Rapid Fire Symposium
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The Environmental Change Initiative is organizing two rapid-fire symposia in the spring semester to capture the broad range of campus research and activities in the areas of energy and environment. The energy symposium, took place January 31 to coincide with "Focus the Nation," and was cosponsored by the Vice President for Research, the Division of Engineering, and the Dean of the College.
A series of 5-minute talks by members of the Brown, RISD and Providence communities highlighted the many energy-related projects that are underway. A reception encouraged follow up conversations and this web site makes presentations vaialble for those unable to attend.
The Clean Development Mechanism
Simone Pulver, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, simone_pulver@brown.edu
The goal of the research is to identify which, why and with what consequences developing-country firms become environmental innovators. The empirical site for the research is an analysis of the decisions by firms to implement (or not) climate-friendly process innovations under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. To date, over 2,000 CDM projects have been proposed. Our research focuses on both firm-level drivers of CDM project sponsorship and the country and sector-level characteristics that affect firm-level decisions.
Offshore Wind Research
Kenny Breuer, Engineering, Brown University
kbreuer@brown.edu
The Breuer lab conducts research on compliant turbine blade design, offshore wind regimes, and floating platforms for deep water.
The Hidden Carbon Giant: A Life Cycle Analysis
Jefferson Cox, Taubman Center for Public Policy
Brown University, Jefferson_Cox@brown.edu
A life-cycle analysis of three different shipping pallets was completed to determine the quantity of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emitted by each pallet. A plastic pallet, nail-based wood pallet and wooden dowel-based wood pallet were selected for comparison and analyzed based on their physical characteristics. The life-cycle analysis focused on three periods in a pallet’s life identified as Source, Use and End-Use. The dowel-based pallet emitted the least CO2e (20,000 tons) followed by the nail-based pallet (3,000,000 tons CO2e). The HDPE pallet was found to emit the most CO2e at 11,000,000 tons. Recycling opportunities were proposed which would reduce the emissions caused by all three pallets but would not change the comparative heirarchy.
Impact of Demographic Dynamics on Energy Consumption
Leiwen Jiang, Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Leiwen_Jiang@brown.edu
This research aims to explicitly model the links between major demographic trends of aging, urbanization, and changes in household structure on the one hand, and energy consumption and associated carbon emission on the other, and to explore the potential for improving projections of energy use and estimates of the cost of meeting various policy goals.
Design/Build Laboratory
Jonathan Knowles, Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design, bkadjon@mac.com
Research, design, fabrication, testing, and competing on a solar powered home. Sponsored by DOE.
SmartScreen
Peter Yeadon, Rhode Island School of Design
pyeadon@risd.edu
Buildings consume 40% of our energy and much of that energy is used to heat/cool interior environments. To help conserve energy, SmartScreen has been designed to use thermo-responsive smart materials to regulate solar heat gain through building envelopes and reduce cooling loads.
Learn more at: www.deckeryeadon.com
Release of Mercury from Compact Fluorescent Lamps
Natalie Johnson, Engineering (Laboratory of Robert Hurt), Brown University, Natalie_C_Johnson@brown.edu
The research group of R. Hurt in engineering is studying the release of mercury vapor from compact fluorescent lamps after accidental breakage or at end of life. The group is also developing nanotechnology-enabled solutions to capture the mercury and suppress its release to the environment or to areas of human habitation.
Nuclear Waste in the Environment
Brad Marston, Physics, Brown University
John_Marston@Brown.edu
Plutonium in solution exhibits multiple oxidation states with a near-perfect degeneracy in the reduction-oxidation potentials. As a result up to four different oxidation states can coexist simultaneously in the same solution, with both theoretical and practical consequences. On the theoretical side, this degeneracy likely manifests a higher-level organizing principle at work, namely an emergent "negative-U" attractive interaction. On the applied side, the degeneracy greatly complicates the environmental chemistry of plutonium in ground water, which bears on the problem of nuclear waste disposal at locations such as Yucca Mountain.
Pt-Based Composite Nanoparticles As Highly Active Catalysts For Fuel Cells
Chao Wang, Chemistry, Brown University
chao_wang@brown.edu
We are developing new catalyst for fuel cell application. In a particle Pt conjugated with transition metal oxide shows enhanced catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction and methanol oxidation. This provides another approach to improve fuel cell catalysts and thus reduce the cost for large-scale application.
Energy Science GISP
Chioke Harris, Engineers Without Borders/ EmPOWER, Brown University, chioke_harris@brown.edu
Seven students have recently begun a multidisciplinary journey to explore topics surrounding energy science, renewable energy capture and effective technical teaching methods.
