AP: NEW YORK - Starbucks Corp. is installing new water faucets in its U.S. stores that will allow the company to save about 150 gallons of water a day -- roughly two bathtubs' worth -- at each of its cafes after receiving criticism and as part of a green initiative.
The company said it will no longer run water continuously out of its taps to wash spoons and will instead install new faucets that meter out water. Baristas press the faucet once and high pressure water sprays out long enough to rinse a spoon. The faucets are now being installed in all U.S. stores -- a process that will be completed by September -- and will be delivered to select international stores in the fall. About 600 stores, mainly in California, now have the new faucets.
Stores that do not receive the new metered faucets will use a "single spoon, single pitcher" procedure, which involves using a spoon once and setting it aside to be cleaned and sanitized when dishes are washed.
"These standards balance Starbucks' need to reduce our environmental footprint and to meet the most stringent health safety standards for customer safety, with minimal cost and operational impact," the company said in documents obtained by the Associated Press, which outlined new procedures for using the faucets.
The company uses spoons to stir up its coffee concoctions and hold back foam when pouring steamed milk into its iconic cups. Starbucks mandates that the spoons be rinsed free of any residue between uses and sanitized every two hours.
The changover in faucets comes after the company was criticized by environomental groups for wasting water by keeping the tap turned on all day.
Angel Gardner, a barista in Minneapolis and a member of the Industrial Workers of the World union, characterized the change as "bow to public pressure."
Starbucks said it has been working since 2007 to find an alternative to the practice. Previously, the company had said it needed to keep the water running to prevent germs from breeding in the taps and pipes.
Starbucks said the change is part of the company's Shared Planet initiative, meant to encourage greener, more community-minded practices within the company, which was announced last year
Sounds reasonable. Also, the local Styarbucks employees are ready and willing to recycle but are stimied by corporate regulations. Some Starbucks recycle their plastic cups, cardboard, and milk jugs but it seems that most dont. They could get together with other local businesses and make an agreement for all of them to recycle. At least a dozen local businesses have agreed to recycle if it wasnt too expensive, and it was made easy to do.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
TreeHugger article
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California on 06. 4.09
Science & Technology (water)
Two new self-filtering water bottles have caught our eye as handy ways to get clean water on the go. We decided to try them out, discover their pros and cons, and see how they compare to each other. Check out our impressions of Tap Guard and Clear2Go.
Clear2Go Filtering Water Bottle
You may remember back in April when we met up with Clear2Go during Green Apple Festival. We showed you a quick video about how the bottle works. It filtered out some pretty nasty looking gook, giving crystal clear water.
The BPA-free bottle is $16.99 which compares to steel reusable bottles. It almost seems pricey, because the bottle itself is a squeezable plastic that doesn't feel terribly high-end. But, it needs to be squeezable and the plastic is 100% recyclable. However, it's the lid that really adds the value. That's where the carbon filter is. The carbon filter screws on to the pop-top lid, filtering water as you squeeze it to drink. What makes this so great is it's easy to drink on the go without spilling, and dispenses water quickly.
According to Clear2o, the carbon filters were created in conjunction with NASA, and are NanoCeram, "a carbon filtration technology in a filter media combining the benefits of sub-micron particulate filtration with exceptional chemical removal. Comprised of nanometer-size particles, these filters far exceed current filtration systems and can handle the most difficult treatment requirements for industrial, residential and recreational water purification." These filters last up to 100 gallons, reducing the chlorine taste & odor and removing 99.9% of microbial cysts. The replacement filters come in two-packs for $11.99. Considering they last for 2-3 months or 100 gallons, that doesn't seem terribly expensive. The filter is also recyclable.
Pros:
Easy screw-on filter system
Pop-top for drinking on the go
Recyclability
Clear instructions for use
Cons:
Questionable durability of the bottle
No clear program for taking back the filters for recycling
A bit on the pricey side at the get-go
TapGuard
The TapGuard is a food-grade silicone filter that fits to the mouths of popular BPA-free durable water bottles like Camelback and Nalgene. The filters removes up to 95% of chlorine, iodine, and other "bad tasting chemicals."
The carbon filters are little netted bags of activated carbon, which you insert into the filter holder. The holder is open at one end so you can pour in water, and the other end is a slotted sipper that sits over the carbon filter. You place the holder over the mouth of the water bottle, and fill the bottle . The water is filtered as you drink. However, unless you suck on the sipper, you have to drink very slowly since the water doesn't filter quickly, and if you tip too far, water spills out from the open end all over your face. So it isn't the easiest bottle to drink from.
