Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 10/26/2007
This is the weekly bulletin of the TURI Library, reporting a selection of recently published titles we have acquired. Our pledge is to keep the bulletin relevant to your work and brief -- no more than 10 titles. You are welcome to send a message to jan@turi.org if you would like more information on any of the articles listed here.
Titles here, abstracts below:
- Nanotechnology in finishing
- The scoop on electronic ballasts
- 7 steps in the lifecycle of a green product
- Taking stock: 2004 North American pollutant releases and transfers
- Green plastics find cautious market
- Evaluating energy efficiency in the garment care industry: a comparison of five garment care technologies
- Evaluation of soluble oil vs. semi-synthetic metal working fluids at Toolmation, Inc.
- Principles for evaluating health risks in children associated with exposure to chemicals
- Repair or replace?
- Beyond grey pinstripes
1. Nanotechnology in finishing
Author: Destefani, Jim
Source: Products Finishing, October 2007, pp23-29
Abstract: You may think nanotechnology is just a buzzword. Or you may think it’s a laboratory phenomenon, with practical applications years if not decades down the road. You may even subscribe to the idea that out-of-control nanotechnology will result in humanity and the rest of the Earth eventually being enveloped in a “gray goo” of self-replicating nanobots, a scenario proposed by several science (or science fiction) writers.
Nanobots aside, the reality is: Nanotechnology is here, and finishers can reap the benefits of some of the first practical applications of nanomaterials science. Use of nanomaterials in coatings can not only enhance such “conventional” properties as hardness, scratch-resistance and corrosion resistance, it can also result in coating materials with novel
insulating, radiation transmitting, and other properties.
Here’s a look at the current state of nanotechnology as it relates to coatings, and how it is changing the development of both organic coating materials and plating chemistries.
Link: http://www.pfonline.com/articles/100702.html
2. The scoop on electronic ballasts
Author: Papdemos, Athanasios
Source: Consulting-Specifying Engineer, October 15, 2007
Abstract: A valuable tool in any sustainable designer’s toolbox, electronic ballasts powering fluorescent light sources offer a plethora of benefits over magnetic ballasts--not to mention incandescent lamps. Not only do they readily lend themselves to being controlled through building management systems, daylight sensors, occupancy sensors, and other similar devices, but such lighting systems controlled by a combination of these devices can actually provide energy savings in the 30% to 40% range.
Taking a quick look at the history of the fluorescent lamp, it was Peter Cooper Hewitt who patented the first lamp more than 100 years ago, creating an artificial light source more efficient than the incandescent lamp. For many years, the ballasts were of the electromagnetic type, also known as magnetic, using a core-and-coil assembly to transform electrical energy to start and operate the fluorescent lamp.
Years later, electronic ballasts came on the scene. First introduced to the marketplace around 1988, these ballasts use electronic components to convert 60 Hz voltage and current to high frequency to operate the fluorescent lamp. They are more efficient than electromagnetic ballasts, providing energy savings that continue to improve almost on a yearly basis. Even though in 1988, less than 1% of ballasts used in the United States were electronic type, by 1998, approximately 40% of ballasts shipped were electronic.
Link: http://www.csemag.com/article/CA6491382.html
3. 7 steps in the lifecycle of a green product
Author: Pedersen, Martin C.
Source: Metropolis, October 2007
Abstract: As we set out to create a green-products issue, we were confronted with a pair of dilemmas. Amid all the hype and hot air some real progress was being made, but as Ray Anderson told us in 2004, “No one should be claiming sustainable products. There is no such thing yet in terms of zero footprint. What you can do is demonstrate reduced footprint.” This remains true today—and yet the dizzying array of new efforts boggles the mind. There is no shortage of products claiming the green mantle. So how do we mark this vast but imperfect moment? Borrowing from the Okala Design Guide (www.idsa.org/whatsnew/sections/ecosection/okala.html), we’ve organized our stories around the life cycle of green products. Since there is still no perfect product, think of these as seven pieces of a Platonic whole, a set of best practices, and a possible road map for a new model of twenty-first-century manufacturing.
