Sustainability

Economic Sustainability

Economic sustainability is used to define strategies that promote the utilization of socio-economic resources to their best advantage. The idea is to promote the use of those resources in an efficient and responsible way that provides long-term benefits and establishes profitability. The Peltice system will save consumers money over time instead of buying ice to chill beverages. A typical bag of ice cost around $1.50 to $2.50.  If the consumer were having a party for a couple of hours, they would have to buy several bags of ice which over time the total cost of buying ice will be higher. The consumer will miss out on memories from having to go out and get ice. The Peltice system averages at around 180 watts of energy which cost about less than 2 cents per hour. This about the same about the energy used for an incandescent light bulb. In the long run, the consumer will be happy that they saved money and not missing out on creating memories at the party.
A major advantage to using the Peltice system is the consumer will have less to beverage waste. This is so because, over time, a cooler without Peltice that uses ice will have a diluted beverage making it undesirable to drink resulting in it being thrown out. One factor why the Peltice system is an undesirable alternative to ice is that the cost to build the system. The current system materials to build it cost about $600 - $700. To lower the cost of creating the system in the future, the use of cheaper materials and using new-found knowledge to not have to test methods that did not accomplish the goal of this project.

Social Sustainability

Social sustainability is about identifying and managing impacts, both positive and negative, on people. Two major issues the Peltice face is the type of materials used in the system and the water versus liquid refrigerants debate. The materials used in the system were selected carefully with the consideration of health and cleanliness in mind. The system uses stainless steel and Polyurethane tubes for their durability and ease of cleaning. Stainless steel is durable, rustproof, long-lasting, and recyclable. Another advantage to using stainless steel is that stainless steel has a hard, smooth surface which does not readily harbor germs. Consumers can easily see if it has not been properly cleaned, therefore it is more hygienic to use. Polyurethane is an extremely versatile elastomer used in countless applications worldwide. Polyurethanes mechanical properties can be isolated and manipulated through creative chemistry which creates a number of unique opportunities to solve problems with performance characteristics unequaled in any other material. For applications where severe wear proves challenging, polyurethanes are an ideal solution even at low temperatures. Polyurethane material properties will remain stable (with minimal swelling) in water, oil, and grease. Polyether compounds will last many years in subsea applications. Most polyether-based polyurethanes do not support fungal, mold, and mildew growth, therefore, they are highly suitable for tropical environments and FDA applications. Special additives can also be added to reduce this in polyester materials as well. Through research on deciding whether to use water over liquid refrigerants to in the cooling system of the Peltice system, water had more benefits in using it. Although liquid refrigerants are commonly used in cooling systems, refrigerant contains chemicals called fluorinated hydrocarbons (often referred to by a common brand name, “Freon”). Freon is a tasteless, mostly odorless gas. When it is deeply inhaled, it can cut off vital oxygen to your cells and lungs. Water is natural, non-toxic, low cost, environmentally friendly, and widely available and also commonly serves as a heat transfer and storage material, and in large systems, it may actually fill all of these roles. Consumers welfare are protected through careful material selection and the usage of water over liquid refrigerants protect them from possible refrigerant poisoning.

Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability occurs when processes, systems, and activities reduce the environmental impact. Two major issues the Peltice face is the water vs refrigerant debate and plastic waste. Some refrigerants use CFC and HCFC because they are non-flammability and non-toxicity but their global warming potential (GWP) and ozone depletion potential (ODP) were steadily increasing. By using water, it does not add more pollutions to the GWP and ODP being that water is found naturally in nature. When consumers buy ice, the ice comes in a bag which contributes to the ongoing plastic bag waste. Nearly 2 million single-use plastic bags are distributed worldwide every minute and 100 billion plastic bags are used by Americans every year. The Peltice system reduces the plastic waste from buying ice being that it will use one bag of ice versus multiple ice bags. The system also uses materials that are recyclable reducing pollution and waste farther.