Bloom's Magic Box

The hype concerning Bloom Energy's new solid oxide fuel cells is immense. Former NASA scientist and the companies co-founder, K. R. Sridhar, has worked in secrecy for ten years with the backing of silicon valley's most prominent and successful venture capital firms. The solid oxide fuel cell's thin wafers are made of sand and generate electricity through a electrochemical reaction involving oxygen, natural gas, and a secret lime ink paint. According to one New York Times article, "Bloom executives contend that their device could cut the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by at least 50 percent".

Fuel cell technology has been notoriously difficult to develop and has produced unreliable results in the past. However, the clean energy potential have kept scientist and venture capital firms in the race to produce a fuel cell breakthrough. If the "disruptive technology" of Bloom Energy can create authentic results, the electricity industry could be forever changed. Bloom Boxes could be a fixture in every neighborhood and every office complex. A 1kW system could cost residents as little as $3000.

However, skeptics are in no short supply when it comes to fuel cell technology. So critics believe the best outcome of the Bloom Boxes will be a slight decrease on the load of the coal-burning industry and an increase in use of natural gas. Over the ten-year warranty period, the Boxes will need government subsidies to reach the $0.10 per kWh. The current average U.S. electricity price per kWh is $0.11.

No one can tell at the moment whether Bloom Energy's Boxes will be the miracle energy technology that some predict it to be, or another big flop among venture capital companies. Only time will tell....

Body Power

An article titled "Move Your Body, Power Your Phone" was published on February 26th in the New York Times. The article outlines the theory of harvesting the movement of the human body, and using that movement to power small electrical devices like our phones or music devices. Piezoelectric crystals printed onto flexible, biocompatible rubberlike material, developed by Michael C. McAlpine of Princeton, produce electricity when flexed and moved.

Theoretically, these devices could first be implanted in shoes, using the power of our steps to run our cellphones. The article goes on to mention the goal of "make[ing] a flexible power generator that could be implanted in the chest". However, the designs for these devices are only in the prototype stages.

But why stop with the human body? Ideas and basic power cell models have been put forth that can use human foot traffic in cities to produce electricity. Piezoelectric crystals embedded in heavily used roadways or pedestrian areas could potentially save money and non-renewable energy sources. With the development of these crystals, anything moving now has the ability to grant us energy. The crystals could be implanted in our bodies, the bodies of our animals, earthquake rich zones, and maybe even the growth or shrinkage of mountains.

Suburbia

Is anyone else getting sick of seeing mini-malls and monotonous housing developments spring up everywhere? This expansion boom makes for an ugly redefinement of our landscape. Population growth is an exponential function, meaning this development will theoretically only get faster. Earth obviously has limited amount of space for human inhabitants, so why not work now to start a trend of growing out cities up, rather than out?

Many of America's cities' skylines have been stagnant views lately, with the practicality of the suburbs becoming increasingly more attractive to both businesses and residents. If the government could create incentives to use our space more wisely, humans could prevent many of our expansion problems and preserve the natural landscape for as long as possible. I believe this would drastically improve our quality of life. Commutes to the city for both work and recreation would be easier and more environmentally friendly due to the increased use of public transportation. More land within our cities could be used for massive parks, taking precedence from New York's central park. Inhabitants would be closer to their friends, families, place of work, and place of recreation. More land would be available outside of city limits for publice use, as well as habitat conservation. Cities can still be made beautiful without our quarter-acre plots of grass and plants. What about creating more roof gardens?

Public officials in Columbus have been actively trying to identify and implement ways to revive the downtown area. Our city's once affluent areas have turned into slums as the money continues to move outward, leaving poverty in its wake. This issue is of extreme importance and needs to be addressed as such. Perhaps looking to the sky is the answer rather than grabbing for the next plot of land?

Money Sent Ohio's Way for Trains

There's been vast media coverage lately over the $400 million sent Ohio's way to help revive "high speed" railway lines between the downtowns of Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland. I put high speed in quotation marks because although the trains will max out at 80 mph, they will only average 40 mph or so between cities once all of the stops are factored in.

Many people are excited about future connectivity between the cities, but I am not. Taxes must be raised in order to cover the remaining cost of the building the tracks and an estimated 15 million will be needed a year for maintainance. In an economy that is already strapping ohio for cash, why worsen the problem? Advocates say that everyone who rides will save money on commuting and simple trips. However, the cost to ride is $20 to ride to Cincinnati or Cleveland at 40 mph. I would much rather put that money into the gas tank and drive there at 75 mph. Once you arrive at your destination, then what? Either you walk around the city, spend more money to hire a taxi, or hope that the city implements train offshoots to help get you around.

I imagine many people picture the expensive high speed trains similar to the ones in use in Europe. But the truth is that Ohio will most likely build using Amtrak, train notoriosly dirty, unreliable, and slow. As a result, the federal money spread throughout the nation would better be used by giving it all to one or two cities to implement quality high speed trains. If the initiative proves successful, then we can begin talking about spreading money nationwide. Thoughts?

NextWorld: Future of Cities

In a Science Channel airing of NextWorld, professionals are asked what the future holds for the world's major cities. By 2050, large cities within American will begin to overlap one another, creating sprawling urban areas holding 75% of the human population. Will these major cities be sustainable? It is a question that scares some, but the answers may be surprising.

Some researchers believe the huge advantages of growing food within major cities and saving on transportation costs will give rise to massive, vertical greenhouses that will be capable of producing much of the desired and needed food surpluses in the future. One scientist estimates 165 30-story greenhouses with bases the size of a New York City block will be sufficient to sustain the entire city.

What about another necessity to life? Water bills can be made substantially cheaper in most parts of the world by harnessing the rain that falls onto our roofs. With large water collectors placed on roofs, the cool falling rain can be circulated throughout buildings to help relieve the pressure on air conditioners, or filtered to be used in the plumbing.

However, the most interesting, and to some the most apocalyptic problem, is how to create cities that are energy independent of fossil fuels. Treasure Island, a self-sustained community planned in San Fransisco Bay, provides the blueprint. In order to create enough energy to sustain 12,000 inhabitants, the community will rely on energy from the sun, the wind, and the tides. Underwater turbines, wind turbines, and transparent photovoltaic cells that cover the tall office buildings are the solution.

To check out this episode, check out NextWorld on the Science Channel!