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Using AI to build animal-free proteins and preservatives
CategoriesSustainable News

Using AI to build animal-free proteins and preservatives

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Lab-grown food is no longer science fiction. As alternatives to traditionally farmed ingredients, cultured meats can replace almost any animal product with a more sustainable version. Now, Chilean biotech startup Protera is using artificial intelligence (AI) to copy the amino acid structures of naturally occurring proteins – such as those in flowers. Once a complete protein is built, the company uses fermentation to produce the ingredient at scale.

Fermentation produces the proteins much faster than a farmer can grow a crop or raise an animal, and in much less space. Far fewer resources are used, and emissions are much lower than in traditional agriculture. Since the proteins are exact copies of naturally occurring ones, they can be used as direct substitutes for a number of ingredients, including palm oil, chemically hydrogenated fats, and additives that extend the long-term shelf life of foods.

Currently, the company has four proteins in pilot or development stages. Protera Guard is a protein with anti-mould properties designed specifically to help make baked goods last longer on shelves. Protera Sense is a plant-based oil used for texture in foods as an alternative to dangerous trans-fats and palm oil. Antioxidant and foaming and emulsifying proteins are two others that are also being developed, with the foaming version capable of being used as an egg replacement.

Springwise has spotted a number of developments in the cultured food industry, with fermentation replicating the tasty fats from animal meat for better tasting plant-based meat and dairy substitutes, and a new molecular process turning plant crop cells into dairy proteins. 

Written by: Keely Khoury

22nd April 2022

Email: info@proterabio.com

Website: proterabio.com

Reference

Tackling Embodied Carbon in Retrofits
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Tackling Embodied Carbon in Retrofits

By Zarkon Group,

A firm specializing in remodeling rethinks its approach to attic and roof insulation to lower embodied carbon.

By Rachel White

In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) put the world on notice: To avert catastrophic and irreversible climate change, we will have to hold global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. And to keep warming at this level, we must cut global emissions roughly in half by 2030 and get to zero by 2050.

Building Sector Contributions to Global Warming

The building sector is a huge part of the problem, accounting for roughly 40% of global annual emissions. And while our industry has made progress, we haven’t done nearly enough.

Along with the work of organizations such as the Carbon Leadership Forum and Architecture 2030, the IPCC report was a wake-up call about the time value of carbon. Larry Strain, a board member at the Carbon Leadership Forum, describes it this way: “Because emissions are cumulative and we have a limited amount of time to reduce them, carbon reductions now have more value than carbon reductions in the future [emphasis added].”

Carbon Reduction Strategies                                                          

Three strategies are critical to achieving meaningful near-term reductions in building sector emissions. First, we need to repurpose buildings rather than build new ones wherever possible. Second, we need to aggressively reduce the operating emissions of existing buildings. Third, we need to build with low embodied carbon materials and ideally with carbon-storing materials.

The first two strategies are firmly ensconced at Byggmeister. We don’t do new construction, we avoid additions, and we pursue operational emissions reductions whenever possible. However, until the last couple of years, we had not paid much attention to embodied carbon. We assumed that whatever carbon we emitted to renovate and retrofit homes would be balanced by operational savings over decades. But this assumption was flawed.

Embodied Carbon Emissions

So, we turned our attention to embodied emissions, focusing first on insulation. As remodeling contractors, we know that insulation is high leverage, especially because closed-cell spray foam—one of the highest embodied carbon insulation materials on the market—has long been a go-to insulation material for us. There are good reasons we have relied so heavily on closed-cell spray foam. It blocks air leaks in addition to reducing conductive heat loss; it’s vapor impermeable; and it’s highly versatile. But none of these is a good reason to maintain the status quo.

Deciding When to Use Foam

There are times when replacing spray foam with a carbon smarter material is a no-brainer. For example, installing cellulose in wood-framed walls is typically no more complex than insulating with spray foam, not to mention less expensive and less disruptive. And while the R-value of a cellulose-insulated wall is lower than the same wall insulated with closed-cell spray foam (unless the wall assembly is thickened), we believe this compromise is worth it. The reduced R-value has little impact on comfort and the carbon benefit more than makes up for it. Unlike spray foam, which emits a lot of carbon before, during, and immediately after installation ( especially true of closed-cell spray foam with high-embodied-carbon blowing agents), cellulose actually stores carbon.  

