Cleaner Skies Ahead?

The White House announced May 25th that starting in 2013 new car buyers will be able to compare fuel efficiency of a vehicle with other vehicles within the same category by looking at the labels on the cars. For the first time this will also include comparable fuel economy and environmental ratings for all new vehicles, including advanced technology vehicles like electric cars and hybrids.

"These labels offer consumers more information in a more usable format. When shopping for a new vehicle, you'll be able to see your expected savings over a five-year period, a fuel economy comparison to other vehicles in the same class, and easy-to-understand guidance about each car or truck's environmental impact. The bottom line is that these labels will help people make informed decisions when they're buying a car, so that they can save money at the gas pump."

You can view a copy of a sample label.

Better fuel efficiency also means less smog. There may be additional help in smog reduction from an unexpected direction,..smog-eating buildings.

Alcoa and Toto unveiled a new technology at the AIA 2011 National Convention and Design Exposition May 12 in New Orleans that has tremendous potential.

According to the Alcoa website:

"For decades, scientists have recognized two unique effects of titanium dioxide, a common compound that is used in products as diverse as quick-setting concrete, tile grout and even suntan lotion. When exposed to sunlight, titanium dioxide acts as a catalyst to break down organic matter, while also creating a superhydrophilic (water-loving) surface.

Now, Alcoa Architectural Products has developed a proprietary, patent-pending process that leverages HYDROTECT™ technology from TOTO® to apply a titanium dioxide coating, called EcoClean™, to the pre-painted aluminum surface of Reynobond®. The result is the world's first coil-coated aluminum architectural panel that helps clean itself and the air around it."

Imagine the effects of a city with this coating on the surface of its buildings. "10,000 square feet of Reynobond® with EcoClean™ has the approximate air cleansing power of 80 trees. That's enough cleaning power to offset the smog created by the pollution output of four cars every day."

In an interview with Forbes magazine Craig Belnap, president of Alcoa Architectural Products said that that independent testing confirmed the panels' air-cleaning properties.

The Forbes article give the history of the development of this product and is very interesting reading.