News

New material harvests energy from water vapor

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:31:04 GMT

MIT engineers have created a new polymer film that can generate electricity by drawing on a ubiquitous source: water vapor.

The new material changes its shape after absorbing tiny amounts of evaporated water, allowing it to repeatedly curl up and down. Harnessing this continuous motion could drive robotic limbs or generate enough electricity to power micro- and nanoelectronic devices, such as environmental sensors.

“With a sensor powered by a battery, you have to replace it periodically. If you have this device, you can harvest energy from the environment so you don't have to replace it very often,” says Mingming Ma, a postdoc at MIT’s David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research and lead author of a paper describing the new material in the Jan. 11 issue of Science.

“We are very excited about this new material, and we expect as we achieve higher efficiency in converting mechanical energy into electricity, this material will find even broader applications,” says Robert Langer, the David H. Koch Institute Professor at MIT and senior author of the paper. Those potential applications include large-scale, water-vapor-powered generators, or smaller generators to power wearable electronics.

Other authors of the Science paper are Koch Institute postdoc Liang Guo and Daniel Anderson, the Samuel A. Goldblith Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and a member of the Koch Institute and MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science.

Harvesting energy

The new film is made from an interlocking network of two different polymers. One of the polymers, polypyrrole, forms a hard but flexible matrix that provides structural support. The other polymer, polyol-borate, is a soft gel that swells when it absorbs water.

Previous efforts to make water-responsive films have used only polypyrrole, which shows a much weaker response on its own. “By incorporating the two different kinds of polymers, you can generate a much bigger displacement, as well as a stronger force,” Guo says.

The film harvests energy found in the water gradient between dry and water-rich environments. When the 20-micrometer-thick film lies on a surface that contains even a small amount of moisture, the bottom layer absorbs evaporated water, forcing the film to curl away from the surface. Once the bottom of the film is exposed to air, it quickly releases the moisture, somersaults forward, and starts to curl up again. As this cycle is repeated, the continuous motion converts the chemical energy of the water gradient into mechanical energy.

Such films could act as either actuators (a type of motor) or generators. As an actuator, the material can be surprisingly powerful: The researchers demonstrated that a 25-milligram film can lift a load of glass slides 380 times its own weight, or transport a load of silver wires 10 times its own weight, by working as a potent water-powered “mini tractor.” Using only water as an energy source, this film could replace the electricity-powered actuators now used to control small robotic limbs.

“It doesn't need a lot of water,” Ma says. “A very small amount of moisture would be enough.”

A key advantage of the new film is that it doesn’t require manipulation of environmental conditions, as do actuators that respond to changes in temperature or acidity, says Ryan Hayward, an associate professor of polymer science and engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

“What’s really impressive about this work is that they were able to figure out a scheme where a gradient in humidity would cause the polymer to cyclically roll up, flip over and roll in the other direction, and were able to harness that energy to do work,” says Hayward, who was not part of the research team.

Generating electricity

The mechanical energy generated by the material can also be converted into electricity by coupling the polymer film with a piezoelectric material, which converts mechanical stress to an electric charge. This system can generate an average power of 5.6 nanowatts, which can be stored in capacitors to power ultra-low-power microelectronic devices, such as temperature and humidity sensors.

If used to generate electricity on a larger scale, the film could harvest energy from the environment — for example, while placed above a lake or river. Or, it could be attached to clothing, where the mere evaporation of sweat could fuel devices such as physiological monitoring sensors. “You could be running or exercising and generating power,” Guo says.

On a smaller scale, the film could power microelectricalmechanical systems (MEMS), including environmental sensors, or even smaller devices, such as nanoelectronics. The researchers are now working to improve the efficiency of the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy, which could allow smaller films to power larger devices.

The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology, the National Cancer Institute, and the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine.

Environmental pollution control needs public attention

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:58:01 GMT

(VEN) - The Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) issued in 2005 has 15 chapters and 136 articles, increased by 8 chapters, 79 articles compared to LEP enacted in 1993. However, to meet the current situation, the LEP 2005 should be amended, with social responsibility and public environmental pollution control receiving greater emphasis.

No regulations on air pollution control

According to Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Dang, President of the Vietnam Clean Air Network (VCAP), LEP 2005 did not have any regulations on air and land environmental protection. These shortcomings in the LEP 2005 contributed to an seriously increased risk of air pollution.

According to research results of the "Assessing the overall health and economic damage caused by air pollution" project in 2010, co-launched within the framework of the Program 23 on improving air quality in urban areas by the Department of Health and Ministry of Transport, the financial damage caused by air pollution-related diseases per day per person living Hanoi was VND1,538 and VND739 per day per person living Ho Chi Minh City. By a rough reckoning, Hanoi citizens must incur around US$66.83 million damage and Ho Chi Minh City dwellers US$70.96 million.

According to Pham Ngoc Dang, to effectively control air pollution, the amended LEP should include to air environmental protection regulations regarding urban areas, handicraft villages, industrial zones, and rural areas; traffic noise, industrial noise and social noise; and also transboundary air pollution issues.

Water pollution control needs due attention from the public.

According to Prof. Dr. Tran Hieu Nhue from the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, currently there are about 2,500 craft villages across the country, but very few of them have adopted effective wastewater treatment solutions. Moreover, only 143 of 235 working industrial parks nationwide have built centralized wastewater treatment systems; and especially, only 18 of 1,000 industrial clusters across the country have owned centralized wastewater treatment systems.

Although the articles 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, and 82 in Chapter VIII clearly stipulate the environmental protection responsibilities of organizations, individuals, industrial parks, industrial clusters, and craft villages, there has been no strict implementation in accordance over the past seven years. Therefore, the amended LEP should include regulations on public inspection and control of environmental protection conducted by investors in infrastructure investment projects made in industrial parks and industrial clusters.

And the important role of the public

The LEP 2005 has provisions to create a legal basis for public participation in environmental protection. However, these regulations have proved limited and need amendment. According to Dr. Nguyen Van Phuong from Hanoi Law University, the Articles 103,104 and 105 in LEP 2005 regulate the publicity of environmental data and protection measures by organizations and individuals involved in production and trade of goods.