There are other cases, though, such as with rubble foundation walls, when we feel spray foam is the only viable choice, other than not insulating at all. While we have entertained this possibility, we aren’t willing to give up remediating dank, damp basements, although we have begun to think about these as emissions that should be offset with more aggressive carbon-storing measures elsewhere.

Roof Insulation Challenges

Much of the time, though, the choice to eliminate or retain spray foam isn’t clear-cut. We encounter many roofs and attics where existing conditions, code requirements, and broader project goals make it challenging but not impossible to avoid spray foam.

If the attic is unconditioned, then the easiest, most cost-effective strategy is to air seal any penetrations along the attic floor and then re-insulate (in most cases, we would first remove existing insulation).

But this only works if there’s no mechanical equipment (and ideally no storage). If the attic is used for anything other than insulation, best practice is to bring the attic space indoors, either by insulating the underside of the roof sheathing with spray foam or by removing the roofing, insulating the topside of the roof sheathing with rigid foam and then re-roofing.

If the roof needs to be replaced, “outsulation” might initially seem viable. But I can count on one hand the times we have actually done it. More often than not, it’s doomed by cost or adverse architectural consequences. This is why spray foam has long been our go-to approach for unconditioned attics with HVAC equipment.

New Approaches for Lower Carbon

At least it was until we realized just how carbon-intensive it is. We came to this realization by comparing the embodied emissions of spray foam against four alternatives. We based these comparisons on a simple gable-roof form. The four alternatives we looked at were: 

* A low-foam approach of building down the rafter bays, insulating with closed-cell foam for condensation control, followed by cellulose behind a smart membrane.

* A no-foam approach where the air and thermal boundary remains at the attic floor. We install the air handler in a conditioned “head house” and bury the ductwork in cellulose. 

* A common outsulation approach with cellulose in the rafter bays plus exterior polyisocyanurate board foam.

* A newer, no-foam outsulation approach with cellulose in the rafter bays plus exterior wood fiber board.                                                                                                                                                                                          All of these approaches, including exterior polyisocyanurate, are either carbon neutral or carbon storing from the outset. Only spray foam starts off in carbon debt.

This chart shows the embodied carbon of several options for insulating the attic floor or the roof. Chart courtesy Byggmeister.

What we call the “low foam” approach includes 3 inches of closed-cell spray foam on the underside of the roof deck plus 8 inches of cellulose and a membrane to control moisture. Illustration courtesy Byggmeister.

And this debt is not small. Our modeling suggests this particular measure would take 14 years of operational carbon savings to break even. Even if our model isn’t exact, it’s close enough to know that spray foam should not be our default approach if there are viable, lower emitting alternatives.

In Two Carbon Smart Ideas for the Attic, we walk through the no-foam, head house approach in detail. We also describe our efforts to develop a carbon-smart approach to another common attic/roof condition: poorly insulated, finished slopes. When such slopes are topped by a “micro attic,” we are experimenting with dense-packing the slopes, installing loose-fill cellulose along the floor of the micro-attic, and adding a ridge vent.

We Must Take Risks

Both of these approaches seemed impractical when we first took them on. Both present some level of risk. Because of code constraints, the second one may not be broadly replicable even if we can demonstrate that the risk is manageable. But if we are going to cut global carbon emissions in half by 2030 and get to zero by 2050, we’ll have to take some risks and pursue approaches that aren’t (yet) standard practice. By sharing our story, we hope to inspire more of our colleagues to join in this effort.

Rachel White is the CEO of Byggmeister, a design-build remodeling firm in Newton, Mass. This article was first published in Green Building Advisor.

 

 

 

 

Reference

CategoriesSustainable News

Just Add Water: 7 Hybrid Homes Innovating in Water Conservation and Treatment

By Zarkon Group,

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches. 

Sustainability is an incredibly important consideration in the architecture and construction industry. More and more architects are trying to incorporate environmentally conscious materials, construction techniques and solar power sources in their proposals. In addition, algae reactors and biogas chambers also gaining traction in conceptual ideas. While methods focused on carbon capture and reducing energy consumption are crucial, there are many more ways that architectural design can structure more sustainable lifestyles.

For example, potable water is a limited resource that often goes to waste in western countries. Indeed, there is a growing consciousness about water conservation across all industries. Architecture is no exception and such considerations are on the rise there as well. A variety of methods can be employed to either capture rainwater and filter it for use, or treat the wastewater generated by the house and reuse it. The homes below show how water conservation and treatment strategies can be accommodated in home structures.