Additionally, because you're inserting a bag of carbon into a holding area, we question if 100% of the water coming through the filter area is actually getting filtered by the carbon. And, unless you rinse the carbon pouch really, really, really well before use, we noticed a distinct feeling of dustiness or after taste. There are not clear instructions for use with the product that tell you to rinse the pouch before hand, so you have to either be familiar enough with these systems to know that, or do a little digging for additional instructions online.
One neat thing is that the maker of TapGuard, Guyot, runs a carbon offset program for the product. "Guyot Designs purchases enough carbon offsets to not only neutralize the production impacts of TapGuards, but to actually reduce greenhouse emissions. Each TapGuard carries enough carbon offsets to account for more than 50 lbs. of verifiable greenhouse gas emissions reductions." The offsets can be verified on Guyot's website.
The TapGuard is $15.95 and comes with the filter holder and two replacement carbon filters, each capable of filtering 100 liters, or just over 26 gallons. Replacement filters come in two-packs for $5.95.
Pros:
Small part that fits to water bottles you may already own
Is swappable to new water bottles when you need to replace them
Carbon filter is easily replaceable and doesn't require new plastic parts
Carbon offset program
Cons:
Difficult to drink from the bottle without spilling
Dusty or gritty after-taste
Lacks quality instructions for use
Conclusion - Which Filtering Water Bottle Wins?
Both of these water bottles are great for filtering tap water from safe water sources. But you can't really head into the woods, fill up your bottle from a stream, and expect to be protected from every nasty found in the water. However, for grabbing water from water fountains and faucets, you'll be able to feel better about the safety and taste of the water you're consuming.
Ease of Use, Materials, and Price
The Clear2Go bottle is definitely easier to use, both for the filter and on-the-go drinking. It also has a cleaner taste than TapGuard. However TapGuard uses fewer materials for the original product and replacement filters. The TapGuard is less expensive in the first place, if you already have a water bottle it fits with, but the replacement filter costs end up being higher. While the Clear2Go replacement filters are priced at $11.99 for two, they filter 100 gallons each, whereas the TapGuard filters are priced at $5.95 for two and filter just 26 gallons each. However, in terms of materials and filter recyclability, TapGuard seems to have the lighter footprint by far.
More on Water Filtration Systems
Take Filtered Water With You
AquaSafeStraw Offers Portable Water Filtration
Back to the Tap: Filtered Water Bottle
Ovopur: A Water Filter that Looks Good
Lifestraw, Version II: Still Filtering; Now Without Aftertaste
Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You
Meet Stanley, The Company Bringing Free Water to Bonnaroo
New York Takes a Big Step Toward Banning Bottled Water
Which is Healthier: Tap Water or Bottled Water?
Science & Technology (water)
Two new self-filtering water bottles have caught our eye as handy ways to get clean water on the go. We decided to try them out, discover their pros and cons, and see how they compare to each other. Check out our impressions of Tap Guard and Clear2Go.
Clear2Go Filtering Water Bottle
You may remember back in April when we met up with Clear2Go during Green Apple Festival. We showed you a quick video about how the bottle works. It filtered out some pretty nasty looking gook, giving crystal clear water.
The BPA-free bottle is $16.99 which compares to steel reusable bottles. It almost seems pricey, because the bottle itself is a squeezable plastic that doesn't feel terribly high-end. But, it needs to be squeezable and the plastic is 100% recyclable. However, it's the lid that really adds the value. That's where the carbon filter is. The carbon filter screws on to the pop-top lid, filtering water as you squeeze it to drink. What makes this so great is it's easy to drink on the go without spilling, and dispenses water quickly.
According to Clear2o, the carbon filters were created in conjunction with NASA, and are NanoCeram, "a carbon filtration technology in a filter media combining the benefits of sub-micron particulate filtration with exceptional chemical removal. Comprised of nanometer-size particles, these filters far exceed current filtration systems and can handle the most difficult treatment requirements for industrial, residential and recreational water purification." These filters last up to 100 gallons, reducing the chlorine taste & odor and removing 99.9% of microbial cysts. The replacement filters come in two-packs for $11.99. Considering they last for 2-3 months or 100 gallons, that doesn't seem terribly expensive. The filter is also recyclable.
Pros:
Easy screw-on filter system
Pop-top for drinking on the go
Recyclability
Clear instructions for use
Cons:
Questionable durability of the bottle
No clear program for taking back the filters for recycling
A bit on the pricey side at the get-go
TapGuard
The TapGuard is a food-grade silicone filter that fits to the mouths of popular BPA-free durable water bottles like Camelback and Nalgene. The filters removes up to 95% of chlorine, iodine, and other "bad tasting chemicals."
