Ceres, a company out of Thousand Oaks, CA has been working on developing a genetically modified switchgrass plants. The plants can be grown in saltwater. The plants can be used for biodeisel fuel. Several years ago a company developed a type of grass that could grow in saltwater. The thought was that the grass can be used in golf courses where saltwater was available and could reduce watering costs and since bugs did not eat the grass, it reduced the need for pesticide. If Ceres can develop grass and other plants for the sport market it can produce great opportunities for the sport facility industry.
Gil-
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Michigan Going Green
University of Michigan to Host First Zero Waste Event at Crisler Arena
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120110aae.html
Dec. 1, 2010
Students at the University of Michigan are taking action to make a ton of garbage disappear -- no magic involved -- as Crisler Arena hosts its first-ever zero waste basketball game this Saturday (Dec. 4) against Harvard. From the cups to the uniforms, use of recyclable materials will be the No. 1 priority.
Hosting a zero waste event means doing all you can do to make sure as little waste as possible goes to landfill. The event is being coordinated by the Student Sustainability Initiative.
"After being approached by the SSI about doing a zero waste game, we felt that it would be a great opportunity to use an athletic event to help educate the community and our guests about the benefits of recycling and composting as well as bring an awareness to some of the other sustainability initiatives we have taken on campus," said Shelly Fabrizio, director of operations and events.
The Student Sustainability Initiative is a collaborative group of leaders in campus organizations, environmental groups, and student governments interested in making the university a more sustainable place.
"Our goal is to reduce the amount that people throw away and helping the campus community become more aware of how much they use, how much they discard, and how they might increase recycling and composting so they are sending less into landfills," said Ryan Smith, a member of the Student Sustainability Initiative.
During the game, all cups, plates, forks, napkins and trays will be made of natural materials that can break down to eventually become nutrients in soil for agricultural applications.
For example, all of the cold drink cups and trays will be made of a corn-based material called polylactic acid that resembles clear plastic and can be fully composted.
Instead of trash barrels positioned along the concourse, two bins will be placed at each waste station labeled "recycling" and "composting."
At each waste station, volunteers from student organizations across campus will educate patrons about the proper disposal of their waste, as well as, communicate the benefits of composting and recycling.
A typical game at Crisler Arena generates about 35 cubic yards (or about 1 ton) of trash, while only about 1 cubic yard of recycling is generated.
"For the zero waste events into the future, we hope to reduce this amount of trash by up to 85 percent," Smith added.
The university will partner with the nearby Tuthill Farms and Composting to take the compostable waste. The farm has the capacity to take all sorts of food and compostable wastes and break them down into soil nutrients. Tuthill Farms presently works with the composting program at the Ross School of Business.
In addition to the recycling and composting stations at the game, the U-M men's basketball team will unveil new uniforms made from 60 percent recycled materials. Designed and developed by adidas, the uniforms are 30 percent lighter and dry twice as fast as previous uniforms. The new Michigan uniform absorbs moisture in less than three seconds as a result of adidas CLIMACOOL fabrics.
To see all of the U-M's sustainability activities, visit: www.sustainability.umich.edu
Contact: Kim Broekhuizen, Public Affairs, (734) 936-5190
Zero Waste Game Fact Sheet
‐ U‐M has made a major commitment to sustainability at the highest levels in
teaching, research, operations and engagement.
‐ For the first time in Crisler Arena history, U‐M will host a zero waste basketball
game on December 4 at the U‐M vs. Harvard match up.
‐ Zero waste means taking measures to use recyclable and compostable materials
that create as little waste as possible sent to the landfills.
‐ The university athletics events are a large part of the culture at U‐M and a great
opportunity to make an impact in waste management. For example, a typical game
at Crisler Arena generates about 35 cubic yards (or about 1 ton) of trash, while only
about 1 cubic yard of recycling is generated.
‐ Students are major players – and drivers – of the university’s sustainability efforts.
At Crisler Arena’s zero waste effort there will be approximately 70 dedicated
student volunteers from student organizations across campus.