Sail House by David Hertz Architects, Studio of Environmental Architecture, Grenadines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Jury Winner, 2021 A+Awards, Residential – Private House XL (> 6,000 sq ft)

Capped with an iconic roof profile, The Sail House appears like a land yacht. The dappled array of structures are integrated into the tropical jungle and nod to local sailing culture. Considering the difficulty of construction in the Caribbean, the buildings are all prefabricated and flat-packed to the island in containers in a zero-waste system developed especially for this project; the construction cost worked out to be less than $250.00/sqft.

The swooping forms of the tensile roof membranes provide deep shade from the equatorial sun and collect rain, which funnels into structural aluminum masts and down to the concrete foundations that dually function as large cisterns that provide 100% of the water demands for use on the property.

ReYard House I Team Bosphorus by studio hcrbzkrt, Ben Guerir, Morocco

A combination of local materials, easy construction techniques and sustainable systems used in the modular home gained it multiple awards in the Solar Decathlon, an energy-efficient building competition. The home gets its name by combining the words ‘recycled’ and ‘courtyard.’

The house uses separator walls to allow circulation of air without compromising the privacy of its occupants, and rammed earth to reduce its carbon footprint. Other sustainable technologies employed include a membrane bioreactor to biologically treat wastewater from the house and retain the inorganic nutrients from the algae pond in the house to use it again. The algae pond also helps produce oxygen.

Ocoxal House by A-001 Taller de Arquitectura, Valle de Bravo, Mexico

The two-story home is set up as a sustainable microsystem in an area with a lot of vegetation. The lower floor houses the common spaces whereas the upper black sheet and concrete block includes the bedrooms. Large openings help the home connect with the landscape around and passive bioclimate control techniques help regulate temperature and humidity.

The design also includes solar panels to heat certain spaces as well as an earth chimney to create biomass. The home features a rainwater collection system that feeds into the several plumbing fixtures as well the pool and garden. To help conserve water, it is connected to the river where the excess water can flow.

AT House by HRBT, Oaxtepec, Mexico

Large openings and an angled roof ensure that this concrete home is ventilation and receives plenty of natural light. Water and solar management are two main features of the home. Rainwater collected from the roof is filtered and directed to a 4,000-gallon rainwater tank, and then to a water cistern after purifying it. Water used in the house is recycled with biological secondary treatment and then used to irrigate low water plants and succulents on the property. The excess seeps into the ground, helping restore the water table of the area around. Furthermore, the home has 15 solar panels with an option of adding 30 more if the power requirements increase in the future. Passive heating and venting techniques also help regulate the temperature within and reduce energy consumption.

Off-Grid Guest House by Anacapa, Santa Barbara, California

Located on a wildlife preserve, this secluded home completely generates its own power using photovoltaic cells. The designers were selective in the materials used as well as its form to reduce the environmental impact on the surroundings. The finishes around the home mimic the landscape around and are designed to retain their aesthetic appeal even as they weather over time.

A green roof also helps it become one with its surroundings. In addition to its electric self-sufficiency, the home also has its own well and water treatment system. Wastewater from the home is directed to a septic tank for purification as well as a dry well.

Casa 01 by ES arquitetura, Criciúma, Brazil

Imaged as an architectural promenade, the home comprises several internal courtyards, spacious rooms and large openings. The studio also took great care to ensure that none of the trees on site were removed. The concrete used to build the house contains titanium dioxide that can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air around upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

All of the sewage and wastewater generated is treated on site. The integrated system eco-sewer helps use this wastewater for irrigation. Use of natural materials, solar power for heating and cooling and clever cross-ventilation mechanisms are other sustainable elements included in the design of the home.

Fish Creek House by Edition Office, Fish Creek, Australia

Given the strong winds faced by homes in the region, a textured brick wall envelops three black timber pavilions that make up the house. Gaps between these blocks allow sunlight to enter all spaces within, making it airier as well.

Water-based cooling mechanisms are added to the concrete floor to help heat the floors. This system is connected to the solar panels in the roof. The home has the ability to collect and store about 60,000 liters of rainwater and store. In addition to this, the waste generated within is also treated on site using worm farm composting treatment methods.

House for two couples | Casa dois casais by Cabana Arquitetos, Campos do Jordão, Brazil

Two small units are raised on eucalyptus pillars to reduce the damage done to the local vegetation and also help it camouflage within the forest around. Each unit has a sleeping area, kitchen and bathroom. The modules also have large windows for an immersive experience. Eucalyptus pillars, wooden shingles and salvaged pine are used for its construction, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 80% and construction waste generated by 90%. Passive cooling techniques also eliminate the need for an air conditioner.

