Monday, February 15, 2010
A Green Olympic Torch
An old tradition gets a green update. The 2010 Winter Olympic Torch has been made mostly from locally sourced materials, is recyclable, is more fuel-efficient, and produces less emissions than previous torches. Even the relay torches will be recycled. Check out the story here: http://news.discovery.com/tech/vancouver-olympic-torch-green.html. The folks in Vancouver have made several other efforts to minimize their environmental impact. Please share a comment on any interesting green Olympic efforts that you come across.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The following summary came from this article:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.techpinas.com/2009/10/eco-friendly-2010-vancouver-winter.html
One way the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are being environmentally sound is by creating the prestigious Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and creating them from recycled gadgets. Using the different metals found in circuit boards, computer parts, cathode ray tube glass, and other various technologies, they are smelting together this years Olympic Medals. Otherwise, all these things used to make the over 1,000 medals needed for the Olympics, would be just trashed instead of recycled. Also, the Medals will be produced by a company called Teck Resources with the help of Royal Canadian Mint.
Great summary Wil!
ReplyDeleteThis year’s winter Olympic Games has many projects in mind to help out our environment. Expanding public transit is one of those projects they have come up with. They have decided to have more bus and train lines running longer hours on an accelerated schedule. Also the city is helping companies fix their workweeks and expand telecommuting to reduce rush hour traffic. People visiting for the Olympic have to take buses and trains because there is not public parking for the different venues. People that have Olympic tickets also have unlimited transit services for the day of the event, but they are also letting those with game tickets have free bus and train rides. They plan on keeping the expanded public transit project around even after the winter games.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading the article about the green torch, and my classmates’ comments, I was thinking “I wonder what else the Olympics are doing to help out the environment?” I googled Vancouver Olympics going green and a lot of articles popped up. Some of them say that they are going to be more energy efficient by using renewable hydropower for 90% of its energy. I also read about them not allowing a public parking lot as Michelle mentioned. This is a good way to encourage riding buses and other public transportation. Also all of their venues have adopted the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s (LEED) green building standards. LEED-certified buildings are designed to:
ReplyDelete Lower operating costs and increase asset value.
Reduce waste sent to landfills.
Conserve energy and water.
Be healthier and safer for occupants.
Reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities.
Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
I am very excited to hear that the Olympics are doing all of these things to help the environment. Because they are so popular, they may even lead other people to make greener decisions.
According to Discovery News, the torches were built by train and plane manufacturer Bombardier, the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
ReplyDeleteNinety-five percent of the materials used to make the torches were sourced locally within Canada.
Bombardier used recyclable components as much as possible, including the steel that makes up the torch’s interior and the aluminum that makes up its exterior shell.
Bombardier also chose a fuel that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, while normally in very cold conditions, an oil-based fuel would be chosen.
But, the company elected to use a fuel that is a mix of propane and isobutane, which burns in cold temperatures, provides a visible flame in daylight and emits 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases than an oil-based fuel.
In addition to thinking about emissions, the company considered energy consumption, which had an impact on energy as well.
They designed the flame to burn from the side instead of from the top.
“The side-flame design creates a longer flame effect and, consequently, when compared to an equivalent flame-height basis, usually consumes less energy than does a vertical flame design,” said Bruno Comtois, lead project engineer for the 2010 Olympic Torch.
After the 2010 Torch Relay, the aluminum from the torches’ cylinders and remaining fuel will be recycled.
Summary from http://blog.taragana.com/sports/2010/02/12/olympic-torch-goes-green-74637/
This year’s winter Olympic Games have done many projects in order to help out our environment, like creating the prestigious Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and creating them from recycled objects, such as many different metals found in circuit boards, computer parts, cathode ray tube glass, and other various technologies. This shows that everyone should try to help the environment in every way possible, even if this means that we should start car pulling and is a great way to continue to encourage riding buses and other public transportation to reduce polution.
ReplyDelete