Hydroponic Reactors

Eco-Boulevard

Constructed Wetlands

“Living Machine” Wastewater Treatment

Cistern

UV DisinfectionClarifier

Overflow

Nano 0.001μ

UV Disinfection

Toilets, landscaping, other outdoor

use

Micro-filtration

PretreatmentMicrobial Fuel Cells

Hydroponic Reactors

Eco-Boulevard

Constructed Wetlands

“Living Machine” Wastewater Treatment

Cistern

Decentralized UV

Disinfection

UV Disinfection

Lake Michiga

n

Membrane Filtration Drinking Water Treatment

Dual Water System

Ultra 0.01μ

Micro 0.1μ

Coarse 1.0 μ

Clarifier

Overflow

Recirculation

Storm turbidity

Water to Water: Reengineering the Water to Water: Reengineering the ““NatureNature”” of Chicago of Chicago’’s Water Cycle for 2107s Water Cycle for 2107

Faucets, showers,

dishwashers, washing

machines

Green Roofs

• Water recovery & reuse (dual H2O System)

• Energy recovery (MFCs)• Resource recovery

(hydroponics)• Renewable energy (wetlands,

green roofs)

Energy BenefitsEnergy Benefits

Closing the LoopClosing the Loop

2007:• Chicago withdraws

2.1 BG/day out of Lake Michigan

• TARP (Deep Tunnel) System increases capacity of current system – 18 BG

2107:• Innovative water

system allows safe closure of loop

• Storm water management & better design = no need for TARP

Food

Biogas (CH4)

Liquid Biofuels

Heat (thermal energy)

Used Water

HydroponicsUrban

AgricultureWetlandsBiomass

Municipal Waste

Lignocellulosic Materials

Water + Nutrients

Biomass

Food Production Waste

Used Water

Urban Biorefiner

y

Platform Chemicals

Combined Heat & Power

Aquaponics

FoodFood

Energy-Water-Waste-Material/Food Cycle

Feasible at what Scale & Econ. Conditions ?

Organic Municipal

Waste

Lignocellulosic Material

IntermediateFeedstock

Product

Water +

Nutrients

Liquid Biofuels

Platform Chemicals

CelluloseHemicellulose

Acidogenesis

MEC

AD

Used Water

MES

Separation

Lignin

Heat (Thermal Energy)

Carboxylates

Oxidative Depolymerizatio

n

Enzymatic Treatment/ Fermentatio

n

H2O2

Separation/purification

Biogas (CH4)

Aromatics

Chemo-Catalysis

Biorefinery

CarbohydratesEthanol

Split Point

NYC & Climate Readiness• NYC has 520 miles of coastline• Storm surge of Sandy – 17’• According to a team of experts in New York, coastal waters are expected to rise some six inches per decade, rising at

least two feet by the middle of the century,• Armor city & find Extreme Engineering solution - Sea walls as in Netherlands and Venice - $10B• Resilience strategy – “soften” shoreline, restore marshes• Difficult to muster support when benefits seem distant and uncertain - Will Sandy change this attitude?

http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/how-cities-plan-to-keep-the-sea-at-bay-in-an-age-of-climate-change/?ref=hurricanesandtropicalstorms

Rising Currents - ARO

Missed Opportunity

http://www.salon.com/2014/05/11/the_golden_opportunity_our_cities_are_missing/?source=newsletter

• Hollow blocks – in NYC 60% of 3000 city blocks hollow (housing grouped around empty middle space); 1.5 acres

• Parks, gardens, wild patches (biodiversity), stormwater

Building with Nature

• To Control Floods, The Dutch Turn to Nature for Inspiration – ADAPTATION

• Sand Engine Project - a 28 million-cubic-yard heap of sand along the coast of Holland that will be rearranged by ocean currents and fortify a 12-mile buffer to protect the coastline

• "Smart Dike" -embedded sensors that relay real-time status reports on the condition of the dike to decision makers. Early notice of a developing problem could give officials time to make repairs or enable residents to evacuate in advance

http://e360.yale.edu/feature/to_control_floods_the_dutch_turn_to_nature_for_inspiration/2621/

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia• Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution comes from many sources: – dust from the desert, unpaved roads and open soil surfaces, lack of

vegetation, ash and emissions from coal stoves, power plants,

boilers, and vehicles…

- coal and wood burning by the 175,000 households in ger areas for cooking and heating

- severe wintertime problem – summer air pollution much less

• How to reduce air pollution in capital city?

http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2011/12/15633946/air-quality-analysis-ulaanbaatar-improving-air-quality-reduce-health-impacts-vol-1-2-main-report

Ecologically Sound City:

• All sustainability is local (landscape, resources, heritage, etc.)

• Greater reliance on nature–functional green space

• Rediscovery of old, passive strategies

• Technologies in place, but need to be more efficient, miniaturized, integrated / coupled

and adapted to renewable energy sources & smart systems, bio-inspired

• Metrics – need to way to measure & compare sustainable options (0000ll

Capitalize on principles of ecological cycling

Solaire Building, Battery Park