‐ During the game, all cups, plates, forks, napkins and trays will be made of natural
materials that can break down to eventually become nutrients in soil for agricultural
applications.
‐ The zero waste effort was organized by the Student Sustainability Initiative in
collaboration with the Athletics Department, the Graham Institute, and U‐M Ross
Net Impact.
‐ The zero waste initiative began in 2009 with a zero waste tailgate and continues to
grow as the university strives to institutionalize the idea and practice.
‐ The new Michigan basketball uniforms are made from 60 percent recycled
materials.
‐ U‐M Athletics has the largest stadium‐recycling program among universities in the
United States.
‐ U‐M recently adopted a single‐stream recycling, the recycling system through
which paper and container recyclables are collected in the same bin.
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120110aae.html
Dec. 1, 2010
Students at the University of Michigan are taking action to make a ton of garbage disappear -- no magic involved -- as Crisler Arena hosts its first-ever zero waste basketball game this Saturday (Dec. 4) against Harvard. From the cups to the uniforms, use of recyclable materials will be the No. 1 priority.
Hosting a zero waste event means doing all you can do to make sure as little waste as possible goes to landfill. The event is being coordinated by the Student Sustainability Initiative.
"After being approached by the SSI about doing a zero waste game, we felt that it would be a great opportunity to use an athletic event to help educate the community and our guests about the benefits of recycling and composting as well as bring an awareness to some of the other sustainability initiatives we have taken on campus," said Shelly Fabrizio, director of operations and events.
The Student Sustainability Initiative is a collaborative group of leaders in campus organizations, environmental groups, and student governments interested in making the university a more sustainable place.
"Our goal is to reduce the amount that people throw away and helping the campus community become more aware of how much they use, how much they discard, and how they might increase recycling and composting so they are sending less into landfills," said Ryan Smith, a member of the Student Sustainability Initiative.
During the game, all cups, plates, forks, napkins and trays will be made of natural materials that can break down to eventually become nutrients in soil for agricultural applications.
For example, all of the cold drink cups and trays will be made of a corn-based material called polylactic acid that resembles clear plastic and can be fully composted.
Instead of trash barrels positioned along the concourse, two bins will be placed at each waste station labeled "recycling" and "composting."
At each waste station, volunteers from student organizations across campus will educate patrons about the proper disposal of their waste, as well as, communicate the benefits of composting and recycling.
A typical game at Crisler Arena generates about 35 cubic yards (or about 1 ton) of trash, while only about 1 cubic yard of recycling is generated.
"For the zero waste events into the future, we hope to reduce this amount of trash by up to 85 percent," Smith added.
The university will partner with the nearby Tuthill Farms and Composting to take the compostable waste. The farm has the capacity to take all sorts of food and compostable wastes and break them down into soil nutrients. Tuthill Farms presently works with the composting program at the Ross School of Business.
In addition to the recycling and composting stations at the game, the U-M men's basketball team will unveil new uniforms made from 60 percent recycled materials. Designed and developed by adidas, the uniforms are 30 percent lighter and dry twice as fast as previous uniforms. The new Michigan uniform absorbs moisture in less than three seconds as a result of adidas CLIMACOOL fabrics.
To see all of the U-M's sustainability activities, visit: www.sustainability.umich.edu
Contact: Kim Broekhuizen, Public Affairs, (734) 936-5190
Zero Waste Game Fact Sheet
‐ U‐M has made a major commitment to sustainability at the highest levels in
teaching, research, operations and engagement.
‐ For the first time in Crisler Arena history, U‐M will host a zero waste basketball
game on December 4 at the U‐M vs. Harvard match up.
‐ Zero waste means taking measures to use recyclable and compostable materials
that create as little waste as possible sent to the landfills.
‐ The university athletics events are a large part of the culture at U‐M and a great
opportunity to make an impact in waste management. For example, a typical game
at Crisler Arena generates about 35 cubic yards (or about 1 ton) of trash, while only
about 1 cubic yard of recycling is generated.
