Green Technology

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary
iii
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Origin of the report
1.2 Objectives
1.3 Scope
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Limitations
2.0 What is Green Technology
3.0 Prominent Examples of green Technology
3.1 Solar Energy
3.2 Biofuels
15
3.3 Green Building
21
4.0 Conclusion
33
ii
Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)
Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development
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 nonrenewable 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 environmentfriendly, 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.
iii
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
earths 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.
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
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.
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 heatheat 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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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
13
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.
14
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 worlds 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.
15
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.
16
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, nonscalable 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
17
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.
18
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-orbiomass crops (e.g. Miscanthus). Second generation (2G) biofuels use biomass to liquid
technology, including cellulosic biofuels from non-food crops. Many second generation
19
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.
20
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 secondgeneration 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:
21
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
22
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 datas, 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.
23
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.
24
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
25
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
26
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, wellbeing, and productivity of occupants. The IEQ also addresses design and
construction guidelines especially: indoor air quality (IAQ), thermal quality, and
lighting quality.
27
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
28
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
29
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
30
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
31
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 isnt, 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.
32
4.0 Conclusion
The worlds 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 countrys economy.
33
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.
34

Green Technology

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Green Technology

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.1 Origin of the report

2.0 What is Green Technology

3.0 Prominent Examples of green Technology

3.1 Solar Energy

3.3 Green Building

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

1.1 Origin of the Report

Describe sustainable energy generation technologies, possible solutions

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

2.0 Green Technology

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

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

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Environmentally preferred purchasing

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

using clean fuel

using renewable energy

living in an environment friendly home

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

3.0 Prominent Examples of Green Technology

3.1 Solar Energy

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Applications of solar energy

a) Designing and Urban Planning

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

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

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Vehicles running on petrol and gas contribute considerably to air

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

Methods of storing solar energy

a) Batteries for storage

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

b) Natural zeolites for solar energy storage

c) Sensible heat storage

d) Latent heat storage

e) Chemical reaction energy storage

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

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

Advantages of solar power and solar power applications

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

Economics of Geography and Environment (G101)

Clean Technology: a greener aspect to development

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

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