Gypsum on Fields May Cut Runoff of Phosphorus

Gypsum on fields may cut runoff of phosphorus

 

The Columbus Dispatch

By: Spencer Hunt

Feb. 3, 2013

Earl Duck, an AEP supervisor, left, and Warren Dick, an Ohio State University soil scientist, with gypsum.

                                          

Coal-fired power plants use massive scrubbers to remove sulfur and other pollutants from smoke, creating millions of tons of gypsum sludge every year.

Some of the dried sludge is used to make drywall for construction projects, but most of it gets dumped into landfills.

Gypsum is a mineral commonly used in plaster of Paris.Warren Dick, an Ohio State University soil scientist, says he has found another use for the gypsum — spreading it on farm fields to reduce the phosphorus that washes into waterways and feeds toxic algae.

“(Gypsum) binds with the phosphate in the soil,” Dick said. “It keeps phosphorus where you want it — in the field, where the plants can take it up and use it.”

It seems an unlikely solution. Power-plant emissions include arsenic, cadmium and other toxic metals. But power-plant officials say nearly all of those poisons are removed from smoke before scrubbers kick in.

“The gypsum is 95 percent pure,” said Mark Durbin, a spokesman for Akron-based FirstEnergy, which uses scrubbers at its W.H. Sammis plant along the Ohio River.Dick said he plans to test gypsum this year on about 30 farms in areas that drain into the Maumee River, the main conduit for phosphorus to reach Lake Erie.

Penn State University researchers found in 1999 that gypsum could cut farm-field phosphorus runoff in half.Eric Schaeffer of the Environmental Integrity Project, a group critical of power plants that is based in Washington, D.C., gave the process a conditional OK.

“The test data on gypsum is pretty good in terms of its being something that would have a low probability of harm,” said Schaeffer, who added that tests should be performed routinely to make sure toxin levels in gypsum remain low.

Lake Erie researchers say steep reductions in farm-field phosphorus runoff are needed to reduce toxic algae blooms and ensure the lake’s survival. State officials now promote voluntary measures to reduce farm runoff, but the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation recently sent Ohio farmers a letter warning them that state and federal regulations might come if voluntary measures aren’t embraced.

Also called cyanobacteria, the algae produce liver and nerve toxins that can sicken people and kill pets.

The algae also create an oxygen-depleted dead zone near the center of the lake where fish cannot survive.In 2011, the algae spread from Toledo to Cleveland, threatening the lake’s $10 billion-a-year tourism industry. Drought conditions kept last year’s bloom much smaller.

Melissa McHenry, spokeswoman for Columbus-based American Electric Power, said spreading gypsum on farm fields sounds intriguing. About 80 percent of the gypsum from AEP’s Cardinal plant on the Ohio River is shipped downriver to a West Virginia wallboard plant, she said. The rest goes to a company-owned landfill. The plant produced nearly 360,000 tons of the stuff in 2011.

One company, Chicago-based Gypsoil, already sells gypsum to western Ohio farms. The gypsum, trucked from Indiana power plants, contains sulfur and calcium, nutrients that can help grow crops and also encourage root growth, said Dave Schuurman, the chairman of Gypsoil’s parent company, Beneficial Reuse Management.

Dick said he hopes this year’s tests will show that gypsum can help Lake Erie

Sharing Some Words Of Wisdom......

 

However capable and skillful an individual may be, left alone, he or she will not survive. When we are sick or very young or very old, we must depend on the support of others. There is no significant division between us and other people, because our basic natures are the same. If we wish to ensure everyone’s peace and happiness we need to cultivate a healthy respect for the diversity of our peoples and cultures, founded on an understanding of this fundamental sameness of all human beings.

Give "Thanks" To a Veteran!

Sincerely hoping that we all take some time out of our busy days to reflect on all of the sacrifices that have been made to ensure that we maintain all of our rights and freedoms that we enjoy each and everyday! To all of the brave men and women in our service corps, you are what have made America the land of opportunity and the great nation that we so dearly love! Please, if you know of, or happen to meet any of our active or retired military personnel, thank them for their dedication and service to our country! :)

African Girls' Pee-Powered Generator Raises Questions

A group of 14-year-old school girls show off a urine-powered generator at an innovation fair in Lagos, Nigeria.

 

By John Roach

NBC News

 

A urine-powered generator presented by a group of school-age girls at an innovation fair in Africa is generating buzz as a world-changing breakthrough, but a reality-check with the expert who invented the contraption at the heart of the technology might flush those expectations down the drain.