However, the public can passively receive the environmental data from producers and traders. So, what should be considered in the amended LEP is whether the public can actively require these producers and traders to provide necessary environmental information and what scope of information the public is able to ask for.

In addition, the amended LEP should include more regulations on ensuring public participation in environmental protection, and measures to improve public awareness of environmental protection and mechanisms to encourage the public participation in environmental protection activities.

The policy on public participation in environmental protection has proved sound in many countries worldwide and will play an important role in the national environmental protection program. However, it is necessary to have the bylaws to clarify mechanisms to ensure implementation of the public's rights to know, discuss, do, check, complaint and denunciate environmental protection activities./.

Using Free DEM for Coverage Prediction in Atoll

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:54:37 GMT

Some of us might be familiar with Forsk Atoll, one of the popular RF Simulation software. Creating the sitelist is easy. Creating the cell list easy. Importing the antenna data also easy. But what about the digital map?

Yes, digital map can be hard to obtain. In some case, it cost us at very high price. What if we just need some simple elevation map? Or we just a bunch of students need to do some simulation? Well, in this post I would like to share how to get the elevation map/DEM by the help of USGS Earth Explorer.

We need some tools, such as:

USGS Earth Explorer : http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov

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Global Mapper
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Forsk Atoll itself  
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Let’s say we have a new BTS located in Oksibil. Oksibil is a district in Papua, Indonesia. Located close to the border of Papua New Guinea.

The coordinates is Long=140.627113 Lat=-4.907210. Antenna used is GSM 11 dBi at height 36 meter above the ground.

Okay let start the session!

GETTING ASTER GLOBAL DEM DATA

Go to http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov using your browser. Register first before you continue the steps.

To make it easier when selecting the area, first you need to put where is the BTS location. Click anywhere on the map screen. You will find one placemark indicated with “1″.

Then on the left screen choose Decimal and Edit to change the coordinates as the BTS coordinate.

Change the coordinate and click Save. The placemark will move to the BTS coordinate.

After that, click 2 or 3 times at the zoom control [+] to zoom the area closer. Create a rectangle by clicking the map 4 times. So that you have something like this:

Look at the left pane, and delete the first item in the Coordinates. So you’re going to have 4 points as a Rectangle.

Look at the left corner of the screen, you will see Datasets. Click it.

Choose Digital Elevation -> ASTER GLOBAL DEM. Just choose OK if a pop up shown.

After checked at ASTER GLOBAL DEM, click on Results.

Earth Explorer will process the request. After the process finished, you will see the result. Click on the image icon to check which item should be downloaded.

For example in this result, we use the second result that match with the selection.

Then,just click the Download button.

Check the Agree box and DOWNLOAD.

One ASTER rectangle is around 18MB, it has 30 m resolution.

USING GLOBAL MAPPER

Open your Global Mapper software and locate the exctracted data.

Choose the xxx_dem. Global Mapper will load the map.

Go to menu Tools -> Configure…

Make sure you choose:

Projection = UTM
Zone = will be automatically assigned by Global Mapper,remember this setting (in this example = WGS84 54 S)
Datum = WGS 84
Planar unit = meters

Now we need to export this map so we can use it in Atoll.

Go to File -> Export Raster and Elevation Data -> Export Vertical Mapper Grid file.

Click on Click Here to Calculate Spacing in Other Units…

Fill 30 in Long/Lat spacing then OK.

Then OK again. Locate where you want to save the GRD file. Globalmapper will process your file.

Finish.

OPEN THE DTM IN ATOLL

Open your Forsk Atoll software. Create a new file : File ->New -> From a Document Template…

Choose Tools -> Options…

Projection = same projection assigned by Globalmapper (in this example WGS84 / UTM Zone 54S

Display = WGS 84 (Long/Lat)

Degree Format = -xx.xxxxx

Go to File -> Import…

Locate the exported data(*.GRD).Then click Open.

The map will be opened in Atoll. Now you can do the job as usual. This is the result example:

Give it a try, just let me know if you face any problem at email.

Engineering Cells for More Efficient Biofuel Production

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:14:15 GMT

In the search for renewable alternatives to gasoline, heavy alcohols such as isobutanol are promising candidates. Not only do they contain more energy than ethanol, but they are also more compatible with existing gasoline-based infrastructure. For isobutanol to become practical, however, scientists need a way to reliably produce huge quantities of it from renewable sources.

MIT chemical engineers and biologists have now devised a way to dramatically boost isobutanol production in yeast, which naturally make it in small amounts. They engineered yeast so that isobutanol synthesis takes place entirely within mitochondria, cell structures that generate energy and also host many biosynthetic pathways. Using this approach, they were able to boost isobutanol production by about 260 percent.

Though still short of the scale needed for industrial production, the advance suggests that this is a promising approach to engineering not only isobutanol but other useful chemicals as well, says Gregory Stephanopoulos, an MIT professor of chemical engineering and one of the senior authors of a paper describing the work in the Feb. 17 online edition of Nature Biotechnology.

"It's not specific to isobutanol," Stephanopoulos says. "It's opening up the opportunity to make a lot of biochemicals inside an organelle that may be much better suited for this purpose compared to the cytosol of the yeast cells."

Stephanopoulos collaborated with Gerald Fink, an MIT professor of biology and member of the Whitehead Institute, on this research. The lead author of the paper is Jose Avalos, a postdoc at the Whitehead Institute and MIT.

Historically, researchers have tried to decrease isobutanol production in yeast, because it can ruin the flavor of wine and beer. However, "now there's been a push to try to make it for fuel and other chemical purposes," says Avalos, the paper's lead author.

Yeast typically produce isobutanol in a series of reactions that take place in two different cell locations. The synthesis begins with pyruvate, a plentiful molecule generated by the breakdown of sugars such as glucose. Pyruvate is transported into the mitochondria, where it can enter many different metabolic pathways, including one that results in production of valine, an amino acid. Alpha-ketoisovalerate (alpha-KIV), a precursor in the valine and isobutanol biosynthetic pathways, is made in the mitochondria in the first phase of isobutanol production.

