferred material for solar energy storage. When the zeolites are

heated the water molecules escape and the heat energy is stored. When the

process of reabsorbing the water molecules starts the heat energy is released.

Advantages of solar power and solar power applications

a) It is Easy to install and easy to access which means solar power can be

used almost anywhere. Starting from houses, offices, factories, malls,

crowded areas to sparsely populated areas solar power is accessible

everywhere.

b) Solar power and energy creates something like 5 times as many jobs as

the equivalent conventional energy systems per unit of energy

generated.

c) The price or running cost is virtually constant with the cost being for a

capital installation. This is unlike conventional oil, coal or gas energy

which will inevitably rise as these natural resources get consumed and

become scarce.

d) There is no greenhouse gas effect or air pollution created by solar

powered installations. In these days of confirmed climate change this

is critical. It has been estimated that a single solar powered home

heating system saves the polluting equivalent of driving a car for about

4,000 miles.


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e) In addition to saving the atmosphere from polluting gases solar

powered applications have the effect of reducing by as much as 98%

the water required (and blown away as steam) of a conventionally

generated MW of electricity.

3.2Biofuels

The term biofuels indicates primarily liquid fuels derived from plant materials. Biogas

also falls under biofuels. Biofuels burn cleanly and thus minimize air pollution. They are

also easy to handle like other gaseous and liquid fuels. As such, biofuels are considered a

green alternative and in recent years, the use of biofuels has increased. Biofuels provided

1.8% of the world’s transport fuel in 2008. Investment into biofuels production capacity

exceeded $4 billion worldwide in 2007 and is growing.

Here is an overview of a few common biofuel productions and usage.

First generation biofuels

'First-generation biofuels' are biofuels made from sugar, starch, vegetable oil, or animal

fats using conventional technology. The basic feedstock for the production of first

generation biofuels are often seeds or grains such as wheat, which yields starch that is

fermented into bioethanol, or sunflower seeds, which are pressed to yield vegetable oil

that can be used in biodiesel. These feedstocks could instead enter the animal or human

food chain, and as the global population has raised their use in producing biofuels has

been criticised for diverting food away from the human food chain, leading to food

shortages and price rises.


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Bioalcohols

Biologically produced alcohols, most commonly ethanol, and less commonly

propanol and butanol, are produced by the action of microorganisms and enzymes

through the fermentation of sugars or starches (easiest), or cellulose (which is

more difficult). Biobutanol (also called biogasoline) is often claimed to provide a

direct replacement for gasoline, because it can be used directly in a gasoline

engine.

Ethanol fuel is the most common biofuel worldwide, particularly in Brazil.

Alcohol fuels are produced by fermentation of sugars derived from wheat, corn,

sugar beets, sugar cane, molasses and any sugar or starch that alcoholic beverages

can be made from (like potato and fruit waste, etc.). The ethanol production

methods used are enzyme digestion (to release sugars from stored starches),

fermentation of the sugars, distillation and drying. The distillation process

requires significant energy input for heat (often unsustainable natural gas fossil

fuel, but cellulosic biomass, the waste left after sugar cane is pressed to extract its

juice, can also be used more sustainably).

Ethanol can be used in petrol engines as a replacement for gasoline; it can be

mixed with gasoline to any percentage.

Many car manufacturers are now producing flexible-fuel vehicles (FFV's), which

can safely run on any combination of bioethanol and petrol, up to 100%

bioethanol. They dynamically sense exhaust oxygen content, and adjust the

engine's computer systems, spark, and fuel injection accordingly. This adds initial

cost and ongoing increased vehicle maintenance. FFV internal combustion

engines are becoming increasingly complex, as are multiple-propulsion-system

FFV hybrid vehicles, which impacts cost, maintenance, reliability, and useful

lifetime longevity.


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Even dry ethanol has roughly one-third lower energy content per unit of volume

compared to gasoline, so larger / heavier fuel tanks are required to travel the same

distance, or more fuel stops are required. With large current un-sustainable, non-

scalable subsidies, ethanol fuel still costs much more per distance traveled than

current high gasoline prices in the United States.

Methanol is currently produced from natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel. It

can also be produced from biomass as biomethanol. The methanol economy is an

interesting alternative to the hydrogen economy, compared to today's hydrogen

produced from natural gas, but not hydrogen production directly from water and

state-of-the-art clean solar thermal energy processes.

