Alternative or Not?

Instruments To Help Green Efforts

2010-01-23T21:22:00.008+08:00

I work for an industrial measuring instrument distributor. This company supplies many different types of meters, several of which I think will interest green enthusiasts.

One such product is the TES-1333 (inset, pictured right) and TES-1333R (inset, pictured left) Solar Power Meter, which can measure the electrical energy generated by the Sun in a particular location. This can be useful for determining strategic placement of solar panels. Both units measure solar energy in Watts/m² and Btu / (ft² x h) and have data memory and read functions (99 sets). If you require an interface to the PC, look for the TES-1333R unit. It provides an RS232 interface to the PC.

Another product I want to introduce is Davis Instruments' Vantage Pro2. This nifty weather station measures barometric pressure, temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed/direction and UV/solar. Great for green enthusiasts who want to monitor weather conditions in their residential area.

The sensor unit (pictured left) is solar powered. Electronic components are housed in a weather-resistant shelter. As for the display console, it may be powered using the included AC-power adapter or with three C batteries. Communication between the sensor unit and the console is wireless, and the range is up to 1000' (300 m) outdoors. Typical range through walls under most conditions is 200' to 400' (60 to 120 m). More standalone consoles can be bought and configured to receive data from a single sensor unit.

The console can be connected to a computer or network via USB or Ethernet (RJ45) dongles respectively. These dongles, however, will have to be bought separately. Davis' monitoring software is included with the dongles.

Last but not least: let me introduce the CO² meter. To many in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning) industry, this product might be very familiar. How would it be useful for green technology then? co2meter.com explains:

2. Energy Savings
Carbon dioxide sensors are used in LEED certified and on-demand HVAC systems to conserve energy. Rather than continuously “dumping” conditioned air, CO2 sensors turn on the heat, fans, or air conditioners when people enter the room, and turn them off when they leave.

Studies have shown that CO2-based air controls can result in up to 50% energy savings.

Well, no additional data or source is provided in regards to the energy savings stated, but that should explain why a CO² meter might come in handy.

A few manufacturers offer CO² meters in their product line-up. One of them would be GE Sensing, which makes the Telaire series of gas meters. A cheaper alternative would be TES Taiwan, or Vaisala.

There are, of course, many more instruments and tools that green enthusiasts will find useful. The 3 products that I have mentioned in my post are but just a handful.

Norway's H-way

2009-05-14T18:12:00.007+08:00

A few months ago, I was intrigued by an episode of Planet Green on Discovery Channel, detailing Norway's plans to construct HyNor, a highway that seeks to validate hydrogen fuel cell technology. Spanning over 300 miles, this highway (or as I call it, H-Way) will allow current and next-generation hydrogen vehicles from across the globe to access facilities along its route. Production and transport methods will also be experimented with.

Eco-friendly Norwegian vehicles that run on biofuel are already eligible to receive parking concessions and various other fuel subsidies.

Tesla Motors prepares the 7-seater Model S

2009-05-07T18:23:00.012+08:00

A 7-seater electric vehicle? Yes, that's right, this car can seat 5 adults and 2 children, with room for luggage at the front trunk. And being all-electric, a single 45-minute charge will enable it to travel a standard 160 miles (257 km). Tesla is also offering different battery combinations that will extend travel range up to 300 miles. Like its oft-celebrated (and now possibly out-of-vogue cousin) the Roadster, acceleration is no fluke on the Model S; it can hit 0-60mph from a standstill in 5.6 seconds (the Roadster can do it in 3.9s). A single-speed gearbox will allow cruising up to 130mph, aided by a 17" drive-option touchscreen. With all these attributes it seems Tesla is targeting the mainstream market. Production is expected to be about 20,000 units yearly by 2012, at base price of US$49,900 per car (after energy tax subsidies in the States).