 

The contraption in question is an electrolytic cell that converts urea — the main compound in urine besides water — into nitrogen, water and hydrogen.

“What these kids are doing is taking urea electrolysis and making hydrogen and then using that hydrogen to make electricity,” Gerardine Botte, a chemical engineer at Ohio University who invented the urea electrolysis process, told NBC News when asked to comment on the generator.

According to information provided on the Maker Faire Africa website about the pee-powered system, one liter of urine provides six hours of electricity, though the site lacks details on how many watts are generated or what that electricity could power for six hours: an iPod or a neighborhood?

Another concern is the implication that the students get more energy out of the urine than they use to prepare it in the first place. That isn't true, according to Botte.

“It is a high school project, so don’t take it [so seriously],” Botte said, suggesting the students work with an engineer to understand the technology and its appropriate applications.
For Botte, the technology is most practical as a way to make the wastewater treatment process more energy efficient.

All wastewater treatment plants consume energy, she explained. Since urea is already being collected by such facilities, Botte says it makes sense to extract hydrogen from it. This in turn can be used to generate electricity, thus reducing the amount of outside energy required to run the wastewater treatment process.

“You will never get more energy out than you put in because you are treating urea … but it is a unique and elegant way to treat urine waste, which will allow you to co-generate electricity,” she said.

Vanderbilt University Students Create Green Spinach Solar Cells

Everyone knows that Popeye got his strength from spinach, but a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University believe we harness certain properties from spinach in order to generate electricity. The team has developed a technique to combine the photosynthetic protein that converts light into electrochemical energy in spinach with silicon, the material used in solar cells in order to create “

The team, whose research was published online on Sep. 4 in the journal Advanced Materials, was led by David Cliffel, associate professor of chemistry and Kane Jennings, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering.

“This combination produces current levels almost 1,000 times higher than we were able to achieve by depositing the protein on various types of metals. It also produces a modest increase in voltage,” Cliffel noted.

“If we can continue on our current trajectory of increasing voltage and current levels, we could reach the range of mature solar conversion technologies in three years.”

The team has announced that their next step is to build a fully functional PS1-silicon solar cell. Jennings believes that a two-foot panel would be capable of putting out at least 100 milliamps at one volt. While that’s not enough to power a house, it would be enough to charge a number of small electrical gadgets.

But why spinach? For one thing, the green vegetable contains a certain protein used in photosynthesis that continues to function even when it is extracted. Known as PS1, this protein was discovered to convert sunlight into electrical energy with nearly 100% efficiency, compared to conversion efficiencies of less than 40% achieved by man-made devices. This prompted various research groups around the world to begin trying to use PS1 to create more efficient solar cells. It’s also cheaper to grow spinach than to use finite resources like platinum and indium!

 

“Nature knows how to do this extremely well. In evergreen trees, for example, PS1 lasts for years,” said Cliffel. “We just have to figure out how to do it ourselves.”

Climate Art! :)

Beautiful climate art with a powerful message! :)

Old Man In The Tree

Lyman Whitaker Wind Sculptures

A Compilation of Wind Sculptures in Motion

Created By: Lyman Whitaker

London’s 2012 Olympic Park Adds Vertical Axis Turbines

Seven Vertical Axis Wind Turbines Added To London’s 2012 Olympic Park

By: Timon Singh

08/04/12

The Olympic Delivery Authority has installed vertical axis wind turbines in London’s Olympic Park after plans to place a single, giant wind turbine fell through. The London 2012 Olympic Games has received some flak for not meeting its green targets and failing to be the ‘Green Olympics’ that it promised to be, but the installation of the seven qr5 turbines suggests that Olympic organizers are still attempting to meet their sustainable goals.

Vertical axis turbines work differently to conventional three blade turbine and are actually deemed to be more efficient as they don’t require power or a minimum wind speed to start. The original Olympic plans discussed the potential installation of a large wind turbine at the Stratford park site, but it never happened. Now the smaller vertical wind turbines are stepping in to fill the renewable energy void that it has left.

The seven qr5 turbines are being provided by British wind turbine manufacturer Quiet Revolution, and although there is no official statement from either the company or the Olympic Authority on their installaion, it is known that the turbines stand 18 metres tall and can provide up to 7,500 kWh of power a year.

