Page 8 - Green Builder Magazine Nov-Dec 2019 Issue

Green Building NEWS

The Latest on Sustainability and Renewable Energy

Thinking Green is Good—But Not Good Enough

Americans believe the environment’s health is a big deal—but not bad enough to worry about.

GROWING NUMBER OF AMERICANS believe we’re trashing the
planet, but more than half don’t see an urgency to act, according
to a research report from Living Standard and the U.S. Green Building
A Council (USGBC). And, only half of the report’s respondents say it’s
important to improve a building’s health conditions.
According to Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC, 82 percent
of respondents believe environmental problems are “very” or “somewhat”
important, an increase of 8 percentage points in the six months since USGBC
began conducting this research. However, of those, only 49 percent are in
the “solve right now” camp, while the other 33 percent are pretty much of
the “solve when possible” philosophy, USGBC notes. This suggests that the
overwhelming pro-environmental majority is not all alike, and that people view CREDIT: ELENABS¡ISTOCK
environmental matters with different levels of intensity,.
Meanwhile, when asked how often they think of the impact of the buildings
they spend time in upon the environment and their health, 39 percent Fine for now. Contrary to logic, much of the public does not consider
of respondents said they never considered it or do not know. The lack of environmental health to be a critical issue to contend with, according to a
awareness is significant, yet 50 percent consider it very important that green new U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) survey.
buildings improve health, USGBC notes. benefits for neighborhoods and cities,” Ramanujam says. “But to make real
Overall, the research suggests the simplest way to connect with others on progress, convince the public of the reality of climate-related threats and
the importance of the environment is to frame the conversation around people increase demand for green buildings, we’ve got to empower and mobilize those
and the health, safety and wellbeing of their friends and families. beyond our community to get involved and take action.”
“Sustainable spaces help reduce the immediate and direct health outcomes
that environmental problems create, as well as provide important economic The report is available at https://livingstandard.org/standard-issue.

Structural Algae

Could super-strong algae-based fibers one

day replace steel and concrete?
R ESEARCHERS AT TECHNICAL University in Munich (TUM) have CREDIT: A. BATTENBERG¡TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH

developed a way to create a lightweight, industrial-grade material
made from algae that is as strong as steel.
According to Prof. Thomas Brück at TUM’s Algae Cultivation
Center, the process uses algae oil to create polyacrylonitrile, carbon fibers
which can then be woven into bricks suitable for use in cars, airplanes and
buildings—or in this case, a TUM e-scooter. Producing the fibers uses less
energy and generates less carbon pollution than creating concrete or steel. Solid state. Don’t let looks deceive you: This brick, made from algae oil, is
The fibers also absorb and entrap CO as the algae grows, making for easy strong as steel, and absorbs CO as it’s formed.
2
disposal when ready. The carbon fibers can be ground up or even simply stored remove the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for millennia. This also makes
out of place as desired. the process clearly superior to carbon capture and storage in the underground.”
“When you make plastics from carbon dioxide, it is quickly returned to the Brück notes that it will take quite a while to cultivate enough algae to launch
atmosphere through waste incineration plants following a few years of use,” such an industry. But when ready, “this new technology could create strong
says Dr. Kolja Kuse, a second project researcher. “With the final safe storage, we industrial materials that also benefit the climate,” he notes.

6 GREEN BUILDER November/December 2019 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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