Valine and alpha-KIV can be transported out to the cytoplasm, where they are converted by a set of enzymes into isobutanol. Other researchers have tried to express all the enzymes needed for isobutanol biosynthesis in the cytoplasm. However, it's difficult to get some of those enzymes to function in the cytoplasm as well as they do in the mitochondria.

The MIT researchers took the opposite approach: They moved the second phase, which naturally occurs in the cytoplasm, into the mitochondria. They achieved this by engineering the metabolic pathway's enzymes to express a tag normally found on a mitochondrial protein, directing the cell to send them into the mitochondria.

This enzyme relocation boosted the production of isobutanol by 260 percent, and yields of two related alcohols, isopentanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol, went up even more -- 370 and 500 percent, respectively.

There are likely several explanations for the dramatic increase, the researchers say. One strong possibility, though difficult to prove experimentally, is that clustering the enzymes together makes it more likely that the reactions will occur, Avalos says.

Another possible explanation is that moving the second half of the pathway into the mitochondria makes it easier for the enzymes to snatch up the limited supply of precursors before they can enter another metabolic pathway.

"Enzymes from the second phase, which are naturally out here in the cytoplasm, have to wait to see what comes out of the mitochondria and try to transform that. But when you bring them into the mitochondria, they're better at competing with the pathways in there," Avalos says.

The findings could have many applications in metabolic engineering. There are many situations where it could be advantageous to confine all of the steps of a reaction in a small space, which may not only boost efficiency but also prevent harmful intermediates from drifting away and damaging the cell.

The researchers are now trying to further boost isobutanol yields and reduce production of ethanol, which is still the major product of sugar breakdown in yeast.

"Knocking out the ethanol pathway is an important step in making this yeast suitable for production of isobutanol," Stephanopoulos says. "Then we need to introduce isobutanol synthesis, replacing one with the other, to maintain everything balanced within the cell."

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Shell Global Solutions

Synthetic Dyes: A look at Environmental & Human Risks

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 03:32:04 GMT

Since antiquity, fabrics have been dyed with extracts from minerals, plants, and animals. In fact, dyeing historically was a secretive art form; the most beautiful and exotic pigments reserved were for those who had the status to wear them.

Things began to change around 1856 when scientists discovered how to make synthetic dyes. Cheaper to produce, brighter, more color-fast, and easy to apply to fabric, these new dyes changed the playing field. Scientists raced to formulate gorgeous new colors and before long, dyed fabric was available to all, and natural dyes had become obsolete for most applications. See Encyclopedia Britannica for more details.

This brightly colored, changed new world was not without a down side however. The chemicals used to produce dyes today are often highly toxic, carcinogenic, or even explosive. The chemical Anililine, the basis for a popular group of dyes known as Azo dyes (specifically group III A1 and A2) which are considered deadly poisons (giving off carcinogenic amines) and dangerous to work with, also being highly flammable. In addition , other harmful chemicals used in the dying process include

1) dioxin – a carcinogen and possible hormone disrupter;

2) Toxic heavy metals such as chrome, copper, and zinc – known carcinogens; and

3) Formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen.

Dye chemicals have caused or fueled many dye factory fires through history, including a massive Rhode Island dye factory fire in 2003 in which vast quantities of dye chemicals spilled into the Blackstone River.

Dangers for Dye Workers

In the end of the nineteen century, little regard was paid to the safety and of dye worker labor conditions. However, it soon became apparent that there were deadly risks to workers who manufactured dye and who dyed garments.

In the dye industry in 2008, much, but not all has changed, and not even where you might expect it to. In Japan, dye workers are at higher risk of tumors. And in the United States, deaths amongst factory workers from several cancers, cerebrovascular disease, lung disease are significantly higher – 40 times higher, for some diseases – than in the general population.

Environmental Pollution from Dye Factories

Almost every industrial dye process involves a solution of a dye in water, in which the fabrics are dipped or washed. After dying a batch of fabric, it’s cheaper to dump the used water – dye effluent – than to clean and re-use the water in the factory. So dye factories across the world are dumping millions of tons of dye effluent into rivers.

Most countries require factories to treat dye effluent before it is dumped. Separating the dye chemicals from the water results in a dye sludge, and cleaner water. The water, which still contains traces of dye, is dumped into the river, and leaves the problem of what to do with the sludge?

China does have water pollution laws stipulating how dye waste water must be treated before it is discharged into rivers, but when the river downstream from a factory producing dyed textiles for Gap, Target and Wal-Mart ran dark red, investigators discovered that untreated dye effluent was being dumped directly into the river, close to 22,000 tons worth. Villagers say that fish died, and the lifeless river turned to sludge. The factory, a major supplier to several US stores, was attempting to save money in the face of companies like Wal-Mart’s pressure for ever-lower prices. For more on this story, see the Wall Street Journal.

In Mexico, fields and rivers near jeans factories are turning dark blue from untreated, unregulated dye effluent. Factories dying denims for Levi and Gap dump waste-water contaminated with synthetic indigo straight into the environment. Local residents and farmers report health problems and wonder if the food they are obliged to grow in nearby fields is safe to eat.

Are Dyed Clothes Safe to Wear?

The dye on a finished garment, by it’s nature, is chemically stable – that’s what makes a dye color fast. However, research is emerging that examines the short and long term effects of potential skin absorption of dye and finishing chemicals through clothing. The CNN report October 2007 which Shana wrote about on Green Cotton, revealed that new testing procedures (chemical burden testing) reveal that young babies and children actually do have increased levels of chemicals in their bloodstream and skin. Because clothing comes into prolonged contact with one’s skin, toxic chemicals are often absorbed into the skin, especially when one’s body is warm and skin pores have opened to allow perspiration. We also know that some individuals have what is known as chemical sensitivity, including when exposed to garments of many types. http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/ Symptoms in adults for chemical sensitivity range from skin rashes, headaches, trouble concentrating, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, irregular heart beat, and/or seizures. Symptoms in children include red cheeks and ears, dark circles under the eyes, hyperactivity, and behavior or learning problems. See Lotusorganics.com for more information.

