Sustainable Water Treatment Systems: A Direct Potable Proposal

A common need among all people is water—we cannot survive without it. And yet, all around the world, achieving a high quality of drinking water is a constant struggle. This water crisis is brought on by many different factors. Some are natural, such as droughts and flooding, but as the effects of climate change continue to reveal themselves, some areas are becoming drier, while other areas are experiencing less predictable and harsher weather patterns. Our current approach towards water is not sustainable, and we are starting to see that in both under-developed and developed countries alike. Indiscriminate use of water leading to groundwater depletion, low quality water treatment facilities, the growing demand for freshwater, and the overall undervaluing of water as a resource all lead to its lack of preservation and overall waste. To compensate for this growing need, implementing tactics that will enhance the optimal usage of our water resources is important. Introducing direct potable reuse (DPR) systems, in which the effluent from a wastewater treatment plant undergoes the water treatment process and is reused as an alternative to discharging the effluent back into the environment. Wastewater can be directly reused to help curb shortages and reduce the amount of groundwater needed. The location experiencing a water shortage that will be identified and analyzed is Carlsbad, New Mexico. A theoretical DPR system was designed to find approximate dimensions. The necessary community outreach will be discussed, as will future benefits to demonstrate to the city of Carlsbad, the state of New Mexico, and surrounding communities that this technology is a feasible solution to the ever-present water scarcity crisis

A Novel Mechanism to Generate FFLO States in Holographic Superconductors

We discuss a novel mechanism to set up a gravity dual of FFLO states in strongly coupled superconductors. The gravitational theory utilizes two U(1) gauge fields and a scalar field coupled to a charged AdS black hole. The first gauge field couples with the scalar sourcing a charge condensate below a critical temperature, and the second gauge field provides a coupling to spin in the boundary theory. The scalar is neutral under the second gauge field. By turning on an interaction between the Einstein tensor and the scalar, it is shown that, in the low temperature limit, an inhomogeneous solution possesses a higher critical temperature than the homogeneous case, giving rise to FFLO states.Comment: v2: 7 pages, 5 figures, improved discussion on critical temperature, to appear in PLB. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1208.458

Beast or God: Philosophical Exclusion of Disability and Disabled Voices

In philosophy, our goal is to ultimately discover what it is to be human. How do we exist in our world, and how should we exist? Throughout history, philosophers have been attempting to answer these questions in any way possible. Well, almost. Unfortunately, marginalized voices -- such as those with disabilities -- have been excluded from the conversation in a way that minimizes and undermines any answers provided. Philosophers such as Descartes make the argument that human existence is purely in the mind, and that we can separate ourselves from our bodies; many disabled philosophers would disagree. Disability studies finds that our body has just as much of an influence on our cognition as our brain (sometimes even more so); to separate ourselves from our bodies would be to fundamentally change our existence. We would not exist in the same capacity. But, because disabled voices have been excluded from philosophical literature and discussions, the canon currently has no choice but to follow the Socratic, Platonic, Aristotelian, and Cartesian ways of thinking: our bodies are mere instruments for our being and morality. In my thesis, I examine the ways in which ableism have influenced our philosophical thinking and how we as philosophers can attempt to include disabled voices in philosophy going forward

Adaptation Toward A Sustainable Built Environment: A Technical Potential & Quantification of Benefit for Existing Boilding Deep Energy Retrofits in a Subtropic Climate

The issues surrounding energy consumption in our existing building stock is proving to be a key component in the move toward a truly sustainable built environment. Best practice energy levels today are much lower than they have been in the past meaning that the buildings we are currently occupying are using much more than they need to be. It is clear that the majority of these structures will remain in operation through 2030 and even 2050. In order to limit overall energy consumption for the foreseeable future, our societies will need to focus on existing building retrofits based on finding the minimum consumptions possible. Methods for attaining deep energy retrofits can be applied to a wide variety of climates and building typologies. Measures utilized to realize results will vary by climate, building function, building use, and other site specific variables. This project focuses on developing a methodology and set of criteria for determining approaches to deep energy retrofits for office space in the Hawaiian climate. The method generated focuses on a passive first approach in order to pursue the deepest savings - otherwise known as a technical potential energy solution. The method is then applied to a specific property in Honolulu to display its potential energy consumption and economic benefits. Best practice levels were researched and applied to the property in question. By reducing active and passive loading, the space is able to reach temperature level suitable for natural ventilation with a ceiling fan assist. Application of the strategies to this property were able to show the potential to save 83% over its existing condition and a consumption level of 7.53 kBtu/sf/yr. Future steps would need to consider a moisture mitigation strategy which are not included in this package. Benefits stemming from the design are many and are calculated to a life cycle present value to show an order of magnitude value associated with the package. Direct owner value is calculated to a present value of $47/SF and qualitative tenant benefits equate to$368/SF showing that direct owner benefit is not enough accomplish the scope proposed, but when combined with tenant benefit it becomes an option that may be viable and deserves further investigation. Benefits quantified include energy savings, indoor environmental improvements, value adding amenities, and increased square footage included in the design package