‐ Students are major players – and drivers – of the university’s sustainability efforts.
At Crisler Arena’s zero waste effort there will be approximately 70 dedicated
student volunteers from student organizations across campus.
‐ During the game, all cups, plates, forks, napkins and trays will be made of natural
materials that can break down to eventually become nutrients in soil for agricultural
applications.
‐ The zero waste effort was organized by the Student Sustainability Initiative in
collaboration with the Athletics Department, the Graham Institute, and U‐M Ross
Net Impact.
‐ The zero waste initiative began in 2009 with a zero waste tailgate and continues to
grow as the university strives to institutionalize the idea and practice.
‐ The new Michigan basketball uniforms are made from 60 percent recycled
materials.
‐ U‐M Athletics has the largest stadium‐recycling program among universities in the
United States.
‐ U‐M recently adopted a single‐stream recycling, the recycling system through
which paper and container recyclables are collected in the same bin.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
The Eagles Soaring
The Philadelphia Eagles are at it again. They are unveiling three new green initiatives to be in place later in 2011. They will install 100 wind turbines on the upper rim of the stadium, install elsewhere on the roof (and facade) 2,500 solar panels, and build a cogeneration power plant in the parking lot that can run on biodeisel or natural gas.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Solar and sports
A recent article in Business Week highlighted that the invest some teams have made in solar will not pay a dividend for a number of years. While some facilities are installing numerous green initiatives, solar has been close to the bottom of the list since it really does not pay. Solar arrays on a roof also can reduce the ability to sell sponsorship naming rights to place on a roof and reduce the amount of load bearing weight that a roof can support. For example, Progressive Field in Cleveland installed 1,300 square feet of solar panel at a cost of $180,000 in 2007. The panels produced 29,000 kilowatt hours over the past three years, but the facility uses 17 million kwh per year so the panels only make a small dent in the energy needs.
Staples Center spent $2.3 million in 2008 to build a 25,000 square foot array. The 1,727 panels supply 456,000 kwh per year out of the arenas' total demand for 21 million kwh. At 12 cents an hour they save around $55,000 a year. This means it would take more than 40 years for the project to pay for itself.
However, a recent report indicated that the cost of photo-voltaic modules have declined 40% in the past two years and the installation cost has also decreased around 10%. This could also help make solar more affordable.
Staples Center spent $2.3 million in 2008 to build a 25,000 square foot array. The 1,727 panels supply 456,000 kwh per year out of the arenas' total demand for 21 million kwh. At 12 cents an hour they save around $55,000 a year. This means it would take more than 40 years for the project to pay for itself.
However, a recent report indicated that the cost of photo-voltaic modules have declined 40% in the past two years and the installation cost has also decreased around 10%. This could also help make solar more affordable.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Economics of Going Green
Business Week highlighted in their Oct. 11-17 magazine the cost for green energy. Some green energy sources such as wind energy has become almost so competitive with coal that it will start making sense to use more wind energy. Some other sources while reliable, are having a hard time finding banks willing to lend money. The chart below highlights the costs of producing electricity based on dollars per kilowatt-hour (range from low to high cost).
Coal- $56-63
Geothermal- $52-112
Wind (on shore)- $62-119
Biomass- $86-189
Wind (off shore)- $143-260
Tidal- $194-453
Solar (c-Si PV)- $226-424
Solar (thermal)- $238-313
Coal- $56-63
Geothermal- $52-112
Wind (on shore)- $62-119
Biomass- $86-189
Wind (off shore)- $143-260
Tidal- $194-453
Solar (c-Si PV)- $226-424
Solar (thermal)- $238-313
Green Ideas
Great Green Ideas
The pictures did not coem through, but you can get a feel of the ideas.
Designer creates an iPhone charger powered by a hand grip
A green idea that gives you a great hand workout as well. Charge your iPhone by a hand grip! This concept is called You can work it out, designed by Mac Funamizu.
