Sustainable Lean and Green Design and Manufacturing Engineering, and Green Project Management References, Additional Learning Resources and Interactive Discussion Topics From the Web
(Please note, that web sites and even URLs change all the time, they are not controlled by the author of this document and therefore the content and even the links to the sites below might change...)
For comments and suggestions, please email Professor Paul G. Ranky at NJIT, NJ, USA: ranky@njit.edu
Hot Topic: Sustainable Energy: What Is It? Why Does It Matter? What Is IEEE Doing About It?
At IEEE Engaging the World, sustainable energy is the first "Hot Topic." What is Sustainable Energy, why is it so important to humanity, and how is IEEE addressing the world on this critical issue?
Abundant, cost-efficient energy is the staff of life, economic life, that is. Whether fired by fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas, or in renewable, that is, sustainable forms, such as wind, solar and nuclear, power makes modern economies ’Äì and modern standards of living ’Äì possible. Fossil fuels, however, are disappearing amid tremendous demand from both emerging and industrialized nations. Couple the supply-and-demand equation with the considerable environmental ramifications, and the burning of fossil fuels appears to be simply unsustainable.
More at: http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/ieeetw/issues/2008-08-27/1.html
USA IEEE On-line... A Less Well-Oiled War Machine, By Sandra Upson
First Published October 2008
The high cost of petroleum is forcing the U.S. military to turn to solar, geothermal, and wind energy.
In the middle of the Mojave Desert, a nondescript two-story building behind a gated fence houses an unlikely group of geologists. Their lineage is strong: several generations of prospectors have been drawn to dig in this dry corner. Within 100 kilometers of the geologists' base near China Lake, Calif., 19th-century gold diggers stumbled on riches, and later oilmen got lucky in the same inhospitable soil. Now these earth-minded fellows have grand ambitions of their own. Their aim is to turn the U.S. Department of Defense into one of the world's largest users of geothermal energy.
Among them are these desert geologists. Employed by the Navy, they are responsible for one of the largest geothermal power plants in the United States, a 270-megawatt generation facility at Coso Hot Springs, at China Lake. In the next few years, these scientists hope to figure prominently in a Department of Defense plan to generate 25 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.
More at: http://spectrum.ieee.org/oct08/6827
Also suggest to read this magazine frequently! http://spectrum.ieee.org
'What's happening behind the scenes in the semiconductor manufacturing industry?' More at: http://www.edn.com/blog/450000245/post/1150030715.html
Life is good in Solar Valley, More at: http://www.edn.com/blog/450000245/post/570027057.html
Full-scale solar cell prototype at 23.4% efficiency, More at: http://www.edn.com/blog/450000245/post/10026401.html
Are solar energy tax credits enough to boost industry?, More at: http://www.edn.com/blog/450000245/post/520008252.html
China: Green Dreams... Sustainable buildings and building green... More at: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/fellows/green_dreams/resources/links.html
New electronic products and environmental issues about green electronic design and manufacturing; updated continuously... More at: http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Default.aspx
National Instruments: Sustainable Curriculum Resources for green design and manufacturing... More at: http://www.ni.com/academic/resources.htm
Green engineering is the use of measurement and control techniques to design, develop, and improve products, technologies, and processes for environmental and economic benefits.
National Instruments enables green engineering with the graphical system design platform, providing measurement, automation, and design tools to measure and understand real-world data, then to correct or fix the problem by designing and developing more efficient products and technologies... Renewable Energy... Powergeneration... Environmental Monitoring... Machine and Process Optimization... More at: http://www.ni.com/greenengineering/
IndustryWeek Magazine with continuously updated and changing articles on sustainable green design and manufacturing... More at: http://www.industryweek.com/
IndustryWeek Magazine with continuously updated and changing event announcements on sustainable green design and manufacturing... More at: http://www.industryweek.com/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=560
IndustryWeek Magazine with continuously updated and changing articles on rebuilding American green design and manufacturing... More at: http://www.industryweek.com/manufacturing101/
IndustryWeek Magazine with downloadable white papers and articles on sustainable green design and manufacturing... More at: http://www.industryweek.com/Whitepapers/
Sustainable Manufacturing Has Moved from Concept to Reality... Motivated by spiraling energy costs, growing concerns about the future of non-renewable resources, and surging consumer demand for eco-friendly products, manufacturing giants such as GE's Ecomagination, IBM, Dupont, Toyota, BP, BASF, Apple Computer and many of the world's leading producers have incorporated sustainable manufacturing as a major enterprise-wide initiative.
