Elon Musk of Tesla & SpaceX has created a $100 million competition for the best ideas on carbon removal, the Xprize.
The $100 million Xprize competition is a four year competition for the best carbon negative solution to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Competition officially kicks off on Earth Day 2021, April 22, 2021 and ends on Earth Day 2025. After 18 months, the first prizes are awarded. The final grand prize is $50,000,000.
TintDepot helps homes & businesses conserve energy & lower their utility bills by blocking solar heat before it passes through glass windows. Along with conserving energy, we need to use renewable energy. At TintDepot’s headquarters, we get 100% renewable energy from Engie. So our best practices should include.
- Conserve Energy with Insulation (Solar Window Film)
- Use Renewable Energy, Solar PV & Rooftop Solar
- Remove Carbon (Xprize Ideas)
Let’s start working with our local universities to create pollution reduction ideas. Everyone is in favor of less local pollution. We don’t have the science background on how to remove carbon efficiently, so we need to search out scientists to help with our ideas.
First, we have to figure out what is causing climate change (Carbon Dioxide) & what is it exactly?
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless, colorless gas. It is a waste product made by your body. Your blood carries carbon dioxide to your lungs.
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas consisting of one part carbon and two parts oxygen.
Second, we have to figure out how to remove carbon. Trees Remove Carbon via photosynthesis. As per Google,
Photosynthesis is the biochemical reaction through which all green plants, including trees, make their food to live and grow. Photosynthesis takes the raw ingredients of water and carbon dioxide and uses light energy from the sun to make glucose and oxygen. In trees, this process happens on a large scale.
So which plants create the most photosynthesis the fastest? ie which plants grow the fastest & give us the most “bang for our buck?” Then, how do we copy that in a small way? Let’s think small, then grow it big?
- Plan A: Obviously, we can plant more trees & plants.
- Plan B: How do we replicate this process using 100% renewable energy?
We need to create a project that uses solar panels to provide 100% of the energy needed. This carbon removal process than works during the day when the sun in shinning, much like plants.
Let’s create a box that filters out pollution & carbon from the air that runs on solar panels. We have to turn this carbon into something. Maybe turn it into:
- New Fuel Source (this will make it carbon neutral when burned)
- Blocks to Build New Structures (Stones or added to concrete)
- Added to Garden Soil (This might end up neutral too)
- Buried Under Ground (How do we keep it there)
- Turned into Fertilizer (Same as #2?)
We’ll be working on our entry after visiting some university science labs.
Good luck peeps!
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