Butanol is formed by ABE fermentation (acetone, butanol, ethanol) and

experimental modifications of the process show potentially high net energy gains

with butanol as the only liquid product. Butanol will produce more energy and

allegedly can be burned "straight" in existing gasoline engines (without

modification to the engine or car), and is less corrosive and less water soluble

than ethanol, and could be distributed via existing infrastructures.

Biodiesel

In some countries biodiesel is less expensive than conventional diesel. Biodiesel

is the most common biofuel in Europe. It is produced from oils or fats using

transesterification and is a liquid similar in composition to fossil/mineral diesel.

Its chemical name is fatty acid methyl (or ethyl) ester (FAME). Oils are mixed

with sodium hydroxide and methanol (or ethanol) and the chemical reaction

produces biodiesel (FAME) and glycerol. One part glycerol is produced for every

10 parts biodiesel. Feedstocks for biodiesel include animal fats, vegetable oils,

soy, rapeseed, jatropha, mahua, mustard, flax, sunflower, palm oil, hemp, field

pennycress, pongamia pinnata and algae. Pure biodiesel (B100) is by far the

lowest emission diesel fuel. Although liquefied petroleum gas and hydrogen have


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cleaner combustion, they are used to fuel much less efficient petrol engines and

are not as widely available.

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine when mixed with mineral diesel. The

majority of vehicle manufacturers limit their recommendations to 15% biodiesel

blended with mineral diesel. In some countries manufacturers cover their diesel

engines under warranty for B100 use, although Volkswagen of Germany, for

example, asks drivers to check by telephone with the VW environmental services

department before switching to B100. Many current generation diesel engines are

made so that they can run on B100 without altering the engine itself.

Since biodiesel is an effective solvent and cleans residues deposited by mineral

diesel, engine filters may need to be replaced more often, as the biofuel dissolves

old deposits in the fuel tank and pipes. It also effectively cleans the engine

combustion chamber of carbon deposits, helping to maintain efficiency. Biodiesel

is also an oxygenated fuel, meaning that it contains a reduced amount of carbon

and higher hydrogen and oxygen content than fossil diesel. This improves the

combustion of fossil diesel and reduces the particulate emissions from un-burnt

carbon.

Biodiesel is safe to handle and transport because it is as biodegradable as sugar,

10 times less toxic than table salt, and has a high flashpoint of about 148C

compared to petroleum diesel fuel, which has a flash point of 52C.

Bioethers

Bio ethers (also referred to as fuel ethers or fuel oxygenates) are cost-effective

compounds that act as octane rating enhancers. They also enhance engine

performance, whilst significantly reducing engine wear and toxic exhaust

emissions. Greatly reducing the amount of ground-level ozone, they contribute to

the quality of the air we breathe.


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Biogas

Biogas is produced by the process of anaerobic digestion of organic material by

anaerobes. It can be produced either from biodegradable waste materials or by the

use of energy crops fed into anaerobic digesters to supplement gas yields. The

solid byproduct, digestate, can be used as a biofuel or a fertilizer.

Biogas contains methane and can be recovered from industrial anaerobic digesters

and mechanical biological treatment systems. Landfill gas is a less clean form of

biogas which is produced in landfills through naturally occurring anaerobic

digestion. If it escapes into the atmosphere it is a potent greenhouse gas.

Oils and gases can be produced from various biological wastes:

Thermal depolymerization of waste can extract methane and other oils

similar to petroleum.

GreenFuel Technologies Corporation developed a patented bioreactor

system that uses nontoxic photosynthetic algae to take in smokestacks flue

gases and produce biofuels such as biodiesel, biogas and a dry fuel

comparable to coal.

Farmer can produce biogas from manure from their cows by getting a

anaerobic digester (AD).

Second generation biofuels

Second-generation biofuel production processes can use a variety of non-food crops.

These include waste biomass, the stalks of wheat, corn, wood, and special-energy-or-

biomass crops (e.g. Miscanthus). Second generation (2G) biofuels use biomass to liquid

technology, including cellulosic biofuels from non-food crops. Many second generation


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biofuels are under development such as biohydrogen, biomethanol, DMF, Bio-DME,

Fischer-Tropsch diesel, biohydrogen diesel, mixed alcohols and wood diesel.

Cellulosic ethanol production uses non-food crops or inedible waste products and does

not divert food away from the animal or human food chain. Lignocellulose is the

"woody" structural material of plants. This feedstock is abundant and diverse, and in

some cases (like citrus peels or sawdust) it is in itself a significant disposal problem.

