Introducing a clean alternative
Print Edition
CHINESE revelers might have to choose between protecting tradition or saving the environment as they prepare their firework displays for the Spring Festival, which falls on February 19.
But a man from central China’s Henan Province has come up with new gadget that could let them do both.
Wang Xinming created a non-polluting firecracker to help people protect the environment and enjoy the festivities at the same time. “My invention is not powered by explosives or electricity,” the 29-year-old said.
Approved for a patent in July, the firecracker uses a closed cavity which can be injected with air. Users then just need to press a button and the closed cavity will immediately open a small hole, through which, compressed air will discharge and produce an explosive sound.
They are more beautiful than normal firecrackers, and can even emit mist and smells, Wang said.
Chinese people light firecrackers and fireworks during the Spring Festival as tradition says that the noise will fend off evil spirits and bad luck.
But the bangers are also blamed for dust, sulfur dioxide and smog.
“My firecracker is safe and environmentally friendly,” Wang said.
Although the invention has not been mass produced, Wang sees great potential.
The devices are made mostly of plastic and costs about 150 yuan per unit (US$24). They will sell for higher than that, but they can be reused, Wang said.
“Some ways of celebrating festivals can have a drastic impact on our environment,” said Chen Ying, a research fellow at the Institute for Urban and Environmental Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
If Wang’s invention can be mass produced, it’s another way for us to fight smog,” he said.
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