Though it is typically viewed by most as an impediment to a pleasant swim, algae is now being used to combat climate change and make building’s more eco-friendly.
With the push on to build as carbon-neutrally as possibly, one American architectural firm is looking the use algae to do more than reduce carbon emissions. Influx_Studio actually plans to use the aquatic plant to reverse them.
The firm is looking to turn Chicago – in the midst of a carbon reduction initiative – into a far greener city by using algae to retrofit buildings. With some 70 per cent of the city’s carbon emissions coming from buildings, Influx_Studios is turning to the underused resource to clean the air not just in the buildings themselves but in the city as a whole.
“While the world is looking for alternatives to fossil fuels, Algae is an unlimited source of energy, food, and most important, a remarkable natural CO2 absorber,” said the firm.
They have selected the Marina City Tower, which was built in 1964 when sustainable building was virtually unheard of, as a site on which they will show the benefits of retrofitting with algae.
Influx_Studios will add solar and wind power technology to the site to power the building during the day. Meanwhile, algae bioreactors will process excess carbon from the atmosphere and, in turn, create an alternative source of biofuel.
Taiwan Tower of Droplets
“Using bio-engineering processes, a synergetic closed loop integrates three different levels of carbon reduction: direct carbon sequestration from the air (used to feed the Algae bioreactor), absorption by vegetal photosynthesis (Algae, vertical farming and phytoremediation), and reduction by energy saving (introduction of solar and wind harvesting energy),” they said.
With two carbon ‘scrubbing’ plants installed on the roof, air will be cleaned, with wind turbines helping airflow even as they produce green energy.
Waste water from the building will be used in the algae irrigation system, as well as in gardens located on balconies throughout the Marine City Tower.
Influx_Studios’ idea will obviously help make the tower itself far greener and more sustainable, but its impact will be felt well beyond the building they are retrofitting.
With the use of complementing green technologies working together symbiotically, the hope is that the innovative concept will serve as an important step in not only slowing or stopping climate change, but actually undoing ecological damage created by our cities.