The result has been dramatic and measurable energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, and new, cost efficient recycling and waste treatment methods and a wide range of new clean technologies ... More at: http://www.devicelink.com/expo/nmw08/nmw_GM.html
Mac for science... the Mac’Äôs ease of use, stability and superior performance help scientists achieve faster, more insightful results.... More at: http://www.apple.com/science/whymac/
Apple on the environment... Environmental protection is a priority for the conservation of precious natural resources and the continued health of our planet. Apple recognizes its responsibility as a global citizen and is continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of the work we do and the products we create... More at: http://www.apple.com/environment/
Also, about Apple Computers' recycling policies: http://store.apple.com/us/browse/recycling?mco=MTE3NDU
HP (USA) Eco Solutions... with some of the latest green design and manufacturing news... More at: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/globalcitizenship/environment/index.html
GM (USA) on the ecological footprint... More at: http://www.gm.com:80/experience/education/9-12/environment/index.html
Toyota USA main page... More at: http://www.toyota.com/index.html
Toyota Green Suppliers... in compliance with all internal and external regulations, Toyota provides training to employees who handle and/or transport hazardous materials. We also share our environmental processes with our business partners and suppliers... As part of our Supplier Environmental Program, approximately 500 of our suppliers are required to complete one or more of the following Green Supplier initiatives:... More at: http://www.toyota.com/about/our_commitment/environment/operations/green_suppliers.html
Toyota: 'OUR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENT: Green. That's how we'd like the world to be. As an environmental leader, Toyota does more than meet industry standards’Äîwe seek to raise them. With an unwavering commitment to environmental protection, Toyota strives to create clean and efficient products, and to conserve resources before our vehicles even hit the road...
The Global Earth Charter, under our Guiding Principles, was set forth to promote environmental responsibility for every aspect of our company and significantly reduce the impact our vehicles have on the planet... More at: http://www.toyota.com/about/our_commitment/environment/index.html
Toyota (USA) environmental news update... dynamicallt changing and updating articles and news... More at: http://www.toyota.com/about/our_commitment/environment/environment_updates/index.html
Perception of Air Pollution in China (by the Encyclopedia of Earth): Reading recent journal articles with titles such as ’Äú16 Chinese cities named in the World Bank list of 20 most polluted cities’Äù, "China is No 1. carbon dioxide emitter" or ’ÄúAs China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes’Äù must give the impression that total unprecedented situations regarding air pollution are encountered in China.
The situation is no doubt quite grave. In an overview by the World Bank (1) of the 20 cities exposed to highest concentrations of particulate matter (particles or droplets)... More at: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Air_pollution_in_China
An Earth Portal: Environmentally focused current articles... More at: http://www.earthportal.org/?page_id=70
An Earth Portal: Environmentally focused archive articles... More at: http://www.earthportal.org/?cat=16
Chineese Ministry of Environmental Protection news and dynamically changing updates in English... Also note, that it has an air quality update daily... More at: http://english.sepa.gov.cn/
More on China: the environment must remain a top priority as the country forges ahead in its development, Premier Wen Jiabao said during a visit to an industrial base in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region... dynamically changing news and updates on China... More at: http://english.sepa.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/200808/t20080818_127372.htm
Asessing pollution in China... More at: http://www.erenlai.com/index.php?aid=566&lan=3
WELCOME TO THE CLEAN AIR INITIATIVE FOR ASIAN CITIES: Our mission: to promote and demonstrate innovative ways to improve the air quality in Asian cities through partnerships and sharing experiences.... dynamically updated news and facts... More at: http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/channel.html
WELCOME TO THE CLEAN AIR INITIATIVE FOR Europe, North America, and... More at: http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/propertyvalue-13632.html
NASA Satellites Track Human Exposure to Fine Particle Pollution... When it comes to air pollution, the smallest size can do the most harm. More than a decade ago, a pioneering study by Harvard's School of Public Health showed that one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution is particulate matter 10 microns (about 0.0004 inch) or less in size.
Called PM 10, this tiny airborne debris is a product of burning fossil fuels. It can be found wherever there are cars, boilers and power plants. Fires and dust storms are also... More at: http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/misrf-20070510.html
World Health Organization (WHO): Air pollution: This page provides links to descriptions of activities, reports, news and events, as well as contacts and cooperating partners in the various WHO programmes and offices working on this topic. Also shown are links to related web sites and topics... More at: http://www.who.int/topics/air_pollution/en/
World Health Organization (WHO): Air pollution: KEY FACTS:
- Air pollution is a major environmental risk to health and is estimated to cause approximately 2 million premature deaths worldwide per year.
- Exposure to air pollutants is largely beyond the control of individuals and requires action by public authorities at the national, regional and even international levels.
- The WHO Air quality guidelines represent the most widely agreed and up-to-date assessment of health effects of air pollution, recommending targets for air quality at which the health risks are significantly reduced.
- By reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre, we can cut air quality related deaths by around 15%. (PM10 is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution is particulate matter 10 microns (about 0.0004 inch) or less in size).
- By reducing air pollution levels, we can help countries reduce the global burden of disease from respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer.