More on the Model S:-
Tesla Motors

Eco-cars on Top Gear

2008-12-17T11:22:00.012+08:00

A few days ago Top Gear UK ran a review on Tesla Motor's all-electric sports vehicle, the Roadster. Jeremy Clarkson (who else) heavy-footed it on Top Gear's test track, pitting its steering, acceleration, mileage and appeal against its brethren, the Lotus Elise. From my point of view, the Roadster is a capable sports car. Its cool factor is upped significantly with the fact that it is environmentally-friendly, a trait very few other cars share among its class. That, coupled with the already burgeoning shift towards a 'green economy', where caring for the environment is precedent, probably helped to drive its popularity.

What really spiked my interest was the Honda FCX Clarity, which came on afterwards reviewed by James May. As far as I'm aware, the Clarity is leased only in Los Angeles, California (rent prices below). It is a hydrogen-electric hybrid vehicle capable of traveling in excess of 200 miles on a single tank of compressed hydrogen. To refuel, it is as simple as going to a hydrogen filling station, plugging in and topping up, which should be pretty quick. Cars like the Clarity would probably be a big draw for economy-driven, eco-conscious folks, the numbers of which will grow rapidly in these lean times.

A few facts about the Clarity

Base price: Three-year lease, US$600/month

Engine: Fuel cell and 288-volt lithium battery, 134 hp/189 lb-ft

Transmission: Direct-drive electric motor, front-wheel drive

Length x width x height: 190.3 x 72.7 x 57.8 in

Wheelbase: 110.2 in

Curb weight: 3582 lb

Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 68 mpg combined EPA cycle (est.)

Algae + CO2 = Fuel ?

2008-06-11T15:04:00.006+08:00

Amid the global rush for alternative fuel sources in the oil-hungry world economy, it seems that an interesting 'green' energy-producing technology has emerged. Algae, which turns carbon dioxide into vegetable oil, looks to have landed on to the 'biofuel' scene.

New tech promises to make fuel from CO2 emissions & algae

... Origo Industries supports that it has developed a system that captures the CO2 from your vehicle’s engine and then allows you to turn these emissions into fuel at your own home to re-use on your car or eve to power your house.

The system uses a revolutionary new approach where CO2 that’s captured through a special cartridge is regenerated through algae in a home unit, allowing the user to produce bio-oil (up to 2500 litres per year tax-free).

We’ve yet to see the system in action, but Orgio Industries says that it’ll display its technology for the first time ever at the UK’s largest Green Motor Show, Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 that takes place on Thursday 12th June 2008 from 10am to 4pm at the Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool. Even though we have to admit that Orgio Industries’ system sounds too good to be true, we’ll wait and see.

U.S gasoline price hits a new high

2008-06-08T13:18:00.009+08:00

Daily Fuel Economy Tip has a ground report on gas prices over in the States:

Gas Officially Hits $4 (SGD5.5) A Gallon (3.7L)
June 7th, 2008

The day that we’ve all dreaded, yet have come to accept, is finally here - this afternoon, the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline crossed the $4 mark for the first time.

Upon hitting the $4 mark, gasoline is now 27% more expensive than it was a year ago; 34% higher that it was at the beginning of the year; and 11% higher than it was just one month ago. [... more]

CNG-up your car

2008-06-01T17:12:00.008+08:00

Since the opening of Singapore's first compressed natural gas (CNG) station in Jurong Island early this year, reception has been rather lukewarm. Despite being cheaper and more environmentally-friendly than gasoline (petrol), drawbacks like fueling inconvenience, car and boot space restraints have prevented strong demand for the alternative fuel.

However, in the recent months, 2 new CNG stations have popped up in western Singapore (Mandai Link and Jalan Buroh, Jurong). CNG customers living in the East would be glad to know that 3 new stations will be up by year end, specifically in Bukit Merah, Serangoon North Ave 5 and Bedok North Ave.

Although CNG conversion prices have gone up by about 23% since the start of the year, it remains a good alternative to petrol. The 40% ARF tax rebate for new cars pre-fitted with CNG will be in effect till 2010. Cheaper pump prices and better gas mileage would mean long-term savings compared to petrol. The exhaust fumes generated also contain no toxic carbon particulates, so it is cleaner for the environment and the car engine as well.

