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Physical Technology

Alcohol: A Renewable Energy that Sequesters Carbon and Can Power Our Lives?

10 Comments / Fuel, Physical Technology / By

Energy and heat are two key physical technologies (to be used on conjunction with social technologies) in moving from our dysfunctional status quo to a future of thriving on one planet’s worth of resources (one planet thriving). Multiple solutions are necessary, including alcohol, stirling engines, rocket stoves and mass heaters, biofuel, and more. Is it true that ethanol is a net energy loser, taking […]

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Bio-mimicry: Mushrooms as the New Plastic and Leather and…

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Mushrooms grown on local, agricultural waste as a substrate, form products ranging from packaging to table-tops and insulations that bio-degrade. New Yorker article describing the founding of the company, along with the teacher (Burt Swersey), class (Inventor’s Studio), and school (Rensselaer Poytechnic Institute) that supported the founders and idea. Another company (Mycoworks) is using sawdust

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Micro-housing

2 Comments / Homes, Physical Technology / By

A newish trend hitting Seattle is micro-housing, dense developments of small, affordable apartments, built on a small footprint. This news story approaches the issue from a zoning controversy perspective. This article also focuses their story on some controversy but shows a cool picture of the interior and describes it with some detail. In November of

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Notes from UW Sustainability Forum, March 7, 2013

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Sustainability Forum at UW-Madison Engaging Change: Our Food, Our Energy, Our World Craig Benson & Pat Eagan (Darren Harris = MC) Funding sources: NSE, SIRE (UW), EPA: P3 Sustainability Metrics Initiative (SBMI): STARS Operations (Faramarz Vakili, Director of Campus Sustainability Operations) 20 million sq ft of buildings 8th largest city in the state if separated

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Propane Powered Cars: Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions

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According to the U.S. Department of Energy, propane reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 10% compared to modern gasoline and diesel engines, is equivalent to gasoline and diesel in terms of tailpipe emissions, and is non-toxic, non poisonous, and insoluble in water [but this is nothing compared to the potential for alcohol as a transportation

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