In our quest to find creative solutions used worldwide to reduce air pollution, we have already learnt following in the Part 1 & Part 2
Examples
1: How to Fit 275 Trees In 3 M2 Of Space?
Examples:
1: Air-purifying billboard does the work of approx. 1,200 trees
2: Road space rationing- Quick way to reduce vehicles on a road
3: It’s time for an eco-friendly Cremation!
Examples:
1: How Iceland is converting the CO2 (Carbon dioxide) emissions into stone.
2: Super Smart Smog-Busters (Photocatalytic materials) are turning harmful smog into harmless salts
Now it’s time to concentrate on,
Examples:
1: Smog Free Tower is Turning Dust Into Jewellery
2: Now You Can Paint With The Pollution!
3: This Hungry ‘Algae’ater Literally Feasts On Carbon Emissions
Solution 4:
Make Best Out Of The Waste
Turning harmful pollution into harmless compounds is great. But, what could be better than utilizing this negativity for our own good?
In many countries, our brilliant scientists have gone a step further. They are not only eliminating the air pollution, but also using it to make something useful and unique. Yes. They are literally using harmful air pollution to make something good. Wow!
You will be amazed to see the level of their creativity. Let’s see what they are doing with the captured pollutants.
They Are Turning Dust Into Jewellery
Pollution Sucks, Smog Free Tower Rocks!
Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde and his team of experts have created the world’s first Smog Free Tower aka. smog vacuum cleaner. It produces smog free air in public spaces, allowing people to breathe and experience clean air for free.
The tower was first mounted on a green lawn right outside Roosegaarde’s design studio in Rotterdam. The effect of the SMOG FREE TOWER has been validated by the results compiled by the Eindhoven University of Technology.
“I wanted to create a bubble of clean air where people can think, meet and work together on how to make a whole city smog-free.” – Daan Roosegaarde
How it works?
1. Capturing and purifying polluted air:
- The two-storey (7-meter tall) hexagonal tower is made up of aluminum.
- It uses patented positive ionization technology that captures harmful airborne pollutant particles from the surrounding air.
2. Releasing fresh air:
- After cleaning the absorbed air, the tower releases the newly-purified air and retains the pollutant particles.
- The tower creates a big ‘bubble’ of clean air around the device, which is 40- 70% cleaner than the rest of the air in the city.
3. Making best out of waste:
Regarding the waste collected by the tower, the team led by Roosegaarde had an unique and brilliant idea. They converted the pollution into souvenir, in the form of ‘Smog Free Rings’. They also made money to finance the tower’s travels all over the world by selling these gorgeous rings.
The process starts with making diamonds… Yes, diamonds! The collected carbon from smog particles is compressed through a process similar to the formation of diamonds. The newborn diamond is then embedded in the jewelry.
Each ring purchased is the equivalent of donating a volume of 1,000 cubic meters of clean air to the city. This limited edition Smog Free Ring is a part of the prestigious art collection at Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. Many couples all over the world are wearing this unique creation as a wedding ring.
Pros:
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Provides a local solution for clean air:
It can be installed in public places such as parks where people can meet, talk and work around the Smog Free Tower.
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Energy efficient:
Even if it is so large, the electricity consumed by the tower is equal to the amount of energy consumed by a water boiler used in a household.
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Easy to transport:
The device can be taken apart, shipped in a container, and installed in a new location within a week.
Cons:
-
Requires more space:
Due to its giant size, it cannot be left unnoticed and needs proper space for installation.
Impact:
The tower can filter 30,000 cubic meters of air every hour, and the people sitting around the tower can breathe around 40-75% cleaner air than the rest of the city.
This technology has won many awards and worldwide recognition for its innovative product design and social impact. It has already gained a lot of popularity. It is implemented in many countries including China-one of the most populated countries in the world.
Although only one tower is not enough and cannot solve the air pollution problem entirely, multiple installations can make a great difference.
Well, if you are not interested in gems, there is another option for you. Do you have artistic mind? Well then…our next invention will definitely surprize you.
Now You Can Paint With The Pollution!
AIR-INK is the first ink made entirely out of air pollution.
“Pollution is nothing but the resources we are not harvesting. We allow them to disperse because we’ve been ignorant of their value.” – R. Buckminster Fuller
Pollution is all around us. But what if we can repurpose it? That’s what three Bengaluru-based youths -Anirudh Sharma, Nikhil Kaushik and Nitesh Kadyan thought.
They co-founded Graviky labs in 2013 and developed a method to capture filthy carbon soot from auto emissions-a major contributor to air pollution-into beautiful black ink which could be used in pens, oil-based paints, and spray paints.
How it’s made?
1. Collecting:
- A device called KaalinkTM ( consists of filters, sensors, and a capture unit) is attached to a vehicle’s exhaust pipe.
- Once attached, it starts capturing black carbon soot from the burning of gasoline, diesel, and other fuels.
2. Purifying:
Later the soot undergoes chemical processing.
Heavy metals and carcinogens are removed.
Final output of purified carbon pigment – a core ingredient used in making ink and paints is produced.
3. Repurposing:
This purified carbon pigment is then transformed into Air Ink.
Pros:
No more air pollution:
By binding the captured pollution into inks, we are able to take away its ability to float in air. As a result, it prevents carcinogenic soot from entering and floating into the air which could have otherwise easily entered into our respiratory system and settled in lungs
Air-Ink is better than regular black ink:
It doesn’t burn extra fossil fuels in the process like regular ink does.
The art of pollution:
The Pollutants which could have been in the lungs of millions of people are now beautifully resting as art. Depending upon the size of the tip, a single Air Ink pen contains approx. 30–130 minutes of car pollution.