Speaking to The Guardian, a spokesman for the Olympic Delivery Authority said that the wind turbines each cost £40,000, but are expected to pay for themselves within 12 years. “Sustainability has been designed into the project from the beginning, and as a result the ODA will significantly exceed its 50 per cent target to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction of the Olympic Park,” he said.

“These seven turbines serve a valuable dual function by providing 40 per cent of the energy for high-powered streetlights as well contributing to the overall renewable energy target. The turbines are connected to the Park’s energy supply, which feed renewable energy into the Olympic Park energy network during the day, which offsets power used by the lamp at night.”

It's Summer and It's Fair Time!

Skystream Powers Belgium Agricultural Fair
A mid-summer celebration of all things sustainable

A Unique Event
With over 300,000 square meters of exposition space, the Libramont fair is Europe’s time to shine for the rural market. Emphasizing a “green” theme of recycling and renewable energy, Windeo wanted the Skystream wind turbines to gain more visibility among the farming industry population.

Starting today, the 250,000 expected visitors of the Libramont fair will see a greener event this year thanks to the Skystream 3.7. Our wind turbines not only welcome the fair-goers at the entrance, but they also provide energy to the fairgrounds, further instilling a “green” aspect.

Of the 1,500 exhibitors at Europe’s biggest outdoor event of the year, Windeo Green future is the only renewable energy partner at the fair. Aside from the entranceway turbines, Windeo added some visual aspects to explain that the systems produce “green energy” for the fair. In the Main Hall at Stand 33H-1.019 Windeo is also educating fair-goers about green energy. They a demo Skystream at their 50-m² stand along with a solar tracker and decorated grass on the stands roof.

The fair began today (July 27) and will run through Monday. If you’re at the Foire de Libramont, stop by and say hi to our friends at Windeo!

.

Once in a Blue Moon......

Make Your Own Shower Mat Out of Recycled Wine Corks!

By: Diane Pham

Inhabitat

06/24/11

If you’re a consumer of fine wines, then you know that while the bottle can be recycled, the cork often finds its final resting place in the trash can. To make better use of these tiny stoppers, Danny Seo from the craft blog Daily Danny came up with an awesome DIY bath mat idea. All you need to create the cool mat is a whole bunch of wine corks (Danny suggests hitting up your local bar or restaurant), a shadow box/frame and viola! — just arrange your corks vertically inside the box so they fit snug and tight, and you’ve got yourself a brand new, quick-drying bath mat!

Renewable Energy Break

Wanted to share this great pic of a Mule deer taking a nap at the base of a Vestas 2.0 Megawatt V80 wind turbine at Wild Horse Renewable Energy Center in Ellensburg, WA.

Sustainability At The London Olympics

Pavegen Tiles Turn Footsteps Into Electricity

Pedestrians power round-the-clock lighting on a walkway at West Ham tube station, a key access point for London 2012 Olympic venues.

By: Kelsey Perry

7/27/2012

Pavegen, a UK paver company is turning pedestrian traffic into electricity by harvesting the energy from footsteps.

Pavegen tiles capture the kinetic energy created by footstep for immediate or future use. The pavers are currently being used at the West Ham tube station in London and this transportation hot spot is estimated to receive a million visitors during this year’s Olympic Games.You can see a live feed of the energy created from the 12 tiles here.

The tiles are set to make their largest commercial debut in September inside the Westfield Stratford City shopping center in London. The shopping center is estimated to have 30 million visitors in its first year.

The pavers contract slightly when pressure is applied from a footstep and this miniscule movement – about five millimeters – is enough to produce five to seven joules of energy, generating five to seven watts of electricity from the average step. When the paver is stepped on, .5 percent of the electricity created goes to automatically illuminating the tile’s central light and the rest is stored in the on-board battery for future use for things like lighting, sound and advertising signage.

The slabs were created by Pavegen founder Laurence Kemball-Cook in 2009. The 26-year-old engineer developed the prototype during his senior year at Loughborough University in Leicestershire, UK.

The tile’s surface is made completely of recycled rubber and the base of the paver is construction from 80 percent recycled materials. The pavers are made to withstand a large amount of footfall and are also waterproof.

A Cycle of Mutual Respect and Caring

After a long absence, we are back at it! *Crossfingers!*

Unfortunately, on June 29th, we were hard-hit by the derecho that came sweeping through Ohio, leveling our century barn, taking the top of our home as well as quite a bit of water damage in the lower level.

Hard to fathom that this barn, that once stood so tall and weathered so many storms, was reduced to such a compact pile of wood and metal.