The retreat also features a blackwater treatment system that uses biodigestion processes to produce organic fertilizer that can nourish the plants around. The graywater is filtered by plants that thrive in wet areas and then restored to the environment through an evapotranspiration trench.

Judging is now underway for the 10th Annual A+Awards Program! Want to earn global recognition for your projects? Sign up to be notified when the 11th Annual A+Awards program launches. 

Reference

Countertop device creates purified water from air
CategoriesSustainable News

Countertop device creates purified water from air

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Designed explicitly for communities living in remote areas that lack a consistent source of clean drinking water, Chilean company Fresh Water Solutions’ Urban device captures tiny water particles suspended in the air. By gathering the particles together, the moisture becomes heavy enough to form a rain cloud. The device then pools the water in preparation for filtration.

The device is small enough to fit on a countertop or table and runs on electricity. The captured water is filtered, purified, and sterilised before being made available for drinking. Each system provides up to 15 litres of clean water a day – enough drinking water for a small- to medium-sized family. A digital display makes the device easy to run and maintain.

Filters need to be cleaned every two weeks to two months, and replaced every one to two years. Owners can buy filters from Fresh Water Solutions or elsewhere as the size and shape is generic and easy to find.

Fresh Water Solutions also provides emergency water solutions, including a modular pond for extreme weather conditions, and a flexible, pillow-like tank for particularly tricky locations. Organisations can use the systems too, as the company’s commercial and industrial devices have capacity to create up to 5,000 litres a day.

Sourcing clean water is an imperative for many communities around the world. Most of the solutions spotted by Springwise focus on affordability and local materials. Macadamia shells are used in South Africa, and a ceramic design provides portable filtration in Mexico.  

Written by: Keely Khoury

22nd April 2022

Email: contacto@freshwatersolutions.org

Website: freshwatersolutions.org/

Reference

Join the Movement, Make a Difference: Electrify Your Home
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Join the Movement, Make a Difference: Electrify Your Home

By Zarkon Group,

Most of Us Care About Climate Change

Most Americans believe climate change is a problem and are concerned. However, many feel hopeless and helpless to do anything that will make a difference when it comes to carbon emissions and climate change. It’s an understandable feeling but not based on reality – because we can take measures immediately to get our homes and lives on the path to zero carbon. 

From Caring to Taking Effective Action to Reduce Carbon 

If you care about the environment and are concerned about global warming, you can now take many practical measures. First, make a plan, on paper or mentally, and commit to it. Humans rarely accomplish what they want without a specific goal, strategy, and commitment. Next, you can create a timeline for replacing each fossil fuel-based technology in your home, as the existing ones are ready to be replaced due to age, safety, inefficiency, or malfunction. And you can do the same with your gas-guzzling vehicles.

Start Now Electrifying Everything in Your Home

Rewiring America’s Electrify Everything in Your Home, subtitled “A Guide to Healthy Comfy, Carbon-Free Living,” can help simplify your planning. It’s a complete guide to rewiring your life, whether you are a homeowner or a renter. The Rewiring America Guide offers many steps that you can begin implementing now. Here is a brief overview: 

