The Greener Grass

Plug into the Smart Grid

2009-03-09T15:56:00.010-04:00

Last month, Google hosted a panel discussion at their DC Office regarding the future of smart grid technology. Panelists from Google, their partner GE, utilities, and the government discussed how best to utilize the $11 billion (part of the $83 billion of the stimulus allocated to clean technologies) set aside for modernizing our electric grid. The panel also answered questions from the public submitted online. You can watch the entire discussion here.

“What does a world with smart power look like? As Washington develops the road map for a bigger, smarter electricity grid, how can we ensure that it provides every household in America with real-time energy information enables the scale up of hundreds of thousands of megawatts of clean renewable power and supports millions of plug-in cars and trucks?”

Part I: Envisioning smart power
Energy tools and technologies to empower people with information and choice

Moderator: Bob Gilligan, GE
Adrian Tuck, CEO, Tendril
Ron Binz, Chairman, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
Jeff Renaud, Director, Ecomagination, GE
Ed Lu, Advanced Projects, Google
Kelly Speakes-Backman, Principal, RE+GENeration Consultants LLC
George Bjelovuk, Managing Director, American Electric Power

Part II: Accelerating the energy revolution
State and federal policies to drive smart power

Moderator: Dan Reicher, Google
Fred Butler, President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners
John Podesta, President, Center for American Progress (invited)
Andy Karsner, Former Ass. Sec. for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
Chris Miller, Office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

On a related note, GE has rolled out an interactive site to help visualize the impact of smart grid implementation. If you have a webcam and access to a printer, you can take advantage of the “augmented reality” portion of the site and see the Smart Grid “come to life in your hands”.

Rethinking the Public Drinking Fountain

2009-02-17T15:07:00.003-05:00

A 2007 article from Fast Company points out that North Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water. That's not only a lot of petrol to make the plastic, but also requires mountains of energy to transport the more than one billion bottles around the country every week. And on top of that, over 95% of bottles made in 2005 were single serving sized, which has one of the lowest recycling rates of other forms of plastic packaging.

There's a major, and costly, irony with the perception and reality of bottled water. Most people drink it because they think it's healthier than "free" tap water, when the reality is 24 percent of bottled water in 2005 was just filtered tap water packaged by Coke or Pepsi. Most people don't know that federal standards for tap water is higher than bottled, so in some cases it's not even cleaner.

And when you add in the economic strain of bottled, tap becomes much more attractive. A person keeping to the eight glasses a day would spend $2500 a year if they bought Aquafina, and upwards of $10,000 if you're springing for FIJI. The cost of the same amount of tap water is roughly $1.

Considering all that, it seems like a no brainer to stop hitting the bottle, and the people at triplepundit.com have a few interesting ideas about how to overcome the perception problem with the public watering hole.

What could be done to change this? What if the access point was moved away from the bathroom at the sake of being near plumbing and brought closer to a communal area? What if instead of being painting a dismal shade of beige it was modern like an Eames chair or designed by a Philippe Stark-esque type of icon? Perhaps these students could be educated to drink from the water fountain and making the fountain attractive and fashionable could enforce their behavior changes. At the very least, let’s make it a little easier to fill [personal bottles] rather than drink directly from the fountain.

An Eames-style iconic water fountain? Sign me up! Their article highlights this as part of a project and we can't wait to see the results.

New Products Visualize Home Energy Use

2009-01-21T09:10:00.004-05:00

About a year ago, we created our Current State concept to visualize home energy use. Since then we've seen a growing interest in the subject and there are two interesting articles about products that make this concept more of a reality.

Make created Tweet-a-watt, an open source piece of hardware that posts your data to Twitter. Tweet-a-watt captures and documents energy use but takes the idea a step further, by letting your friends and followers also track your energy use. In theory, this could create competition among neighbors or family members to be the most responsible energy users. Tweet-a-watt is an entry to Core77's Greener Gadgets competition, so if you like it let them know!

Appliance Design also continues to be a great resource for us. Electronics: Powerline Potential discusses an affordable technology called PLC (powerline communications). According to the article, PLC allows devices to communicate through our electrical lines, so it's an existing, low-cost technology that we're beginning to use in a new way: precise and efficient energy usage for homes and buildings.