Link: http://www.metropolismag.com/cda/story.php?artid=2998
4. Taking stock: 2004 North American pollutant releases and transfers
Source: Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), 2007
Abstract: The Taking Stock report is based on pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) from Canada, Mexico and the United States, which provide detailed information on types, locations and amounts of chemicals released or transferred by industrial facilities. The report supports a key objective of the CEC’s goal to provide information for decision-making at all levels of society.
The publication of the eleventh edition of Taking Stock marks the achievement of a significant milestone in pollutant release and transfer register (PRTR) reporting in North America. For the first time, Taking Stock incorporates PRTR data reported by facilities in Mexico through the new Registro de Emisiones y Transferencia de Contaminantes (RETC). The Mexican data, reported in 2004 and now publicly available online, allow the annual Taking Stock report to present a more complete picture of industrial releases and transfers of chemicals in North America.
Link: http://www.cec.org/pubs_docs/documents/index.cfm?varlan=English&ID=2170
5. Green plastics find cautious market
Author: Jewell, Mark
Source: The Washington Post, October 22, 2007
Abstract: Target offers shoppers an unusual message about its gift cards at some stores, advising that they are biodegradable. "Just make sure you spend them first," the displays conclude.
This isn't just a marketing gimmick. Plastics made from corn and other plants are carving a tiny niche from the market for conventional petroleum-based plastics and being touted as green alternatives for everything from bulk food containers to lipstick tubes and clothing fiber _ as well as gift cards.
So-called "bioplastics" offer the world a way to wean itself off oil, and most biodegrade to varying degrees. But their makers' green argument is complex, and environmentalists are cautious in their support.
Manufacturing bioplastics produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming. The materials are made from crops _ corn, switchgrass, sugar cane, even sweet potatoes _ that require land and water to grow. Some sound alarms because genetically modified organisms are used to spur the fermentation that creates them. And recycling them presents still other pitfalls.
They also can cost three times more than conventional plastics, which gives businesses pause about adopting them. Until bioplastics expand beyond their current tiny fraction of the overall plastics market, the road to popularity is expected to be rough.
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/22/AR2007102200514.html
6. Evaluating energy efficiency in the garment care industry: a comparison of five garment care technologies
Author: Sinsheimer, Peter; Grout, Cyrus
Source: Urban and Environmental Policy Institute (UEPI), Occidental College, 2004
Abstract: For more than fifty years, the vast majority of the 30,000 dry cleaners in the United States have relied on the toxic chemical perchloroethylene (PCE) as the solvent used to clean delicate garments. While design changes have been made to dry clean equipment to reduce environmental exposures, these changes have made dry cleaning a more energy intensive process.
As a consequence of ongoing health risks associated with PCE dry cleaning and the lack of regulatory compliance, the South Coast Air Quality Management District voted to phase out PCE dry cleaning in the greater Los Angeles region in December 2002. For the 400 PCE dry cleaners in the City of Los Angeles, over half will have to purchase new professional cleaning equipment by November 2007.
Since the 1990’s, while regulation of PCE dry cleaning increased, a number of alternatives to PCE dry cleaning have emerged. Because each alternative uses a different solvent requiring a different machine configuration, any evaluation of resource use had to account for the whole range of these technologies. This study was designed to characterize the energy and water use of five professional garment cleaning technologies: perchloroethylene dry cleaning, professional wet cleaning, petroleum dry cleaning,
silicone dry cleaning, and CO2 dry cleaning.
Link: http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ppc/
publications/LADWP%20Final%20Rpt%2010-18-04_4.pdf
7. Evaluation of soluble oil vs. semi-synthetic metal working fluids at Toolmation, Inc.
Source: Illinois Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC), 2007
Abstract: Toolamation Inc. collaborated with technical assistance specialists from the Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC) to evaluate the metal working fluid (MWF) oil removal system and soluble-oil vs. semi-synthetic MWFs.
