Proposed Greenery Solution from Nectar Design Aims at Sparking Discussion on Outside-the-Box Green Solutions

Long Beach, California (February 6, 2008)  A Southern California design firm has created an unusual concept design aimed at provoking new ideas in the battle against industrial pollution and global warming. This ambitious yet simple idea takes advantage of a product previously designed by Mother Nature herself , the tree. As it is currently envisioned, the CO2 Scraper would be a large-scale construction for holding between two to four hundred large-size trees that would potentially absorb dangerous pollutants and convert global warming-related carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen. The creators understand that the Scraper would require a great deal of refinement, research, and engineering to make the concept truly effective from an environmental standpoint.

Designed to be placed near factories or other major sources of pollution, the CO2 Scraper as it is currently imagined would be a relatively simple concrete construction in which trees will be supplied with water and nutrients via a windmill-powered pump system. Primarily energy self-sustaining — the only outside power required in the current design would be electricity for an elevator to be used by maintenance personnel — the Scraper would absorb carbon dioxide and thereby increase the amount of life-giving oxygen in the atmosphere.

In addition, the structure would provide immediate benefits to people and animals in its vicinity, providing a significant amount of shade, while also cooling the air during the hot summer months via the temperature-lowering properties of hundreds of trees. The structure as envisioned may be relatively inexpensive to build perhaps roughly equivalent in cost to building industrial smokestacks — while still helping local economies by creating a number of green jobs during both the initial construction and later maintenance phases.

The CO2 Scraper is part of a movement of outside-the-box green concepts such as Madrid’s Air Tree Pavilion and Dickson Despommier’s Vertical Farm project. This very new concept has drawn early praise from scientist, consultant, and sustainability specialist Joep Meijer. “Though it is an idea still very much in its infancy, the CO2 Scraper is an outstanding example of the kind of ideas we need to look at now. In a final version, it would be a great investment in natural capital for existing industries,” said Mr. Meijer. “It would show a strong commitment and awareness to the environment as an integral part of doing business, as it would bring improvements to the actual site, neighboring communities, and local ecologies.”

“Right now this is a concept very much in the early idea stages,” said Nectar Senior Designer Yutaka Kazamaki, who has been spearheading the CO2 Scraper project. “Although right now the economy is naturally the focus of world attention, the issue of global warming is clearly among the greatest issues our planet is facing. The need to consider any and all possible solutions that address both our environmental and economic challenges have never been greater.”

About Nectar Design:

Nectar is an award-winning product development consultancy established in 1992. With a firm commitment to thoughtful innovation, the Nectar team helps clients create products that connect to their users and expand their markets. For more information, please contact us by phone at: 562-856-8500 or by e-mail at [email protected], or visit us online at www.nectarpd.com