Edward Norton's $9 billion green housing project

2009-01-19T16:22:00.003-05:00

I'll admit that I'm a pretty big fan of celebrity gossip, so I was pretty surprised to come across this piece about Edward Norton on Fast Company:

Edward Norton, the two-time Oscar nominee, stood at the podium at the Hilton Washington this past May and tried to be humble. The actor was in the capital to present a major civil rights award to someone he knew well -- his grandmother. It was gearing up to be a nice moment. "I work in a profession," he told the crowd of social workers, lawyers, and community organizers, "that gets a totally disproportionate amount of attention relative to its true contribution to our culture."
...
Norton's appearance wasn't merely a cameo, a movie-star drive-by. On the contrary, he has been an active participant in Enterprise since he was a kid. His first job after college was an analyst spot there; he sits on the board and has donated more than $1 million. What's more, he has played a key role in encouraging Enterprise to embrace green building -- a shift that has enabled the business to keep moving despite the housing crisis and mortgage meltdown. In fact, Enterprise is arguably the one bright light in an industry dominated by excess and foolishness. Its model offers clues to how we all might climb out of our real-estate mess.

It's always great to see people like Norton, Brad Pitt, and Oprah acknowledge and use their profile for a meaningful cause like this. It's also a good reminder that you can't judge a book by its cover!

Read the full piece here

Sony Ericsson GreenHeart

2009-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

We've heard lots about phone recycling and how takeback programs are a key method for closing the loop on business's product cycles. We even did our own take on it, the LINC Lifecycle Phone.

Sony Ericsson seems very close to making this concept a reality with the GreenHeart. The phone features bioplastics, a 3.5mW zero charger, and eco-friendly packaging. According to many blogs, it was said to be a concept. But Appliance Design recently reported that 500 GreenHeart collection points are already in operation in 7 countries, including the U.S. Has anyone visited one of these collection points yet?

Roofray Solar Calculator

2009-01-12T09:22:00.005-05:00

What's your solar potential? RoofRay locates and calculates the solar potential of your roof. The site allows you to estimate your ROI, compare various array sizes, see other RoofRays in your neighborhood, and includes a section on how photovoltaic cells work.

This is a smart idea, because even though we know solar energy is a generally good thing, installing a solar panel on top of your roof can feel like a major project. RoofRay's site helps it to become a more simple and accessible investment.

Q&A: GreenRep.org Founder Danny Clayton

2009-01-07T23:57:00.002-05:00

Transworld Biz has a great interview with Danny Clayton, the brains behind some exciting green initiatives in the action sports industry (one of my personal favorite topics):

Based in Johnson, Vermont, GreenRep.org was launched in September 2008 by Danny Clayton, a veteran sales representative with more than 20 years experience in the industry. The company, which donates five percent of all profits to green organizations and educational sources, was created with a mission to sell green products and advance green initiatives in the surf, skate, snow and outdoor industries.
Clayton got started with his career as a rep in 1987 when his uncle, veteran O’Neill rep Gary Clayton, got him involved as a sub-rep. More than two decades later, Clayton has developed his own company based solely on his two passions, recycling and the outdoors, and doing what he says he was cut-out for: being on the road.

Read the full article here

Snohomish Bakery reminds us that trash doesn't disappear

2009-01-06T12:55:00.002-05:00

It's always nice to see sustainability communicated in elegant, simple ways that remind us that all our choices have consequences. While I was visiting family for the holidays, I saw this excellent example at the Snohomish Bakery. It's very straightforward yet effective as a reminder that trash doesn't vanish into the ether when you throw it away. Hats off!

Brandimage Paper Bottle Concept

2009-01-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Design agency Brandimage has developed a concept for a sustainable paper water bottle. On their site, they discuss their philosophy for Responsible Design: being accountable, being smart, and establishing new standards. This philosophy manifests itself in a paper water bottle, questioning the need for the standard PET bottles that we know and expect. It is made from food-safe and fully recyclable materials.We've seen many paper pulp packages on the shelf over the past couple years, but the ability to store foods and beverages inside is what makes this concept stand out. I'd like to learn more about the waterproof film inside that makes the bottle work. Does the film currently exist? To what extent is this concept technically feasible?

