New Advances in Green Engineering: Green Algae

Global warming is a phenomenon that many of us have heard of, but do you really understand the science behind the concern?  If not, there is no better time to learn than now.  Global warming is caused by CO₂ being released as a “green house gas” into the air around us.  It is emitted by factories and automobiles as well as other things.  As that gas hangs in the air, it lets the sun in, but won’t let the heat out.  Plants and trees can help remove this from the air as they use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and will replace it with their waste – oxygen.  However, as more plant life is destroyed and more of the green house gases are emitted, the earth is having a harder time dispelling excess heat, and as a result average temperatures begin to rise by small degrees over time.

This phenomenon has been studied for many years and research is pointing to the fact that the destruction is happening faster than originally thought.  Large ice masses that once covered large portions of the earth are now melting due to higher temperatures, and while global warming gives the impression that we should be experiencing heat waves, the opposite will eventually occur if we don’t do something to correct our mistakes.  As those ice bergs melt into the ocean, they will bring cold air with them as they sweep down out of the arctic.  Our temperatures will actually begin to drop and more of the world will experience freezing temperatures for longer periods of time.

Scientists and researchers all over the world are working to find ways to correct this problem and now, as the “live green” trend spreads to nations all over the globe, more and more industries are doing their part to help as well.  Aside from simply cutting their level of pollution, there are companies that are actually trying ingenious ways of eliminating green house gases from their operations.  One of those methods being experimented with today is the use of green algae.

Though you may think of algae as slimy, disgusting stuff you find in ponds, it could actually be used to clean and save our world.  The Green Algae Theory is that this strange substance could be used to cut greenhouse emissions, while creating sustainable energy and food sources.  This theory has already been put to practice in some places.  The carbon dioxide, which is a byproduct of many operations as mentioned above, is captured, rather than simply being dispelled into the environment.  That gas, along with its oxygen counterpart is pumped into large tubes of algae, which are exposed to sunlight.

The algae, as with other plant life, “eat” the carbon dioxide and expel only oxygen.  The even better part is that the algae does a lot of carbon dioxide breakdown while taking up very little space.  Furthermore, the byproducts of harvested algae can be used in many different ways.  Currently, scientists are able to create biodiesel from its natural oils, ethanol from its starch, and cattle feed from its proteins.  There is also evidence pointing to the fact that this aquatic plant life could be used in the manufacturing of plastics and papers.

Green algae is the most abundant form of algae on the planet, which means that it is easily accessible.  There are currently more than seven thousand known species of this plant life, which grow in a wide variety of locations throughout the world.  For many years, this plant-life was torn up and removed from water sources by mankind, as it was seen as a nuisance when trying to swim or boat.  However, green algae serves a number of wonderful purposes, including protecting aquatic life by offering a place to hide, providing nourishment to many of those same species, and, of course, breaking down carbon dioxide in the air and water.

Nevertheless, despite the attempts at destruction, green algae continues to prosper.  You might even find it around the home in bird baths or puddles that are left sitting for a period of time.  The organism is very tough in that it takes very little for it to survive, and it can multiple from a single cell to an entire colony in very little time.  This is great news for mankind as we continue to unlock the mysteries of all that this tiny life form can do to keep us safe, warm, mobile, and full.  Someday, we may see “pond scum” in a whole new light as it is used to clean our air, power our cars in a way that will release less of the bad stuff, and even feed the animals that we rely on for our own nourishment.  Perhaps, in just a few years from now, you will even be able to print this article on paper made from the miraculous green algae.