An explorative study into three different applications of Molded Bamboo Mats (MBM)
Businesscard holder
“Grow sustainable business relations”
A businesscard contains a person’s contact information and is exchanged during a formal introduction and used later on as a memory aid. Businesscards are carried in a businesscard holder, which is a very simple and functional product. A basic businesscard holder will not cost you more than €10, but there are of course fancier holders available. The figure below shows the basic businesscard holder and three types of variations; other materials, other shapes and leather holders. There are of course more variations possible, but this is an overview of basic variations.
The next figure shows two bamboo businesscard holders. Compared to wooden businesscard holders, the bamboo products are cheaper, which is typical; why are the bamboo products priced lower? Composite materials have the image of being high tech and thus more expensive. A bamboo businesscard holder can be marketed as being sustainable, which makes it an interesting product for companies and individuals wanting to spread a sustainable image. It should be possible to develop a businesscard holder from MBM and sell it for $30 (€20) to the customer.
The product can be sold via internet and in shops for office products or small business gifts. Future product diversification could include sustainable business gifts for companies, or office products.
iPhone case
“An innovative fashion item”
The iPhone is the new gadget of our time; the ultimate mobile phone, because of design and functionality. The iPhone is developed by Apple and by the end of 2009, they will have sold 100 million iPhones globally. The iPhone and iPod accessory market is estimated to be $2 billion in 2009. One iPhone accessory is a case to protect the product from scratches and breaking. The figure below gives an overview of different types of iPhone cases.
The selling price for iPhone cases is quite high, because it protects what’s precious: an iPhone which costs over €500 and is very dear to most of its owners. An iPhone case from MBM could be sold to the customer for around $90 (€60). Online sales is the most obvious choice for this product, since it is really a niche product, which retail shops won’t want to keep a stock and since the consumers are all very internet savvy, online sales simply works for them. The figure below shows some bamboo iPhone cases and two other ‘sustainable’ iPhone cases.
In addition to this physical product, an iPhone application about bamboo could be developed, to create an experience (show for instance the life cycle of the product), or to communicate for instance the possibilities of bamboo products and its environmental impact compared to other products. The application should be a real eye-candy to make sure consumers would like to download it. Future product diversification could include casings for other Apple products like iPods and laptops.
Wing for urban windmill
“Creating a green image”
Urban windmills are defined as turbines that are specially designed for the built environment, and can be located on buildings or next to buildings. This implies that the turbine has been adapted for the wind regime in the built environment and can, in theory at least, resist wind gusts and turbulences and that the shape and size of the turbine have been designed to visually integrate with the surrounding buildings. The capacity of these turbines is generally between 1 and 20 kW. Compared with large windmills, urban windmills generate relatively less energy and are relatively more expensive. This is due to the smaller size of the windmill and the location of installation.
There are different types of urban windmills. They can be generally categorized as horizontal axis and vertical axis windmills. The next figure gives an overview of urban windmills, the power they generate at a nominal wind speed of 10 m/s and the cost price (including all installation and operational costs).
The price per 100W for urban windmills varies a lot; it ranges from €300 to €4000 per 100W.
Let’s do a calculation to see after how many years a household earns back its initial investment in an urban windmill. What we need to know:
- How expensive the windmill is
- How much energy a household needs
- What the price of electricity is and will be over the next years
A rough overview of the average power consumption of some domestic appliances:
- AC (air-conditioning): 1000W
- Laptop: 50W
- Desktop computer: 100W
- Fridge: 200W
- 100 W light bulb: 100W
- Energy saving light bulb: 30W
The average household energy consumption:
- India: 1,000 kWh/year
- The Netherlands: 3,500 kWh/year
- USA: 10,000 kWh/year
The price for electricity is:
- India: €0.06/kWh
- The Netherlands: €0.20/kWh
- USA: €0.06/kWh
The price of electricity will be rising the coming years. But, the make the calculations easier, let’s suggest they will stay constant.
The average windspeed in the Netherlands is 5.5 m/s, while in India it is about half of this; it will take almost double the time to earn back the initial investment if you take into account the rising prices of electricity.
At a nominal wind speed of 12 m/s, Turby delivers 1.9 kW, but at the average wind speed in the Netherlands (5.5 m/s) it only delivers 0.18 kW, which is a huge drop. During one year, Turby will generate more than 1,500 kWh. Which is enough for the average Indian household. However, the nominal power is 180 W, which is quite low; you can for instance power one desktop and laptop at the same time, but nothing more.
1,500 kWh will cost €90 in India and USA and €300 in the Netherlands. The total price of Turby is €18,000, so it will cost 200 years for an average Indian household to earn back the initial investment! In fact it will even cost more time, since there is less wind to harvest in India. This simple calculation shows that urban windmills are not economically feasible, unless:
- It is placed at a location where there is no electricity grid
- The price of electricity goes up
- The price of urban windmills goes down
The selling price of an urban windmill from MBM could vary a lot; it depends on aspects like:
- Size (and power)
- Cost of electrical components
- Cost of materials an manufacturing
- Target consumer group (and intention to make a profit or not)
- Volume of production
An urban windmill is more a tool for creating awareness about the environment and renewable energy, then an efficient and high potential source of electricity. An urban windmill is simply a tool for organizations, to show its environmental consciousness. In the Netherlands, urban windmills are mainly installed at important government and company buildings (eg: city halls, corporate head offices, educational institutes, etc.
A windmill, designed for urban use, might also be used in rural surroundings. In rural surroundings, the windmill, could for instance be used to generate electricity, or as power source for an irrigation system.
At Cambridge University, researchers have explored the potential of bamboo as a material for making windmill blades (with camber, torque, taper, varying thickness, curvature, etc.). Bamboo veneer may be combined with mats for high-quality coating and finishing purposes.