  • Purchase Renewable Energy: Contact your utility to switch to a renewable power plan if they offer one, or search for local community solar or wind projects that provide renewable electricity. Renters can do the same. See Chapter 1 for more details.
  • Upgrade Your Electrical Service: Check your electrical panel to determine its size and configuration. Renters can do the same and discuss it with their landlord. See Chapter 2 for more details.
  • Consider a Home Energy Assessment: Get a “home energy audit” or “home energy assessment,” including a blower door test. And get quotes for air sealing and insulating your home. Energy conservation will make electrifying everything much more effective. Renters can use the back of their hands or incense to detect air leaks. Use an ordinary caulking gun and weather stripping to seal any areas with apparent drafts. If air leaks and drafts are significant, bring them to your landlord’s attention.
  • Prepare for Heat Pump Heating and Cooling: Get quotes from more than one HVAC contractor experienced with heat pump installation. Be sure he uses your energy assessment and the Manul J  to size the unit correctly. Renters can consider purchasing a window or portable heat pump for heating and cooling. See chapter 3 for more details.
  • Prepare for a Heat Pump Water Heater: Determine whether or not your current water heater is gas-powered and how old it is—plan to replace it with a heat pump water heater if it’s over ten years old. Renters show your landlord the EnergyGuide savings for replacing your old water heater with a heat pump and install water-saving faucet and shower fixtures. See chapter 4 for more details.
  • Check out Electric Cooking: If you hold a magnet to your pans and it sticks, they will work with an induction cooktop. If not, buy a few metal pans and a portable induction burner for about $50 to $150. Then plan to have a 240V appliance outlet installed before replacing your existing stove with an induction stove. Renters can buy a portable induction cooktop that can plug into standard outlets and use it as their primary cooking surface. See chapter 5 for more details.
  • Check out Clothes Drying Alternatives: Check if you have a gas dryer and if you already have a 240V appliance outlet behind your dryer. If you have both, consider purchasing a heat pump drier when your current drier needs replacing. In the meantime, use clothes drying racks or clotheslines. Renters use clothes drying racks or clotheslines and consider a combo washer and condensing dryer that runs on 120V. See chapter 6 for more details.
  • Install Solar Panels: Use a website to check your home’s solar potential, and use Energy Sage to get initial quotes. Renters can get quotes and financing options to send to their landlord. See chapter 9 for more details.
  • Add Battery Storage: If you already have rooftop solar, check whether your installer or competitors in your area offer battery storage. Renters can check out standalone backup batteries. See chapter 10 for more details.
  • Get Ready for an Electric Vehicle: Calculate how far you drive on average in a day to determine the range you need for an electric vehicle. Then, check online for nearby public charging stations to determine the feasibility of using public charging stations. Renters can do the same. See chapter 7 for details.
  • Prepare for EV Charging: If you have a garage, check if you have a 240V appliance outlet to which you can connect a fast “Level 2” charger. Renters can ask their landlord and employer to install a Level 2 charger. See chapter 8 for more details.

The Electrify Everything in Your Home guide provides many more details, including an Electrification Planning Chart and checklists for homeowners and for renters. It also includes a section on “How To Pay For It,” starting with items with little or no upfront cost, such as switching to renewable energy from your utility. To access the guide and these charts and checklists, go to the Rewiring America – Electrify Home guide and enter your email address.

The Path to Zero Carbon: Electrify Everything and Button Up Your Home

Electrifying everything will shift your life from depending on carbon-emitting technologies to clean, highly energy-efficient technologies, including home appliances, HVAC, water heating, and vehicles. Air sealing and insulating your home will further conserve energy, and sourcing renewable energy will wean you completely from carbon-emitting fossil fuels. Don’t forget the side effects:

  • Lower energy bills
  • Improved health
  • A more comfortable home
  • A vehicle with outstanding performance
  • No more trips to the gas station

So, take the Electrify Everything Pledge and start down the path to zero carbon today!

 

By Joe Emerson, Founder of the Zero Energy Project

With special thanks to Rewiring America.

 

Reference

Global innovation spotlight: Chile – Springwise
CategoriesSustainable News

Global innovation spotlight: Chile – Springwise

By Zarkon Group,

Reflecting our global Springwise readership, we explore the innovation landscape and freshest thinking from a new country each week. This week, we’ve headed to South America…

Chile Innovation Facts

Global Innovation Index ranking: 53rd

Climate targets: Reduce black carbon emissions by at least 25 per cent by 2030 (from 2016 levels), carbon neutral by 2050.

Sustainability issues

Water scarcity – Underpinning many of the environmental challenges in Chile is the issue of water – or rather the lack of it. The country is currently suffering from a decade-long drought, which scientists believe is exacerbated by climate change. In total, around 1.4 million Chileans don’t have access to drinking water or sewerage – eight per cent of the population.

Deforestation and desertification – Chile suffered an 11 per cent decrease in tree cover between 2000 and 2020. And the country is similarly affected by desertification and land degradation – with two-thirds of the country’s territory affected or threatened by desertification and drought.

Impact of mining – Many of the raw materials driving technological progress—such as copper, lithium, and rare earth metals—are found in Chile. And their extraction has a significant environmental impact. For example, lithium—crucial for electric vehicle batteries—is found in abundance in the Atacama Desert region. The process for extracting lithium is extremely water intensive in a region that is one of the driest in the world.