The carbon filters are little netted bags of activated carbon, which you insert into the filter holder. The holder is open at one end so you can pour in water, and the other end is a slotted sipper that sits over the carbon filter. You place the holder over the mouth of the water bottle, and fill the bottle . The water is filtered as you drink. However, unless you suck on the sipper, you have to drink very slowly since the water doesn't filter quickly, and if you tip too far, water spills out from the open end all over your face. So it isn't the easiest bottle to drink from.
Additionally, because you're inserting a bag of carbon into a holding area, we question if 100% of the water coming through the filter area is actually getting filtered by the carbon. And, unless you rinse the carbon pouch really, really, really well before use, we noticed a distinct feeling of dustiness or after taste. There are not clear instructions for use with the product that tell you to rinse the pouch before hand, so you have to either be familiar enough with these systems to know that, or do a little digging for additional instructions online.
One neat thing is that the maker of TapGuard, Guyot, runs a carbon offset program for the product. "Guyot Designs purchases enough carbon offsets to not only neutralize the production impacts of TapGuards, but to actually reduce greenhouse emissions. Each TapGuard carries enough carbon offsets to account for more than 50 lbs. of verifiable greenhouse gas emissions reductions." The offsets can be verified on Guyot's website.
The TapGuard is $15.95 and comes with the filter holder and two replacement carbon filters, each capable of filtering 100 liters, or just over 26 gallons. Replacement filters come in two-packs for $5.95.
Pros:
Small part that fits to water bottles you may already own
Is swappable to new water bottles when you need to replace them
Carbon filter is easily replaceable and doesn't require new plastic parts
Carbon offset program
Cons:
Difficult to drink from the bottle without spilling
Dusty or gritty after-taste
Lacks quality instructions for use
Conclusion - Which Filtering Water Bottle Wins?
Both of these water bottles are great for filtering tap water from safe water sources. But you can't really head into the woods, fill up your bottle from a stream, and expect to be protected from every nasty found in the water. However, for grabbing water from water fountains and faucets, you'll be able to feel better about the safety and taste of the water you're consuming.
Ease of Use, Materials, and Price
The Clear2Go bottle is definitely easier to use, both for the filter and on-the-go drinking. It also has a cleaner taste than TapGuard. However TapGuard uses fewer materials for the original product and replacement filters. The TapGuard is less expensive in the first place, if you already have a water bottle it fits with, but the replacement filter costs end up being higher. While the Clear2Go replacement filters are priced at $11.99 for two, they filter 100 gallons each, whereas the TapGuard filters are priced at $5.95 for two and filter just 26 gallons each. However, in terms of materials and filter recyclability, TapGuard seems to have the lighter footprint by far.
More on Water Filtration Systems
Take Filtered Water With You
AquaSafeStraw Offers Portable Water Filtration
Back to the Tap: Filtered Water Bottle
Ovopur: A Water Filter that Looks Good
Lifestraw, Version II: Still Filtering; Now Without Aftertaste
Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You
Follow @TreeHugger on Twitter & get our headlines with @TH_rss!
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
Buying a Water Filtration System: Determining Which System Is Best for You
Meet Stanley, The Company Bringing Free Water to Bonnaroo
New York Takes a Big Step Toward Banning Bottled Water
Which is Healthier: Tap Water or Bottled Water?
Kids at risk by ground-up tires in playgrounds?
Environment
Kids at risk by ground-up tires in playgrounds?
Government studies material in play areas after scientists raise concerns
Ground-up recycled tire crumbs cover this playground behind the K-2nd grade elementary Dickerson School in Chester, N.J., on Wednesday. The government is reconsidering whether fake turf in playgrounds and sports fields made of ground-up tires could pose health hazards to kids.
View related photos
Mike Derer / AP
Turning America Green
Florida's newest artificial reef created
Galveston recovers as hurricane season nears
Lights out for Earth Hour
New U.S. marine sanctuaries
'Nature's Best' awards
Earth from above
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
'Nature's Best' awards
'Nature's Best' backyards
Guarding gorillas in Rwanda, Congo
'Nature's Best' photos by youth
Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).
Obama wants ‘new beginning’ in Muslim world
No Bible show-and-tell in school, court says
‘Perfect Storm’ fisherman convicted in Canada
Air France says no hope of Flight 447 survivors
Brazil custody battle hangs in balance
Most viewed on msnbc.com
Simple stool test may detect many cancers
Fallen soldier’s pup Laia arrives in U.S.
Conn. bride rescues family from house fire
Couple to plead guilty in toxic pet food case
Lawyer: N.J. man wins custody of son in Brazil
Most viewed on msnbc.com
No Bible show-and-tell in school, court says
Wal-Mart to create 22,000 jobs in 2009
Kids at risk by ground-up tires in playgrounds?
