Energy & Sustainability – Page 193

So You Want to Replace Your PVC

Gibb S.E., Beckman E.J., University of Pittsburgh, US

This paper looks at product design in the context of PVC pipe replacement. A three metric system is used assessing the functionality, economics, and environmental aspects of a product to truly create greener products that [...]

Environmentally Intelligent Integral Waterproofing and Corrosion Protection for Concrete

Veramallay S., Horan T., Hycrete, Inc., US

Hycrete is a proven admixture for concrete that makes the concrete waterproof and protects the steel reinforcement from corrosion. The material itself is a nanotechnology and is Cradle-to-Cradle certified as an environmentally intelligent product. Concrete [...]

A Hybrid Approach to Carbon Reductions in Existing Homes: Deep Efficiency and Renewables

Knox B., GreenHomes America, US

Existing homes are responsible for 20% of America’s energy consumption and over 10% of worldwide energy consumption. The least expensive and most effective way to provide additional energy throughout the world is to make existing [...]

Design and Development of a Large-Scale Compressed Earth Block Building System for Developed Countries

Tate D., Ertas A., Maxwell T., Park K., Lawson W., Texas Tech University, US

Designers of building systems of today and tomorrow must approach energy, environmental, and economic considerations in a holistic manner. Energy and resource consumption for building systems consist not only of energy use during the occupancy [...]

Photoactive and coloured anodic oxides on titanium for architectural and design applications

Diamanti M.V., Del Curto B., Ormellese M., Pedeferri MP., Politecnico di Milano, IT

Anodising processes can lead to the formation of oxides showing a wide range of interference colours with different hues and saturations depending on process parameters. The control of morphology, structure and homogeneity of the oxide [...]

Green Buildings & Construction

Surface plasmon polariton assisted organic solar cells

Kim C., Kim J., Lee J-Y, Peumans P., Kim C., Kim J., Duke University, US

A fundamental limitation of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells is due to the trade-off between light absorption and exciton diffusion. We show that light absorption in an OPV cell can be enhanced by replacing a conventional [...]

Advanced Low-Temperature Geothermal Technology

Thomas D., Trimodal Group, US

Trimodal has developed a revolutionary new highly efficient engine design which is our (LTPC) Engine-expander, which is a positive displacement, compounded, Organic Rankine Cycle expander operating on a binary system. The prime energy sources are [...]

A New Computational Model for Fluid-Structure Interaction Phenomena in Wind-Turbine Blades

Ponta F.L., Otero A.D., Lago L.I., Michigan Technological University, US

Limitations in the current blade technology constitute a technological barrier that needs to be broken in order to continue the improvement in wind-energy cost. Blade manufacturing is mostly based on composite laminates, which is labor-intensive [...]

Large Scale Integration of Wind Power Generation

Moura P.S., Almeida A.T., University of Coimbra, PT

The 2001/77/CE European Commission Directive sets the target of 22% and 39% of gross electricity generation from renewables for the Europe and Portugal by 2010. To satisfy this target, it is planned the installation of [...]