Sector specialisms

Energy and environment

Foodtech

Fintech

Source: Startupblink

Three Exciting Innovations From Chile

Photo source Pixabay

COUNTERTOP DEVICE CREATES PURIFIED WATER FROM AIR

Designed explicitly for communities living in remote areas that lack a consistent source of clean drinking water, Chilean company Fresh Water Solutions’ Urban device captures tiny water particles suspended in the air. By gathering the particles together, the moisture becomes heavy enough to form a rain cloud. The device then pools the water in preparation for filtration. Read more.

Photo source Carlos Muñoz on Unsplash

TURNING WIND, WATER, AND AIR INTO GREEN FUEL

Chile’s largest and southernmost region has been chosen as the setting for an innovative, $55 million (€50.6 million) facility that is exploring the commercialisation of synthetic fuel. The project—called ‘Haru Oni’—is an initiative of startup Highly Innovative Fuels (HIF). The first-of-its-kind facility is designed to convert three ingredients,—wind, water, and air—into a green fuel that could play an important role in the energy revolution. Read more.

Photo source Protera

USING AI TO BUILD ANIMAL-FREE PROTEINS AND PRESERVATIVES

Lab-grown food is no longer science fiction. As alternatives to traditionally farmed ingredients, cultured meats can replace almost any animal product with a more sustainable version. Now, Chilean biotech startup Protera is using artificial intelligence (AI) to copy the amino acid structures of naturally occurring proteins – such as those in flowers. Once a complete protein is built, the company uses fermentation to produce the ingredient at scale. Read more.

Words: Matthew Hempstead

To keep up with the latest innovations in sustainable investment and beyond, sign up to our free newsletters or email info@springwise.com to get in touch.

21st April 2022

Reference

Stracker Solar – Going Beyond Rooftops
CategoriesSustainable News Zero Energy Homes

Stracker Solar – Going Beyond Rooftops

By Zarkon Group,

Strackers are elevated dual-axis solar trackers that produce significantly more power than same-sized rooftop or fixed ground-mount systems while maintaining full use of the property below. As a result, Strackers are a perfect photovoltaic (PV) solution for homes and businesses with roofs that have no solar access; for parking lots of any kind; for industrial and agricultural operations; and for open fields and schoolyards. Keeping their powerful large PV arrays pointed directly at the sun throughout the day, Strackers are the most efficient solar energy harvesting systems available. 

These robust units, designed and manufactured by Stracker Solar in Ashland, Oregon, are currently the only UL-listed dual-axis PV trackers in the U.S. and are the only ones that qualify for Energy Trust of Oregon incentives. In addition, the all-steel Strackers are certified for 120 mph winds and come with 30-year production and structural warranties. Additional options like pole lighting and EV charging stations are available, and customers can choose from a wide variety of colors for their units.

Strackers Versus Rooftop Solar

A Stracker holds an array of 28 PV panels atop a 20-foot high single pole, making the system look like a giant mechanical sunflower. And just like young sunflowers, the array moves with the sun — something rooftop solar cannot do — assuring maximum energy collection at all times. As a result, Strackers produce up to 70% more solar power than an equivalent-sized fixed rooftop installation.

Strackers Versus Other Ground-Mount Solar Systems

Compared to traditional ground-mount solutions that sit low to the ground and require that the owner dedicate a specific area to solar power generation, often with fencing all around, Strackers’ 14-foot ground clearance allows the continued use of the grounds below. This clearance makes them ideal for farms, playgrounds, yards, and parking lot applications. Not just people and cars, but even tractors, semis, and firetrucks can pass easily under the Stracker array. Beyond the ground usage benefit, Strackers also provide up to 70% more solar power than same-sized fixed ground-mount systems and up to 30% more power than single-axis solar trackers. 

While Strackers do require a minimum of maintenance, such as annual greasing, it can be done by the owner or through Strackers’ maintenance services; and snow removal is not an issue. Snow does not remain on Strackers as it does on fixed systems since the tracking movement of the array naturally sheds snow in its most vertical position, which occurs twice a day. If additional snow shedding is needed, a press of a button brings the array into a full-tilt position at any time.

Where Strackers Excel 

Strackers excel where rooftop solar is not feasible or wouldn’t provide the desired amount of electricity and do so without compromising the usage of the property.  Commercial, industrial, governmental, and residential customers, as well as community solar developers, who have sites where land use and maximum solar generation are important, will find Strackers the most suitable solution. 