- The WHO guidelines provide interim targets for countries that still have very high levels of air pollution to encourage the gradual cutting down of emissions. These interim targets are: a maximum of three days a year with up to 150 micrograms of PM10 per cubic metre (for short term peaks of air pollution), and 70 micrograms per cubic metre for long term exposures to PM10.
- More than half of the burden from air pollution on human health is borne by people in developing countries. In many cities, the average annual levels of PM10 (the main source of which is the burning of fossil fuels) exceed 70 micrograms per cubic metre. The guidelines say that, to prevent ill health, those levels should be lower than 20 micrograms per cubic metre... More at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/index.html
World Health Organization (WHO): Evaluating household energy and health interventions: a catalogue of methods. This catalogue of methods is intended to help governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and universities involved with household energy and health interventions develop an evaluation strategy appropriate to their needs.
It discusses evaluation options in relation to Adoption, Market development, Performance, Pollution levels and personal exposure, Health and safety, Time, socio-economic and other impacts and environmental impacts... More at: http://www.who.int/indoorair/publications/en/index.html
World Health Organization (WHO): Worldwide prevalence of anaemia 1993-2005: August 2008 -- Written for public health officials, nutritionists and researchers, this report presents the prevalence of anaemia by country and by WHO regions.
One chapter is dedicated to the criteria used to identify, revise, and select the surveys, and the methodology developed to generate national, regional, and global estimates... More at: http://www.who.int/publications/en/
World Health Organization (WHO): International Travel and Health... More at: http://www.who.int/ith/chapters/en/index.html
Confidence is More Than a Cloak We Wear... "You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them." - Michael Jordan... More at: http://www.championsclub.org.uk/editorials/confidence-is2.php
CSIRO: Developing technologies for sustainable manufacturing... and cleaner manufacturing processes... More at: http://www.csiro.au/science/SustainableManufacturing.html
The U.S. Department of Commerce’Äôs Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative and Public-Private Dialogue: This website will serve as your information portal on what the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal government agencies are doing to support sustainable manufacturing in America...
In order to offer effective and continued support to U.S. companies in their sustainable manufacturing efforts, Commerce’Äôs Manufacturing & Services unit has launched a Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) and Public-Private Dialogue that aims to a) identify U.S. industry’Äôs most pressing sustainable manufacturing challenges and b) coordinate public and private sector efforts to address these challenges... More at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/competitiveness/sustainablemanufacturing/index.asp
The Manufacturing.gov website is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, and current information on issues surrounding the competitiveness of American manufacturers and service industries.... More at: http://www.manufacturing.gov
At Environmental Working Group (EWG), our team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers and computer programmers pores over government data, legal documents, scientific studies and our own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions. Our research brings to light unsettling facts that you have a right to know.... Dynamically updated pages... More at: http://www.ewg.org/
The Christian Science Monitor on the Environment... Some excellent reports and articles... Dynamically updated pages... More at: http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/story-list/?post_author=4
Geothermal technology... Google’Äôs philanthropic arm, Google.org, is investing $10.25 million in two companies working on a new way to tap into the heat beneath the earth’Äôs surface.... The Christian Science Monitor reports... More at: http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/08/20/google-invests-1025-million-in-geothermal-technology/
Green Manufacturing Is A Strategic Priority: In the not-too-distant future, environmentally benign manufacturing will become one of industry’Äôs greatest strategic challenges, not only from an engineering perspective, but from a business and marketing perspective as well...
Many large, multinational companies are cognizant of impending overseas environmental regulations and growing consumer demand for a new generation of environmentally friendly products, and they are beginning to formulate their response. Some have embraced the notion that green products and production techniques are a competitive weapon.
But many manufacturers, especially smaller ones in the United States, are far behind in acknowledging and addressing the environmental concerns of governments and consumers, according to a soon-to-be released analysis from the World Technology Evaluation Center at Loyola College in Maryland... More at: http://www.manufacturingnews.com/news/00/0915/art1.html
6 Home heating alternatives... More at: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/news/0808/gallery.home_heating/2.html
'77% of manufacturing executives believe energy prices will rise significantly next year, and that energy efficiency practices need to be boosted... More at: http://events.eyefortransport.com/manufacturing/?gclid=CM3k5ozwnpUCFQxNegodngVMkA
Coal goes clean and green... As Ultra Clean Coal technology steps up a gear, Distributed Starter systems from Rockwell Automation provide the deployment speed and ongoing flexibility required of UCC Energy's working pilot plant.
Despite the incongruity of the words 'ultra clean' and 'coal', they can't help but resonate when coupled together. With the heightened emphasis on clean fuel technologies after 1997's Kyoto Greenhouse Summit, considerable attention has been directed towards methods of reducing carbon dioxide emissions during the combustion of fossil fuels -- particularly coal. A significant step towards meeting this goal is the development of Ultra Clean Coal (UCC) -- a new kind of coal-based fuel that has the potential to realise dramatic improvements in energy conversion.
