Self: Diff for "Sustainability"

Sustainability

This project supports sustainability locally and world wide and the mission of the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability:

"The University of Wisconsin–Madison is embarking on an ambitious plan to integrate and enhance research and education thrusts in sustainability science and practice across all parts of campus. The University has a long history of scholarship in a broad range of topics relevant to sustainability, ranging from using recycled industrial materials in infrastructure to ensuring the sustainability of rural agricultural communities.

Creating solutions to the sustainability challenges of the future will require integrated teams and a comprehensive approach that address coupled sustainability problems such as water, finance, energy, health, food and community. Addressing these challenges in practice will require an educated workforce that has been trained to consider sustainability broadly."

Get involved and informed by attending events of the student sustainability council http://sustainability.wisc.edu/opportunities/student-engagement/. Start an R&D project in the Garage.

Ideas

Check out Startuply. Click on "startup companies" then select "cleantech." http://www.startuply.com/Startups/

Check out a WANDA report on greening the Middle east: http://www.wamda.com/2013/06/csr-a-tool-for-sustainable-development-in-the-middle-east-report

Resources

UW-Madison Office of Sustainability http://sustainability.wisc.edu/

WE CONSERVE http://conserve.wisc.edu/hm.html

US Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/

USAID Development Innovation Ventures http://www.usaid.gov/div

Higher Education Solutions Network (HESN) http://www.usaid.gov/hesn

Classes

Physics 115 Energy MWF 11am-11:50am Chamberlin 2241

Great Lakes Energy Biofuels course http://www.glbrc.org/education/programs/sustainable-biofuels-course

Search for other UW classes with keywords "energy" and "sustainability" https://portal.isispub.wisc.edu:7052/psp/public/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/COMMUNITY_ACCESS.CLASS_SEARCH.GBL

Research Programs and Funding sources

http://sustainability.wisc.edu/research/

DoE Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative http://www1.eere.energy.gov/energymanufacturing/funding_opportunities.html

Competitions

• DoE Solar Decathalon competition: http://www.solardecathlon.gov/about.html.

Suggested projects

Combined power systems

Micro power system - low voltage power from cooking stove. (see Thermoelectric Devices under projects https://wiki.physics.wisc.edu/garage/Thermoelectric%20devices)

Truly micro refrigeration - refrigeration from cooking stove. http://www.ted.com/talks/adam_grosser_and_his_sustainable_fridge.html

Micro combined heat and power -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro_combined_heat_and_power http://www.marathonengine.com/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CE0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nist.gov%2Fel%2Fupload%2F5-2-Cocking-Ecopower.pdf&ei=2V0CUvmBG-qEygHnv4G4Aw&usg=AFQjCNHCuOl1E7w6R53LZ6-Sh8z5p9UsGg&bvm=bv.50310824,d.aWc

Einstein's refrigerator - http://www-old.me.gatech.edu/energy/andy_phd/one.htm#I

Thermoacoustic devices

Cooking with sound: new stove/generator/refrigerator combo aimed at developing nations http://arstechnica.com/uncategorized/2007/05/new-stove-generator-refrigerator-combo-aimed-at-developing-nations/

Green Technology for Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration that uses Thermoacoustic Technology http://www.coolsound.us/

A sound way to turn heat into electricity http://phys.org/news100141616.html

http://www.qdrive.com/UI/default.aspx

Hilsch-Ranque Vortex Tube http://www.oberlin.edu/physics/catalog/demonstrations/thermo/vortextube.html http://www.exair.com/en-US/Primary%20Navigation/Products/Vortex%20Tubes%20and%20Spot%20Cooling/Vortex%20Tubes/Pages/Vortex%20Tube.aspx

3d printing

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2013/07/24/vincennes-u-promotes-sustainability-cuts-costs-with-3d-printing-technology.aspx?=CT21&m=1

Batteries

Environmentally friendly battery made from wood http://www.rdmag.com/news/2013/07/environmentally-friendly-battery-made-wood?et_cid=3386363&et_rid=517740405&type=cta , Tin Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries Using Natural Wood Fiber as a Mechanical Buffer and Electrolyte Reservoir

Photovoltaics

A direct thin-film path towards low-cost large-area III-V photovoltaics http://www.nature.com/srep/2013/130724/srep02275/full/srep02275.html

Agriculture

World-changing technology enables crops to take nitrogen from the air http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130725125024.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29 , http://www.rdmag.com/news/2013/07/technology-could-enable-all-crops-take-nitrogen-air?et_cid=3390276&et_rid=517740405&type=cta