Dyes are complex chemicals, and as anyone who’s washed a red shirt with a white shirt knows, they don’t stay put forever.

Why Are Synthetic Dyes So Harmful?

Dyes are so problematic because the families of chemical compounds that make good dyes are also toxic to humans. Each new synthetic dye developed is a brand new compound, and because it’s new, no-one knows it’s risks to humans and the environment.

Many dyes like Amaranth have entered the market, then have subsequently been discovered to be carcinogenic and withdrawn. The European Union in particular has been pro-active in banning dangerous dyes and dyes formulated from toxic chemicals.

But it’s backwards to create a dye, see if it’s hazardous, then ban it if so. Especially since so many dyes are known to be dangerous and carcinogenic.

In addition to the dyes them selves, the garment finishes are often equally as harmful. We will save discussion on garment finishes for another post, but just briefly, they are used for creating wrinkle-free, stain resistant, flame retardant, anti-static, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, odor-resistant, permanent-press, and non-shrink fabrics. They can also be used as softening agents, and for creating other easy-care treatments. In fact it is often the dye fixative, used to bond the dye color to the fabric, that causes the most problems. All of these can be particularly challenging for people with chemical sensitivities.

What’s the Alternative to Synthetic Dyes?

So what is the dye industry doing, or rather innovators in the clothing industry who want to change the dye industry? Responsible dye manufactures are investigating ways to treat their dye effluent with organic materials and bacteria, rather than chemical treatments, and improve dye manufacture and processing to minimize hazardous chemicals used. In fact, I’m excited to learn that natural, plant based dyes are steadily making a comeback into mainstream fashion.

While, natural dyes will never be able to completely replace synthetic dyes, due to the fact that there is only so much land to go around and food is already in great demand. However, there are innovative ways of using plants for multiple purposes and maximizing their dying potential. And of course, if there was a little more love for the natural colors of fabrics, dyes wouldn’t be needed as much.

I’m in love with indigo denim– black is flattering, mysterious and I also have a Tyrolean purple summer dress that I will wear forever. I love and respect naturals: cream and white and ivory and mushroom, but it will never be the only color in my wardrobe.

The realistic solution to current toxic dyes is likely to be a combination of more responsible synthetic dye production, together with a sustainable development of natural dyes.

Stay tuned for the next post on this topic: A look at natural dyes more closely….

We know that real trees soak up carbon from the atmosphere — but fake trees?

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:50:16 GMT

A cheap plastic that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere? “Yes,” says a team of chemists at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute, led by Nobel Prize winner George Olah. Science Now reports on their work with an inexpensive polymer called polyethylenimine or PEI.

But how to maximize its absorption capabilities? Olah’s team dissolved the polymer in a solvent and spread it out, peanut-butter-style, on fumed silica — you know, like the stuff in those desiccant packets in your electronics packaging (“Do not eat,” by the way). It’s also used as a stabilizer for lipstick and other make-up.

And you thought plastic palm trees had no redeeming value..

Here are the geeky details from Science Now:

When the researchers tested the new material’s CO₂-grabbing abilities, they found that in humid air—the kind present in most ambient conditions—each gram of the material sopped up an average of 1.72 nanomoles of CO₂. That’s well above the 1.44 nanomoles per gram absorbed by a recent rival made from aminosilica and among the highest levels of CO₂ absorption from air ever tested, the team reported last month in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Once saturated with CO₂, the PEI-silica combo is easy to regenerate. The CO₂floats away after the polymer is heated to 85°C. Other commonly used solid CO₂ absorbers must be heated to over 800°C to drive off the CO₂.

Team member Surya Prakash says the polymer could also be used to make vast farms of artificial “trees” that could suck CO2 out of the atmosphere, much like real ones do. Prakash and Olah have been trying to stand the carbon paradigm on its ear for the past several years, exploring it as a positive rather than a negative for the planet. “People tend to think of CO₂ as a problem rather than a resource,” he explained. “We want to take CO₂, and instead of burying it underground, use it as a raw material, and convert it with alternative energy sources back to fuels and feedstocks.”

(Excerpted from KQED-Climate Watch, January 11, 2012) By Kimberly Ayers

About the author

Kimberly Ayers has lived in California for more than 20 years, both north and south. Growing up in the Middle East as an "oil brat," she has been blessed with lots of travel. Her storytelling has appeared most recently on the National Geographic Channel, including reporting from Belize and Egypt. For the past four years, she has produced the PBS stations' broadcast of the National Geographic Bee: the questions are really hard, and the kids are crazy-smart. At forty-something, she walked the Catalina Marathon, and most mornings you will find her walking somewhere on the SoCal coast.

Label to verify quality

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:30:39 GMT

As many industries and businesses have not recognized that energy labeling is a competitive advantage, they have not been determined to renovate technology, nor to improve product quality. They fear that the investment will increase production costs. To address this problem, it is necessary to further strengthen the state management in both ways: by laws and by encouragement.

A necessary passport

Mr. Dang Hai Dung from the Science and Technology Division, General Department of Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that in the period 2006 - 2011, under the direction of the Ministry, the pilot energy labeling activities were implemented for some products, such as fluorescent lamps, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and electric fans. However, efficiency was not high as very few companies registered for this certificate. As a result, by the first half of 2013 when the energy labeling becomes mandatory for the electrical equipment, congestion will be unavoidable for enterprises to queue for certificates and energy labeling.

Mr. To Dinh Thai, Bresl project coordinator, Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the energy label is the "passport" to help enterprises send their products to consumers faster, consequently, improving market share, confirming the brand and image of companies in the market. At the same time, consumers will have the opportunity to identify and buy more reliable products, ultimately saving costs. Unfortunately, many companies still do not really care about this.

