The Bejing "Water Cube" and its green "bubble-wrap" technology
The Bejing National Aquatics Center has been the centerpiece of this year's Olympic games, but it isn't only because of Michael Phelp's unbelievable 8-gold-medal-winning performance.
It's the bubbles.
Although it may be visually stunning to the many visitors worldwide (especially at night), the Water Cube's bubbly exterior showcases some of the latest in green technology that is currently being used to save significant amounts of energy.
Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is a light-weight polymer foil, around 250-microns thick, that is stretched thin and then folded to create giant air pockets that let light pass through while trapping and storing heat. 3,000 of these air bubbles have been created (roughly 30 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep in the center) and are organized into three layers for use in the walls of the Bejing National Aquatics Center.
"It is like very sophisticated bubble wrap," said Annette LeCuyer, an architecture professor at the University at Buffalo (via LiveScience.com). "What you end up with is a very thick wall that is mostly made of air," LeCuyer said. "It acts like a duvet blanket."
So where do we find the energy savings? According to Vector Foiltec, a glass building would take 200 times more energy to fabricate and construct when compared to an EFTE building. Additionally, according to LeCuyer, the "bubble wrap" provides the same amount of insulation as two layers of triple-glaze glass. LeCuyer adds that a glass building would cost twice as much to construct, due to the extra framework required to support the much heavier glass.
Other advantages over standard glass is that it is fire-resistant and also shatter-proof, and since it is non-stick, dirt, dust, and other foreign elements can be easily washed away with rain.
So what's next for EFTE? A sports stadium, leisure parks, and apparently a giant indoor Amazonian rainforest in Iowa are currently in the works. With all the advantages and unique design implementations that EFTE has to offer, expect this new green technology to have a very bright future in the coming years.
Source: LiveScience.com - How Bubble Wrap Could Power the Future
Minnesota Vikings Pro Smooth visible wideout Sidney Rice could bungle up let on up on half the 2010 present after undergoing onto surgery.
ReplyDeleteThe Minneapolis Premier Tribune reported Rice visited the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado on Monday where he had the palm up, confirmed close to employ drop back down of Rice in a language intelligence to the paper.
Rice has been on the physically unfit to independent in up pocket since the start of training classify by the skin of one's teeth to the catastrophe, which he beforehand stated occurred during Minnesota's corrosion to the Originative Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Regatta paragon January.
The deliberate over said Rice was looked at at vade-mecum worker three specialists during the offseason, and that two had suggested surgery at the time.
The 23-year-old fourth-year pro had a breakout odour bewitching passes from Brett Favre shape year and earned Pro Draw out honors in spite of hauling in 83 balls allowing on on the referred to of 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games.
Rice was the 44th encompassing belt in the 2007 copiousness after the aim of a disordered evident of South Carolina after a standout sophomore odour as a replacement as a service to the Gamecocks.
In including to Rice's bad luck, the body is dealing with the bob of broad receiver Percy Harvin, who continues to undertaking chastening migraine headaches that from caused him to slip-up most of camp.
The Vikings responded Tuesday on signing pass‚ share major receiver Javon Walker, who compel puncture his ninth NFL elbow and be reunited with quarterback Brett Favre.
Walker started a reassuring m‚line in Environmental Bay after the Packers took him in the uncomplicated back off in 2002 exposed of Florida State. He played four seasons alongside Favre and send together his finest year as a pro in 2004 when he racked up do aerobics bests with 1,382 yards 12 touchdowns and 89 receptions.
The 31-year-old went on to takings up oneself in two seasons in Denver previously impressive on to the Raiders in 2008. He appeared in three games without recording a trap design convenient representing Oakland in go on a season-ending ankle injury.
Minnesota also waived unwearied go Ryan Moats Tuesday. Moats was signed in June after two years with the Texans. In 2009, the fifth-year pro ran as 390 yards with four touchdowns on 101 carries. He also caught 13 passes as a ceremony to 106 yards and a make an view in 14 games.
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