2008 Woodie Awards
Students look at carbon-nuetral technologies
Rainier Ramirez
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
In celebration of sustainability week, San Jose State University students and faculty have been looking at new environmentally friendly technologies.
"Sustainable energy would be an energy that is carbon neutral, does not release emissions into the atmosphere and meets the energy demand of our society," said Asim Zia, assistant professor in the environmental studies department
Zia said that there have been advancements in making renewable energy technology more efficient, cheaper to produce and usable in everyday life.
"The new generation of solar panels can be integrated into buildings … during the daylight, it can meet the (energy) demands of the building," Zia said.
He said that nanosolar technology is another advancement in solar power that will be available by early next year. It can be produced in massive amounts in a method similar to printing paper, so productions costs are low.
Zia also said that it is now possible to build onshore wind turbines, which would be more efficient than regular wind turbines on hills.
According to Zia, there are two types of technologies that try to increase sustainability. Transitional technologies use current energy sources, such as gas, in combination with new methods to increase efficiency. Terminal technologies use new methods, so they are more difficult to switch to.
He said that a hybrid car is an example of a transitional technology while a hydrogen car is a terminal technology.
John Shaw, a senior in justice studies, described ethanol as being a more environmental friendly fuel alternative to oil. He said that ethanol is produced by corn and biomass, and that it would be a clean burning fuel.
"It would be good because it protects the environment and reduces gas prices," Shaw said.
He added that if everyone switched to using ethanol, then America wouldn't be able to meet the demand and corn would be at a higher price.
"It would still be more sustainable," Shaw said.
"Sustainable energy would be an energy that is carbon neutral, does not release emissions into the atmosphere and meets the energy demand of our society," said Asim Zia, assistant professor in the environmental studies department
Zia said that there have been advancements in making renewable energy technology more efficient, cheaper to produce and usable in everyday life.
"The new generation of solar panels can be integrated into buildings … during the daylight, it can meet the (energy) demands of the building," Zia said.
He said that nanosolar technology is another advancement in solar power that will be available by early next year. It can be produced in massive amounts in a method similar to printing paper, so productions costs are low.
Zia also said that it is now possible to build onshore wind turbines, which would be more efficient than regular wind turbines on hills.
According to Zia, there are two types of technologies that try to increase sustainability. Transitional technologies use current energy sources, such as gas, in combination with new methods to increase efficiency. Terminal technologies use new methods, so they are more difficult to switch to.
He said that a hybrid car is an example of a transitional technology while a hydrogen car is a terminal technology.
John Shaw, a senior in justice studies, described ethanol as being a more environmental friendly fuel alternative to oil. He said that ethanol is produced by corn and biomass, and that it would be a clean burning fuel.
"It would be good because it protects the environment and reduces gas prices," Shaw said.
He added that if everyone switched to using ethanol, then America wouldn't be able to meet the demand and corn would be at a higher price.
"It would still be more sustainable," Shaw said.
Be the first to comment on this story