3/8/07SJSU Presentation ©E3 Regenesis Solutions, Inc. 2007 System Sustainability and Innovation The...

3/8/07 SJSU Presentation ©E3 Regenesis Solutions, Inc. 2007

System Sustainability and InnovationThe Engineering Challenge: “Embrace the Whole System”

• Energy is not fuel alone; it is a set of components in an ecosystem. A dynamic set of forces that support growth only when dynamically balanced, and dangerous when static or extremely unbalanced!

• The opportunity before us, as engineers, entrepreneurs, politicians and citizens, is to create systems that help us to dynamically optimize our fuel/energy/resource mix for sustainable human development.


Cradle to Cradle Systems Design

Emulating Nature’s Material and Energy Flows Nature’s ecosystems function on some key principles

that human design can emulate. 1. There is no “waste” in nature; the waste

from one organism provides nutrients for another.

2. All life on earth is fueled by solar energy. 3. Life thrives on diversity, constantly

adapting to fill niches.

Cradle to Cradle Design remodels human industry using these natural principles. It envisions a world powered by the sun where growth is good, waste is “nutritious,” and productive diversity enriches human and natural communities.

The application of cradle-to-cradle principles to industry creates cyclical material flows (cradle-to-cradle rather than cradle-to-grave) that, like the earth’s nutrient cycles, don’t recognize the concept of waste. Each material in a product is designed to be safe and effective, and to provide high quality resources for subsequent generations

From McDonough.com “Cradle to Cradle Design Principles”


Let’s Look at the Peak Oil Challenge!A Supply and Demand Analysis

What is right and what is wrong with this model?

• It is a limited resource model -- And resources are limited! But Oil is not our only resource!

• How does this it help us understand the problem?

• What does it tell us about ourselves?

• What analytical model would be better?

• What are the missing variables?

http://www.hubbertpeak.com/

http://www.hubbertpeak.com/


Systems, Innovation and SustainabilityThe Mystery of Capital: Hernando De Soto

– The multiple dimensions of property)(Squatters)

– The Other Path • Fighting Terrorists Strengthens Them;

• Empowering Grass-Roots, Creative Producers Takes Power Away From Terrorists

Natural Capital: Paul Hawken, Amory & Hunter Lovins: – Capitalize natural resources instead of depreciating them.

– Organize financial systems “as if living systems mattered”

Intellectual Property as Capital:– Open Source, Mega-Patents and GIN’s (Alliance Systems)

– Empower creators of Intellectual Property and Innovation (Mega-patents)

Efficiency = Capital: The more you save the more capital resources you have.

The Globalization and Localization of Communities: Rational Systems – Systems within Systems -- sports analogy. Appropriate hierarchy (Bay Localize)

– Operate from self-sufficiency: Strengthen the Self-sufficiency of others.

– Seek to expand economies with appropriate collaboration and competition

– Rationalize competition over things that matter with appropriate rewards.


Waste is a name we give to raw materials we are not using productively. If we use them, they are not waste!

• All processes (living and non-living) use natural resources and transform them into forms they cannot use;

• Yet all resources can be used by some process.

All resources are limited -- unless we learn how to reclaim wastes and put them back to work.

• Once we learn, we can have a sustainable supply of resources for the future.

Wasted resources also contaminate our environment:

• They make life less healthy, more expensive and less sustainable.

Forest to Desert Lu Yongru (age 14) Hebei, PRC 2002


Climate Change: Global Warming Plus Water and Soil Degradation

as recognized by young Chinese children

Saharan Water: Zhu Siying Age 6, Hubei, PRC 2002Changes: Zeng Fei (age 15) Jiangxi, PRC 2002


Climate Change: Solar Dimming and Toxic Emissions

as described by young Chinese children

The Sandstorm is Coming

Zhu Xi (age 9) Yunnan, PRC 2002

It is popular to wear a Gauze mask

Li Xiaoxiang (age 10) Hubei, PRC 2002


Sequester Carbon as Products

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture. QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Dry Ice and Liquid CO2 for Food Processing/Handling Dry Ice for

Ice Blasting

Solvents gases and Firefighting Chemicals

Clean Fuels, Fertilizers, Industrial Chemicals

Biochar (Terra Preta)

Carbon NanotubesCorn Grown with Biochar

as a soil amendment


Aerobic (Windrow) Composting No process is perfect by itself!

