GreenClips

Issue No. 290 | June 21, 2006

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CORN VS. SOYBEANS: A BIOFUELS DEBATE

Biodiesel produced from soybeans produces more usable energy and reduces greenhouse gases more than corn-based ethanol, making it more deserving of subsidies, according to a study being published this month in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study, done at the University of Minnesota and at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., found that soybean biodiesel had much less of an impact on the environment than ethanol made from corn. Furthermore, ethanol provides 25 percent more energy a gallon than is required for its production, while soybean biodiesel generates 93 percent more energy. The study concludes that neither can do much to meet U.S. energy demand, saying the future of replacing oil and gas lies with cellulosic ethanol produced from low-cost materials like switch grass or wheat straw, if it is grown on agriculturally marginal land or from waste plant material. But Daniel W. Basse, president of AgResource in Chicago, an economic forecasting firm, said ethanol production is far more efficient, with some 420 gallons of ethanol produced per acre of corn versus only 60 gallons of biodiesel per acre of soybeans.
The New York Times, 13 Jul 06, by Alexei Barrionuevo.

www.pnas.org

DUMPSTER "DIVER" CHRONICLES CONSTRUCTION WASTE

In the past three years, Wes Janz, associate professor in the Department of Architecture at Ball State University, has photographed 250 construction site dumpsters mostly in Indianapolis, and eventually including examples from as far as Helsinki and Estonia. One year ago his students photographed 250 more. Together they found walls and sections of walls, doors, windows, carpeting, carpet pads, trusses, shingles, building paper, timber and steel framing stock, sheets of plywood, sheetrock, and oriented strand board. Janz characterizes the flow of waste from construction sites as relentless; the transfer, a mad ballet; the destination, toxic. Janz presented his full findings in a paper entitled "Sustaining Sustenance through Everyday Living," first published last year in the proceedings of an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture conference. Janz has included some of the photographs at his website, but admits he is done photographing dumpsters.
Architecture, Jun 06, p. 65, by Wes Janz.

www.polarinertia.com/mar05/dumpsters01.htm

THE FEASIBILITY OF MOUNTING WIND TURBINES ON COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

A Davis Langdon Mott Green Wall (U.K.) study examined the cost implications and practical considerations of wind turbine systems, including examining those that are building integrated. Large (>100 KW) turbines placed in good wind produce far more power than small (up to 100 KW) turbines placed in dubious wind. This demonstrates why the generation performance of wind farms is technically viable, and partly why the worthwhile integration of turbines onto buildings generally presents significant challenges. Research has been carried out over a number of years to evaluate the potential for exploiting the prevailing wind on a building and, in particular, how it can be augmented or enhanced. Another concept under active research is ducted turbines, envisaged for incorporation into the building at roof level, where they could be screened with louvers. Research has also been conducted to show how a roof can be constructed and shaped in accordance with computer modeling so as to gain maximum "speed-up" of the prevailing wind before directing it into a turbine. At present, it does not appear technically feasible or economically worthwhile to mount wind turbines on large commercial buildings as a means of providing significant renewable energy. It is technically feasible to mount micro (<10 KW) on many types of roof, and to integrate their outputs with the building electrical system. In the meantime, "merchant wind" green energy contracts with transmission via private wire or the grid appear to offer an incentive for the building of more wind farms—in favourable locations—as an effective means of reducing CO2 emissions.

Building Sciences Journal, Jun 06, p 70.

EXAMINING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ARCHITECTURAL METALS

The authors present data on the total primary energy (MJ), electricity (kWh), coal (kg) and pollution emissions (CO2, Particulates, Chemical Oxygen Demand) required to produce 1 kg of primary metal produced from ore for carbon steel, stainless steel, zinc, copper and aluminum. But, in metals, the real environmental benefit is in the recycling of materials and looking forward, rather than where the material came from. End of life (EOL) collection ratios indicate the percentage of metal that is recycled when an application is demolished, making this a more relevant indicator of the impact on the environment than recycled content. For example, aluminum sheet produced for architectural applications has very little or no recycled content because of material specification requirements, but 70 percent or more is recycled at EOL into new extrusions and castings. The authors provide a table of typical recycled and EOL collection ratio data from metal industry associations and producers for stainless, aluminum, copper, zinc and galvanized steel. Most EOL collection ratios are actually higher than their recycled content. EOL collection is encouraged by high scrap values and good designs, which makes material separation easy. In terms of runoff pollution, rates of nickel and chromium from stainless steel were well below typical drinking water standards. But zinc and copper runoff levels were 10,000 times higher, with both being bio-available and eco-toxicity possible as evaporation increased concentrations.
The Construction Specifier, Jul 06, p 80, by Catherine Houska and Steven B. Young.

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About the Publisher
Sustainable design consultant Chris Hammer publishes GreenClips in San Francisco. Ms. Hammer helps her clients with environmentally responsible approaches to urban planning and development, and to building design, construction, and operation. Email or call for more information: chrishammer@greenclips.com; 415.928.7941. GreenClips is edited by Susan Vogt, a Portland, Oregon freelance writer with 25 years of experience in energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.

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