Green Technology Forum

“Washup” is a conceptual design integrating washing machine with toilette-flush. It suggests a sustainable water consuption by storing the wasted water in toilette-flush tank and reuse it with flushing. Moreover, “washup” brings a solution for the problem of location of washing machines in small bathrooms, overlapping washing machine usage space with toilette usage space.

It is fixed on wall upwards toilette, so that loading of clothes would be easier for the user without bending or crouching. A special interface including three semi-sphere control units & two flushing buttons is designed for a practical usage of the product. “Washup” is a green product offering solutions for the problems of standard washing machines.

Source: core77.com

Nanocomp Technologies, Inc., a developer of energy-saving performance materials and component products, today announced it has been awarded a Phase One contract by the United States Air Force under the Department of Defense’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The intent of this SBIR project is to develop a new generation of very lightweight, electrically conductive wires, cables and materials made from carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Under Phase One, Nanocomp Technologies will expand upon its current processing and manufacturing methods for producing CNT sheets and spun conductors, composed of long-length CNTs, to surpass established electrical performance standards required by aerospace to replace traditional copper wiring.

“We are thrilled to have received this important program award from the USAF,” said Peter Antoinette, president and CEO of Nanocomp Technologies.

“It is generally overlooked that modern satellites and aircraft rely upon an invention from the 1800s – copper-based electrical wires and cables. Our work can result in a true 21^st century change in the game, creating electrically optimized carbon nanotube wires and cables, comparable to copper in terms of electrical conductivity but up to 80 percent lighter and more robust. The result will be increased mission capability for the Air Force and dramatic fuel savings for the entire aerospace industry. . .”

Source: businesswire.com

Two new surveys find consumers want to buy more cleantech products, but suggest leading brands may not yet have emerged.

This could be the year for big consumer cleantech spending, with a new survey estimating that people could go shopping for $104 billion worth of green goods in 2008.

A latest U.S. National Technology Readiness Survey found that 71 percent of adults are interested in green technology, but said there is a large gap between the number of products consumers own now and the number they say they would like to own.

The annual survey, covering cleantech for the first time in its latest edition, was conducted by the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and Great Falls, Va.-based technology research firm Rockbridge Associates.

Charles Colby, president of Rockbridge, said the survey showed “that there is a very strong commitment among consumers to the environment. But very interestingly, they also are interested in green technologies.”

He said a chunk of the money could be spent on new cars.

“About half of that is in transportation technologies, like hybrid vehicles, and biofuels, and energy saving vehicles. About $50 billion worth.”

Other technologies that could get a piece of the potential action according to the survey are home automation systems for things like lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as solar water heaters, solar home heating, home water purification, high-efficiency cooling, high-efficiency heating and energy-saving light bulbs.

“Things that just support a green lifestyle,” said Colby. “If you look out across all of those, we’re looking at a very substantial market, or market opportunity for companies that will offer these products.”

Solar home heating comes in at the No. 2 spot in the survey, with a market potential of $20.6 million.

Source: media.cleantech.com

Nokia has taken the idea of mobile phones as fashion accessories to its logical conclusion.

Researchers from Nokia have collaborated with Cambridge University’s Nanoscience Centre to produce the Morph phone. The Morph utilises nanotechnology to break down the stale shape relations of the “brick” phone.

The morph phone uses radical wiring and materials in order to allow bending, rolling and folding – so that the phone presents as a bracelet. The Morph has the added appeal of being self-cleaning and energy efficient.

The Morph is still very much a concept phone, currently on display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York as part of the Design and Elastic Mind exhibition.

The nanotechnology used in design is a prelude to tangible benefits in handheld communication, lower cost manufacturing and energy rationing. The Morph serves as a fresh example of successful collaboration between industry and technical colleges.

Source: smartcompany.com.au

Luminus Devices, Inc., the developer and manufacturer of PhlatLight (Photonic Lattice) LED products for a wide variety of display and illumination applications, today announced the closing of a new round of financing of over $72 million. The investor syndicate was led by Boston-based Braemar Energy Ventures and included a number of other funds, notably San Francisco-based CMEA Ventures and Washington, D.C.-based Paladin Capital Group, which are similarly focused on energy and environmentally friendly technologies. In addition, all of Luminus’ previous investors participated in the financing.

This latest financing highlights a significant strategic juncture for Luminus, which had been traditionally focused on light sources for the TV and display industry but is now targeting a broader array of applications for its PhlatLight LED technology. The opportunities for solid-state lighting range from general commercial and consumer lighting to specialty applications such as medical, entertainment and homeland security, to name a few. Luminus plans to use the capital to accelerate development of new products and expand into new lighting markets. The company continues to strengthen its team in sales support, applications engineering and product development, and is recruiting staff in the greater Boston area.