Obama wants ‘new beginning’ in Muslim world
Full text of Obama's speech in Cairo
Most viewed on msnbc.com
updated 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO - The federal government is reconsidering whether sports fields and playgrounds made from ground-up tires could harm children's health after some Environmental Protection Agency scientists raised concerns, documents show.
The EPA is concluding a limited study of air and surface samples at four fake-surface fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires — the same material used under the Obama family's new play set at the White House.
Although the EPA for years has endorsed recycled-rubber surfaces as a means of decreasing playground injuries, its own scientists now have pointed to research suggesting potential hazards from repeated exposure to bits of shredded tire that can contain carcinogens and other chemicals, according to internal EPA documents.
The scientists cited gaps in scientific evidence, despite other reviews showing little or no health concern, and urged their superiors to conduct a broad health study to inform parents on kids' safety.
Results from the agency's limited study, which began last year, are expected within weeks.
"From everything I've been able to see, I'm not sure there's an imminent hazard but it's something we're investigating," said Michael Firestone, EPA's head of children's health protection. "It's critical to take a look at all the data together."
The government hasn't decided whether broader testing is necessary.
Easy on the bones, great for recycling
Synthetic sports surfaces are easy on the bones and great for recycling, increasingly popular for their resiliency and for their weatherproof, low-maintenance qualities. But communities from New Jersey to Oregon have raised concerns about children touching, swallowing or inhaling lead, metals and chemicals like benzene, zinc and breathable particles from synthetic fields and play yards.
Last week, New York state officials said they found no significant health or environmental concerns in a study of leaching and breathable air above sports fields with so-called tire crumb, tiny rubber infill pellets that help anchor the synthetic grass blades. Other local studies have reached similar conclusions, examining artificial grass or tire crumb. Several have recommended additional research.
"If they really find it's something toxic, I would be concerned," said Alejandro Arroyo, a teacher watching his high school students from June Jordan School for Equity play soccer at San Francisco's Crocker Amazon Park. The scent of tire rubber wafted over the busy, five-field complex as a dozen third-graders flopped onto artificial turf infused with gravel-sized, black rubber.
Obama surprises daughters with new swing set
"We practice here, we eat lunch here," Arroyo said. "Everybody does that. It's a family park."
Scrap tire mulch cushions the ground under the Obamas' new play set at the White House. It was recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association, which relies on the industry's safety assurances and recommendations by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for cushioning the impact of falls, said Richard Dolesh, public policy officer for the park association.
But New York City officials say their new sports fields no longer will use tire crumbs. Connecticut asked the EPA to study the matter shortly after the EPA's Denver regional office recommended the same.
(Seems like a good use of old tires but further studies are needed.)
Kids at risk by ground-up tires in playgrounds?
Government studies material in play areas after scientists raise concerns
Ground-up recycled tire crumbs cover this playground behind the K-2nd grade elementary Dickerson School in Chester, N.J., on Wednesday. The government is reconsidering whether fake turf in playgrounds and sports fields made of ground-up tires could pose health hazards to kids.
View related photos
Mike Derer / AP
Turning America Green
Florida's newest artificial reef created
Galveston recovers as hurricane season nears
Lights out for Earth Hour
New U.S. marine sanctuaries
'Nature's Best' awards
Earth from above
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
'Nature's Best' awards
'Nature's Best' backyards
Guarding gorillas in Rwanda, Congo
'Nature's Best' photos by youth
Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).
Obama wants ‘new beginning’ in Muslim world
No Bible show-and-tell in school, court says
‘Perfect Storm’ fisherman convicted in Canada
Air France says no hope of Flight 447 survivors
Brazil custody battle hangs in balance
Most viewed on msnbc.com
Simple stool test may detect many cancers
Fallen soldier’s pup Laia arrives in U.S.
Conn. bride rescues family from house fire
Couple to plead guilty in toxic pet food case
Lawyer: N.J. man wins custody of son in Brazil
Most viewed on msnbc.com
No Bible show-and-tell in school, court says
Wal-Mart to create 22,000 jobs in 2009
Kids at risk by ground-up tires in playgrounds?
Obama wants ‘new beginning’ in Muslim world
Full text of Obama's speech in Cairo
Most viewed on msnbc.com
updated 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
SAN FRANCISCO - The federal government is reconsidering whether sports fields and playgrounds made from ground-up tires could harm children's health after some Environmental Protection Agency scientists raised concerns, documents show.
The EPA is concluding a limited study of air and surface samples at four fake-surface fields and playgrounds that use recycled tires — the same material used under the Obama family's new play set at the White House.