Australia's White Mining, in collaboration with the national Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), has developed a UCC process aimed at using coal as a gas turbine fuel -- a more efficient combustion process than burning coal to produce steam for steam turbines... More at: http://www.rockwellautomation.com.au/applications/gs/ap/gsau.nsf/pages/Coal_goes_clean_and_green
GE is one of the world's leading wind turbine suppliers. With over 8,400 worldwide wind turbine installations comprising more than 11,300 MW of capacity, our knowledge and expertise spans more than two decades.
With wind manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States, our current product portfolio includes wind turbines with rated capacities ranging from 1.5 to 3.6 megawatts and support services ranging from development assistance to operation and maintenance. More at: http://www.ge-energy.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/index.htm
The industrial giant General Electric began a few years ago to buy up some of the renewable-energy divisions from larger companies like Enron. Now, GE is increasing its R&D and marketing development budgets to create a larger name for itself in coal gasification, wind power and fuel cells.
Ali Iz, the general manager of technology growth at General Electric, the group that oversees GE's solar and other alternative-energy efforts, recently sat down with News.com Editor at Large Michael Kanellos to discuss how the conglomerate will bring out products that will pollute less and add to GE's bottom line.
One thing we are doing though is doubling the R&D spending from about $700 million to a billion and a half by 2010 on cleaner technologies. That's a major commitment, and that includes fuel cells, wind, coal gasification, combined cycle and cleaner gas-turbine technology.
And this is not just energy. Cleaner products and technology also will impact our transportation business, rail and our aircraft engine business. More at: http://news.cnet.com/Behind-GEs-clean-energy-push/2008-1082_3-6031901.html
GE invests in NY wind farms: STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, US, July 17, 2008. GE Energy Financial Services is investing US$100 million in New York State’Äôs three newest wind farms.
Construction began in June under Noble Environmental Power, which is the managing co-investor responsible for construction, operation and management of the facilities. The projects are set to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2008.
The three wind farms are:
- The 106.5MW Noble Chateaugay Windpark in Franklin County
- The 97.5MW Noble Altona Windpark in Clinton County
- The 126 MW Noble Weathersfield Windpark in Wyoming County
Made up of 1.5MW GE wind turbines, the farms will generate a combined 330MW and could increase the wind producing capacity of the state by 47%.
The projects mark a US$4 billion investment milestone for GE in renewable energy. Including the latest investment, GE has committed to provide equity for 76 wind farms worldwide, with a total capacity of over 4,000MW. The company aims to invest US$6bn and have 20-25% of its overall energy and water portfolio coming from renewables by 2010. More at: http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/articles/windon/bus_news/080717_ge.html
International Chamber of Commerce on the Environment.. several articles rules, news... dynamically updated... More at: http://www.iccwbo.org/policy/environment/
International Chamber of Commerce on the Environment.. Sustainability... More at: http://www.iccwbo.org/policy/environment/id16966/index.html
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, having met at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992, reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16 June 1972,/a and seeking to build upon it, with the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership through the creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of societies and people, working towards international agreements which respect the interests of all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental system, recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our home, proclaims that:
More at: http://habitat.igc.org/agenda21/
Task Force 3: ReUse: In this Task Force we focus on the development of replicable and sustainable reuse/refurbishment/spare parts development systems in order to minimize environmental, health and safety impacts ’Äì especially in industrializing countries. What is the benefit of reuse? What is the current situation? What are barriers to reuse? ... And how to overcome these? More at: http://www.step-initiative.org/taskforces/tf3.php
Recycling in China... Unlike many western nations whose citizens, for the most part, participate in recycling due to a combination of environmental awareness and municipal initiatives, in China the motivation for almost all participants to recycle is purely... More at: http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/
Toxicity...High levels of chemicals were causing skin irritations: SYDNEY (Kyodo) -- An Australian electricity company has recalled 14,000 Chinese-made uniforms after tests revealed high levels of chemicals were causing skin irritations, a company spokesman said Tuesday.
Formaldehyde is a chemical used in the production process to prevent creasing in clothes and fabrics and has side effects ranging from skin irritations to cancer. More at: http://www.manufacturing.net/News-Australian-Company-Recalls-Toxic-Chinese-Uniforms.aspx?menuid=36
High logistics and transportation costs actually help greeneng because companies re-think their manufacturing and shipping strategies... Made (again) in America: The rising cost of labor and shipping abroad are driving manufacturing back to the U.S. So are the logistics of dealing with far-flung suppliers.
NEW YORK (Fortune) -- Talk of a reverse migration of manufacturing from China to the U.S. has been buzzing across union halls and factory floors, corporate boardrooms and Wall Street.
The cost of shipping outsourced goods from China to U.S. customers has doubled in just two years thanks to high oil prices, and labor costs in China are rising sharply.