Third generation bio-fuels

Algae fuel, also called oilgae or third generation biofuel, is a biofuel from algae. Algae

are low-input, high-yield feedstocks to produce biofuels. Based on laboratory

experiments, it claimed that Algae can produces up to 30 times more energy per acre than

land crops such as soybeans, but these yields have yet to be produced commercially. With

the higher prices of fossil fuels (petroleum), there is much interest in algaculture (farming

algae). Algae fuel still has its difficulties though, for instance to produce algae fuels it

must be mixed uniformly, which, if done by agitation, could affect biomass growth.

Most biofuel production comes from harvesting organic matter and then converting it to

fuel but an alternative approach relies on the fact that some algae naturally produce

ethanol and this can be collected without killing the algae. The ethanol evaporates and

then can be condensed and collected. The company Algenol is trying to commercialize

this process.

Advantages of using Biofuels

There are several advantages, both environmental and economic, of using biofuels. Those

are discussed below.

Advantages

Using biofuels can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. They are a

much cleaner source of energy than conventional sources.


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As more and more biofuel is created there will be increased energy security for

the country producing it, as they will not have to rely on imports or foreign

volatile markets.

First generation biofuels can save up to 60% carbon emissions and second-

generation biofuels can save up to 80%.

Biofuels will create a brand new job infrastructure and will help support local

economies. This is especially true in third world countries.

There can be a reduction in fossil fuel use.

Biodiesel can be used in any diesel vehicle and it reduces the number of

vibrations, smoke and noise produced.

Biodiesel is biodegradable.

They are non-toxic.

They are renewable.

Biodiesel has a high flash point, making it safer and less likely to burn after an

accident.

3.3 Green Building

Green Building is also known as sustainable building. It is the practice of creating

structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient

throughout a building's life-cycle from sitting to design, construction, operation,

maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the

classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.

Although new technologies are continually being developed to complement current

practices in creating environment friendly structures, the common objective is that green

buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human

health and the natural environment by:


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Powerfully using energy, water, and other resources

Protecting inhabitant health and improving employee output

Reducing waste, contamination and environmental ruin

A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to

focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally. Other related topics

include sustainable design, green architecture, and energy efficient buildings.

Building and the environment

Green building practices aim to diminish the environmental impact of buildings.

Buildings account for a large amount of land use, energy and water consumption, and air

and atmosphere alteration. In the United States, more than 2,000,000 acres (8,100 km) of

open space, wildlife SUPS habitat, and wetlands are developed each year.

As of 2006, buildings used 40 percent of the total energy consumed in both the US and

European Union. In the US, 54 percent of that percentage was consumed by residential

buildings and 46 percent by commercial buildings. In 2002, buildings used approximately


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68 percent of the total electricity consumed in the United States with 51 percent for

residential use and 49 percent for commercial use. 38 percent of the total amount of

carbon dioxide in the United States can be attributed to buildings, 21 percent from homes

and 17.5 percent from commercial uses. Buildings account for 12.2 percent of the total

amount of water consumed per day in the United States.

Considering these data’s, reducing the amount of natural resources buildings consume

and the amount of pollution given off is seen as crucial for future sustainability,

according to EPA.

The environmental impact of buildings is often underestimated, while the perceived costs

of green buildings are overestimated. A recent survey by the World Business Council for

Sustainable Development finds that green costs are overestimated by 300 percent, as key

players in real estate and construction estimate the additional cost at 17 percent above

conventional construction, more than triple the true average cost difference of about 5

percent.


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The aims of Green Building

The concept of sustainable development can be traced to the energy (especially fossil oil)

crisis and the environment pollution concern in the 1970s. The green building movement

in the U.S. originated from the need and desire for more energy efficient and

environmentally friendly construction practices. There are a number of motives to

building green, including environmental, economic, and social benefits. However,

modern sustainability initiatives call for an integrated and synergistic design to both new

construction and in the retrofitting of an existing structure. Also known as sustainable

design, this approach integrates the building life-cycle with each green practice employed

with a design-purpose to create a synergy amongst the practices used.

Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and

ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It

often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, e.g., using sunlight through

passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees through

green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Many other techniques,

such as using packed gravel or permeable concrete instead of conventional concrete or

asphalt to enhance replenishment of ground water, are used as well.