Although the EPA for years has endorsed recycled-rubber surfaces as a means of decreasing playground injuries, its own scientists now have pointed to research suggesting potential hazards from repeated exposure to bits of shredded tire that can contain carcinogens and other chemicals, according to internal EPA documents.
The scientists cited gaps in scientific evidence, despite other reviews showing little or no health concern, and urged their superiors to conduct a broad health study to inform parents on kids' safety.
Results from the agency's limited study, which began last year, are expected within weeks.
"From everything I've been able to see, I'm not sure there's an imminent hazard but it's something we're investigating," said Michael Firestone, EPA's head of children's health protection. "It's critical to take a look at all the data together."
The government hasn't decided whether broader testing is necessary.
Easy on the bones, great for recycling
Synthetic sports surfaces are easy on the bones and great for recycling, increasingly popular for their resiliency and for their weatherproof, low-maintenance qualities. But communities from New Jersey to Oregon have raised concerns about children touching, swallowing or inhaling lead, metals and chemicals like benzene, zinc and breathable particles from synthetic fields and play yards.
Last week, New York state officials said they found no significant health or environmental concerns in a study of leaching and breathable air above sports fields with so-called tire crumb, tiny rubber infill pellets that help anchor the synthetic grass blades. Other local studies have reached similar conclusions, examining artificial grass or tire crumb. Several have recommended additional research.
"If they really find it's something toxic, I would be concerned," said Alejandro Arroyo, a teacher watching his high school students from June Jordan School for Equity play soccer at San Francisco's Crocker Amazon Park. The scent of tire rubber wafted over the busy, five-field complex as a dozen third-graders flopped onto artificial turf infused with gravel-sized, black rubber.
Obama surprises daughters with new swing set
"We practice here, we eat lunch here," Arroyo said. "Everybody does that. It's a family park."
Scrap tire mulch cushions the ground under the Obamas' new play set at the White House. It was recommended by the National Recreation and Park Association, which relies on the industry's safety assurances and recommendations by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for cushioning the impact of falls, said Richard Dolesh, public policy officer for the park association.
But New York City officials say their new sports fields no longer will use tire crumbs. Connecticut asked the EPA to study the matter shortly after the EPA's Denver regional office recommended the same.
(Seems like a good use of old tires but further studies are needed.)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Portland, Oregon Ranks Second In Poll
The survey evaluated municipal websites for their privacy, usability, content, service, and citizen participation and ranked the cities nationally. Five cities received the Municipal Web Portal Excellence Award: Washington DC, Portland, OR, New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. These cities will be awarded the Municipal Web Portal Excellence Awards at the Public Technology Institute’s Technology Solutions and Innovations Conference.
Portland scored second overall and was highly ranked in the categories of content and citizen participation. The City’s PortlandOnline website (www.portlandonline.com) allows citizens to pay utility bills and businesses to get a license and pay taxes online.
PortlandMaps, its online GIS system, allows visual access to city neighborhoods, including demographic data; crime statistics; transit and bike routes; permitting activity; schools and parks; businesses; and capital projects among other features.
City of Portland bureaus and offices also use blog, comment, survey, and polling capabilities of the City’s web content management system to facilitate 24/7 interaction with the public. Many of these award‐winning features will be further enhanced over the coming months through a project to refresh the look, feel and usability of PortlandOnline; this project will involve the public in improving Portland’s online presence.
When can we look forward to some of these capabilities in the Springs?
Portland scored second overall and was highly ranked in the categories of content and citizen participation. The City’s PortlandOnline website (www.portlandonline.com) allows citizens to pay utility bills and businesses to get a license and pay taxes online.
PortlandMaps, its online GIS system, allows visual access to city neighborhoods, including demographic data; crime statistics; transit and bike routes; permitting activity; schools and parks; businesses; and capital projects among other features.
City of Portland bureaus and offices also use blog, comment, survey, and polling capabilities of the City’s web content management system to facilitate 24/7 interaction with the public. Many of these award‐winning features will be further enhanced over the coming months through a project to refresh the look, feel and usability of PortlandOnline; this project will involve the public in improving Portland’s online presence.
When can we look forward to some of these capabilities in the Springs?
From sugar water to Spandex
June 3, 2009 7:26 AM PDT
From sugar water to Spandex
by Martin LaMonica
Spandex tights or car dashboard in the future will be made out of sugar cane rather than petroleum if start-up Genomatica succeeds on its plans.
The San Diego-based start-up on Tuesday said that it has reached a technical milestone in converting sugar--derived from sugar cane or beets--into an industrial plastic called 1,4-butanediol, or BDO. It's a material that's used in the auto, apparel, and pharmaceutical industries for a variety of uses.
Coaxing little bugs to do some heavy lifting.
