New Nanoscale Filter Can Desalinate Water 100 Times More Efficiently

Although this is not directly air related, this could be a game-changer for regions suffering for lack of fresh water. Climate change is already worsening droughts worldwide, and this trend is only going to increase as global temperatures rise. A new type of filter developed by Lockheed Martin uses sheets of a carbon material called graphene with nano scale holes which allow water to pass through easily but trap salt molecules. Compared to current filters it takes 100 times less energy to push the water through the filter, and if this technology can scale up it could be shaped into filters that could retrofit current desalination plants.
From the report:

The process, officials and engineers at Lockheed Martin Corp say, would enable filter manufacturers to produce thin carbon membranes with regular holes about a nanometer in size that are large enough to allow water to pass through but small enough to block the molecules of salt in seawater. A nanometer is a billionth of a meter.
Because the sheets of pure carbon known as graphene are so thin - just one atom in thickness - it takes much less energy to push the seawater through the filter with the force required to separate the salt from the water, they said.
The development could spare underdeveloped countries from having to build exotic, expensive pumping stations needed in plants that use a desalination process called reverse osmosis.
"It's 500 times thinner than the best filter on the market today and a thousand times stronger," said John Stetson, the engineer who has been working on the idea. "The energy that's required and the pressure that's required to filter salt is approximately 100 times less."

Desalination plants are huge consumers of electricity and with demand for fresh water constantly rising this method could help reduce electric consumption worldwide. Desert regions with ocean access could use solar powered desalination plants which could allow for irrigation in places where it once was prohibitively expensive. As I said, not directly air related but a development that could have huge implications for energy use in the future and that does affect air quality.

Energy Efficiency vs. Air Quality In Homes

Modern homes are far more energy efficient than even a couple of decades ago, which can save a lot of money in heating costs but if the heating and ventilation system are not working properly can lead to problems with indoor air quality. Years ago homes were far "looser" than today with many air leaks that required more heat or AC but at the same time allowed the house to breathe more and not allow condensation to form as much which can lead to mold. Unfortunately a home this loose would cost a fortune to heat now, as many owners of old houses know. New homes are much tighter with air leaks but this means that outside ventilation air needs to be introduced in a controlled way to assure good air quality. This means you need to have a properly operating HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) system.

HVAC heat exchanger


One of the simplest things you can do to improve your air movement with an HVAC system is to clean or change your filters regularly. Be sure to clean the outside air intake monthly to remove debris that can catch on the intake screen and wash the reusable filters on the air exchanger making sure to dry them before re-inserting them into the air exchanger. These are separate from the regular paper filters near the furnace which are not re-usable. Get familiar with your furnace now and you can avoid problems that can degrade air quality in the home and still keep things nice and toasty warm without costing an arm and a leg.

If you have any questions please call me at 475-2027 or stop by my office at Trust Lands, 27 Store Road or drop me an e-mail at soberg@boreal.org

Learn Before You Burn

Want to chop less wood and/or spend less money buying firewood this winter? You can reduce the amount of wood you burn by learning how to burn more efficiently. The EPA's Burnwise Program has a lot of great information about this. Spend some time checking out their website, and see if you can learn how to build a better fire.

Here are a few tips:

1. Use only seasoned, dry wood (make sure you keep your wood pile off the ground and cover it up to keep it dry).
2. Use kindling to start your fires, never use trash or paper.
   
3. Remove ash often.
4. Burn hot fires.
5. Check your chimney to make sure there is not too much smoke coming out. If there is a lot of smoke, you may need to have a hotter fire and check to make sure your wood is dry.
   

Here is a great video summarizing important burning tips from the EPA.

Stay warm!