Steam Showers: A Sustainable Future?

2009-01-02T09:34:00.004-05:00

Creating a soothing experience with very little water, steam showers are becoming more and more popular for their spa-like capabilities. This Old House has a great overview of both the technology and the existing range of products:

Luxuriate as long as you want: Steaming for 20 minutes consumes a mere 2 gallons of water. By that reckoning, steam is a "green" way to bathe. Your electric bill is bound to go up, however. A typical 4-by-5-by-8-foot stall (160 cubic feet) covered with ceramic tile requires at least a 7-kilowatt generator.

Currently, the steam shower is an indulgence that still requires a lot of heat, but we think it could be repurposed to be a true energy saving experience. Read the entire article here.

Bottledwater.org

2008-12-30T08:59:00.006-05:00

To learn more about the bottled water industry, a good place to start is the International Bottled Water Association (Bottledwater.org). Last month, the IBWA met to talk about the future of their industry and address important issues. Whatever your opinion on bottled water, it's important to realize that it has a place in our society. Complaining alone will probably just make the problems messier. Here are a few quotes from President Joe Doss:

Over the past year, IBWA members and staff have been working diligently to communicate proactively the facts about bottled water and defend the industry against unwarranted attacks by activists. It is clear that a war is being waged against our products and the future of the bottled water industry is at stake. IBWA has therefore begun to significantly increase its level of government, media and other activity to deal with this continued serious threat.

We have a lot to feel good about. With the rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease on the rise, we make a healthy, safe, convenient product that consumers continue to demand. And bottled water is always there when it is needed; whether in times of natural disasters (such as floods, hurricanes, or wildfires) or other emergencies (such as boil alerts and contaminations of municipal water supplies).

Bottled water is an easy target for activists, but all packaged food and beverages contribute to packaging waste. Rather than attack the bottled water industry, it would be interesting to look at the places where it provides the most value for new opportunities.

Click here to read the full press release.

Fast Company Report on Bottled Water

2008-12-29T12:50:00.002-05:00

Over the last couple decades, bottled water has grown into a major part of our consumer world. With our growing interest in sustainability, how will the bottled water market be effected? To gain some background information, check out this excellent piece from Fast Company about the history and future of bottled water. Here's the opening quote:

Americans spent more money last year on bottled water than on ipods or movie tickets: $15 Billion. A journey into the economics--and psychology--of an unlikely business boom. And what it says about our culture of indulgence.

Click here to read the entire article.

Hit The Showers

2008-12-23T16:35:00.007-05:00

Here at The Greener Grass, we're starting to focus our efforts around water. Over the next couple weeks, we'll identify the key problems with our current habits in water consumption and ideate concepts as a better alternative.

I recently took a trip to Australia and became aware of their water shortage. While the government develops solutions including desalination, they've asked citizens to limit their showering time to 2-5 minutes.

An article over at Sun Frost did a good job outlining the key problems with a traditional shower. Their main point is that both water and heat need to be considered when designing the system. They've designed a more sustainable and efficient shower system that has a closed top to capture heat. Check out more details of the concept on their site. If you pair this idea with one of the many low flow showerheads on the market (take your pick here), you have a shower experience that is both efficient and enjoyable.

Herman Miller and Their Environmental Legacy

2008-12-22T08:49:00.002-05:00

While many companies are just now jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, Herman Miller has been environmentally-conscious since the 1950s. Herman Miller, a leading manufacturer of quality ergonomically-designed office furniture, has quite a "green" reputation. In the early 50s, Herman Miller founder D.J. DuPree promised that the company "would be a good corporate neighbor by being a good steward of the environment." DuPree certainly delivered, placing windows in all company buildings (to let in more natural light) and allotting 50 percent of any Herman Miller corporate as "green space." While this may seem like small beans in a world where the polar ice caps are melting into the ocean, it's important that you put it into perspective. In the 1950s, the environment was the last thing corporations were thinking about - so for Herman Miller to even include a statement like that in its corporate values was ground breaking.