While the practices, or technologies, employed in green building are constantly evolving

and may differ from region to region, there are fundamental principles that persist from

which the method is derived: Siting and Structure Design Efficiency, Energy Efficiency,

Water Efficiency, Materials Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement,

Operations and Maintenance Optimization, and Waste and Toxics Reduction. The

essence of green building is an optimization of one or more of these principles. Also,

with the proper synergistic design, individual green building technologies may work

together to produce a greater cumulative effect.

On the aesthetic side of green architecture or sustainable design is the philosophy of

designing a building that is in harmony with the natural features and resources

surrounding the site. There are several key steps in designing sustainable buildings:

specify 'green' building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and

generate on-site renewable energy.


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The features of a green building:

Landscaping & design effectiveness

The foundation of any construction project is rooted in the concept and design

stages. The concept stage, in fact, is one of the major steps in a project life cycle,

as it has the largest impact on cost and performance. In designing environmentally

optimal buildings, the objective function aims at minimizing the total

environmental impact associated with all life-cycle stages of the building project.

Creating sustainable buildings starts with proper site selection. The location of a

building affects a wide range of environmental factors - such as security,

accessibility, and energy consumption, as well as the energy consumed by

transportation needs of occupants for commuting, the impact on local ecosystems,

and the use/reuse of existing structures and infrastructures. If possible, locating

buildings in areas of existing development where infrastructure already exists and

conserving resources by renovating existing buildings will help minimize a

project's environmental footprint.

Maximizing the green impact of site design and building infrastructure may be

accomplished by considering energy implications during site selection and the


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design of building orientation. Improved grading and natural landscaping

practices can help control erosion as well as reduce heat islands.

Energy Efficiency

Green buildings often include measures to reduce energy use. To increase the

efficiency of the building envelope, (the barrier between conditioned and

unconditioned space), they may use high-efficiency windows and insulation in

walls, ceilings, and floors. Another strategy, passive solar building design, is often

implemented in low-energy homes. Designers orient windows and walls and place

awnings, porches, and trees to shade windows and roofs during the summer while

maximizing solar gain in the winter. In addition, effective window placement (day

lighting) can provide more natural light and lessen the need for electric lighting

during the day. Solar water heating further reduces energy loads.

Onsite generation of renewable energy through solar power, wind power, hydro

power, or biomass can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the

building. Power generation is generally the most expensive feature to add to a

building.

Water Efficiency

Reducing water consumption and protecting water quality are key objectives in

sustainable building. One critical issue of water consumption is that in many areas

of the country, the demands on the supplying aquifer exceed its ability to

replenish itself. To the maximum extent feasible, facilities should increase their

dependence on water that is collected, used, purified, and reused on-site. The

protection and conservation of water throughout the life of a building may be

accomplished by designing for dual plumbing that recycles water in toilet

flushing. Waste-water may be minimized by utilizing water conserving fixtures

such as ultra-low flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Point of use water

treatment and heating improves both water quality and energy efficiency while

reducing the amount of water in circulation. The use of non-sewage and


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greywater for on-site use such as site-irrigation will minimize demands on the

local aquifer.

Materials Efficiency

Building materials typically considered to be 'green' include rapidly renewable

plant materials like bamboo (because bamboo grows quickly) and straw, lumber

from forests certified to be sustainably managed, ecology blocks, dimension

stone, recycled stone, recycled metal, and other products that are non-toxic,

reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable (e.g. Trass, Linoleum, sheep wool, panels

made from paper flakes, compressed earth block, adobe, baked earth, rammed

earth, clay, vermiculite, flax linen, sisal, seagrass, cork, expanded clay grains,

coconut, wood fiber plates, calcium sand stone, concrete (high and ultra-high

performance, roman self-healing concrete , etc.) The EPA (Environmental

Protection Agency) also suggests using recycled industrial goods, such as coal

combustion products, foundry sand, and demolition debris in construction

projects. Polyurethane heavily reduces carbon emissions as well. Polyurethane

blocks are being used instead of CMTs by companies like American Insulock.

Polyurethane blocks provide more speed, less cost, and they are environmentally

friendly. Building materials should be extracted and manufactured locally to the

building site to minimize the energy embedded in their transportation. Where

possible, building elements should be manufactured off-site and delivered to site,

to maximize benefits of off-site manufacture including minimizing waste,

maximising recycling (because manufacture is in one location), high quality

elements, better OHS management, less noise and dust.

Indoor Environmental Quality Enhancement

The Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) was created to provide comfort, well-

being, and productivity of occupants. The IEQ also addresses design and

construction guidelines especially: indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal quality, and

lighting quality.