Mr. Le Dai Hai, Deputy Director of the Legal Department, the Justice Department said, administrative violations in energy label are still popular. The most typical is the act of using the energy label in wrong way, producing and importing products on the abandoned list. These violations are often punished very seriously by the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Specifically, anyone not implementing energy labeling for mandatory products or providing false information on the label compared to energy certificates can be fined from VND30 to 50 million; using wrong energy labels from VND5 - 10 million; improper labeling for certified products, or products that have not been certified from VND50 to 70 million; importing products of abandoned list from VND50 to 70 million; the last case will be subject to forced destruction and banned re-export. And the inspection and sanctioning of violations will be strengthened in the time to come.

Strengthening state management

Currently, most of the energy consuming products and equipment have the corresponding Vietnamese standards. The provisions relating to the legal framework of building energy labeling have been issued. On the other hand, the National Target Program on Energy Efficiency and Conservation has also set up policy to popularize and encourage consumers to use energy labeled products. Therefore, it is necessary for businesses to actively adapt to the rule immediately to meet the actual needs of consumers in the future.

The Government has required that public procurement programs give priority to the purchase of equipment with energy efficiency certificates. The incentives for consumers to use certified energy saving products and for businesses to implement energy labeling are ready. In other words, the "green light" is on. It is now the matter of how enterprises will take the initiative and adapt.

Source: VNEEC

For a green economy

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:17:08 GMT

On 27/11/2012, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade officially launched the Energy Efficiency Campaign named "Increasingly using energy efficiently in state-owned businesses and government agencies". The campaign will be carried out in three years from 2012-2015 with the slogan "New Awareness - New Power”.

With technical support from the Embassy of Denmark and the International Financial Corporation (IFC), the campaign will focus on raising awareness and support for key energy consuming enterprises in the implementation of the Law on energy efficiency and conservation.

Within the campaign, a series of activities towards business communication will be carried out such as setting up a hotline and a website with useful information about the legal provisions on the efficient use of energy, energy saving solutions and financial support programs.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, companies participating in the campaign will have many benefits.

Current growth rate of the country's energy needs are nearly twice as high as GDP growth, while in the developed countries, the two rates are more or less similar. This suggests that the use of energy, especially in industrial mass production, is not efficient. This will reduce the competitiveness and sustainable development of the company in particular and the economy in general. Therefore, the National Target Program on energy saving and efficiency has set a target of reducing 5-8% of the total national energy consumption, equivalent to 11-17 million TOE in the next three years .

The Campaign on Energy Efficiency is one of the main focuses of the National Target program because this is considered a prerequisite for the growth of a green economy. "New Awareness - New Power" contains a simple message: By changing management practice and manufacturing operations, we can easily discover and exploit more resources. In the currently harsh market and capital constraints, efficient use of energy in production is the fastest way to help businesses reduce costs, increase productivity and profitability as well as maintain the business responsibility to the environment and the community.

Mr. John Nielsen, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam: Difficulties do undermine our support for Vietnam.

Since 2009, Denmark and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have supported major enterprises in Vietnam with total value of $15 million. Most recently, during the visit of the Danish Minister of Climate and Energy, Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding to support green growth for Vietnam's SMEs, which make up 95% of the number of Vietnamese enterprises.

It is expected that from the 1st January 2013, this package will be implemented. This evidence shows that despite the economic downturn, investors have not reduced support for Vietnam. At the same time, with this support, we also want to express the view that economic growth does not necessarily comes with an increase in energy consumption. In Denmark, over the last 30 years, the economy has developed by over 80% but we do not use any additional energy. Energy savings also help bring business efficiency and good economic performance for each country as well as for the business itself. It is important to make companies change perception and we are working towards this end.

Mr. Phuong Hoang Kim – Director of Department of Science and Technology and Energy Efficiency - General Department of Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade: Increasing support to businesses involved in energy efficiency.

To implement energy efficiency measures, in the next stage of the campaign, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to support businesses in finance and technical matters. In the first, the program has assisted companies in energy audit, consulting for businesses and pilot demonstration projects on energy saving and efficiency, and support 30% of the cost of investment in energy efficiency projects.

In 2012-2015, the program will continue this support. In addition, funding for companies involved in energy efficiency is abundant with packages such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) extending a $100 million loan for cement and steel plants, World Bank (WB) $70-100 million for energy efficiency projects, JICA $50 million for of cement and steel projects etc. With this support, it is expected that the energy efficiency campaign period 2012-2015 will achieve more success than the previous period.

Mr. Simon Andrews - IFC Country Director in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar: IFC is committed to continue its support for Vietnam energy efficiency and cleaner production.

Companies increasingly understand that energy efficiency and cleaner production are not only of economic benefits but also help reduce environmental impact and improve the reputation of the business. In addition to raising awareness, through banks such as Techcombank, VietinBank, IFC has been funding for energy efficiency projects to accelerate the process of modernization of the business, directing the economy on the path of growth with low carbon emissions. Expected, with the support of IFC, in the 2012-2015 period, some 500,000 Vietnamese enterprises will be supported in the implementation of measures to reduce energy consumption, towards green growth.

In the first phase, 2012-2013, the campaign will focus on four extensive energy consumption industries, namely cement, steel, paper and chemicals.

For the State offices, the campaign will support capacity building for affiliated youth groups to enable the unit to plan communication, to promote savings behavior and energy use efficiency results of each of the of officials within the agency.

Source: MOIT

Vietnam approves green growth strategy

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:08:38 GMT

(20 December 2012) Viet Nam has outlined its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions with the implementation of the Green Growth strategy, approved by the Prime Minister last week.

The document sets a number of targets for improving the environmental situation in the country between now and 2020, with a vision reaching even further ahead. It is hoped that GHG emissions will decrease by between 8 and 10 per cent in that time, compared to levels recorded in 2010.

The Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Van Tai, said although GHG emissions in Viet Nam have increased rapidly over the last few decades, they still remain low compared with other developed countries.

"Technically, Viet Nam has not been subject to any international mandatory obligations to cut down its emission level. However, Viet Nam has formulated its Green Growth strategy on its own initiative to make use of international assistance on this issue," Tai said.

The total GHG emissions per capita in Viet Nam is estimated to be about 1.9 tonnes of CO2 per year, compared to 0.3 tonnes in 1990. It is forecast to reach 5 tonnes by 2030.

