Category: Science & technology

Green technology sometimes is so simple that it is unbelievable.
As we progress with time, we are developing better technology that can be applied in various fields. However, some of us look too highly on hyper-advance tech with the like of F-22 Raptor, Lotus Elise 111 and AMD Athlon Clawhammer processor and look lowly on technology that seems to be too simple. Perhaps this is the reason why so many people describe the greens as the primitive people as some of us prefer a much simpler tech appliance to the sophisticated ones.

One instance is the construction of straw houses. Basically, a building is built with larger percentage of the material used is the omnipresent straw. Of course the building wouldn’t be 100% straw. Imagine the consequence of a strong gale against such house. Concrete and lumber are used sparsely in the method, mainly for foundation and support purposes. The straws will be compacted and sandwiched within the wall of such house. When I say sandwiched, I mean within the walls itself.

The benefit of such building is energy efficiency. Straws are particularly good in preserving heat and somewhat eliminate the need of a heater in the middle of the winter. Also, the cost of such house is way below typical house. Here is a report by Wired about this technique.

Another simple green architecture is the mud house. This method uses only mud, sand and naturally available fiber for construction in opposition to concrete and cement. The idea might sound pathetic but such building could last as long as the normal house. In fact, renovation will also be easier and less costly. Linked here is an example of a beautiful mud house.

Admittedly, these two construction technologies are primitive, dated back to at least a hundred years. But yet, the efficiency it provides is amazing and comparable to modern marvels.

Moving along the tech tree, one could come to conclusion that the greens are always concerned with renewable energy. For the past few years, the greens have advocated the use of solar and wind energy up in the governmental level.

While encouraging the use of renewable energy, new simple technology resulted everywhere. I am fairly familiar with the advancement made in solar cells because I am obsessed with them. Furthermore, I am working for University of Michigan’s solar car team and had the responsibility of taking care the solar panel on the 2003 car, SpectruM.

The latest achievement is the solar window shades, currently under the R&D stage in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) of New York. In this technique, solar cells are places inside a glass (in this case, the glass window). During the day, the windows will act as a small, quiet and clean power generators. This will take down the needlessly expensive monthly electric bill. Furthermore, according to Anna Dyson as quoted in Wired News, this technique has the efficiency of more than 50%, much higher than typical solar cells; I’ve worked with solar panels with the efficiency of 17% to 28% and I found it hard to believe when the report says “”way more than 50 percent” energy-conversion rate”. However, I can’t argue until I’ve seen the data personally.

Apart from green interests, this solar window solar shade is an effective shade. In fact, it does a better job in shading to the normal shade. Since the cells absorb light, glare will be a thing of in past. Solar window shade is a simple but useful idea.
One could say simplicity is beauty.

p/s – The Wolverines blanked the Fighting Irish 38 – 0. A shutout against a No. 15 team.

pp/s – Ajax has finally regained their form in the face of a Champions League game against Milan this Tuesday. Ajax won against RKC Waaljik with a convincing 4 – 1 at home.