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Indoor Air Quality seeks to reduce volatile organic compounds, or VOC's, such as

microbial contaminants. Buildings rely on a properly designed HVAC system to

provide adequate ventilation and air filtration as well as isolate operations

(kitchens, dry cleaners, etc.) from other occupancies. During the design and

construction process choosing construction materials and interior finish products

with zero or low emissions will improve IAQ. Many building materials and

cleaning/maintenance products emit toxic gases, such as VOC's and

formaldehyde. These gases can have a detrimental impact on occupants' health

and productivity as well. Avoiding these products will increase a building's IEQ.

Personal temperature and airflow control over the HVAC system coupled with a

properly designed building envelope will also aid in increasing a building's

thermal quality. Creating a high performance luminous environment through the

careful integration of natural and artificial light sources will improve on the

lighting quality of a structure.

Reducing waste

Green architecture also seeks to reduce waste of energy, water and materials used

during construction. For example, in California nearly 60% of the state's waste

comes from commercial buildings. During the construction phase, one goal

should be to reduce the amount of material going to landfills. Well-designed

buildings also help reduce the amount of waste generated by the occupants as

well, by providing on-site solutions such as compost bins to reduce matter going

to landfills.

To reduce the impact on wells or water treatment plants, several options exist.

"Greywater", wastewater from sources such as dishwashing or washing machines,

can be used for subsurface irrigation, or if treated, for non-potable purposes, e.g.,

to flush toilets and wash cars. Rainwater collectors are used for similar purposes.

Centralized wastewater treatment systems can be costly and use a lot of energy.

An alternative to this process is converting waste and wastewater into fertilizer,

which avoids these costs and shows other benefits. By collecting human waste at

the source and running it to a semi-centralized biogas plant with other biological


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waste, liquid fertilizer can be produced. This concept was demonstrated by a

settlement in Lubeck Germany in the late 1990s. Practices like these provide soil

with organic nutrients and create carbon sinks that remove carbon dioxide from

the atmosphere, offsetting greenhouse gas emission. Producing artificial fertilizer

is also more costly in energy than this process.

Expenses of green building

The most criticized issue about constructing environmentally friendly buildings is the

price. Photo-voltaics, new appliances, and modern technologies tend to cost more money.

Most green buildings cost a premium of <2%, but yield 10 times as much over the entire

life of the building. The stigma is between the knowledge of up-front cost vs. life-cycle

cost. The savings in money come from more efficient use of utilities which result in

decreased energy bills. Also, higher worker or student productivity can be factored into

savings and cost deductions. Studies have shown over a 20 year life period, some green

buildings have yielded $53 to $71 per square foot back on investment. It is projected that

different sectors could save $130 Billion on energy bills.

Rules & authorities in different countries

Many countries have developed their own standards for green building or energy

efficiency for buildings. Below are some examples of building environmental assessment

tools currently in use:

Australia: Nabers / Green Star

Brazil: AQUA

Canada: LEED Canada / Green Globes

China: GBAS

Finland: PromisE

France: HQE

Germany: DGNB/ CEPHEUS

Hong Kong: HKBEAM

India: GRIHA National Rating System developed by TERI


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Italy: Protocollo Itaca / Green Building Counsil Italia

Malaysia: GBI Malaysia

Mexico

Netherlands: BREEAM Netherlands

New Zealand: Green Star NZ

Portugal: Lider A

Singapore: Green Mark

South Africa: Green Star SA

Spain: VERDE

Switzerland: Minergie

United States: LEED / Living Building Challenge / Green Globes / Build it Green /

NAHB NGBS

United Kingdom: BREEAM

Why build green?

Green building is a very in vogue concept right now. Everyone knows that it is better for

the environment and that it can conserve energy and power consumption, but not many

people have taken the time to explore all the different advantages of going green when it

comes to building and remodeling homes, businesses, schools, and other facilities. Green

building has certain standards that has to be met, most of which include using resources

efficiently. This means things like water, materials, and energy, and using them in the

most efficient way to benefit the environment while building, but also to benefit the

environment as a completed structure.

Energy star rated appliances and windows are popular among new construction and home

remodeling. These offer lower energy bills and more effective ways of conducting

household tasks like cooking and refrigerating food. However, you can also use these

appliances in conjunction with a solar panel or wind energy, and save even more money

in the long run. Green building helps the environment. Everyone knows that. What

people might not know is that green building can also increase human health and life. For


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example, having a building with a natural daylight design can not only reduce energy

needs, but will also make people happier, healthier, and more productive.