Energy Science GISP
Chioke Harris, Engineering, Brown University
chioke_harris@brown.edu
Seven students have recently begun a multidisciplinary journey to explore topics surrounding energy science, renewable energy capture and effective technical teaching methods.
Additional information on the energy science GISP will soon be posted on the Enginers Without Borders (EWB) web page.
A Nanofluidic Approach To Electrical Power Generation
Derek Stein, Physics, Brown University
derek_stein@brown.edu
A pressure-driven fluid flow through a narrow channel carries an electrical current with it. This so-called streaming current can be used to drive an external load, and therefore represents a means of converting hydrostatic energy into useful electrical power. I will outline how tiny nanofluidic channels and an unusual effect called hydrodynamic "slip" may be exploited in a practical technology. our experimental goal will be to achieve a high (>70%) energy conversion efficiency, together with high output power density, in a very simple device.
Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) Research
Euan Bain, Chemical Engineering, Brown University
Euan_Bain@brown.edu
The detrimental effects of coal combustion on the environment are both well documented and well understood. The electro-oxidation of carbon in a Direct Carbon Fuel Cell (DCFC) represents a method of direct d.c. electricity generation which is both highly efficient and mitigates the environmental impact of flue gasses through the production of essentially pure CO2. Our research aims to improve DCFC technology by making the transition from batch operation to continuous operation using a hydrodynamically driven particulate carbon/coal bed.
Brown University’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Christopher Powell, Director of Sustainable Energy & Environmental Initiatives, Facilities Management,
Brown University, Christopher_Powell@brown.edu
Energy & Environment Committee
Making Climate Change Research Relevant: The CFL Story
Steve Hamburg, Global Environment Program/CES,
Brown University, Steven_Hamburg@brown.edu
The Hamburg group’s long-term research on climate change impacts and is effecting substantive reductions in greenhouse emissions.
Curbing Emissions Through Responsible Design
Kurt Teichert, Center for Environmental Studies,
Brown University, Kurt_Teichert@Brown.edu
Through projects in my classes and working with Brown and the surrounding community, I support student research and implementation projects to facilitate high performance design, reducing the negative environmental impacts of the built environment. In my work with the CCURB initiative, I support initiatives to increase efficiency and conservation in the community to reduce carbon emissions.
EWB Biogas Stove Project
Natalie Wilhelm, Engineers Without Borders
Brown University, Natalie_Wilhelm@brown.edu
Engineers Without Borders has worked for the past two semesters with Assida on a project to help provide increased efficiency stoves to refugee camps in Africa.
eMotive: Vehicles for Emerging Economies
Michael Lye, Industrial Design, Rhode Island School of Design, mlye@risd.edu
The common forms of transportation in emerging economies are inefficient, prohibitively costly, or not practical for some of the desired usages. Conventional vehicles are expensive to purchase and maintain, and are consequently reserved for a select few. New low-cost automobiles lower the bar for ownership but do little to address the environmental and energy impacts of such vehicles, while reliance on transportation that runs on fossil fuel ties users to the vicissitudes of the global oil market. We are designing a vehicle that provides much better use of resources than the motor bikes currently dominating transportation in many developing countries, a vehicle designed to be mindful of the environment and adapted to the available infrastructure.
Project 20/20
Shane Easter, Brown University, Shane_Easter@brown.edu
Promoting the use of high-efficiency lighting in low-income households in Providence.
How Green Power Purchasing Makes an Impact and How You Can Help
Caroline Roszell, People's Power & Light,
caroline@ripower.org
People's Power & Light enables Rhode Islanders to buy green energy through their electric bill. Caroline will explain how this impacts local renewable energy resources, and how individuals can get involved as volunteers to increase this impact.
Mileage Challenge
Christopher Bull, Engineering, Brown University
Christopher_W_Bull@brown.edu
A student team is participating in the Shell Mileage Challenge, a contest to design and build a vehicle that goes the farthest distance on the least amount of fuel.
Two Wheels Are Cleaner Than Four
Don Rogers, Psychology and Bike-to-Brown,
Brown University, Don_Rogers@brown.edu
Replacing any motor vehicle miles with bicycle miles brings a large array of environmental, health, social and economic benefits at a very low cost. Learn what Bike to Brown and other groups are doing to improve the structural environment for cycling.
Building an Anaerobic Digester in Hamilton, MA
Daniel MacCombie, GobiGreen, Brown University
Daniel_MacCombie@brown.edu
My colleagues and I are currently developing a project to build an anaerobic digester on the site of an already-existing compost production facility in Hamilton, MA (North Shore Boston). We are in the process of selecting designs and raising capital. We hope to begin construction in the summer of 2008.