(Credit: Genomatica)Genomatica uses a genetically modified strain of E.coli bacteria to convert sugar water into BDO through fermentation. On Tuesday it said it demonstrated that it can remove impurities from that fermented brew to make a 99 percent concentrated version of BDO.
"We're using a process that will continue to allow the overall economics of making BDO from sugars to be cost advantaged," said Genomatica CEO Christophe Schilling. "Not only do we purify it, but we purify it in a way that will allow us to use technologies known to scale."
Schilling said that at the current price of sugar and $50-per-barrel oil, the process is 25 percent cheaper than petroleum-based BDO. The cost advantage will attract customers, which are also interested in finding a plant feedstock that has a less volatile price than oil, he said.
The company plans to build a demonstration facility next year that will produce about one ton of BDO a day. A commercial-scale operation would 20 to 100 times larger.
Biological-based chemical manufacturing is poised for greater adoption in part because of volatile fossil fuel prices and because consumers are demanding products made from renewable materials, Schilling predicted. He noted that DuPont is using a fermentation-based process to make 1,3-propanediol (PDO), another industrial plastic.
If successful with its demonstration facility, Genomatica expects to license its technology to other chemical manufacturers.
Schilling said the company has plans for making other chemicals, using a suite of software modeling tools that speed up discovery of ways to manipulate microorganisms to make a desired product.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'sugar britches".
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development.
From sugar water to Spandex
by Martin LaMonica
Spandex tights or car dashboard in the future will be made out of sugar cane rather than petroleum if start-up Genomatica succeeds on its plans.
The San Diego-based start-up on Tuesday said that it has reached a technical milestone in converting sugar--derived from sugar cane or beets--into an industrial plastic called 1,4-butanediol, or BDO. It's a material that's used in the auto, apparel, and pharmaceutical industries for a variety of uses.
Coaxing little bugs to do some heavy lifting.
(Credit: Genomatica)Genomatica uses a genetically modified strain of E.coli bacteria to convert sugar water into BDO through fermentation. On Tuesday it said it demonstrated that it can remove impurities from that fermented brew to make a 99 percent concentrated version of BDO.
"We're using a process that will continue to allow the overall economics of making BDO from sugars to be cost advantaged," said Genomatica CEO Christophe Schilling. "Not only do we purify it, but we purify it in a way that will allow us to use technologies known to scale."
Schilling said that at the current price of sugar and $50-per-barrel oil, the process is 25 percent cheaper than petroleum-based BDO. The cost advantage will attract customers, which are also interested in finding a plant feedstock that has a less volatile price than oil, he said.
The company plans to build a demonstration facility next year that will produce about one ton of BDO a day. A commercial-scale operation would 20 to 100 times larger.
Biological-based chemical manufacturing is poised for greater adoption in part because of volatile fossil fuel prices and because consumers are demanding products made from renewable materials, Schilling predicted. He noted that DuPont is using a fermentation-based process to make 1,3-propanediol (PDO), another industrial plastic.
If successful with its demonstration facility, Genomatica expects to license its technology to other chemical manufacturers.
Schilling said the company has plans for making other chemicals, using a suite of software modeling tools that speed up discovery of ways to manipulate microorganisms to make a desired product.
Gives a whole new meaning to the term 'sugar britches".
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer for CNET's Green Tech blog. He started at CNET News in 2002, covering IT and Web development.
VW Continues Fuel Cell Technology
Pretty much everyone in the auto industry has drunk the electric Kool-Aid, but some are still betting on hydrogen. Volkswagen is right there with them, and it brought the fuel cell Ling Yu Passat to California to show it still believes the most plentiful element in the universe is the fuel of the future.
Make that the distant future. VW’s “Future Mobility Roadmap” makes it pretty clear hydrogen fuel cell technology is being pursued as a long-term energy solution — in this case, “long-term” means it falls in line behind internal combustion, hybrids, range-extended hybrids and pure electric vehicles.
Still, like Honda, Mazda and fellow German automakers Mercedes and BMW, Volkswagen isn’t putting all its eggs into the battery-electric basket. The automaker - which recently joined Chinese automaker BYD in developing cars with cords - says it is “actively looking in depth at both battery electric and fuel cell vehicle technologies. And taking advantage of all the new discoveries we make in the process.”
We hope they discover some hydrogen filling stations along the way, or even some funding now that the Obama administration cut $100 million from the Department of Energy’s budget for fuel cell technology.
Volkswagen has been working on hydrogen cars since 2000 and says fuel cell technology is “one possible solution to give the consumer both long ranges and the short refueling times they currently enjoy, both of which at present are still a challenge with pure battery electric vehicles. ”
With collaboration from China’s FAW, Volkswagen refined its fuel cell technology to build 22 Passat Ling Yu sedans just in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Ling Yu recently made it to Sacramento, and the folks who drove them reported a perfectly normal driving experience — albeit one with the unmistakable whine of a fuel cell and the characteristic hiccups of a prototype that is a long way from production.