"We will be shipping American-made cookware to China by the end of September." he says. He adds with a laugh: "Talk about man bites dog." ....More at: http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/11/news/international/China.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008091112
Designing a Greener Supply Chain...
To create a green supply chain companies can optimize the physical supply chain, lower energy usage in the manufacturing conversion process and improving product design and packaging to minimize waste.
Green is not a fad. These issues will not go away. The question is whether U.S. manufacturers will lead this new global trend or whether they will wait and react to it. The early returns are encouraging to me, as I see more and more manufacturers here make environmental sustainability a part of their identity. It's a smart, long-term business decision with a surprisingly quick return on investment. ... More at: http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=17245
Global warming is an urgent, but solvable problem... founded by Nobel Prize Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore.
Visit: http://www.wecansolveit.org/. Here, you can learn about solutions to global warming, take action steps and even find events happening in your community. Although it’Äôs not too late, global warming is very serious and there is no time to lose. So please don’Äôt wait any longer ...
Also, think of all of the people you interact with in your daily life, from neighbors to local business owners. Each of these people can help stop global warming! Here are some ways you can get your friends and neighbors engaged and active in your community... More at: http://www.wecansolveit.org/content/community
Your data center is the engine that drives business growth... As IT demands and cost pressures increase, improved efficiency is the best way to keep profitability on track. IBM claims, that businesses spend 30-40% of their operational budgets on energy... you need experience to help to design, upgrade, reconfigure or build your data center. This can help cut down on energy consumption and the associated costs, to meet your business goals... More on energy savings at: http://www-01.ibm.com/software/info/green/services/index.jsp?ca=agus_itgrnservlp-20080812&me=banner&met=gtscopier&re=itbecontent&s_tact=6n8ag18w&cm_mmc=6n8ag18w-_-b-_-gtscopier-itbecontent-_-agus_itgrnservlp-20080812
New steels coupled with new designs significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Future Steel Vehicle Program (FSV)...
"We're not just looking at the vehicle design and its impact on greenhouse gases at the tailpipe," says Jody Shaw, manager, technical marketing and product research, U.S. Steel Corp. and chair of the FSV Program. "We're concerned with the whole life cycle of the vehicle, from the emissions produced and energy used to create raw materials, all the way to the impact of recycling. If the whole life cycle is not taken into account, there is the distinct possibility of having a net increase in greenhouse gasses if the wrong material choice is made. This isn't just speculation - we have very clear models that demonstrate this."
Krupitzer also said the U.S. steel industry, in collaboration with its global counterparts, are undertaking aggressive research and development programs to develop the next generation of iron and steelmaking technologies that will drastically reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions throughout the total life cycle of the vehicle. The AISI says that steel produces five to 15 times less emission than other materials used for lightweighting... More at: http://www.designnews.com/article/48275-New_Steels_Make_Play_for_Hybrid_Fuel_Cell_Vehicles.php?nid=2334&rid=649929
Canon is partnering with the American Park Network (APN) to help give back to the environment...
From May 1 - August 31, 2008, a tree will be planted in a participating state park for every ten Canon products registered with qualifying Generation Green features.
Together with APN we will help rebuild some of our state parks and give back to all of our customers who took the time to register their eco-conscious product. Up to 20,000 total trees could be planted over the course of the program, depending on the total number of products registered. Register your Eco-Conscious Canon product between the above-mentioned dates and help us replenish our environment one tree at a time... More at: http://www.everyonesaygreen.com/home
Carbon footprint calculator at: http://www.everyonesaygreen.com/carbon-calculator
On European Car Free Day, 22 September 2007, WHO asks policy-makers to reinforce efforts to encourage active transport: Copenhagen, Rome, 21 September... Walk and cycle every day for a healthier and longer life... Is physical activity part of our daily transport? Respondents to a recently published Eurobarometer opinion survey [1] covering all 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) indicate that cycling and walking account for about one quarter of mobility in the enlarged EU, with great variations across countries. Yet, physical inactivity is estimated to cause nearly 600 000 deaths per year in the WHO European Region.
50% of car journeys in Europe, for example, are under 5 km, a distance that could be covered by bicycle within 15’Äì20 minutes or by brisk walking within 30’Äì50 minutes.
30 minutes or more of this moderate physical activity every day, corresponding to the burning of 150 kcal (and not necessarily at one time), provide a simple and effective way to prevent diseases. The resulting benefits involve both physical and mental wellbeing and substantially reduce the risk of related disorders such as coronary heart disease, adult diabetes, hypertension, some forms of cancer and obesity, as well as the psychological consequences of a sedentary life (stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness).
The celebration of European Car Free Day as part of the European Mobility Week (16-22 September) is an important opportunity for raising awareness about the possibility of achieving multiple health gains through policies that promote cycling and walking and for experimenting using different means of transport. More at: http://www.euro.who.int/mediacentre/PR/2007/20070921_1
Design for Green... Pierburg's use of aluminum in its exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler made it possible to combine the EGR module with the intake manifold, contributing to reduced weight and inherent corrosion resistence.