Even when a home or building has an excellent solar orientation, Strackers may still be a good choice if:

  1. Net zero is the goal, but the customer doesn’t have enough roof area to achieve that.
  2. The customer prefers not to deal with any needed upfront roof preparation and has concerns about future leaks or having to remove the system for future re-roofing. 
  3. The condition of the roof doesn’t allow solar installation, or roof replacement would be due during the lifetime of the solar installation.
  4. The customer prefers not to have electric equipment installed on their roof with its potential fire hazard, even though the risk is slight.

Parking Lots

Parking lots are a natural fit for Strackers. Traditionally carport systems have been the chosen PV solution for parking areas, but due to their fixed nature, they lack harvest efficiency, one of Strackers’ key benefits. Instead of closing in parking lots with stationary carport systems, several stand-alone Strackers can meet customers’ energy needs while minimally affecting property use and aesthetics. In addition, Strackers come fully ready for Level 1, 2, or 3 EV charging stations. As a result, auto dealerships can power their operations and charge their electric vehicles without hiding their cars on display under carport solar installations. 

That’s why Ashland’s TC Chevrolet chose Strackers as their solar power generating system, which they will install later this spring. The elegant lot display lighting the units provide with their state-of-the-art LED lights will be a bonus. 

Agricultural Applications

For farms with crops or livestock, Strackers can be installed without interfering with agricultural operations. Strackers offer customers the opportunity to either produce solar power for their facilities without compromising the use of their land or generate additional income by participating in a community solar program and selling the electricity to participating members.

Cost-Effectiveness 

Strackers’ patent-pending drive core, all-steel structure, fail-safe control system, accurate GPS validated 220-degree tracking range, and optimal bifacial capability make them one of the highest quality products available.  They combine the best of solar with high-quality state-of-the-art engineering. 

Yet the cost difference per installed kWh between a Stracker solar installation and a rooftop solar one is usually minimal. For example, in recent competitively bid Southern Oregon projects, Strackers came out as the solar solution with the lowest cost per kWh compared with local residential rooftop systems. However, every project is site-specific, and it’s often difficult to define the cost difference between installations in different markets. For example, in Ashland, Oregon, residential rooftop solar prices might be much higher than residential or commercial prices in Austin, Texas. So Stracker Solar develops site-specific cost and energy production analyses for each project that allows customers to compare the cost-effectiveness of Strackers with other PV solutions. 

Net Zero with Strackers

Homeowners and businesses with poor solar orientation or lack of sufficient roof space often have difficulty achieving net zero energy. This is where Strackers come in. Their sales team discusses the option of net zero energy with every potential customer, and those who haven’t originally identified it as their goal are usually very receptive to choosing that path. As a result, Stracker Solar has helped many customers successfully meet their net zero energy goals while competitive solutions fell short for both power production and cost-efficiency. Of the Stracker installations to date, there are seven net zero residences, a net zero dental facility, and an off-grid ranch fully powered by Strackers. Also, seven vacation rental cottages and an office have become net zero thanks to a 6-Stracker community solar installation. 

The Stracker Vision

Stracker Solar is a growing start-up on a mission: to provide the most efficient solar solutions that allow homes and businesses to get on the net zero path and enable communities to maximize their solar production via land-use preserving community solar installations. To make Strackers available beyond their current service area, they are planning a targeted national expansion in the second half of 2022 through licensing of prequalified welding facilities in several promising markets, combined with a certification program for area PV installers. The expansion plan will be supported by targeted marketing campaigns and direct partner outreach. 

Strackers Solar has an excellent opportunity to make a difference for many homeowners, businesses, and communities looking to go solar who have inadequate roofs or no land to give up. Working with local solar installers, Stracker Solar can provide efficient solar solutions that best utilize available spaces and resources and make solar available to those for whom it otherwise would not be feasible.

By Joe Emerson, Founder of the Zero Energy Project. 

Based on an interview with Jeff Sharpe, Founder of Stracker Solar, who welcomes inquiries from solar installers interested in becoming Strackers resellers.

 

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3D-printed aquatic reefs made from cremated remains
CategoriesSustainable News

3D-printed aquatic reefs made from cremated remains

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: What if, instead of scattering your loved ones’ ashes into the ocean, you could give them a more permanent resting place that would also help regenerate marine ecosystems?

This is the idea behind Resting Reefs, a system of 3D-printed artificial reefs designed to be made from cremated remains. The project was developed by Louise Lenborg Skajem and Aura Elena Murillo Pérez, graduates of the Royal College of Art in London.

