Transportation – Alternative Fuel Sources

Sustainability Issues Course

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Transportation – Alternative Fuel Sources

Transportation is a huge aspect of becoming a more sustainable world.  As of today, transportation produces roughly 33% of our earths greenhouse gases, secondly only to electricity generation. Transportation comes in many modes, by air, road, rail, water, cable, pipeline, and space, essentially any method of moving goods and/or people from one place to another. 

(Million Barrels per Day Oil Equivalent)
U.S. Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration

That leaves a huge area to concentrate on; because what works for one mode of transportation, won’t necessarily work for the other.  Much like the various forms of alternative energy, vehicles have several forms of fuel that have been experimented with over the past few decades.  Engineers have experimented with solar power, electricity, even bio-fuels based off of vegetable oil.  However, you couldn’t use solar power with submersible vehicles due to the lack of available sun, nor could you use solar power with an airplane due to the massive amount of energy needed to fly a plane.  But you could possibly use bio-fuels in those instances.  Alternative fuels have the opportunity to play a very large part in becoming more sustainable.  As our cities grow, the more vehicles we have on the road, the more people we have moving from one place to another.  And as populations continue to grow, the demand to fuel this increased transportation need will increase.  Therefore, the need for alternative fuels is at an all time high, as we struggle to heal our earth. 

We have come a long way throughout history when it comes to inventing new modes of transportation. 

First Hot Air Balloon Ride – Nov. 12^th, 1783

First Private Plane Fight – Dec. 17^th, 1903

First Car (Driven on it’s own) – 1769

First Shuttle Flight - April 12, 1961

First Passenger Train Ride - March 25^th, 1808

First Engine Boat – 1788

First Cable Car Ride – 1840

 We first saw early personal modes of transportation through horses, centuries ago.  Then we progressed to steam engines, then to electric cars, and then we took colossal steps backward to depend on fossil fuels to provide fuel for our cars for personal transportation.  The first electric car was actually invented in 1828.  

First Electric Car – 1828

Prius Accessories and Hybrid Cars
 

But during those times, electricity was much harder to produce that it is today, and prices of gasoline had dropped to much more affordable rates than it was to continue to drive electric vehicles.  Many have said that the electric car was eradicated by the oil companies in an effort to boost the desire for gas powered cars, but in truth, several reasons contributes to the decline of the early generation electric cars. 

“For the following reasons the electric car declined in popularity. It was several decades before there was a renewed interest.

• By the 1920s, America had a better system of roads that now connected cities, bringing with it the need for longer-range vehicles.
• The discovery of Texas crude oil reduced the price of gasoline so that it was affordable to the average consumer.
• The invention of the electric starter by Charles Kettering in 1912 eliminated the need for the hand crank.
• The initiation of mass production of internal combustion engine vehicles by Henry Ford made these vehicles widely available and affordable in the $500 to $1,000 price range. By contrast, the price of the less efficiently produced electric vehicles continued to rise. In 1912, an electric roadster sold for $1,750, while a gasoline car sold for $650. 

 Decline and Rise of Electric Cars from 1930 to 1990
By Mary Bellis, About.com Guide

Electric vehicles had all but disappeared by 1935. The years following until the 1960s were dead years for electric vehicle development and for their use as personal transportation”  Unfortunately, we went decades without concentrating on what the use of fossil fuels would do to our environment.  Then, once we went back the basics, there was too much politics involved to actually allow the fruition of electric cars to grow and make a return to the public.  However it wasn’t until just this year, 2011, the electric cars such as Tesla Roadster, REVAi, Buddy, Mitsubishi i MiEV, Th!nk City, and Nissan Leaf became available to the public.  It’s only been a year or so since the new generation electric car has made its mainstream appearance, and now recharging stations are going up all over major metropolitan cities.   

Even UTA has built a free electric car recharging station on campus.  Information on this new recharging station can be found at :  

http://www.uta.edu/news/releases/2011/07/charging-station.php

The map below demonstrates the availability of electric stations throughout the US.  As you can see, the numbers vary a great deal.  Unfortunately, there is an obvious lack in the consistency of use of electric cars and recharging stations for those that are available for public use.  Therefore, we have to start looking at other alternative fuels that are being used throughout our nation.

Department of Energy

Electricity isn’t the only alternative fuel being used today.  Other alternative fuels such as biodiesel (for commercial vehicle use), ethanol, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.  Let’s take a look at each one.