“It’s a big vote of confidence in our company and in the future of solid-state lighting, and we are thrilled to have such strong backing from Braemar, CMEA, Paladin, and our other new investors, as well as the continued support of our earlier investors,” said Udi Meirav, CEO of Luminus Devices, Inc.

Source: luminus.com

Diamon-Fusion patented hydrophobic nanotechnology has added value and improved safety as tested and approved by consumers in Arizona.

Desert-like weather conditions have a harsh impact on the visibility of Arizona’s vehicles. A DFI Treated windshield will be able to prevent Sand pitting, erosion and will be able to deflect small impacts that typically would dent or crack an untreated windshield, due to its impact resistance properties as tested by William La Course. It has been proven by independent studies that a hydrophobic coating such as Diamon Fusion applied on the automobiles windshield will improve the visibility during rainy conditions over 30%, giving an additional second of reaction time which results in an extra 58 feet in distance traveling at 40 mph.
Source: mario7660.family.ericsato.net

Americans’ appetite for environmentally friendly technologies and consumer products is grossly underserved, with a potential $104 billion in sales this year, according to the 2007 National Technology Readiness Survey (NTRS) released today. The annual survey — sponsored by the Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business and technology research firm Rockbridge Associates Inc. — found that 71 percent of adults are interested in green technology, but there is a large gap between the number of products consumers own now and the number they say they would like to own.

The $104 billion market opportunity represents the annual sales potential of the 11 product categories measured in the NTRS. More than half, $54 billion, is the potential for sales of “green” vehicles, including high-mileage, hybrid fuel, biofuel, and alternative-fuel vehicles. Researchers measured respondents’ interest levels for each of the green product categories and calculated market value based on average selling prices.

“The key to tapping this huge potential market is targeting and appropriately addressing the green consumer,” said P.K. Kannan, director of the Center for Excellence in Service. “Our research found that green technology trends are led by a small, yet powerful group of influencers that actively act as evangelists to a secondary group of adopters.”

The NTRS classifies respondents into six segments based on their commitment to green technologies, their influence on others on being green, their skepticisms about green and their interest in technology. The survey finds that those most committed to the environment — 10 percent of adult consumers — are also very enthusiastic about technology. These “green tech leaders” are the same consumers who are often approached by others for advice on technology and the latest gadgets and devices. The researchers urge marketers to target this segment when introducing green products and services.

“There is a great opportunity for firms to not only target these green tech leaders to adopt their green products and services, but also use them to get the word out,” Kannan said. “This market segment tends to be younger, heavier users of online social media and more enthusiastic about technology in general. They write blogs and advise others, and they also create a strong social networking effect that is critical for diffusing green technology to the larger market.”

“Marketers also need to be mindful of their message,” said Charles Colby, president of Rockbridge Associates. “Consumers are quite sensitive to companies that don’t follow through on their promises. Firms that misrepresent or exaggerate the benefits of their green technology may find it backfires with consumer hostility or rejection.”

2007 NTRS Findings — 83 percent of adults want to preserve and protect the environment

– 42 percent of adults said products and services that help the environment are hard to find

– 59 percent of adults say they like trying new technologies that help the environment

– 56 percent of adults say gadgets designed to help the environment would be fun to own

– 68 percent of adults like to do business with companies that are environmentally responsible

– 72 percent of adults say they resent companies who say they care about the environment but are not sincere

Source: earthtimes.org

McGraw-Hill Construction has published The Green Homeowner SmartMarket Report, produced in conjunction with the National Association of Home Builders, providing insight into the mindset of the “green” homeowner and the homeowner remodeler using green products.

The major findings of the report include:

• – The market for true green homes is expected to rise from $2 billion to up to $20 billion over the next five years.
• – Standard homes are becoming increasingly green, with homeowners using green products for 40% of their remodeling work.
• – Most Americans find out about green homes through word-of-mouth, followed by television and the Internet.
• – Green homeowners are happy with their homes and are recommending them at rates significantly higher than recommendation levels of other industries.
• – Homeowners are buying green homes because they are concerned about the health of their families, as well as to reduce energy and other home operating costs.
• – Education and awareness of green ranks as the most important obstacles, slightly higher even than the additional first costs associated with building green.