In 2004 Herman Miller established a new environmental mandate in accordance with their PerfectVision Program - promising to reduce all waste by the year 2020

In 2007, Herman Miller released its environmentally-focused "A Better World Report," stating, "We believe that sustainability and commercial success should co-exist in a mutually beneficial relationship." In 2004 Herman Miller established a new environmental mandate in accordance with their PerfectVision Program - promising to reduce all waste by the year 2020. A pretty lofty goal, no? Well, 2007 year went on to be a pretty successful year for Herman Miller. Herman Miller was able to successfully cut down on water usage, reduce the volume of solid waste produced, and reduce company-wide energy usage. Additionally, Herman Miller earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for two of their corporate offices. LEED Certification is a pretty big deal, as it's a nationally-accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. While this is definitely good progress, they have a lot of work left to do before 2020.

While all of these "behind the scenes" environmental improvements might be great for the company's annual report - what does Herman Miller offer to consumers? Quite a lot, as it turns out! Today, Herman Miller is focused on manufacturing all of their products in an environmentally sustainable manner, using environmentally-friendly materials. They have a design team (DfE - Design for the Environment) specifically devoted to the company's green design initiatives and its EQAT (Environmental Quality Action Team) committee which creates environmentally sensitive design standards for both new and existing products. Many popular Herman Miller collections including the Caper, Mirra, and Celle have achieved Cradle to Cradle protocol certification as well as Green Guard Indoor Air Quality Certification. Even the ever popular Aeron Chair and all of its parts are made out mostly recycled materials, in an effort to make for a greener production process.

While all of these "behind the scenes" environmental improvements might be great for the company's annual report - what does Herman Miller offer to consumers? Quite a lot, as it turns out!

As far as green companies go, Herman Miller is most definitely a pioneer. Unlike other companies, which are going green due to recently passed legislation, Herman Miller has long had the environment in mind and continues to make strides at reducing waste while creating a high quality product.

AT Kearney reports on sustainable supply chains

2008-12-08T07:58:00.004-05:00

As someone who is quantitatively minded, I was excited to see news via Brandweek that consulting firm AT Kearney released a report that takes a disciplined, rigorous look at the effects of so-called "ecoflation" on consumer goods supply chain management, cost of goods, and other critical issues. In their words:

Soaring prices for commodities has brought renewed attention to the scarcity of natural resources and the economic impact of these shortages. Rattling Supply Chains: The Effect of Environmental Trends on the Fast Moving Consumer Goods Industry, is a new study from A.T. Kearney and the World Resources Institute that examines the effects and the challenges of environmental changes on business. The research indicates that failure to adjust to changing conditions could cost fast moving consumer goods companies up to 47 percent in earnings over the next 10 years. Businesses will have to remain profitable while also protecting the fragile environment upon which they depend. Our findings suggest that the winners in this new world order will be those firms that understand the consequences and transform their business models to meet environmental needs.

Download the report here.

Fast Company's Delia Bonfilio on sustainable (graphic) design

2008-11-21T16:16:00.003-05:00

Most of us here at The Greener Grass are industrial designers, and because we work so closely with the materials and processes that define products, we're fortunate enough to have many opportunities to make them more sustainable. When it comes to graphic design, though, the implications are a bit less obvious. Beyond speccing recycled paper and soy ink, what can graphic designers do be more sustainable? Delia Bonfilio offers some great, fresh thinking that is the beginning of what sounds to be a very promising series:

Every evening I come home and walk by a mountain of garbage from my building in this otherwise beautiful neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. It makes me think about my contribution to that, not only on a personal level but a professional one. As owner of a graphic design studio, I know all too well that half of the services we offer involve the design and development of stuff that ultimately ends up in the trash.
...
In the next entry, we'll start at the foundation of your visual system......A Sustainable Brand Identity. What is it? Do you have one? Why you need one and simple ways to refresh an old one. In future entries we'll explore: other important elements of your visual brand; eco-friendly print techniques, paper, and ink; plantable packaging; recyclable materials; design techniques and practices; multipurpose promotions; green web hosting; and more. Feel free to share thoughts, tips and resources of your own. By discovering ways to promote sustainably, maybe someday that mountain will be a molehill.

