Comments on: Beetle-Inspired Bottle Harvests Drinking Water From Thin Air http://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-drinking-water-from-thin-air/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Sat, 18 May 2013 14:21:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Cv Unnikrishnan http://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-drinking-water-from-thin-air/comment-page-1/#comment-422282 Cv Unnikrishnan Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:45:36 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=134644#comment-422282 I only hope they do not commercialise the technology. I only hope they do not commercialise the technology.

]]> By: ken matsui http://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-drinking-water-from-thin-air/comment-page-1/#comment-273021 ken matsui Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:21:41 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=134644#comment-273021 This innovative water collection system is very interesting to me. I am a fan of using biomimicry to solve problems. When organisms adapt and survive in harsh desert conditions for ages, it is logical for humans to learn the techniques used by these organisms. Why try to invent something completely new and hope that it would work, when there is a working model right in front of us in nature? In the case of the Dew Bank bottle, it uses the basic idea of water collection, inspired by the fog beetle, and further improves the efficiency of the technique. The use of stainless steel to collect more condensation, and the form of the bottle allow for more water to accumulate is an effective, yet simple way of improving water collection. However this does bring up a few questions. Does this water collection system only work in areas with fog, or can it work in areas with fairly limited amounts moisture in the air? How affordable is this bottle going to be, if produced? Will the people currently living in arid conditions be able to afford it? With rainwater becoming more and more acidic and becoming unsafe to drink, what methods are there to make this safer (i.e. filtering, boiling the water)? Being an architecture major, the thought of using this technology in larger scale was instantly brought up in my mind and it seems like I'm not alone (see above comment). Domed shelters could possibly be created in dry areas, and create water collection for those living there. This technique could also be used in areas where clean water is not readily available as well. By implementing the techniques of this water collection system, the quality of life would drastically improve. The water could not only be used for drinking but for cleaning and sanitation as well, much like the rainwater harvesting technology seen today. Thanks for the interesting post. This innovative water collection system is very interesting to me. I am a fan of using biomimicry to solve problems. When organisms adapt and survive in harsh desert conditions for ages, it is logical for humans to learn the techniques used by these organisms. Why try to invent something completely new and hope that it would work, when there is a working model right in front of us in nature? In the case of the Dew Bank bottle, it uses the basic idea of water collection, inspired by the fog beetle, and further improves the efficiency of the technique. The use of stainless steel to collect more condensation, and the form of the bottle allow for more water to accumulate is an effective, yet simple way of improving water collection. However this does bring up a few questions. Does this water collection system only work in areas with fog, or can it work in areas with fairly limited amounts moisture in the air? How affordable is this bottle going to be, if produced? Will the people currently living in arid conditions be able to afford it? With rainwater becoming more and more acidic and becoming unsafe to drink, what methods are there to make this safer (i.e. filtering, boiling the water)?

Being an architecture major, the thought of using this technology in larger scale was instantly brought up in my mind and it seems like I’m not alone (see above comment). Domed shelters could possibly be created in dry areas, and create water collection for those living there. This technique could also be used in areas where clean water is not readily available as well. By implementing the techniques of this water collection system, the quality of life would drastically improve. The water could not only be used for drinking but for cleaning and sanitation as well, much like the rainwater harvesting technology seen today. Thanks for the interesting post.

]]> By: yipbop http://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-drinking-water-from-thin-air/comment-page-1/#comment-244129 yipbop Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:15:02 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=134644#comment-244129 Very cool and clever idea. http://greenbottle.com Very cool and clever idea.
http://greenbottle.com

]]> By: rtb808 http://inhabitat.com/beetle-inspired-bottle-harvests-drinking-water-from-thin-air/comment-page-1/#comment-240128 rtb808 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:09:12 +0000 http://inhabitat.com/?p=134644#comment-240128 how about one big enough to serve as a shelter/roof as well as water-catchment for a family of 3-4?-) how about one big enough to serve as a shelter/roof as well as water-catchment for a family of 3-4?-)

]]>