“Our findings are particularly powerful because they point to the reasons behind the market trends we’re seeing of the increasing number of green homes,” said Harvey M. Bernstein, vice president of industry analytics, alliances and strategic initiatives for McGraw-Hill Construction. “People are spreading the word about their green homes, which is most effective because that’s how buyers are hearing about the opportunities of green. It’s a cycle that is bearing out in the marketplace.”

McGraw-Hill Construction found in prior studies that residential builders and the commercial industry believed that the additional costs of green were by far the most significant challenge to more rapid growth in green building. But for homeowners, today’s survey shows that while costs and the availability of green homes are still an obstacle, the most important issue is lack of awareness.

“This information gap is actually a great opportunity for the industry, as well as for the media, nongovernmental organizations and government itself to provide more effective communication of the advantages of green homes,” added Bernstein.

The size of the homeowner remodeling market that is using green products is large: 40% of homeowners remodeling their houses are doing so with green products, especially their windows and heating and cooling systems.

As Bernstein concludes, “Again, the industry needs to listen to what the consumer is starting to want in their homes. As we look at changes within the slow residential market, green is a phenomenal opportunity area.”

“This study reinforces the need for the steps we have already taken to help “green” the home building and remodeling market,” said Ray Tonjes, chair of the Green Building Subcommittee for the National Association of Home Builders.

“We’re almost finished with the first consensus-based standard for green home building and remodeling, we’ve significantly expanded our education offerings and we’re launching the NAHB National Green Building Program. NAHB is bringing green to the mainstream,” Tonjes said.

Source: mcgraw-hill.com

Scientists have created a breakthrough substance that can change in seconds when exposed to liquid, shifting from hard plastic to soft and back again, and that has a wide range of potential medical applications.

The material — inspired by the skin of sea cucumbers — has astounding “mechanical morphing characteristics,” according to an article published in the latest issue of Science.

Researchers said a plethora of possible biomedical applications exist for the malleable new material, including as part of “artificial nervous systems” for patients with Parkinson’s disease, stroke or spinal cord injuries.

Sea cucumbers, found on ocean floors around the world, have leathery skin, an elongated, cucumber-like shape, and a consistency that can be either gelatinous, stiff and rigid, or anything in between.

This “switching effect” in the tissue of the sea cucumber is derived from a distinct nanocomposite structure in which highly rigid collagen nanofibers are embedded in a soft connective tissue.

Now the school of engineering at Case Western Reserve University and researchers at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center have succeeded after years of effort in mimicking the unusual architectural structure of the sea creatures.

“These creatures can reversibly and quickly change the stiffness of their skin. Normally it is very soft but, for example in response to a threat, the animal can activate its ‘body armor’ by hardening its skin,” said Jeffrey Capadona, associate investigator at the VA’s Advanced Platform Technology (APT) Center.

With the sea cucumber as their model, the scientists unveiled a radically new approach for developing polymer nanocomposites which alter their mechanical properties when exposed to certain chemical stimuli.

“We can engineer these new polymers to change their mechanical properties — in particular stiffness and strength — in a programmed fashion when exposed to a specific chemical,” said Christoph Weder, a professor of macromolecular science at Case Western Reserve, and a senior author on the article.

Stuart Rowan, professor of macromolecular science at Case Western Reserve, said: “The materials … were designed to change from a hard plastic — think of a CD case — to a soft rubber when brought in contact with water.”

Source: discovery.com

The Institute of Nanotechnology brings you the ‘3rd International Conference on Nanotechnology and Smart Textiles for Industry, Healthcare and Fashion’, an unmissable one-day conference taking place at the Royal Society, London on the 19th March, 2008. This event provides a venue and breeding ground for industry development, university and other research personnel to get together to present new ideas, learn what the industry wants and make linkages.

This textiles conference should be seen by the industry as the key international venue, where new ideas and developments are presented and industry challenges are tabled. It should indeed be regarded as the venue for bringing together new science and technologies into the industry arena.

Conference aims:

• To raise awareness of the potential for advanced technologies and the opportunities they present for the future success of the textile industry.
• To showcase novel textile technologies.
• To consider the implications of advances in technology on maintaining the competitiveness of the industrial and fashion textiles industries.
• To bring together a mutli-disciplinary delegation, to encourage discussion and advance collaborative opportunities.

Why attend?

This conference offers you:

• The opportunity to learn about new developments affecting the textile industry.
• Presentations from research and industry experts, to expand your knowledge of the latest developments in textile technologies.
• The opportunity to meet, advise and influence, representatives of a range of textile organizations from across the value chain.

source: nano.org.uk