As energy-related activities are a major source of GHG emissions, a target has been set decreasing the amount coming from this source by 10 to 20 per cent before 2020.

The strategy outlines a number of key measures to achieve this target. The main plan is for energy use to become more efficient, with the reduction of energy consumption in industrial activities, transport and commerce. This is hoped to be achieved via technology renovation, adoption of advanced operation process and development of a modern infrastructure.

The strategy is also targeting an end to the dependence on fossil fuels, while increasing the use of renewable energies by using market tools. A plan has been implemented to gradually remove subsidies for fossil fuels, which have been widely used up to now.

Another mission is to promote environmentally friendly green production that uses natural resources more efficiently. This is a radical part of the green growth model because rapid economic development over the past decades has resulted in serious environmental degradation.

The economy will be restructured to see investment increase in ‘green' sectors such as high technology, recycling and environmental services. Resource-intense sectors will be required to adopt new ways of production to make better use of natural resources and assume greater control of waste management.

By 2020, the value of products from high-technology and green technology industries will account 42 to 45 per cent of the GDP while 80 per cent of manufacturing and trading establishments must meet environmental standards. Half of the manufacturing sites in the country are expected to adopt clean technologies for production.

Agriculture, known for being the largest GHG emitter in the economy, is going to adopt a more sustainable development model, with farmers being introduced to new procedures and technologies that enable a more efficient use of agricultural supplies, resources and technologies to process and reuse agricultural waste.

Forest plantation and conservation projects will be given a boost so that by 2020 forest coverage will be 45 per cent, allowing an increase in carbon dioxide absorption.

Another important goal is to foster a green lifestyle and sustainable consumption pattern. This will begin with the implementation of labelling informing the public about eco-friendly products. From now until 2020, a number of products including construction material, hospital equipment, transport vehicles and computers will become more green.

In the first ten years of this strategy, awareness-raising activities will be prioritised along with capacity-building for human resources and institutional frameworks. A database will be built alongside management tools and index sets relating to green growth models.

Viet Nam is the first developing country in the Asia-Pacific region to independently formulate its own Green Growth strategy with an aim to switch to a low-carbon economy.

Source: VNEEC

How to use local culture and know-how for innovation and job creation in Hanoi

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:27:56 GMT

Community is a typical characteristic of Vietnamese culture. Local culture and traditions have strong influence on daily life and business activities. However, in current context, as the country has been experiencing global integration and approaching advanced technology, what will happen with those customs? Will they be combined into development process or will they be blown by modern wind?

Local culture and know-how and can be clearly seen in products made by farmers or in craft villages. And Vietnam is known as a home of traditional products. But there are still plenty of young people drifting to other areas for job hunting due to the fact that making special products and working in craft villages are not enough to ensure their lives? What should be done to encourage innovation and generate jobs?

Beside the keynote speech delivered by Ms. Rebecca Reubens – Managing Director of RHIZOME Bamboo Canopy, we also invited national experts and company representatives to share their experience in applying cultural value into business. With the participation of multi-stakeholders, we hope the results from the forum will meet your expectations.

(Thanh tra) - “Trân trọng văn hóa địa phương - Thúc đẩy sáng tạo - Cải thiện kinh doanh” là nội dung được nhấn mạnh tại Diễn đàn “Sử dụng văn hóa địa phương và yếu tố truyền thống nhằm đổi mới sáng tạo và tạo việc làm" được tổ chức ngày 19/11 tại Hà Nội. Văn hóa bản địa có đồng hành được với quá trình phát triển?

Xưa nay, văn hóa Việt luôn mang nặng tính cộng đồng. Văn hóa và truyền thống địa phương có ảnh hưởng sâu đậm tới cuộc sống thường nhật và hoạt động kinh doanh của người Việt. Nhiều cộng đồng đã đem những yếu tố văn hóa thể hiện trong sản phẩm địa phương như: Gốm sứ Bát Tràng, tơ lụa Vạn Phúc, đồng Ngũ Xã, gỗ Sơn Đồng… Tuy nhiên, trong bối cảnh hiện nay, khi Việt Nam đang hội nhập kinh tế và tiếp cận với công nghệ hiện đại, vấn đề đặt ra là liệu văn hóa bản địa có đồng hành được với quá trình phát triển hay sẽ bị chính sự phát triển làm lu mờ.

Bàn về văn hóa doanh nghiệp (DN) và truyền thống địa phương ở các nước phát triển và ở Việt Nam, TS Nguyễn Thị Tòng, nguyên Tổng Thư ký Hiệp hội Da giày Việt Nam nhấn mạnh, bên cạnh các ưu điểm như đa dạng, phong phú, được quan tâm xây dựng, thúc đẩy nâng cao và tôn vinh, quảng bá rộng rãi, văn hóa DN và truyền thống địa phương ở nước ta còn có những hạn chế nhất định. Nền văn hóa được xây dựng trên nền tảng dân trí thấp, phức tạp, chịu ảnh hưởng của nhiều yếu tố khác nhau, tầm nhìn ngắn hạn, chưa có quan điểm đúng đắn về cạnh tranh và hợp tác, hạn chế trong giải pháp đột phá…

Văn hóa địa phương và bí quyết sản xuất truyền thống được thể hiện rõ nét trong những sản phẩm được làm ra bởi những người nông dân hay thợ thủ công trong các làng nghề. Việt Nam vốn nổi tiếng là vùng đất của những sản phẩm địa phương đặc sắc. Vậy mà rất nhiều thanh niên vẫn rời bỏ quê hương đi tìm việc ở nơi khác do việc sản xuất sản phẩm truyền thống và làm việc trong các làng nghề không đủ nuôi dưỡng cuộc sống của họ.

Bên cạnh đó, với đà phát triển hiện nay, văn hóa địa phương cùng với những bí quyết sản xuất truyền thống đang dần bị mai một. Việc sản xuất và kinh doanh sản phẩm chứa đựng văn hóa địa phương gây ra nhiều vấn đề tiêu cực với xã hội như ô nhiễm môi trường, trà trộn hàng hóa…

“Văn hóa DN là tài sản vô hình của mỗi DN. Muốn có được văn hóa với bản sắc riêng thì DN phải tìm tòi, nghiên cứu, học hỏi… và tạo ra nhiều sự khác biệt. Đặc biệt, sản phẩm truyền thống phải có yếu tố hòa đồng với quốc tế”, TS Nguyễn Thị Tòng nhấn mạnh.