Eco-friendly products and practices, such as green building, have many positive effects

on our daily lives. At the very simplest level of advantages is the pleased and helpful

feeling that people get when they buy green products or embark on a green building

project. It makes people feel like they are doing something productive that can benefit

society. People will feel better about themselves and their contributions to society, and

the green building process will help the environment by increasing energy efficiency and

cutting down or eliminating waste. For many people, it is a triumphant moment when

they employ the practices of green building to achieve environmentally friendly results in

their home, business or other building. Besides these the fact that green building is doing

well for our planet and making it a better place to live in be a great incentive in itself.

Advantages of green building

Green building concept has emerged from the need to meet high standards of energy

efficiency and environmental responsibility. Focus is mainly on resources such as energy,

water and materials and attains efficiency of these resources. It is said to reduce the

energy bills and offer a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Reduce the

effect of environmental hazards and ease its effects on human health and environment

too. It is said that natural daylight design reduces a building's electricity needs, and

improves people's health and productivity.

It is the use of eco-friendly materials that highlights the concept of green building.

Purchase eco-friendly products to build a green home or a sustainable environmental

building. Enhance the energy efficiency of your building! Put to use environmental

friendly technology and see how energy efficient your building can get. Passive solar

design can dramatically lower down the heating and cooling costs of a building, as with

high levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows.

It usually requires a systemic attention to the full life cycle impacts of resources which is

embodied in such green building and to the resource consumption and pollution

emissions over the buildings complete life cycle. Green buildings are also popularly

known as eco-homes or sustainable buildings. It is generally agreed that green buildings


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are structures which are designed, sited, built, renovated and operated to energy-efficient

guidelines, and that they will have a positive environmental, economic and social impact

over their life cycle. Green specifications provide a good set of guidelines for the

building industry. Make use of low energy appliances, energy efficient lighting and

renewable energy technologies which uses solar panels and wind turbines.

In short the major advantages of advantages of Green Buildings:

Provide a healthier and more comfortable environment and improve long-term

economic performance

Incorporate energy and water efficient technologies and renewable energy

technologies

Use recycled content materials in construction and reduces construction and

demolition waste

Reduce environmental impact and are easier to maintain & built to last

Understanding the advantages of green building can help more people to feel like it is

something that they want to do. Too many people know that green building is good, but

also feel that it is out of their reach. By helping people to realize that it really isn’t, the

world can easily become more eco-friendly in no time at all. Green products are more

affordable than they ever have been, and green building is more popular among

construction companies around the country as well. This makes it easy to access green

building and living, and to enjoy the advantages that come with it.


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4.0 Conclusion

The world’s resources are limited. The population of the world is increasing but the same

cannot be said for resources. To maintain the balance of nature we have to look towards

sustainable sources of energy. Now we are running out of fossil fuels while there is a

voracious market waiting to gobble up every bit of gas and oil coming its way. With

almost a billion cars in the world, many major cities are battling with air pollution.

Industrial scale pollution is also rampant. Our carbon emissions have caused the Earth to

heat up and it is melting the polar ice caps causing weather extremes, such as increased

number of cyclones, hotter summer, colder winters, flash floods, etc. This has cost us in

terms of lives and billions of dollars in crops and property. Things cannot be allowed to

run as they are if we are to have a habitable planet. So, we need green technology, to curb

our harmful influence on the environment and, if not undo, then at least reduce the

damage caused.

Solar energy is an excellent substitute for electricity production, instead of the traditional

methods using natural gas and oil. From cooking and heating our water to solar vehicles,

solar energy is one of the innovative ways green technology can help people curb their

dependence on non-renewable energy sources.

Green Building is a radical new direction in the construction and architecture of

commercial and residential buildings. It looks to provide a sustainable, energy-efficient

and, above all, an environment-friendly structure. From clean water efficiency to sewage

treatment to conservation to responsible and self-sufficient energy usage, this is the

embodiment of all that green technology hopes to accomplish.

Biofuels are an alternative source of fuel, which can be used for transportation and other

purposes instead of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable in the short term. Biofuels are

cleaner than fossil fuels, with reduced carbon emissions. It is also very cheap and can

affect a country’s economy.


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These sources of energy combined can help bring about balance in the environment and

lead people towards more ecofriendly lives which will ensure sources of energy for the

future generations.

Green Technology

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