All of these things were remedied with hammers, nails, saws, heavy equipment and so on. The worse loss imaginable was that of our beloved trees.

Four of these were 100+ year old Cedars. I'll never forget the fragrance around here on that day, or the weeks following their demise.


One in particular, was a cherished Burr Oak which was estimated to be around 400 years old. I can't help but think that this majestic tree, once in its infancy, sprouted forth from the earth and discovered life in a soil that was rich and undisturbed by man's chemical additives. And as it grew to great height, was standing and thriving as witness while the Sandusky Plains were being transformed.

It stood tall through nature's tests of wind, hail and even the fires that swept through these Plains. It was there providing shade, shelter from the wind, wood for warmth, and even sustanance from the meat of its fruit, the mighty acorn, to the Wyandot Indian tribe who roamed this part of the earth and eventually settled here in this abundant and fertile region.

I realize that a lot of you may not have this connection or appreciation of something that we see everyday and take for granted. So you can call me a "tree hugger", a "hippie", an "environmentalist activist", whatever label you'd like to pin on me, I'm good with it. All I ask is that you just take a few minutes, look outside (better yet, GO outside!) and begin your own appreciation of what we've been given.

Secondly, I would ask that you give serious consideration to what type of changes you can make in your lives everyday that will alleviate the impact on our natural resources. The earth gives back to us just as good as we give. A cycle of mutual respect and caring. Make it a goal to place a higher value on its well-being. You are the ones who will ultimately benefit.

**Side Note**

Our goal in the coming months is to repurpose the wood that we are able to salvage from the barn for use in our home. Not only will we have things that will be functional and long-lasting, but we will be contributing by skipping manufacturing processes, transport emissions, and wastes associated with the purchase of new furnishings, structural supports, art, etc. And no, our plan does not hurt any "economical structure". The laborers and artisans performing these tasks for us will be paid a fair and decent wage. That is all. Jumping down off my soapbox now! Have a great and blessed day! :)

Poultry Arks Gain Popularity

Poultry Arks


Following Jamie Oliver's tirade against factory farming of chickens, a Worcestershire garden and landscape company is hoping to lay a golden egg.

M&M Timber of Upper Sapey has just launched a new range of  "poultry arks" specially aimed at those who want to keep chickens in their own back gardens.

Launched at the Garden Centre Annual conference in Manchester last month, the poultry arks are expected to be the biggest sellers in M&M Timber's new pet and poultry housing range, which will soon be available at all major garden centres throughout the country.

Sales director Ian Rickhuss said: "We have heard from council officials that there has been a marked increase in the number of city dwellers seeking advice on keeping chickens at home."

"We are anticipating a huge demand for our new poultry arks this coming spring and have already begun deliveries to some of the larger garden centres."

"We are confident customers will appreciate the big difference in the build quality of our products, compared to inferior and often over priced foreign imports."

Collapsing Cooling Towers

It's time to move on. Our country needs to move from a fossil fuel past to a renewable energy future!

The STIHL Tour des Trees

Ride The 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees

Here's a great idea for a fun and fit family vacation activity and you still have time to plan! Just think of the amazing scenery all along the way as well as teaching your children the importance of sustainability! 

The STIHL Tour des Trees is the signature annual fundraiser of the TREE Fund and is a week-long, 500-mile cycling event. The Tour des Trees, recognizing its 20th Anniversary in 2012, has raised more than $5 million for the TREE Fund and its mission to support research, scholarships and educational programs in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.

The 2012 STIHL Tour des Trees will launch from Portland, Oregon on August 5th and pedal 585 miles through Oregon’s rich coastline, vineyards, high desert and Columbia River Gorge looping back to Portland. Tour riders return year after year, joining their “Tree Family” to spread the message of the TREE Fund and for the camaraderie of their fellow riders.

There are a number of ways to get involved in the STIHL Tour des Trees:

•  Ride the entire Tour
•  Partially ride the Tour
•  Donate to a rider
•  Volunteer
•  Or, join the Tour on its final day during the Ride for Research.
•  For more information on how to get involved; Please visit http://www.stihltourdestrees.org./

Cutting ‘Fixed’ Overhead and Going Green

Cutting ‘Fixed’ Overhead and Going Green

On-site wind power is part of the energy savings mix for one Arizona station

A drive to reduce costs and go green led the owners of a Flagstaff, Ariz. service station to find new ways to reduce utility energy consumption. Late in 2009 the station owners installed small-scale wind turbines and have since made energy efficiency upgrades, cutting utility energy use by a total of about 20 percent.