Biodiesel – “Biodiesel is a renewable alternative fuel produced from a wide range of vegetable oils and animal fats. Pure biodiesel or biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel can be used to fuel diesel vehicles, providing energy security and emissions and safety benefits.’1

The map below show the biodiesel stations available throughout the US.  While biodiesel availability and use is becoming more common, we are still extremely limited on that availability for it to be a realistic alternative for fuel. 

Department of Energy

Ethanol – “Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials, which collectively are called "biomass." Ethanol contains the same chemical compound (C₂H₅OH) found in alcoholic beverages.” 1

Image provided by AFDC

Ethanol is a leading alternative fuel source compared to hydrogen and natural gas, and therefore, a more practical use for alternative fuels in this country.  The map below shows the ethanol stations available throughout the US:

Department of Energy

Hydrogen – “Hydrogen (H₂) is a potentially emissions-free alternative fuel that can be produced from domestic resources. Although not widely used today as a transportation fuel, government and industry research and development are working toward the goal of clean, economical, and safe hydrogen production and hydrogen vehicles.”  1

However, being that Hydrogen is such a new alternative fuel, the availability of hydrogen to be used for fuel, is almost nothing.  The map below shows the hydrogen stations available throughout the states:

Department of Energy

Natural Gas – “Natural gas is a domestically produced, clean-burning alternative fuel. Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been used for decades to fuel light-duty and heavy-duty natural gas vehicles.” 1

The map below shows the Natural Gas Stations available throughout the US.  While the numbers are much better than hydrogen, it’s still not available enough to be used as a practical alternative fuel source.

Department of Energy

Propane – “Propane, also known as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), is a high-energy alternative fuel. Called Autogas in Europe and sometimes in the United States, propane has been used for decades to fuel light-duty and heavy-duty propane vehicles.” 1

Lastly, the map below shows the propane stations available throughout the US.  As you can see, while the availability is greater than other alternative fuels, only Texas offers a substantial amount of propane stations.  While this may be good for us here in the Lone Star State, the practicality of it throughout the rest of the United States is far less.  But perhaps the massive use of propane to fuel our vehicles here in Texas, will lead to a higher usage percentage throughout the rest of the nation in years to come.  We have often spoken of leading by example, and I think this is the perfect opportunity for that!

Department of Energy

As we move further into a more sustainable world, the use of alternative fuels is, and very well should be, taking a front seat to the greener world issue.  It’s fact that the use of fossil fuels create huge amounts of CO2 that are being introduced into our atmosphere, is not only slowly killing our world, but killing each of us too.  As technology continues to investigate the use of alternative fuels for transportation, it is up to us to support those alternative methods.  It does no good to develop these alternative ways, and not utilize them.  For further information about alternative fuels and what you can do to support these methods to a greener earth, please visit the websites below and learn how you can become more sustainable and support alternative fuels.

Resources for this Blog Entry

Car Emissions Information - http://townipproject.wikispaces.com/Car+Emissions+%26+Pollution

US Department of Transportation - http://www.rita.dot.gov/publications/transportation_vision_2030/html/figure_02.html

History of Transportation - http://www.future-alternative-energy.net/history-of-transportation.html

First Car History - http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cars/carhist.htm

About.com - http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/Car_History.htm

Prius Accessories and Hybrid Cars - http://blog.juicedhybrid.com/2009/06/10/inventor-of-first-electric-car/

Wikipedia – Electric Cars - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car

1. Department of Energy - http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/

Greening San Fransisco -  http://greeningsanfrancisco.wikispaces.com/Alternative+fuels

Agriculture – Conventional vs. Local vs. Organic

Sustainability Issues Course

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Agriculture – Conventional vs. Local vs. Organic

Agriculture plays a very important part of our survival in this world, not providing food for our communities, but playing its part in our local and nation economy.  However, there are few different types of agriculture that have varying levels of positive and negative both within our community, and our economy but our health as well.  Conventional Farming / Agriculture, though is the most common form of farming we are use to, it is also the most destructive way of farming.  When we resort to this form of mass farming and food growth, we are helping create that need and contributing to the problem of creating the need for mass industry.  Though this mass conventional farming may seem necessary to a certain degree, it often becomes an excuse to no longer pay attention to the risk of pollution and environmental destruction.  When we resort to buying produce locally, then we are not only contributing to the local economy, but supporting our local farming and creating greater need for that local produce. 