Langerock Design: Ongoing refinement of pollution-control strategies is not going to go away any time soon. As far as diesel engines are concerned’Äîbe they in light- or heavy-duty applications’Äîthat fact applies particularly to the continuing suppression of NOx. Cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) plays an important part because of its role in significantly reducing NOx output. With ample experience in the development and production of EGR systems, Kolbenschmidt Pierburg has developed an aluminum module that it says permits both targeted cooling and control of the EGR mass.
In designing the new cooler module, the Pierburg team developed what it describes as a ’Äúnovel’Äù exhaust gas routing arrangement via specially shaped fins that contribute to long-term cooling performance. The cooler is suitable for both low- and high-pressure processes and can be incorporated in the intake manifold of engines with matching design features.... More at: http://www.sae.org/mags/SOHE/4314
Imagine this - MBA students from the country's top business schools spend a summer working with companies to help them reduce their environmental footprint, save energy and save money.
Sounds like a great idea, right? Well, this summer, our Corporate Partnerships team launched Climate Corps’Äîa Peace Corps-like program designed to help companies reduce their environmental footprints and save energy.
In fact, the energy used in commercial buildings each year is a major source of global warming pollution, responsible for about 17% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Our Climate Corps team is now back from the trenches’Äîand here are some of their stories... More at: http://edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=28123
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- In a windowless workshop near the county landfill, a small Raleigh company has spent the past year trying to solve the nation's energy crisis one car at a time.
The cluttered Advanced Vehicle Research Center garage, tucked in an office park, can accommodate two Toyota Priuses. Lately, the bay stays full. Demand keeps the cars rolling in for a makeover some say will become standard as the car industry weans itself off gasoline. In less than four hours, the mechanics at the garage can outfit a Prius with a second battery pack. It emerges as a hybrid that can plug into a wall outlet to recharge like a cell phone.
The center's small crew -- founder and president Richard Dell, a former IBM project manager, plus two auto mechanics -- can retrofit three Prius orders a day... More at: http://www.manufacturing.net/News-Demand-Surges-For-Plug-In-Hybrid-Conversions.aspx?menuid=36
The numbers are in, and the California Academy of Sciences is officially the greenest museum in the world.
Yep, it’Äôs platinum.
Museum officials decided early on to go for the highest LEED rating possible, and October 7 they learned that the U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Renzo Piano-designed building 54 points, enough to secure a platinum rating. A building must earn 52 points to be considered platinum.
The new building houses an aquarium, planetarium and natural history museum and opened to the public on September 27. Sustainability is built into its physical structure as well as into all museum exhibits.
Six different categories are considered and measured to determine LEED ratings: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resouces, indoor environmental quality and, finally, innovation and design process... More at: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/10/06/daily56.html
About LEED rating and certification at: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19
Manufacturing solar cells using nothing more than some nail polish remover, a pizza oven and a standard inkjet printer...
An Australian scientist has developed a new method of manufacturing solar cells using nothing more than some nail polish remover, a pizza oven and a standard inkjet printer.
The iJET technique is so easy and cheap to carry out that it could revolutionize access to solar technology in the developing world.
In a recent radio interview (audio), Nicole Kuepper, a 23 year-old PhD student at the University of New South Wales, explained the process.
Firstly, she takes a standard silicon solar cell and sprays it with a substance similar to nail polish. Then, she inkjet prints something like nail polish remover onto the wafer in a set pattern in the same way that you’Äôd print a normal photo. This enables the creation of high-resolution patterns on the cell at a very low cost. The cell is then metallized with an aluminum spray and baked at a very low temperature of around 550 fahrenheit in ’Äúsomething like a pizza oven.’Äù
Kuepper went on to explain how solar cells are currently manufactured using expensive ’Äúhigh-tech, high-cleanliness equipment,’Äù too costly for many countries in the developing world, adding, ’Äúwe’Äôre trying to do away with all of that so that so we can ensure that these solar cells can actually be manufactured in a developing country’Äôs environment that you might find in say Ghana or Laos for example.’Äù... More at: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/05/new-ijet-solar-cell-is-as-easy-to-make-as-pizza/
This site offers some excellent other news on solar....
Gap Stores Unveil One Megawatt Solar Power System at Fresno Distribution Facility
Written by Tom Schueneman
Published on October 9th, 2008
in alternative energy, business, solar energy
Fresno is the hub to California’Äôs central valley, and no stranger to solar power development. Many civic and private organizations take advantage of the sunny conditions including Fresno Yosemite airport with a 4.2 megawatt installation and Fresno State University’Äôs 1.2 megawatt solar system.
