1. GREEN MANUFACTURING

“Green manufacturing involves making manufactured products and the manufacturing process safer for the environment and human health” (Cha).

What does this mean? Regarding Products The use of less toxic or nontoxic materials Post-consumer recycled content (containing materials that

consumers have used and recycled) Locally sourced materials (ex. Stone and granite from local

quarries rather than imported from around the globe) Products manufactured and used in renewable and energy

efficient systems (ex. Gearboxes used in small-scale wind turbines)

Regarding Process Improving operational energy efficiency Onsite recycling Employee occupational health and safety

1. GREEN MANUFACTURING (CONTINUED)

Local Example:Tri-State Biodiesel, Bronx Vision: “TSB believes that the use of sustainably-produced biodiesel in combination with demand reduction measures such as mass-transit and transportation alternatives and in concert with technological advances such as diesel hybrids and light rail systems, can create an America that is both energy independent and

sustainable.” Green Manufacturing in action (the TSB process)

1.) Waste oil from restaurants is emptied into large steel storage barrels 2.) A TBS representative comes to siphon the used oil into a collection tank 3.) Oil is processed to remove dirt, food particles, and water 4.) Purified oil feedstock is transported to a biodiesel facility where

methanol, sodium methylate, and heat are added causing a chemical reaction called Transesterification

5.) Transesterification yields mono-alkyl esters or Biodiesel 6.) Hence, the heater that warms you or the car you drive could be fueled

by biodiesel made from recycled vegetable oil

2. DECONSTRUCTION“Deconstruction is the process of carefully

dismantling and removing useable materials from structures for reuse, recycling, and waste management” (Cha).

Advantages: Maximizes the recovery of valuable building

materials for reuse and recycling Minimizes the amount of waste destined for

landfills Alternative to demolition“A typical 13,300 square foot commercial demolition project

generates over 155 pounds per square foot or over 2 million pounds of waste;2 building-related projects in the U.S. alone generate an estimated 164 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) material every year. Approximately 40% of this material is reused, recycled, or sent to waste-to-energy facilities, while 60 percent is sent to C&D landfills” EPA Report: Beneficial Use of Secondary Materials – Construction and Demolition Materials

2. DECONSTRUCTION (CONTINUED)

Experiment with “paneling,” large sections of row houses are removed intact for disassembly and reuse.

Example: Susquehanna Deconstruction Pilot Project

Unique architectural features such as a corner turret and radiators are retrieved from urban row houses and sold through local salvage business. Images courtesy of OSWER Innovation Project Success Story: Deconstruction

•Deconstruction pilot project to determine cost-effective methods for removing lumber and other valuable materials•The project successfully demonstrated that deconstruction can be cost-competitive with hand demolition when there are sufficient recoverable materials to offset the high labor costs.

3. REUSE“This subsector redistributes unwanted yet

perfectly usable materials and equipment, including items from demolished structures” (Cha).

Advantages Keeps goods and materials out of the waste

stream Advances source reduction Preserves the ‘embodied energy’ originally used

to manufacture an item Creates less air and water pollution than

making a new product or recycling Saves money in purchase and disposal costs

4. RECYCLING

“Recycling is the collection, sorting, and reprocessing of used material into new raw materials” (Cha).

5. REMANUFACTURING

“A process of disassembling worn-out or discarded equipment, recovering sound and usable parts, and reusing them to build new, complete products” (Cha).

Advantages: Promotes reuse and waste prevention Discourages the use of virgin materials