No matter what energy-efficient solution powers the cars of the future, we’ve got to hand it to Volkswagen for keeping so many irons in the fire. We admire its longstanding support of clean diesel technology, even if they won’t bring the Scirocco GT TDi to America. It also is working on battery-electric hybrids and even pushing the limits of fuel efficiency with wild experiments like the One-Liter Car concept.
With Volkswagen at the helm, even hydrogen might have a chance.
Obama pulled the 100 million out of the fuel cell research but VW soldiers on, in the belief that fuel cell technology is THE energy answer in the long run. They may be right but right now we need much better mileage sooner, so he seems to be looking for immediate help. This seems to be a prudent path- focus on here and now while putting SOME monies toward a possible longterm solution. We need relief from energy prices NOW, and down the road. Wonder if VW's diesel ehgine would run on veggie oil?
Make that the distant future. VW’s “Future Mobility Roadmap” makes it pretty clear hydrogen fuel cell technology is being pursued as a long-term energy solution — in this case, “long-term” means it falls in line behind internal combustion, hybrids, range-extended hybrids and pure electric vehicles.
Still, like Honda, Mazda and fellow German automakers Mercedes and BMW, Volkswagen isn’t putting all its eggs into the battery-electric basket. The automaker - which recently joined Chinese automaker BYD in developing cars with cords - says it is “actively looking in depth at both battery electric and fuel cell vehicle technologies. And taking advantage of all the new discoveries we make in the process.”
We hope they discover some hydrogen filling stations along the way, or even some funding now that the Obama administration cut $100 million from the Department of Energy’s budget for fuel cell technology.
Volkswagen has been working on hydrogen cars since 2000 and says fuel cell technology is “one possible solution to give the consumer both long ranges and the short refueling times they currently enjoy, both of which at present are still a challenge with pure battery electric vehicles. ”
With collaboration from China’s FAW, Volkswagen refined its fuel cell technology to build 22 Passat Ling Yu sedans just in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Ling Yu recently made it to Sacramento, and the folks who drove them reported a perfectly normal driving experience — albeit one with the unmistakable whine of a fuel cell and the characteristic hiccups of a prototype that is a long way from production.
No matter what energy-efficient solution powers the cars of the future, we’ve got to hand it to Volkswagen for keeping so many irons in the fire. We admire its longstanding support of clean diesel technology, even if they won’t bring the Scirocco GT TDi to America. It also is working on battery-electric hybrids and even pushing the limits of fuel efficiency with wild experiments like the One-Liter Car concept.
With Volkswagen at the helm, even hydrogen might have a chance.
Obama pulled the 100 million out of the fuel cell research but VW soldiers on, in the belief that fuel cell technology is THE energy answer in the long run. They may be right but right now we need much better mileage sooner, so he seems to be looking for immediate help. This seems to be a prudent path- focus on here and now while putting SOME monies toward a possible longterm solution. We need relief from energy prices NOW, and down the road. Wonder if VW's diesel ehgine would run on veggie oil?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Dania school teaches sailors how to repel pirates
Posted on Tuesday, 06.02.09share email print comment reprint
DANIA BEACH
Dania school teaches sailors how to repel pirates
A Dania Beach school teaches merchant sailors how to repel pirates -- a hot topic now in light of recent attacks off the Somalia coast.
BY ROBERT NOLIN
Sun Sentinel
Lacking any firepower of their own -- merchant crews aren't allowed to carry guns -- sailors must rely on innovation and resourcefulness to ward off pirates who are becoming increasingly brazen in their attacks on the high seas.
That's what instructor David Greenhouse imparts to students at the STAR Center maritime academy in Dania Beach. Through table-top exercises and ''what if'' scenarios, Greenhouse outlines anti-pirate options to merchant seamen seeking certification as security officers.
They range from simple flares to exotic sound rays and water guns.
''There's no absolute fix. We're looking at layers of defense here,'' said Greenhouse.
''It's obviously a hot topic right now,'' said STAR Center director Brian Long. STAR stands for Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research, which is affiliated with the American Maritime Officers union and issues about 4,000 training certificates a year to merchant sailors.
How to deal with pirates is a popular course. As their threat grows, Greenhouse said, so do methods to repel them.
Pirates, especially those off the Somalia coast such as the ones who held the captain of an American cargo ship hostage in April before Navy snipers killed his captors, typically attack from small boats. They clamber up a vessel's sides and, often brandishing AK-47s, take it over for ransom.