Conventional Agriculture

With Conventional/Mass Farming and Agriculture, we often have to rely on farming that is half way across, if not completely across the nation.  When we purchase produce that has been shipped from far away, there are many factors to look into.  A. How far away did this produce travel? B. What type of fuels are those distribution trucks using?  C. How much carbon dioxide was introduced into the air as those trucks traveled?  D. What is the environment like where this produce was grown?  F.  What pesticides were used on that produce as it was growing in the fields?  Mass Agriculture brings on layers and layers of issues, such as cattle being raised in a tight confine and being fed high-energy grains which in turn lead to health problems in each of us, and also contribute to heart disease and other life threatening disease.  Then those illnesses that were caused by poorly planned mass agriculture ended up costing the US billions of dollars each year.  Conventional grown produce and agriculture utilizes the use of pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones and other chemicals.  

Fertilizers being poured over Conventional Crops

The fertilizer that is used requires so much energy that it could supply 1,000,000 Americans with power for a full year, not to mention their factories “pollute the air with acids, ammonia, and various greenhouse gases.”1  There is use of antibiotics that have been known to “increase the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria that are resistant to those antibiotics. Those bacteria can cause difficult-to-treat human illnesses.”  These massive feedlots also produce large amounts of “harmful gases and pollute water with run-off from manure.” In order to irrigate these conventional farming crops, they are “pumping water for irrigation which depletes natural aquifers built over millennia.”1

Local Agriculture

Local Farming helps answer several of those troubling questions that are up for concern when it comes to Conventional Farming.  Local farming can drastically reduce the levels of CO2 being released than it would be with conventional farming as well.  However locally grown produce and agriculture still utilizes the use of pesticides, fertilizers, growth hormones and other chemicals.  Pesticides that are used may have an impact on the eco-system around the crops by exterminating beneficial insects and plants, just as they would in Conventional Agriculture.  Local Farming communities have developed a group called the CSA, The Community Supported Agriculture.  “Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a growing movement between urban and rural communities that facilitates the partnership between growers and consumers.” 2  The CSA provides a guide to all local farms near your community.  They provide a website that allows individuals to search for local farms and livestock farmers, giving the local community a chance to buy locally and support the small local farms and economy.  A trend that is becoming more common is the “urban farming”.  Several urban communities have the advantage of having the landscape available for urban farming.  These are very small farms that primarily grow fruits and vegetables. 

An Urban Farm behind the residence of home in Colorado

 

A great video provided by Local Food, Local Farm, Local Sustainability that show’s how to get started on your local or urban farm:

Fantastic Farm and Garden Calculator Video from Support Local Farming:

http://youtu.be/3Oqw0gQ93NE

As also provided by Local Food, Local Farm, Local Sustainability, here are 7 things you can do to support your local farming:

Here are 7 things you can do to support local farming:

1. Go meet a farmer.  Buying direct from a farm or farmers market enables farmers to keep 80 to 90 cent of each dollar spent by the consumer. Use the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory to find farms or farmers markets near you.

2. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm. Buy a share of the harvest at the beginning of the season and pick up fresh food once a week at its peak harvest time.  What could be easier?

3. Ask for locally grown food wherever you eat or shop.  If they don’t have local food, keep asking.  Explain why locally grown is better for the community, better for the environment, and better for you.

4. Support Rocky Mountain Growers Directory advertisers. They support our project which makes it a reality, so please support them and tell them you found them in the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory!

5. Support Colorado Local Sustainability. Our project is solely funded by our advertisers and donors.   Such funding allows us to publish the Rocky Mountain Growers Directory, to maintain this website, to help market sustainable farms & ranches, and to help educate the public about buying local, sustainably produced food.  If the directory and website have been useful to you, why not make a contribution to support our hard work?   

6. Spread the word.  Invite your friends and neighbors over for an “eat locally” grown dinner.  Help others connect with farms near them. Tell people about our directory and website.

7. Shop differently.  Buying local doesn’t have to be difficult, but it may require a little planning, and definitely breaking out of the grocery store mindset. If you have a general idea of your meal plans for the week, it is easy to buy local meat & produce once a week.  Our local food shopping can take anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple hours and we love visiting our local farmers and getting truly fresh food!