Read more here

"The Cycle" at RecycleBank

2008-11-19T10:35:00.003-05:00

Via Green Marketing:

In honor of National Recycling Day this Saturday, RecycleBank has launched The Cycle, a compelling video series that focuses on how materials are separated and reprocessed back into useful raw materials.

Today, there is more and more emphasis being placed on cradle-to-cradle material use. The Cycle provides an engaging and accessible story of how it is all done. Click here to view the rest of the The Cycle series.

This series of videos is a really well-executed, fun, and informative take on what can be a fairly dry and technical subject. It's a great example of how design and visual communication can make a real difference by engaging people who might not be inclined to dig through technical information- the very people who we need most to make programs like these successful.

Check out the rest of the videos here.

Electric-powered cars: Only two years away?

2008-11-14T07:42:00.000-05:00

Forbes has a provocative and very well-done article that suggests electric vehicles could be here sooner than we think thanks to the efforts of auto and utility companies to create a new, networked grid. We've all read a lot about electric vehicles, but this article has a lot more depth than most, so it's definitely worth a read:

The technology already exists to turn electric vehicles, households and businesses into one huge battery that sustains all energy needs; users would draw power from the collective pool when needed, and give back accrued power they don't use.

Experts who champion this new energy paradigm call it "smart garage," a metaphor for combining homes, buildings and utilities into eco-friendly energy networks.
"A single car battery at a single person's home might only represent 10 kilowatts of electricity, which is not particularly much," says Andrew Tang, senior director of the smart energy lab at Pacific Gas & Electric. "But a parking lot full of electric vehicles may actually aggregate up to one megawatt, which suddenly becomes interesting, and at that level of aggregation, it actually makes sense to make investments in the grid to support the bi-directional power flows."

Read more here

MemoryMate helps students and teachers

2008-11-13T15:57:00.012-05:00

While studying education, we had the great opportunity to interview a special education teacher in Cincinnati schools. We learned about the unique approaches and challenges around teaching students with learning disabilities and were inspired to help.

Memory and organization are the biggest problems for these students, so teachers have created a system that uses binders, an accordion folder, and pencil pouch to give each student the structure they need to keep track of assignments and projects. However, the teacher’s job isn’t done when the final bell rings. Students often forget about homework the moment they leave class, so teachers must call home each night to inform parents of the assigned projects. This added responsibility can distract from actual instruction, so we developed a concept to make the system more efficient and help students be more independent.

MemoryMate is an intelligent organization system for students with learning disabilities. It replaces the traditional accordion folder and adds an intelligent system of reminders.

MemoryMate is an intelligent organization system for students with learning disabilities. It replaces the traditional accordion folder and adds an intelligent system of reminders. By adding visual and audible cues, students are reminded of each subject and assignment that is due. The concept upgrades a system of folders and binders with digital technology, saving teachers time from administrative duties and letting them focus on true instruction.

Typically, teachers must individually stuff each student's folder with hand outs for nightly assignments. With MemoryMate, students receive files wirelessly via the teacher's computer. Students' individual needs can vary greatly, but paper handouts limit the assignments from being customized. MemoryMate allows teachers to easily customize assignments based on individual student needs.

Recognizing that certain stigmas can be associated with this type of product, we created a bracelet, watch, and phone application to give students options.

Finally, the current method lacks any reminder system, forcing the teacher to call home each night to relay the assignments to parents. In addition, students need help remembering to take their medications on a regular basis. MemoryMate offers a suite of products to provide students with reminders. Recognizing that certain stigmas can be associated with this type of product, we created a bracelet, watch, and phone application to give students options. Young students wear the rubber bracelet much like they would a Livestrong band. As they mature, the watch and phone app provide them the reminders they need, while also helping them feel like they've moved into young adulthood.

Forbes on green tailgating

2008-11-12T15:10:00.001-05:00

With football season in full swing, it's hard to think of a better topic to think about than tailgating- especially if we can make it a little greener! Forbes magazine apparently agrees, because they just published a list of 10 Great Vehicle for Green Tailgating:

Style-conscious city dwellers will like the Mini Cooper Clubman and Scion xB — both gas sippers — on our list. They make the most of their diminutive dimensions and are a solid choice for tailgating urbanites or drivers just looking to downsize without crimping style or practicality.

