Hybrid Living

We know the hunt for better methods of removing CO2 from the atmosphere has been on for some time now. But a group from Columbia University in the U.S. believes that they have a novel device, which can grab a tonne of carbon dioxide from the air every day in a device that will fit inside a trans-modal shipping container. The technology doesn't come at a knock down price - they estimate a unit will cost £100,000 - but we're sure by the time the Far East has a chance to "rob-n-duplicate" it and engineer out the cost, they could become a useful tool in the fight against climate change.

The group responsible is quick to highlght that there is no such thing as a "magic bullet," but with reports from Mauna Loa that the CO2 concentration in our air has crossed 387ppm (40% higher than before the great industrial revolution, where profligate use of coal turned the wheels of industry), the need for solutions is highlighted.

The team feels they can build a protoype within two years that would successfully capture a ton of CO2 from the air per day - the equivallent of a passenger flying form New York to London. But if a Boeing 747-400 accommodating 524 passengers in a typical two class layout, is flying from New York to London with each passenger responsible for releasing a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere, it would take a whole lot of "magic machines" to off-set the flight. And let's not forget how much CO2 is generated while waiting on the runway.

Moral: Don't stop getting them energy saving lightbulbs...

While it's an exciting development, we at EcoGeek won't be giving up the day-job - climate change is far from solved; however, if this technology can be scaled up, made cheap and stamped out cookie cutter style all over the world, it could be another tool in our armory in the 'War on Climate Change'.... did I sound like G.W.B for a minute there?

...and you can click here for the worldwide patent for the device.

Via The Guardian