NO WEAPONS
Merchant crews can't counterattack because they don't carry weapons. The reasons: Many international ports won't let ships dock with armed crews; owners fear liability from gun accidents; captains fear mutinies.
So fleeing is the first wave of defense. The bigger ship should outrun the brigands' boat and throw a large wake to deter it, Greenhouse said.
''The best defense is don't let them get on the ship,'' he said.
A vessel should be well lighted, Greenhouse said, so pirates aren't afforded the advantage of stealth. Should they attempt to scale a vessel's sides, fire hoses can be used to wash them back into the briny.
Also readily available are flare guns, which can be fired directly into an attacking boat. ''A magnesium flare in someone's boat will keep them very, very busy,'' said Greenhouse.
A fiendishly futuristic deterrent, used extensively by cruise ships, is the LRAD, or long range acoustical device. The $30,000 machine produces a painful wail that assails a person's entire nasal system. ''Blow their eardrums out,'' said Long.
Structural defenses under consideration are simple: metal plates that slide out perpendicular to the vessel's side to prevent pirates from getting on deck, or foamy sprays to keep them from achieving a foothold should they do so.
WATER CANNON
Another developing option that appeals to Greenhouse and Long is the water cannon, a muscular squirt gun that can move along a ship's rail, suck up seawater and blast it back on pirates at near deadly velocity.
''Two hundred psi, that will take your eyes out of your sockets,'' Greenhouse said. ``It will be able to sink a small boat.''
With no pat solution to the pirate problem on the horizon, merchant seafarers will have to adapt to defending against them. ''It's probably never going to go away,'' Long said, ``but hopefully we can keep it controlled.''
DANIA BEACH
Dania school teaches sailors how to repel pirates
A Dania Beach school teaches merchant sailors how to repel pirates -- a hot topic now in light of recent attacks off the Somalia coast.
BY ROBERT NOLIN
Sun Sentinel
Lacking any firepower of their own -- merchant crews aren't allowed to carry guns -- sailors must rely on innovation and resourcefulness to ward off pirates who are becoming increasingly brazen in their attacks on the high seas.
That's what instructor David Greenhouse imparts to students at the STAR Center maritime academy in Dania Beach. Through table-top exercises and ''what if'' scenarios, Greenhouse outlines anti-pirate options to merchant seamen seeking certification as security officers.
They range from simple flares to exotic sound rays and water guns.
''There's no absolute fix. We're looking at layers of defense here,'' said Greenhouse.
''It's obviously a hot topic right now,'' said STAR Center director Brian Long. STAR stands for Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research, which is affiliated with the American Maritime Officers union and issues about 4,000 training certificates a year to merchant sailors.
How to deal with pirates is a popular course. As their threat grows, Greenhouse said, so do methods to repel them.
Pirates, especially those off the Somalia coast such as the ones who held the captain of an American cargo ship hostage in April before Navy snipers killed his captors, typically attack from small boats. They clamber up a vessel's sides and, often brandishing AK-47s, take it over for ransom.
NO WEAPONS
Merchant crews can't counterattack because they don't carry weapons. The reasons: Many international ports won't let ships dock with armed crews; owners fear liability from gun accidents; captains fear mutinies.
So fleeing is the first wave of defense. The bigger ship should outrun the brigands' boat and throw a large wake to deter it, Greenhouse said.
''The best defense is don't let them get on the ship,'' he said.
A vessel should be well lighted, Greenhouse said, so pirates aren't afforded the advantage of stealth. Should they attempt to scale a vessel's sides, fire hoses can be used to wash them back into the briny.
Also readily available are flare guns, which can be fired directly into an attacking boat. ''A magnesium flare in someone's boat will keep them very, very busy,'' said Greenhouse.
A fiendishly futuristic deterrent, used extensively by cruise ships, is the LRAD, or long range acoustical device. The $30,000 machine produces a painful wail that assails a person's entire nasal system. ''Blow their eardrums out,'' said Long.
Structural defenses under consideration are simple: metal plates that slide out perpendicular to the vessel's side to prevent pirates from getting on deck, or foamy sprays to keep them from achieving a foothold should they do so.
WATER CANNON
Another developing option that appeals to Greenhouse and Long is the water cannon, a muscular squirt gun that can move along a ship's rail, suck up seawater and blast it back on pirates at near deadly velocity.
''Two hundred psi, that will take your eyes out of your sockets,'' Greenhouse said. ``It will be able to sink a small boat.''
With no pat solution to the pirate problem on the horizon, merchant seafarers will have to adapt to defending against them. ''It's probably never going to go away,'' Long said, ``but hopefully we can keep it controlled.''
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