Toolamation Inc. is a privately owned and operated Illinois metal working business in Beach Park, IL that employs 40 people. Toolamation provides high-volume automated production broaching and screw machine tooling products. Other services include heat temperature, tumbling/deburring, CNC machining, and EDM services. They specialize in high quality parts fabrication with fast setup and turnaround. Toolamation is ISO 9001 certified.
Link: http://www.ideals.uiuc.edu/bitstream/2142/2379/2/TN08-091.pdf
8. Principles for evaluating health risks in children associated with exposure to chemicals
Source: World Health Organization (WHO), 2006
Abstract: Environmental factors play a major role in determining the health and well-being of children. Accumulating evidence indicates that children, who comprise over one third of the world’s population, are among the most vulnerable of the world’s population and that environmental factors can affect children’s health quite differently from adults’ health. Poor, neglected, and malnourished children suffer the most. These children often live in unhealthy housing, lack clean water and sanitation services, and have limited access to health care and education. One in five children in the poorest parts of the world will not live to their fifth birthday, mainly because of environment-related diseases. The World Health Organization
(WHO) estimates that over 30% of the global burden of disease in children can be attributed to environmental factors.
Health is determined by a variety of factors. In addition to the
physical environment, genetics, and biology, social, economic, and cultural factors play major roles. Although it is critical to understand the various driving forces during childhood that shape health and behaviour throughout life, the emphasis of this document is specifically on exposure to environmental chemicals. This document evaluates the scientific principles to be considered in assessing health risks in children from exposures to environmental chemicals
during distinct developmental stages and provides information for public health officials, research and regulatory scientists, and other experts responsible for protecting children’s health. The central focus of this document is on the developmental stage rather than on a specific environmental chemical or a specific disease or outcome.
Link: http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/ehc/ehc237.pdf
9. Repair or replace?
Author: MacMillan, Amanda
Source: The Green Guide, July/August 2007
Abstract: As long as you've got electronics and appliances in your home, you're inevitably going to be faced with a choice: Something breaks. Now what?
According to a 2005 Consumer Reports survey, Americans are repairing 16 percent fewer products—including high-cost items like television sets and refrigerators—than in 1997. The number of appliance-repairs shops has declined roughly 37 percent in 15 years while the number of electronics-repair shops has plummeted by 64 percent. So-called "e-waste"--computer monitors, televisions and other electronic waste—is the fastest growing portion of the U.S. waste stream. In 2005, electronics accounted for 2.63 million tons of waste—only 12.5 percent of which was recycled.
If you're lucky enough to find a repair shop, it may seem that the best environmental option would be to hang on to old appliances and electronics for as long as possible. Along with the environmental impact of new-product production, there's another concern: Many electronics contain heavy metals (such as lead and mercury), flame retardants and other toxic chemicals that can wash into waterways and pollute groundwater if sent to a landfill. But older products can be a big drain of household energy. "You need to consider buying a new product—which must be manufactured—or fixing your existing product, which may not be up to the latest energy standards," says Greg Keoleian, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan.
Link: http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/121/repair
10. Beyond grey pinstripes
Source: The Aspen Institute, 2007
Abstract: Beyond Grey Pinstripes is a research survey and alternative ranking of business schools that spotlights innovative full-time MBA programs leading the way in the integration of issues concerning social and environmental stewardship in to the curriculum. These schools are preparing students for the reality of tomorrow's markets by equipping them with the social, environmental and economic perspectives required for business success in a competitive and fast changing world.
The Beyond Grey Pinstripes ranking is the result of over 18 months of rigorous research- designing the survey, outreach to full-time MBA programs around the world, data collection and analysis- looking at how well MBA programs incorporate social and environmental issues into the training of future business leaders. Over 40,000 pages of data were analyzed to come up with the 100 top MBA programs.
Link: http://www.beyondgreypinstripes.org/index.cfm
You are welcome to send a message to jan@turi.org if you would like more information on any of these resources. Also, please tell us what topics you are particularly interested in monitoring, and who else should see Greenlist. An online search of the TURI Library catalog can be done at http://slk060.liberty3.net/turi for greater topic coverage.
This page updated Friday November 02 2007