Pickup trucks are always popular with the tailgating crowd, and for the ones that made our list — like the Dodge Ram and Honda Ridgeline, among others — we specify the most fuel-efficient engine and drivetrain combinations in keeping with our focus on environmentally friendly tailgating.

To that end, we also looked for models with special features that help tailgaters revel more conscientiously, like integrated power inverters that negate the need for loud and smelly generators.

The AirPod: Tata's compressed air concept car

2008-11-10T06:21:00.003-05:00

Via Slashdot comes news of Tata's concept car that runs on compressed air:

The AirPod is 6.7 feet long and weighs 485 pounds. The driver controls the motion of the vehicle with a joystick.
The vehicle has four wheels, and uses rear-wheel drive. Refueling the vehicle’s 46 gallon (175 liter) compressed air tank tank only takes a couple of minutes, according to the company.

MID expects the AirPod to reach production by mid-2009, and to sell for around 6,000 Euro. Four other models, featuring speeds up to about 70 mph, are also on the drawing board.

Note that it will only be truly zero-carbon if you use a zero-carbon power source to compress the air in the first place. Like many alternative fuel technologies, it shifts the emissions from the tailpipe to the point of generation, but it's certainly a step forward!

Read more here

McKinsey on helping green products grow

2008-11-03T12:47:00.002-05:00

The latest McKinsey Quarterly has a fantastic article that explores one of the thorniest problems in the growing market for sustainable products. Namely, that while consumer receptivity to sustainability has never been higher, actual adoption lags. They identify five barriers that prevent consumers from adopting green products, as well as ideas on how to overcome them. For example, the first barrier is education (see above image):

Because consumers are largely unaware of green products, a business that sells them must see itself first as an educator, not a sales machine. Our study shows that more than one-third of the consumers who want to help mitigate climate change don’t really know how. The top three ways for them to reduce their own emissions are to drive more fuel-efficient cars, improve the insulation of their homes, and eat less beef (exhibit). Yet when we asked the consumers in our study to name the top three, they fingered recycling, energy-efficient appliances, and driving less. Few consumers knew how eco-friendly it is to shun beef.

There's plenty more where that came from, and we suggest reading the whole article. It's a great framework for assessing that challenges that you may face when introducing a green product.

Read more here

Metabolix Bioplastic Films

2008-10-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Cool Hunting pointed us to recent advancements made by bioplastic manufacturer Metabolix. They've developed a method to make sustainable bioplastics from a common prairie grass known as switchgrass.

One of Metabolix's products, Mirel, has proven to be a durable alternative for polyethylene films used in agriculture. We don't know much about potential applications for Mirel, but it would be a great if it could be used in consumer packaging where the films typically used are not currently recyclable.

Metabolix's site has a great multimedia section. Check it out to learn more about bioplastics and hear interviews from their senior management.

Intercell

2008-10-29T14:29:00.006-04:00

Fast Company's The Futurist tipped us off to this innovative approach to vaccination. Intercell, with the help of IDEO, are developing a needle-free vaccination patch that triggers an immune response through cells in the skin. Intercell's first product targets traveler's diarrhea and could generate around $750 million in revenue. Long term, the product can be mailed directly to consumers for self-application during vaccination campaigns.

This product reminds us a little bit of a concept we created a few months back. We're excited that Intercell is making these patches a reality.

JC Penney breaks ground on new, green store

2008-10-27T06:45:00.002-04:00

The Dallas Morning News reports that JC Penney is introducing a new, green store format:

Lights that preserve stargazing and old blue jeans recycled into insulation are some of the green ideas incorporated into a J.C. Penney store and around the Village at Fairview shopping center that's under construction.

Penney broke ground Thursday on the 115,000-square-foot store that will cost about 10 percent more to build but is expected to use 41 percent less energy than its similar-size stores.

It's great to see a high-profile retailer like JC Penney taking a pro-active leadership position on sustainability, and even better to see that it has very real bottom-line benefits.

Read more here