Cons:
Doesn’t capture CO2:
The KaalinkTM device can collect only the carbon soot and doesn’t stop carbon dioxide gas from going into the air and exacerbating climate change.
Needs more research:
At this time, pollution capture process is very labor intensive and can only happen at a very small scale.
Still not impressed? You are really very tough to impress. Let me think harder, Yippie! Here comes last, but not the least. This innovation will definitely make you feel better as it turns air pollution into super healthy food! Yes! You read it right, food!
This Hungry ‘Algae’ater Literally Feasts On Carbon Emissions
Green algae are an official Green Warrior in the fight against pollution.
We all are familiar with the Cement. It is one of the most used materials in the world. It is composed largely of limestone, and releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere when heated. In addition, fossil fuels are burned in the process of heating the limestone, emitting even more carbon dioxide.
Hence, cement production, is a major source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Approx. 4 trillion kg of cement is globally created every year, spewing around 2 trillion kg of CO2 into the atmosphere. So, can we simply ditch the cement? No! Then, what’s the solution?
Cement production also happens to be a top industry in Sweden. So, the country had to think harder to keep the money flowing without encouraging global warming. And now, one of the world’s largest cement manufacturers in Sweden has found an innovative way to make cement without emitting CO2.
How it works?
It’s the same natural process with an interesting twist:
The Usual Process:
- We all know that trees produce food via photosynthesis process.
- In the presence of sunlight, algae use the same process as trees to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into sugars and other nutrients needed to grow.
Feeding an ALGAEater
- Algae loves CO2, and the cement factory is making the most of it by feeding them with the cement plant’s exhaust gases.
- Autotrophic microalgae are cultivated in enclosed photobioreactors.
- CO2 from power plants, fossil fuel combustion and biological processes is piped to it while the sun shines.
- In a single pass through the algae mixture, as much as 40% of carbon dioxide is absorbed.
- Same process is repeated, and within few cycles, almost all the greenhouse gases are gulped down by our super-efficient ALGAEater.
What’s so unique about it?
Generally, when a warrior fights with the enemy, he gets tired or loses his energy. But in this process, our green warrior, ALGAEater uses and eliminates our enemy without any hassle to become stronger and stronger.
Pros:
Green warrior with a great potential:
Microalgae removes toxins from wastewater as well as absorbs carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air. It can capture the factory’s CO2 emissions before the gas even enters the atmosphere.
In fact, it is up to 100 times more efficient at capturing carbon than traditional Remove a lot of carbon dioxide from Earth’s atmosphere.
It’s everywhere:
Algae can grow nearly everywhere, from freshwater to the sea, and from the frozen tundra to scalding hot springs as long as there is sufficient sunlight to support photosynthesis.
Takes no holiday:
Thanks to it’s low light intensity requirements, this process can be carried out throughout the year with some basic arrangements.
It’s super healthy:
Microalgae are the ultimate source of omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids.
The protein-rich algae can be used as a food protein source by adding it to:
1. Animal feeds for domesticated farm animals like chickens, cows and pigs.
2. Aquaculture feeds for salmon and shrimp. After consuming the algae-supplemented feeds, chickens can produce eggs with three times the omega-3 fatty acids.
Great news for vegans:
We need these proteins and nutrients in our diets, and many of us get them by eating fish.
Algae is not just for the animals. Even you or your vegan friends can simply take the advantage of these nutrient rich algae as an alternative to protein rich sea food.
No more food crisis:
Our planet is facing a growing food crisis issue. Hundreds of millions of people are regularly undernourished worldwide.
Micro-algae grow faster than terrestrial plants, producing an equal amount of food in less than one-tenth the land area. As a result, it can provide food protein to large regions of the world.
Cons:
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High Water Usage:
Big scale micro-algae cultivation needs large amount of water.
Who can use it?
- Oil, gas, cement and power companies etc. emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. This system can help them in capturing, detoxifying, and decontaminating the harmful emissions.
- Nutrients from dairy / manure lagoon waste water can be captured and used to cultivate algae for livestock feed.
I am impressed. What about you?
A Quick Recap At Creative Solutions Used Worldwide To Control Air Pollution
We can control air pollution and effects of global warming with the help of many innovative solutions implemented around the world to tackle this situation.
- Plant More Trees or at least create unique infrastructures like mobile forests which have a good potential to create similar impact.
- Find Area Specific Solutions like Air-purifying billboard, road space rationing and eco-friendly cremation to tackle the pollution in particular area.
- Turn The pollution Into Harmless Compounds: Like converting the CO2 (Carbon dioxide) emissions into stone or turning harmful smog into harmless salts by using them in:
- Make Best Out Of The Waste by turning pollutants into Jewellery, painting ink, and even nutrient rich food etc.
Do you know any such innovative ideas related to this topic? Please feel free to comment and share. Also read about How To Fight With Air Pollution On Individual Level.
Also Read…
- 22+ Hottest Global Warming Quotes And Slogans
- 22+ Meaningful World Oceans Day Slogans | Save Ocean
- 43+ Effective Ways To Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
- 6+ Innovative Products Quashing Air Pollution Around the World
- 72+ Smart Slogans On Pollution And Ozone Layer Depletion
- 9+ Creative Ways To Save The World From Air Pollution
Don’t just stop here.
There is so much more to explore… Hop on it NOW!
Have you tried our Picture Quotes?
References:
- studio roosegaarde
- alternative energies
- innovate development
- youtube
- graviky
- the news minute
- qz
- cornell
- daily mail