The Reefs are designed to provide a habitat for marine life, helping to restore biodiversity in areas where natural coral reefs have been destroyed. According to the developers, each reef can support up to 16 different species of marine life.

To test their design, the team used animal bones and pulverized oyster shells—in place of human remains—to make a composite that may be 3D-printed into stippled mounds. The mounds resemble the form and natural growth pattern of stromatolite reefs, which are made up of microorganisms like blue-green algae.

Forming cremated ashes into solid reef mounds also provides surviving family members with a permanent place to pay respects to their loved ones.

The reefs are intended to be placed in shallow waters near the shore – where they can provide a home for small fish and other creatures. Eventually, the developers hope to create a version of the reef that can be used in deeper waters.

The Reefs are designed to provide a habitat for marine life, helping to restore biodiversity in areas where natural coral reefs have been destroyed. According to the developers, each reef can support up to 16 different species of marine life.

Other reef-related innovations spotted by Springwise include underwater ‘coral cities’ that revive marine life, ‘coral IVF’ used to re-populate damaged reefs, and bacteria that protect reefs from heat stress.

Written By: Katrina Lane

21st April 2022

Website: restingreef.co.uk

Contact: restingreef.co.uk/contact

Reference

An AI negotiation chatbot powers the circular economy
CategoriesSustainable News

An AI negotiation chatbot powers the circular economy

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: As e-commerce continues to grow, so too does the need for scalable technology solutions that help businesses maximise their sales. Nibble Technology is an artificial intelligence (AI) e-commerce negotiation chatbot that creates a pleasant, customised connection between customers and merchants. The chatbot—which can be integrated with leading e-commerce platform Shopify—lets customers make an offer for a product when browsing a retailer’s product pages. The negotiation process is very quick, with customers able to strike a deal in under a minute.

Nibble has recently released an updated version of its Shopify app, while securing a new funding round anchored by UK-based venture capital firm Venrex.

The updated app features improved AI negotiation capabilities, and is specifically focused on supporting businesses in the circular economy and B Corporations. Half price fees will be offered to these clients to support their sustainable business practices. Following the update, Shopify store owners will also be able set up Nibble in minutes. Non-Shopify customers can also use Nibble through the company’s API.

Pre-owned marketplaces (both offline and online) have always utilised negotiation to reach a mutually beneficial agreement for both the customer and seller. Nibble brings this concept into today’s environment, providing customers with the feeling of an in-person negotiation, while increasing customer interaction, and boosting conversion.

Other AI-powered retail solutions spotted by Springwise include an AI solution for the fashion industry that personalises customer experiences and avoids supply chain waste, an AI-powered sensory quiz that provides wine recommendations, and computer vision used for fashion cataloguing.

Written By: Katrina Lane

20th April 2022

Website: nibbletechnology.com

Contact: nibbletechnology.com/#get-in-touch

Reference

Upcycling barley byproducts into high-protein flour
CategoriesSustainable News

Upcycling barley byproducts into high-protein flour

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Seoul-based food upcycling startup RE:Harvest has created a new flour alternative made from upcycled barley from the production of beer and sikhye – a traditional sweet Korean beverage. So far, the company has raised ₩200,000,000 (around €150,753) in seed funding from Sopoong and SparkLabs Accelerator.

RE:Harvest says that its powder is not only more sustainable than traditional flour, but that it also has a higher protein content. The company is currently working on scaling up its production so that it can meet the demand from both domestic and international customers – as well as expanding their byproduct sourcing.

The company believes that it is a ‘perfect fit’ for food and beverage firms looking for options to hit the Korean government’s 2050 net-zero carbon emission goal. The new flour is produced through a patented process which upcycles these byproducts into a high-protein, low-carbohydrate powder. RE:Harvest says that one kilogramme of their flour can save up to 1.1 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide emissions, and that the flour can be used in a variety of baked goods and other products such as pasta and pizza dough.

The company is currently liaising with six major breweries in South Korea—including brewing giant Oriental Brewery—who will supply barely byproducts to them at no cost. Conversations are also being carried out in Indonesia with Heineken subsidiary Bintang.

Other sustainable food alternatives recently spotted by Springwise include alternative fats produced through fermentation, a replacement for vegetable oil made, an environmentally sustainable alternative to egg whites.

Written By: Katrina Lane

14th April 2022

Email: info@reharvest.net

Website: reharvest.net

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