At the ceremony for Gap Stores on Tuesday, representatives from the mayors office welcomed Gap into Fresno’Äôs growing ’Äúgreen family’Äù... More at: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/09/gap-stores-unveil-one-megawatt-solar-power-system-at-fresno-distribution-facility/
New Solar Cells Can Be Rolled Up Like a Carpet
Written by Ariel Schwartz
Published on October 6th, 2008
in alternative energy, solar energy
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University have developed a new type of silicon solar cell that is flexible enough to be used on a curved surface or fabric. Currently, most solar cells are rigid due to the use of plastic in their production.
The flexible solar cells are produced by slicing rigid silicon wafers into tiny bits and placing them on a flexible surface. The sliced chips are 10 to 100 times thinner than a normal silicon wafer.
Unlike thin-film solar cells already produced by Sharp and Q-Cells, the new technology uses highly efficient single crystal silicon.
Either way, the advent of the new solar cells shows that a little creativity can greatly enhance existing technology... More at: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/06/new-solar-cells-can-be-rolled-up-like-a-carpet/
British Newspaper Releases Top 10: The Hottest Clean Technology Companies in Europe
Written by Amiel Blajchman
Published on October 9th, 2008
in alternative energy, manufacturing, products, solar energy, technology
The UK’Äôs Guardian newspaper published their top 10 list of hottest cleantech companies in Europe, and what a mix! (The list of the companies can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/table/2008/sep/18/cleantech100top10.cleantechnology100)
Companies profiled include those involved in:
Solar power;
Electrical systems;
Marine power;
Industrial applications; and
Distribution and management
Of the ten companies, eight are shipping product, and the other two are either in testing or development, but the technology is promising enough to warrant inclusion into the 2008 Guardian/Library House Cleantech 100’Äôs top 10.
How were the Cleantech 100 and the Cleantech 100’Äôs top 10 chosen? An initial list of 200 companies was chosen by using Library House’Äôs cleantech database using indicators including each company’Äôs capital history, positive news stories, size of management team, and an internal analyst selection to make sure companies were credible. Since investment-only companies were excluded, this ensured that the list was not weighted towards venture capital investments.
An advisory board was then invited to nominate other companies that were not on the list (provided that at least half the nominees were companies to which board members had no affiliation). Advisory board members then assessed this list against fairly broad criteria: environmental impact and future growth prospects. This assessment created a list of 100, and then top vote getters were put forward for inclusion into the top 10.
While companies on these lists are not household names (yet), many of the companies included in both lists have that potential... More at: http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/09/british-newspaper-releases-top-10-the-hottest-clean-technology-companies-in-europe/
August 2008 Vol. 141 No. 2
When is Green Manufacturing Green?
The term "green manufacturing" has different meanings to different people, usually based on their discipline and training. You can get needlessly sidetracked by definitional disputes. Becoming green should be considered to be a journey, not a destination or static state. Green manufacturing is a key component of operating a sustainable business that helps you uncover hidden value for your business, while creating value for the environment, the stakeholders, and the greater community both now and in the future. There is very serious interest in green manufacturing within the manufacturing community. We are currently seeing a major shift in philosophy, acceptance, and emphasis.
Becoming green can be viewed as a process where you start using more eco-friendly feed stocks that have low embedded energy and come from renewable resources. You will use these materials to produce products that meet sustainable product standards promulgated by standards-setting bodies like ANSI and ISO. We refer to this as the green-transformation process. Methods for measuring embedded energy and other green properties of the goods provided by your suppliers are available or being formulated at this time. Product standards, such as the ANSI NSF 410 sustainable carpet standard, are also either available or in process.
Next, you need to operate an ecoefficient manufacturing process. You need to pay attention to the direct and indirect use of all resources (i.e., energy, water, and materials), and the loss of these resources from each activity in your product and service processes. The indirect use and loss of resources comes from all of your supporting processes (e.g., air compressors, air and water-pollution control equipment, boilers, chillers, etc.). It's important for you to measure and monitor your resource productivity. Many manufacturing firms use a variety of management system standards and business excellence frameworks to effectively manage their processes for eco-efficiency.
You cannot ignore the manufacturing environment as a source of green opportunities. This includes the building, lighting, HVAC, logistics, visual factory, cleaning, information technology, and nonproduction facilities (e.g., offices, cafeteria, lavatories, grounds keeping, etc.). There are a lot of quick wins available in this category.
An interest in green manufacturing does not automatically translate into a commitment to make the necessary changes at your facility. The process of becoming green is really a matter of money. The only reason why a manufacturing plant would resist the move to a green or a more sustainable business is because of the costs that are associated with the "leaning" of the transformation process, the manufacturing processes, and the associated supporting and manufacturing environment processes.
