Envirofit and "The Other Green Revolution"

Submitted by Francisco Noguera on September 23, 2008 - 13:14.
Published in:
September 05, 2008 - 01:00, The Economist -
Another Green Revolution

http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11999189

From The Economist Print Edition

A clapboard house in Cape Cod is very different from a one-room mud-brick hut in the Indian state of Orissa, but making them into green homes involves a similar approach: using as little energy as possible to meet the occupants' needs. But in the developing world the impact of new technology can be far more transformative.

Consider the cooking of food, which is usually done by burning wood or dung. Typically 80% of the fuel's energy is wasted, and the resulting smoke pollutes indoor air and contributes to more than 1.6m deaths a year, according to the World Health Organisation. But using a carefully designed stove to enclose the fire and direct heat into the pot, fuel consumption and pollution can be reduced dramatically.

The problem, says Bryan Willson, a professor of mechanical engineering at Colorado State University, is that efficient use of wood requires a careful mix of fuel and air to maintain combustion at the appropriate temperature. To that end, Dr Willson and his students developed stoves with simple carburettors that can cut particulate emissions by 75% and fuel consumption by half.

Their design is now being commercialised by an NGO called Envirofit. It produces four models in China and India that sell for $10-80. Ron Bills, Envirofit's boss, hopes to sell 10m stoves worldwide by 2013. Dr Willson's team, meanwhile, has devised an experimental stove that generates electricity using a thermoelectric device and powers a white light-emitting diode (LED).

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Innovative Green Tech brick project made from biomass waste
Submitted by Maher Helmi Wahba on October 12, 2008 - 15:45.
Dear Sirs, I would like to introduce my innovative new walling material made from renewable biomass waste as a substitute to the already used baked clay bricks which should be prohibited because it is made from the rich fertile mud/clay soil, our natural land resource.& as a! foreseen engineering statistics, more than 1000's of clay brick factories supply more than 100 Billion of standard clay bricks annually at the cost of 0.25 Billion cubic meter soil which is equal to 15000 hectares field, and more than 10 Million Ton coal accounting for 15% of the dissipation of energy. Technology exists only in Egypt . Applicable for all Countries. Helmi's brick is a light weight solid concrete brick made from burned rice husk waste ( char ). Helmi's brick is a patented light weight solid concrete brick approved by the "Egyptian Ministry of Commerce and Industry", Invention No. 120/1951 code 10. Helmi's brick is also a registered and approved product by the "Egyptian General Authority for Governmental Building " code 49/31/5 class 3 – 1957/1958. OBJECTIVE: To share the Know How of this Green Technology and my personal on-hand experience, manufacturing this specialty brick, believing that the successful application of this project will be an industrial revolution in the building material industry in addition will create more jobs in the building and construction industry which is now booming everywhere in Egypt & other countries. A complete feasibility study is made with all necessary brick certificates and Egyptian Government Approvals, also brick samples available for demonstration. Thank you Maher Helmi B.Sc. Chemical Engineer Alexandria University 1976 Cell 012 228 53 56 EGYPT
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inquiry on the 'Helmi Brick'
Submitted by Steve Slingsby on October 14, 2008 - 16:23.
Mr. Helmi, We are interested in knowing about the brick's strength properties in wet and humid conditions (e.g Bangladesh) and the licensing arrangements for turn-key production operations by SMEs (in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan). Could you send us by e-mail attachment the "..complete feasibility study is made with all necessary brick certificates and Egyptian Government Approvals." you mentioned in your announcement. Thank you, Steve Slingsby Ph.D., Managing Director MicroFinance ClearingHouse(MF-CH) Newport Beach, CA 92660 direct phone: 949-212-1961
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"Helmi Brick"
Submitted by Ranveer Singh on November 4, 2008 - 06:58.
Mr.Helmi, My name is Ranveer Singh and I am based out of India. My company has an interest in Construction and Interior Design Services. We are now looking to expand in the Green Segment and are looking for strategic tie ups. I think your product is rather interesting as per your brief mention above. I would therefore request you to provide me with adequate details about your product after which I would be forwarding the same to my engineers and getting their approval on the feasibility and viability of this option. Kindly alos attach the government approvals and feasability report as designed by you. Regards, Ranveer Singh Kolkata, India Email:ranveersingh02@gmail.com
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