The Chevron station, one of nine stations owned and operated by Hallum Inc., sits on the heavily traveled U.S. 89, a major route to the Grand Canyon. Two Skystream 3.7 wind turbines, made by Southwest Windpower, sit atop 33- and 45-foot high poles at the site. In addition to generating clean energy, the spinning turbines next to the highway draw plenty of attention from customers and passing motorists.

Cutting overhead

The wind turbines are part of Hallum’s long-term strategy to reduce costs. “Station owners look at electric bills as a fixed cost that you can’t do anything about. But you can. You just have to be proactive about it,” says vice president David Hallum. “Anything you can do to reduce long-term costs should be on the table. We took a look at our overhead and asked ‘what can we do with the resources available to us now?’”

Hallum Inc. engaged the local Southwest Windpower dealer to assess the company’s sites, and settled on the U.S. 89 location for its abundant wind and high visibility. The dealer provided trenching and concrete work, completed the electrical connections, assembled the turbines and raised the towers. The total installation process took just a couple of days, not including concrete cure time.

The owners also invested in new interior upgrades for better efficiency, with the help of Supermarket Energy Technologies, a firm specializing in efficiency retrofits. New refrigerator fan motor controllers and defrost sensors reduce running time by 80 to 90 percent. The station also saves with new lighting fixtures, LED cooler lights and restroom light motion sensors.

Visible green energy

Small-scale wind power can be an affordable and attractive alternative to other green energy options, such as buying carbon offsets. The spinning blades seem to capture people’s attention and differentiate the station from others in the area.

President Steve Hallum got interested in wind turbines largely as a cost-savings measure, but a green image also played a roll in his decision. “Part of it is making a statement to the public about being environmentally conscious. Wind power makes that statement,” he says.

David agrees. “I’m a firm believer. The use of wind energy at the station sends a message to everyone who sees it that we’re taking steps in the right direction. The more ways we can find to get away from conventional energy sources, the better,” he says.

The station manager notes that drivers often stop in to ask questions about the wind turbines that often spin as commuters and tourists pass by.

Small-scale technology

Today’s small wind turbines aren’t like the large turbines associated with wind farms that can stand well over 100 feet high. These are much smaller. And they’re not like old farm windmills either. Small-scale modern systems, with sculpted designs, composite blades, embedded software and wireless connectivity, deliver quiet, optimized performance in a variety of wind conditions.

Southwest Windpower developed Skystream 3.7 in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to provide quiet, affordable wind energy systems to home and business owners worldwide. Today Skystream is available with solar panels and a sun tracking mechanism attached to the same tower, which delivers more consistent energy than either solar and wind power alone.

Although the Flagstaff project was undertaken independently by the station owners, Chevron Technology Ventures, the venture capital arm of Chevron., is an investor in Southwest Windpower.

Incentives reduce up front investment

Business owners of small-scale wind systems enjoy federal, state and local incentives, depending on their locations.

Hallum Inc. took advantage of a 30 percent federal tax credit, which was applied to the total installed cost the first year and $1,000 per year thereafter. Arizona Pubic Service, the local electric utility, also offered a $6,000 per turbine incentive, lowering the installation cost significantly.

Many states offer rebate or tax credit programs to encourage the adoption of wind and solar power systems. Some of the best incentives are offered in Arizona, California, Nevada, New York, Hawaii and Massachusetts. An up to date listing of incentives is available online at www.dsireusa.org.

Can your station benefit?

Because wind power is a site-specific technology, it’s not suited to every location. Ideal sites are in high wind areas without many obstacles like structures or tall trees. Usually locations like open plains, along coastlines, or on high ridges deliver the best performance.

Even the placement of the turbines in relation to the service station’s structures can have effects. Southwest Windpower recommends that any small wind turbine be situated on a tower that reaches at least 20 feet above any obstacle within 250 feet.

Any business investigating wind or solar projects should carefully consider whether local wind and sun resources will provide enough energy to make the project worthwhile. Online wind and sun estimating tools can help start the process, and a Southwest Windpower representative can follow up with a live site visit.

Mother Earth

MESSAGE TO THE CORPORATE POLLUTERS, THE GOVERNMENTS THEY ALMOST ENTIRELY CONTROL, AND THE MEDIA WHO PEDDLES THEIR FRAUDULENT SALES PITCHES.