Quang cảnh diễn đàn. Ảnh: Dương Ngọc

Sử dụng văn hóa địa phương như thế nào?

Vấn đề đặt ra cho các làng nghề, các DN là cần phải có biện pháp để thúc đẩy sáng tạo và tạo việc làm. Tại Diễn đàn, những quan điểm khác nhau về việc sử dụng văn hóa địa phương trong hoạt động kinh doanh cũng đã được chia sẻ bởi chuyên gia và đại diện doanh nghiệp.

Ông Florian Beranek, Cố vấn Trưởng Dự án Trách nhiệm xã hội DN nhấn mạnh: Bàn về vấn đề này, chúng tôi không thể mang thêm tiền, mang khách hàng đến cho các DN, nhưng có thể giúp mang lại những giá trị cộng thêm, từ đó giúp DN phát triển bền vững trong tương lai.

Cũng theo ông Florian Beranek, một DN nhỏ và vừa, không có bộ phận nghiên cứu phát triển, cần tin và dựa vào nhiều yếu tố bên ngoài, đặc biệt là cộng đồng, dân tộc… Từ đó, tìm những yếu tố kỹ thuật, ý tưởng, tiềm năng cho thị trường nội địa và xuất khẩu, đặc biệt là thị trường nội địa - thị trường cho tương lai.

Với các DN sản xuất hàng xuất khẩu, hiện nay, lợi thế lớn nhất của các DN này (chủ yếu từ chi phí lao động thấp) đang ngày càng trở nên mờ nhạt và tan vỡ dần. Nếu dựa vào cộng đồng sẽ tìm được giải pháp, tìm được những người có kỹ năng… để hỗ trợ phát triển năng lực của họ, từ đó đưa họ tham gia chuỗi sản xuất, không chỉ với các công việc thủ công mà cả các công việc mang tính truyền thống.

“Việt Nam có truyền thống lịch sử đáng tự hào. Nếu dùng thương hiệu của Việt Nam và có những câu chuyện lịch sử phía sau nó, các DN sẽ có bước tiến dài hơn trong tương lai, đưa lại những sản phẩm bền vững. Khi chúng ta có văn hóa, truyền thống đứng sau sản phẩm, chúng ta có thể có 1 thương hiệu rất mạnh” - ông Florian Beranek nhấn mạnh.

Đồng tình với ý kiến này, nhiều đại biểu cũng thống nhất, văn hóa địa phương, yếu tố truyền thống là yếu tố quan trọng để tiếp cận thị trường. Cần sử dụng yếu tố văn hóa địa phương để vươn ra thị trường quốc tế.

Theo bà Rebecca Reubens - Giám đốc RHIZOME, chuyên gia quốc tế về phát triển sản phẩm bền vững, tốc độ phát triển kinh tế của Việt Nam nhanh nhưng chủ yếu dựa vào khai thác tài nguyên tự nhiên. Bền vững phải được xem là vấn đề ưu tiên của Việt Nam trong tương lai.

Ở các quốc gia châu Á, sản phẩm truyền thống sử dụng các nguyên liệu truyền thống địa phương vẫn có vị trí trong thị trường nội địa. Các sản phẩm truyền thống lồng ghép kỹ năng truyền thống cộng đồng, bảo đảm bền vững trong cộng đồng về nguyên liệu, lao động, phục vụ tốt cho thị trường trong nước và quốc tế. “Tuy nhiên, các sản phẩm truyền thống sử dụng nguồn nguyên liệu có từ địa phương cần có những thiết kế đổi mới, đưa ra những sản phẩm mang tính hiện đại, tiện dụng”, bà Rebecca Reubens lưu ý.

Dương Ngọc

Greenpeace Exposes Toxic Chemicals in Fashionable Clothing

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:19:11 GMT

Greenpeace Exposes Toxic Chemicals in Fashionable Clothing (via Environment News Service)

BEIJING, China, November 20, 2012 (ENS) – Some of the world’s best known fashion retailers are selling clothing contaminated with hazardous chemicals that break down to form hormone-disrupting or cancer-causing chemicals when released into the environment, finds a report issued today by Greenpeace…

Toxic Chemicals in Clothing Make All of Us Fashion Victims

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:12:52 GMT

Greenpeace Detox Campaign Image | Photo: Lance Lee

Today, to coincide with the release of a major investigative report by Greenpeace International, Toxic Threads: The Big Fashion Stitch-Up, guest contributor Tommy Crawford, strategic communications manager at Greenpeace, highlights the dangers of the toxic chemicals contained in the clothing we wear and urges action.

BEIJING, China — Nobody wants to be a fashion victim. Desperately chasing the ever-elusive ‘cool,’ fashion victims are generally perceived as ‘try-hards,’ those who sport the latest trends and buy into transient fads, regardless of fit or personal style. These so-called victims, slaves to the vagaries of a few, have a soft spot for fast-fashion and designer labels. But high-gloss brands can conceal low-end ethics. And herein lies the crux.

The truth is, we are all fashion victims.

We are all victims of the ruthless practices of global fashion brands who prioritise profits over people and the planet. In a constant race to get products on the racks, lots of big brands resort to outsourcing production in countries such as China and Mexico. But this clothing carries a hidden price tag. In many of these countries, lax regulations give suppliers of international brands a free hand when it comes to using hazardous chemicals to dye and process our clothes. Many of these toxic chemicals are banned in the US and Europe, but sooner or later they end up in waterways and wardrobes across the globe.

Our latest investigation into this issue demonstrates just how far-reaching the problem is. Of the 20 brands whose clothing we tested — including global fashion giants Calvin Klein, Levi’s and Zara — every single one of them was revealed to have traces of hazardous chemicals in at least one of their clothing items. Calvin Klein was the worst offender, with 88 percent of the items we tested found to contain hazardous chemicals. Levi’s came second with 82 percent, while Zara came third with 70 percent. Some of these chemicals are incorporated deliberately within the fabric, while others are unwanted residues remaining from the manufacturing process.

