h a l f b a k e r yViva los semi-panaderos!
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random
news, help, about, links, report a problem
browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
register,
|
|
|
|
The notion of using tidal energy by tapping the motion of anchored floating barges with piezoelectric material is baked, and I can't see the advantage of using bottles. |
|
|
Maybe you can fill me in. |
|
|
I thought this was about something else altogether. |
|
|
hey whiprsnapr, i told you they wouldn't go for this idea. |
|
|
Iceland's coastline is barren? |
|
|
[seal] The advantage is in the recycling. |
|
|
[pheonix] Ahhh. I guess that wouldn't be too unsightly. However, the author did note that he'd take plastic bottles out of recycling streams. |
|
|
I'm still mulling over whether to give it a fishbone or a croissant. |
|
|
[seal] Remember the saying, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle"? There's a reason that it's in that order. The most benefit is gained by reducing the amount of raw materials we consume, the next most by reusing things (in such a way that we eliminate the need for something to be manufactured), and the least amount of benefit comes from recycling (due to the energy cost of recycling). |
|
|
But thats only if you reuse it for something similar, right? Because otherwise ie. in this case then the two are hard to compare... |
|
|
Would it take more raw material to build a new float and recycle the bottles or to reuse the bottles as floats and build new bottles? |
|
|
The problem is that recycled bottles aren't used intact -- they are melted down and made into new bottles. This takes a lot of energy (nearly as much as the cost of material and energy to make the bottle in the first place!) |
|
|
If you recycle the bottle, then you have 1X for the cost of manufacturing a float and .75X (approximate cost of recycling the bottle). If you reuse the bottle as a float and make a new bottle, then you have only 1X (the cost of making a new bottle). You come out .75X ahead. Even if recycling were much more efficient (.25X) you would STILL come out ahead by reusing the bottle. |
|
|
If, as you pointed out, it were possible to reuse the bottle as a bottle, they we would probably come out ahead. Unfortunately, that would take a major turnaround in corporate thinking. |
|
|
But that assumes that the bottles are just as good at being a float as a custom made float... and you could (maybe) use some of the energy generated to recycle bottles... |
|
|
I'm no math wiz, but I think it actually assumes that the plastic bottles will be at least 0.5x as efficient at producing energy as a custom-made float. |
|
| |