Get out of the shower
20% of our total domestic energy usage is from hot water for showering and bathing. That's over 6 times the energy usage of domestic lighting. So designer Tommaso Colia came up with his eco-friendly shower design that will force you to get out when you take too long and waste much water. The eco_drop shower features beautiful concentric circles that will rise to force you to stop showering when you take too long, and accordingly save water.
Disco pub gets electricity produced by people dancing at specially modified dance floor (imagine if this was used with aerobics)
All the flashing strobes and pounding speakers at the dance club are massive consumers of electrical power. So Bar Surya, in London, re-outfitted its floor with springs that, when compressed by dancers, could produce electrical current that would be stored in batteries and used to offset some of the club's electrical burden. The club's owner, Andrew Charalambous, said the dance floor can now power 60 percent of the club's energy needs.
Hotel offers free meal to guests who are willing to generate electricity
The Crown Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen , Denmark , is offering a free meal to any guest who is able to produce electricity for the hotel on an exercise bike attached to a generator. Guests will have to produce at least 10 watt hours of electricity - roughly 15 minutes of cycling for someone of average fitness. They will then be given meal vouchers worth $36 (26 euros).
The pictures did not coem through, but you can get a feel of the ideas.
Designer creates an iPhone charger powered by a hand grip
A green idea that gives you a great hand workout as well. Charge your iPhone by a hand grip! This concept is called You can work it out, designed by Mac Funamizu.
Get out of the shower
20% of our total domestic energy usage is from hot water for showering and bathing. That's over 6 times the energy usage of domestic lighting. So designer Tommaso Colia came up with his eco-friendly shower design that will force you to get out when you take too long and waste much water. The eco_drop shower features beautiful concentric circles that will rise to force you to stop showering when you take too long, and accordingly save water.
Disco pub gets electricity produced by people dancing at specially modified dance floor (imagine if this was used with aerobics)
All the flashing strobes and pounding speakers at the dance club are massive consumers of electrical power. So Bar Surya, in London, re-outfitted its floor with springs that, when compressed by dancers, could produce electrical current that would be stored in batteries and used to offset some of the club's electrical burden. The club's owner, Andrew Charalambous, said the dance floor can now power 60 percent of the club's energy needs.
Hotel offers free meal to guests who are willing to generate electricity
The Crown Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen , Denmark , is offering a free meal to any guest who is able to produce electricity for the hotel on an exercise bike attached to a generator. Guests will have to produce at least 10 watt hours of electricity - roughly 15 minutes of cycling for someone of average fitness. They will then be given meal vouchers worth $36 (26 euros).
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Snow job
The following story from Veritix Sports marketing Newsletter highlights a huge waste of resources to leverage 150 tons of snow a day in Cleveland.
Baseball teams setting up ice rinks at their ballparks during the winter months has become increasingly popular over the past decade but this year the Cleveland Indians’ ballpark is taking that idea a lot farther. The Snow Days attraction at Progressive Field will include 10 snow-tubing lanes descending from a seating section; a quarter-mile ice-skating track around the outfield; a kids play area; a walking trail lit by winter lights; and a fire pit where fans can warm themselves. The attraction will require approximately 150 tons of snow to be delivered per day and will be open daily starting November 26. Tickets will be $5 for general admission and $20 for snow-tubing and ice skating. You can see an artist’s rendering here: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/snowdays.jsp. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, Sept.
Baseball teams setting up ice rinks at their ballparks during the winter months has become increasingly popular over the past decade but this year the Cleveland Indians’ ballpark is taking that idea a lot farther. The Snow Days attraction at Progressive Field will include 10 snow-tubing lanes descending from a seating section; a quarter-mile ice-skating track around the outfield; a kids play area; a walking trail lit by winter lights; and a fire pit where fans can warm themselves. The attraction will require approximately 150 tons of snow to be delivered per day and will be open daily starting November 26. Tickets will be $5 for general admission and $20 for snow-tubing and ice skating. You can see an artist’s rendering here: http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/cle/fan_forum/snowdays.jsp. (Crain’s Cleveland Business, Sept.
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