CNG tanks once installed will take up boot space however, but for a typical car owner with occasional storage needs there should be few problems.

To find out more about CNG :-

- FAQ - Official CNG conversion workshop
- Conversion prices (pdf)
- Bi-fuel CNG cars registered with LTA (pdf)
- LTA's tax rebate on CNG cars
- CNG on Wiki

Biofuel production in South-East Asia

2008-05-29T13:35:00.005+08:00

An energy firm from Singapore, Fair Energy Asia, seems to have jumped onto the biofuel bandwagon here in South-East Asia. It has agreed to build an ethanol factory in the south of Vietnam with Bien Hoa Sugar Company, a leading sugarcane producer based in the area. And the biomass of choice? The sugar cane plant, by which ethanol (or rum, to be precise) can be produced from one of its by-products, molasses.

In the same vein, Itochu Corp of Japan has joint-ventured with Petrosetco, a Vietnamese state-run energy subsidiary, to construct a US$100 million biofuel facility in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park. The project, expected to complete in 2009, will use chips from tapioca to produce up to 100 million litres (26 million gallons) of ethanol annually.

With Vietnam's economy developing at about 8 per cent per year, the country is already seeking to expand its infrastructure and energy needs by attracting foreign energy investors to tap the potential of agri-products that its land has to offer. It has already in place a technology-sharing pact with Brazil, the world's leading ethanol producer.

However certain methods of ethanol production for energy use have come under fire in recent times. The clearing of Amazonian land to grow crops for corn-ethanol in Brazil, for example, have caused much problems.

There is also the risk of farmers converting existing food crops to supply factories that produce biofuel, which may cause food prices to skyrocket.

Another concern is the harm ethanol may have on the environment, despite its claim as a biofuel. The net energy required to grow, harvest and produce ethanol from corn or similar plants could actually be more than previously expected, in the long run.

Source: Vietnamese foreign affairs ministry

F1 goes green

2008-05-26T16:05:00.008+08:00

As Lewis Hamilton raced through the winding streets of Monaco to win this year's Monaco GP, scientists around the world are working to find ways to someday make F1 exhaust carbon-free.

The short-term focus will be on harnessing the energy produced from brakes and engine heat to provide extra horsepower in short bursts, instead of depending on gasoline-powered injections of additional torque.

In the longer term there is likely to be a completely new and smaller turbo-charged engine, in line with industry trends, and possible use of bio-fuels.

The racing industry pulls in billions of dollars every year but is also one of the least environmentally-friendly sports in the world.

Related link: Motor Racing - F1 Catches the Green Wave

Toyota Prius

2008-05-26T12:28:00.008+08:00

The premier model Prius was released in Japan in 1997. Since then, Toyota has made two revisions to the car, engine, transmission and aerodynamics as a whole. As a result, it is the most fuel-efficient car one can buy in the United States and the second-lowest CO² emitting car in the United Kingdom. Let's take a look under the hood of this five-door midsized hatchback.

The present model Prius has what Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive, a computer-controlled system which enables the car to run on a gasoline combustion engine at higher speeds while charging the battery via the electric motor. The energy produced from braking can even be used to supplement the battery. When the car slows down or comes to a halt the combustion engine is shut off and the electric motor kicks in, thereby saving fuel and reducing emissions. At this stage the Prius runs very quiet in a so-called "stealth mode".

Acceleration on the Prius is modest for a hybrid-electric car. It goes from 0-60mph (96kmph) in 9.8 seconds. But it makes this up on fuel economy, running 40 miles to the gallon (about 16 km/l) and emitting 80% less CO² than non-hybrids, according to data obtained from Wikipedia.

In Singapore, it is yours for slightly under a hundred grand - $93,388 to be exact. A little pricey in comparison to similar-sized cars in its class, but mostly because of technology. As a long-term investment the Prius would probably be wiser, since fuel and road tax savings will help to offset the initial cost of buying one.