Author: Isaac Gendler

How Recontouring the Baylands can Make the Bay Area More Resilient

How Recontouring the Baylands can Make the Bay Area More Resilient

10/17/18

“How can making the sediment in the Baylands help protect the Bay Area against climate change?”

The Bay Area has a problem. Decades of infill developments in the Baylands have changed its sediment runoff cycle and left it exposed to flooding from rising sea levels. However, a consulting group has found that by reversing things to its natural order through softening its edges, tidal wave energy can be dissipated and upgradings the Bay’s safety by an order of magnitude. This is How Recontouring the Baylands can Make the Bay Area More Resilient!

[Image: Public Sediment/courtesy Resilient by Design]

Why Rooftop Solar Could be Greatly Beneficial for India

Why Rooftop Solar Could be Greatly Beneficial for India

10/16/18

“How could India greatly benefit from rooftop solar initiatives?”

India’s urban population is massive. Totaling over 300 million people, It is nearly equal to that of the entire United States! This in turn will lead to a massive consumption of energy, which could result in further air pollution and carbon emissions. However, this can be challenged by implementing rooftop solar. This will result in locally generated, clean power that will bright up the cities. As a result, Rooftop Solar Could be Greatly Beneficial for India.

The World’s First Electric Monster Truck

The World’s First Electric Monster Truck

10/15/18

“What is the best way for Americans be green and sustainable?”

I have to admit something. As an American, I love monster trucks. I think its glorious how these big over-sized pieces of machinery can move around and crush puny smaller cars. It’s the perfect amalgamation of art and science, and is really really fun to watch. But as a Californian, Renewable Energy Engineer, and Climate Hawk I am worried about the climate emissions that these vehicles have.

Luckily, American ingenuity has no boundaries. Introducing the ODYSSEY Battery BIGFOOT No. 20 Monster Truck, or E-BIGFOOT. The E-BIGFOOT is the world’s first fully electric monster truck, powered by 36 ODYSSEY PC1200 car batteries, of which 30 are dedicated custom-built DC electric motor. With absolutely zero petroleum usage, this vehicle will not emit any harmful pollutants into the atmosphere during its operation. Whether you like monster trucks or not, this is an amazing step forward for implementing sustainability in entertainment.

Image credit newatlas.com

How Microgrids Can Help Indigenous Communities

How Microgrids Can Help Indigenous Communities

10/14/18

“How can indigenous communities benefit from the deployment of microgrids?”

The freedom brought by Distributed Energy Resource technologies such as microgrids can benefit almost anyone. But one group which can greatly reap the rewards are indigenous communities. By being able to generate their own non-pollutive energy independent of any outside regulator, they will be able to develop more resource independence and greatly enhance their quality of life.

Photo credit http://www.pembina.org

Why Increasing Battery Supply for Night Time Energy Supply Can Result in Massive Decarbonization

Why Increasing Battery Supply for Night Time Energy Supply Can Result in Massive Decarbonization

10/13/18

“What will be one of the biggest drivers of energy sustainability with batteries?”

Battery supplies are increasing at an exponential rate. But one of their greatest applications will be in night-time energy storage. By being able to integrate with solar and wind, people will be able to reduce their reliance on pollutive peaker plants for energy generation during night time. This is Why Increasing Battery Supply for Night Time Energy Supply Can Result in Massive Decarbonization.

Image credit thenightskyinfocus.files.wordpress.com

The Port of Long Beach is Getting a Microgrid

The Port of Long Beach is Getting a Microgrid

10/12/18

“How is the port of Long Beach becoming more sustainable?”

Big news everyone! The Port of Long Beach, one of the largest in the United States and right by my hometown of Los Angeles, is receiving a big upgrade. Specifically, it will soon be receiving a brand new microgrid designed by the world famous Schneider Electric! This project, consisting of a 300-kW solar array, a 250-kW microgrid-extending mobile battery energy, A 500-kW diesel generator, and a plethora of power monitoring and control technologies, which go towards making the port resilient in the face of a power outage and achieving its goal of becoming a net-zero green port. All I can say is that I am super stoked that The Port of Long Beach is Getting a Microgrid.

Image credit http://pacifictycoon.info

Grid Capacity Expansion

Grid Capacity Expansion

10/11/18

“How can we expand the capacity of the gird?”

Like everything in the universe, the demand for electricity changes with the flow of time. And when demand exceeds supply, more generation needs to take place. This occurs in the form of Grid Capacity Expansion, increasing the energy potential of the grid.

Photo credit Windpower Monthly

Amplifiers

Amplifiers

10/10/18

“How can we amplify an electronic signal?”

Signals are the fundamental driver behind all electronics. However, sometimes the output of one component is too low to be read by other components. So how can we use our engineering mindset to solve this problem? Well, why don’t we simply amplify the incoming signal with another component? This is known as an amplifier and is used for all sorts of electronic devices.

Plate Heat Exchangers

Plate Heat Exchangers

10/09/18

“What is a more efficient heat exchanger design?”

Heat exchangers come in all shapes and sizes. But how could we make a more efficient design? Well, what if we were to have a series of long metal plates with holes on their four corners, with one pipe carrying a hot fluid moving through one and another one carrying cold fluid moving through the other. Let’s allow for the heat to transfer between these two plates also. By allowing this to occur, we can warm up one fluid while cooling the other one very efficiently. These are known as Plate Heat Exchangers and are commonly applied in building HVAC.

Image credit youtube.