Composting is a good way to recycle some wastes, however, it is not always effective or appropriate.The following factors may limit the applicability and effectiveness of windrow composting:• Substantial space is required for composting.• Excavation of contaminated soils is required and may cause the uncontrolled release of Volatile

Organic Compounds (VOC’s) including methane CH4 and other Greenhouse Gases including CO2.• Composting results in a increase in material because of the addition of amendment material.• Although levels of metals may be reduced via dilution, heavy metals are not treated by this method.

Also high levels of heavy metals can be toxic to the microorganisms.


The EPA Recycling Paradigm

Recognizes the Cradle to Cradle Objective


Transfer Station

End-Users

Full-Cycle Resource Utilization System

Waste Generation

Fabricators and

Distributors

Raw Materials, Carbon, Fertilizers and

Fuels

Energy

EnergyProducts

Products

Products

Feedstock

Reclaimed Resources from Landfills, Manure Piles, etc.

Feedstocks

Toxic Waste

Feedstocks

Farmers and Manufacturers

Biorefinery

Energy

MRF: Materials Recycling Facility


From a System Perspective, Energy/Resource Transformation is not about Choosing the Most Efficient Source;

It is about Optimizing the Mix!


are needed to see this picture.





Atomic Power

Efficiency

Hydroelectric

GeothermalLandfills: Energy + Resources

Biofuels

SolarWind

Farmed Biomass

Human Power Anaerobic Digestion

Oil and Gas

Innovative Alliances:Global Innovation Networks


Innovative CyberneticCybernetic Systems

Energetic Ingredients Organizational Processes

Creativity: IT and IP

Innovation at all levels

Global Innovation Networks

Alternative FuelsBiomass CropsBiomass Waste

Wind, Waves, SolarEnergy Efficiency

Life Cycle EfficiencyHealthy Air, Water, and Soil

Lifelong Education

Quality of Life - Economics

Adaptive Alliance Building

Animal + Man PowerCleaner Fossil FuelsSafe Nuclear Energy?

“Horse” Power -- Brain Power

Organizational Intelligence


Potential Research Assignments1. United nations CDM System and Opportunities for Business to work in Developing Countries using CERs. Research the ones that

have been successful and develop a business plan for either replicating some successful methodologies or develop a new methodology to make energy more efficient, reduce GHG emissions, and captuer either CERs or VERs.

2. Waste management: How can we divert waste and efficiently put it back to work? Pick a solution and build a business plan. Be sure to put it into the context of multiple other solutions that could complement your solution.

3. Many people believe that reducing our emissions and using energy efficiently will cost a fortune. Read Barron’s Quarterly arguments along those lines. Analyze two of their analyses and show how creative thinking and innovation will actually make more money for businesses that adopt them.

4. Analyze the cost of waste streams and the cost of converting them into energy and useful products. Build a business plan that will make it profitable to convert waste back into resources for sale.

5. Identify a method for sequestering carbon in useful products. Analyze the cost of doing so and develop a business model that would make it profitable to do so.

6. Research the literature and develop a business model for continuous innovation and adaptability that will be serve the triple bottom line.

7. Read the reports on Bill McDonough’s work in China. Why did the project fail when he has had so many successful projects? What will he need to do differently next time?

8. Read the Projections 2008 report of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Identify a project that could win their support, when the engineering is done well. Then design that engineering solution while taking into account the business and political requirements as well. Remember, no business plan will get funded unless it looks simple and convincing.

3/8/07SJSU Presentation ©E3 Regenesis Solutions, Inc. 2007 System Sustainability and Innovation The...

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