This is an issue, because when these chemicals are released into the environment they can break down and develop hormone-disrupting and even carcinogenic properties. The worst of the chemicals included toxic phthalates (found in four of the garments we tested) and cancer-causing amines from the use of certain azo dyes (found in two of the garments). Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) were found in just under two-thirds of the 141 garments we tested.

These chemicals can seep into the environment where clothes are made, affecting rivers and waterways that local communities often depend upon for their livelihoods. But the toxicity doesn’t end there. Chemicals contained within clothes can also be released by people living thousands of miles away, who inadvertently pollute their local water supplies when they do their laundry.

As a result, these hazardous chemicals behave much like influential fashion trends: they travel far and wide, affecting people across the globe.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way.

Through our Detox campaign, Greenpeace has helped to illuminate a path towards a toxic-free future for fashion. Launched last year, the campaign has been able to mobilise millions of citizens around the world to challenge major clothing brands and demand that they create fashion without toxic pollution. Through hard-fought negotiations and people-powered actions — including the world’s biggest simultaneous striptease in July last year — the campaign has secured commitments from seven international brands to clean up their supply chains and become toxic-free by 2020.

The journey will not be easy. But in fashion, safe brands have rarely shaped the future, nor reaped its rewards. In fact, true fashion has always been an act of rebellion. Yesterday’s orthodoxies need to be challenged and swept away, only to be replaced by new and innovative solutions.

This also applies to the use of hazardous chemicals, many of which can be replaced with safer alternatives. A number of companies, H&M and Marks & Spencer among them, are already pioneering green chemistry and the phase-out of some of the most harmful substances. H&M, Marks & Spencer and C&A have also agreed to pilot programmes that would disclose their suppliers’ pollution data as part of their Detox Action Plans, providing a much-needed sliver of transparency into a notoriously murky world.

For too long, fashion brands have hidden behind an elaborate marketing façade, where the nature and location of production have been de-emphasised in favour of beautiful advertising, catwalk glamour and designer lifestyles. Companies sought to hide the truth and keep that which was out of sight, out of mind for their customers and shareholders. And for too long, we allowed ourselves to be willing accomplices in this world of misdirection and splendour.

But the reality is that these big brands are perfectly positioned to eliminate the negative environmental impacts of their production. They can do this through the suppliers they choose to collaborate with, the design of their products and the control they can exert over the chemicals used throughout the production processes.

Yet where there is a way, there must also be a will. So far, a number of major fashion brands, including the world’s largest retailer Zara, remain silent, shirking responsibility for their actions as if it were last season’s fashion. This, despite the fact that clothing purchased from Zara has been found to contain hazardous chemicals, some of which can break down to form hormone-disrupting or cancer-causing substances.

Each day that passes without a new course of action only compounds the problem, as many of the hazardous chemicals used by the fashion industry persist and accumulate in the environment. Zara’s owner, Amancio Ortega Gaona — like those at the helm of any big brand — knows that he cannot continue with business-as-usual when there is widespread demand to move in a new direction. And as more and more fashion fans demand toxic-free clothing, rebelling against superficial marketing and opaque production practices, companies like Zara will need to listen or risk losing their fans and customers forever. This will be of particular concern in markets such as China, where the effects of the fashion industry’s addiction to hazardous chemicals are most harshly felt, and where many of these companies, Zara included, are pinning their hopes for future growth.

The truth is that the clothes we wear are not just a bundle of threads sewn together to make a garment. What we pull out of our wardrobes every morning tells a story about who we are today. And more and more people are demanding that this story does not turn into a toxic nightmare for generations to come.

Tommy Crawford is a strategic communications manager at Greenpeace International.

Environment providing on criterion of, order of, procedures for recognition of environmentally friendly - nylon bags

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:04:05 GMT

This Circular providing criterion of, order of, procedures for recognition of environmentally
friendly-nylon bags which are imported, manufactured and used in Vietnam.

Thủ tướng Chính phủ vừa ban hành Nghị định số 69/2012/NĐ-CP về việc sửa đổi, bổ sung Khoản 3 Điều 2 Nghị định số 67/2011/NĐ-CP ngày 8/8/2011 của Chính phủ quy định chi tiết và hướng dẫn thi hành một số điều của Luật Thuế bảo vệ môi trường.

Nghị định nêu rõ đối với túi nylon thuộc diện chịu thuế (túi nhựa) quy định tại Khoản 4 Điều 3 của Luật Thuế bảo vệ môi trường là loại túi, bao bì nhựa mỏng có hình dạng túi (có miệng túi, có đáy túi, có thành túi và có thể đựng sản phẩm trong đó) được làm từ nhựa đơn HDPE, LDPE hoặc LLDPE, trừ bao bì đóng gói sẵn hàng hóa và túi nylon đáp ứng tiêu chí thân thiện với môi trường theo quy định của Bộ Tài nguyên và Môi trường.

Ngoài ra, nghị định cũng nêu rõ, bao bì đóng gói sẵn hàng hóa (kể cả có hình dạng túi và không có hình dạng túi), bao gồm bao bì đóng gói sẵn hàng hóa nhập khẩu; bao bì mà tổ chức, hộ gia đình, cá nhân tự sản xuất hoặc nhập khẩu để đóng gói sản phẩm do tổ chức, hộ gia đình, cá nhân đó sản xuất, gia công ra hoặc mua sản phẩm về đóng gói hoặc làm dịch vụ đóng gói; bao bì mà tổ chức, hộ gia đình, cá nhân mua trực tiếp của người sản xuất hoặc người nhập khẩu để đóng gói sản phẩm do tổ chức, hộ gia đình, cá nhân đó sản xuất, gia công ra hoặc mua sản phẩm về đóng gói hoặc làm dịch vụ đóng gói.

Nghị định có hiệu lực từ ngày 15/11

(TTXVN)