So what are the real costs of going green? Many manufacturing plants view this as a choice between being more environmentally responsible and allowing employees to keep their jobs. This view of green is slowly being converted to realizing business opportunities that gain positive feedback from environmentally conscious customers, and the increase in sales because of it. Reducing energy and water use are the most common and simplest places to start when it comes to turning your plant green. Eliminating all wastes from all business practices is an important mid-term goal. In the longer term, you can develop green technology and products that take your manufacturing business to a higher level of green. Remember that this is a journey. Environmental responsibility in the manufacturing sector not only includes contributing to the creation of your own company, but also in being able to manufacture those supplies that will facilitate the ability of other sectors in becoming green. Everything is connected to everything else.
Having a successful journey to business sustainability requires you to align the green manufacturing program with your company's vision, mission statement, and guiding principles. Only by fully integrating the effort with the core business will it have the management support necessary for enabling your company to complete that journey. You need to have the employees involved in the planning as well as the implementation of your programs. Employees are a key source of knowledge for your green transformation. It is important to have mutually beneficial relationships with your suppliers, your customers, and your key stakeholders. As mentioned above, you must maintain a process focus and a systems approach to management. Finally, you must use lean, six sigma, and other process-improvement approaches to maintain continual improvement throughout your journey.
Green manufacturing becomes green when you integrate a number of proven methods competently to meet customer and market needs with eco-efficient processes and their corresponding benefits to the environment, key stakeholders, and the community at large. The real green comes from the value to your top line (branding) and your bottom line as you contribute positively to the local economy. This may be the best argument to use with your executives as you seek their support for your green manufacturing initiatives.
Innovations That Could Change the Way You Manufacture
Ultracapacitors: Have Batteries Met Their Match?
Adam W. Stienecker, PhD
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH
For years the manufacturing sector has relied on portable energy in the form of the battery and the internal combustion engine to supply energy to the vast array of different vehicles within a plant. These vehicles range from AGVs to worker-operated forklifts, with capabilities ranging from simple transport of parts to complex network-operated systems. This equipment has served industry well, but has some major power-system drawbacks. Today's vehicles are likely to be powered by a lead-acid battery. These battery packs suffer from an array of disabling problems that require complex charging systems and large amounts of precious plantfloor real estate, not to mention an overwhelming supply of spare batteries. A more recent development in the technology of power storage has created a buzz among researchers. While the advances throughout the years in battery science have been numerous, this advance is causing many engineers to think twice about specifying a battery in their system.
Greenhouse gas emissions...
Using the World Resources Institute (WRI) database on greenhouse gas emissions and related data, this report examines two issues.
The first issue is the separate treatment of developed and developing nations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. This distinction has been a pivotal issue affecting U.S. climate change policy.
The second issue is the continuing difficulty of the current approach designed to address climate change through limiting greenhouse gas emissions to a specified percentage of baseline emissions (typically 1990)...
...Climate change is a global issue[1]; however, greenhouse gas emissions data on a global basis are incomplete. Some developing countries have no institutions for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and have never reported such emissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).[2] In a similar vein, data on individual greenhouse gases, sources, and land-use patterns vary greatly in quality. Despite shortcomings in the data, the emerging picture of emissions has implications for considering alternative policies for controlling emissions. First, the picture outlines the estimated contributions of individual countries. Second, evaluating those emissions in terms of socio-economic characteristics (e.g., population and economic activity) provides insights on the potentially divergent interests of differing groups of nations ’Äî especially concerning developed nations versus developing ones.[3]
More at: http://www.earthportal.org/?p=1068
What are Green House Gases?
Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that contribute to the greenhouse effect. When in the atmosphere a greenhouse gas allow sunlight (solar radiation) to enter the atmosphere where it warms the Earth’Äôs surface and is reradiated back into the atmosphere as longer-wave energy (heat).
Greenhouse gases absorb this heat and ’Äòtrap’Äô it in the lower atmosphere.
More at: http://www.eoearth.org/article/Greenhouse_gas
One man's garbage becomes another's power plant ... A methane gas collection pipe sticks out of the 1-E landfill in Kearny, N.J., Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, with a view of the New York skyline behind. The Kearny site is among 21 landfills in New Jersey that convert methane gas produced by decomposing trash into electricity, according to the state Board of Public Utilities.
By DAVID PORTER
The Associated Press
Sunday, October 26, 2008; 8:57 PM
KEARNY, N.J. -- Standing atop the 400-acre 1-E landfill, you get a panoramic view of the Meadowlands sports complex to the north and the New York City skyline to the east. You're also standing on a critical part of New Jersey's, and the nation's, energy future.
Decades' worth of household trash, construction waste and assorted refuse buried in the landfill are providing electricity to thousands of homes.
"It's like you're buying back your own garbage, but in a different form," said Tom Marturano, director of solid waste and natural resources for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, which owns and operates the 1-E site.
The Kearny site is among 21 landfills in New Jersey where methane gas produced by decomposing garbage is used as fuel to generate electricity, according to the state Board of Public Utilities.
More at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102600871.html
For comments and suggestions, please email Professor Paul G. Ranky at NJIT, NJ, USA: ranky@njit.edu