Organic

Organically for various reasons, it is towards the top the list of “do-good” agriculture.  “U.S. farmland managed under organic farming systems expanded rapidly throughout the 1990s, and that pace has continued as farmers strive to meet consumer demand in both local and national markets. An increasing number of U.S. farmers are adopting these systems in order to lower input costs, conserve nonrenewable resources, capture high-value markets, and boost farm income.” 3  Organic produce is not only grown locally, but can be grown internationally too.  While organically grown produce may come from locally or internationally, it does lack all the pesticides, growth hormones, and fertilizer.  In order to be deemed “organic” they have to qualify for standards regulated by the USDA.

The USDA says:

“Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.  Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones.  Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.  Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards.  Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” Consumer Brochure, USDA National Organic Program

Organically grown produce and livestock

While there are several methods of farming and agriculture, one or two are far more harmful to the environment than others.  Most people would agree that buying organic is always the right way to go; however, it may not always be practical for various reasons.   Organic food is more expensive and not always easy to find.  In those cases, the next best thing to do is to purchase produce that is grown locally and provided locally.  Then you are not only supporting the local economy, but reducing the amount of CO2 that went into the air due to a much shorter transport for those goods to travel from the farm to the distributer.  Therefore, while we may not be able to always purchase organic agriculture, both produce and livestock, it is possible to buy responsibly by buying locally grown.  We can all do our part to become more sustainable and economically responsible through the choices we make at the grocery store. 

Resources for this Blog Entry

3. USDA Organic Standards - http://www.ers.usda.gov/features/organic/organicfarming.htm

1. Tour the Food Supply - http://www.cspinet.org/EatingGreen/tour.html

2. Local Harvest / Farmers Markets - http://www.localharvest.org/

Support Local Farming - http://www.localsustainability.net/educate/support-local-farming/

Local Food System Development - http://beyondfactoryfarming.org/get-informed/locations/new-brunswick/local-food-system-development

Mom-Going-Organic-Sensibly - http://www.mom-going-organic-sensibly.com/sustainable-agriculture.html

Pick Your Own – Organically Grown Resource Website - http://www.pickyourown.org/organic.htm

Sustainable Agriculture Bumper Sticker - http://www.zazzle.com/sustainable_agriculture_vegetable_bumper_sticker-128490319206705185

Energy - Solar San Antonio – non-profit organization (case-study)

Sustainability Issues Course

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Energy - Solar San Antonio – non-profit organization (case-study)

Energy Consumption is one of the most important topics when it comes to Sustainability.  Our world as we know it wouldn’t survive without energy, and the demand for that energy grows every day.  Our world requires energy use among four economic sectors: residential, commercial, transportation, and industrial. 

“Heating and cooling our homes, lighting office buildings, driving cars and moving freight, and manufacturing the products we rely on in our daily lives are all functions that require energy. If projections are correct, we’re going to keep needing more. In the United States alone, energy consumption is expected to rise 13% over the next two decades. Global consumption is expected to increase by 44% over the same time period.” 1

As you can see, energy is not only a hot topic within our effort to be greener, but it a huge complication to deal with and can often be the source of much of our environments demise.  Therefore, finding better ways to produce energy is an extremely important piece to our Net Zero puzzle.  Net Zero means being able to function and live life as normal without producing any waste, wasting any energy, and leaving virtually no carbon footprint.  While there are a couple of ways to produce your own energy, one of the most common ways for individuals to produce their own energy is through solar power.  Solar panels first made an appearance in 1941 by Russell Ohl when he invented the solar cell.  A solar panel is defined as:

“A solar panel (photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged, interconnected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications” 

--Wikipedia – Solar Panels - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

Today, no more than 1% of our nation’s energy comes from solar energy, and the percentage of what we are harnessing from the sun, is only 0.01625% of what the sun is producing and delivering to the earth! That is a staggeringly low percentage, and an extremely underutilized resource for energy.   The graph below shows how much alternative energy we are using, compared to one another:

Another thing to consider is, different regions within the US have a higher percentage of solar gain than other portions.  As the image below shows, one thing to consider may be focusing on those high solar gain areas to harness more solar energy and utilize that natural solar distribution.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy

While technology may be making improvements daily to increase the percentage of solar power we are able to harvest, small improvements worldwide are being made to help harness that small percentage to be used as energy.  Various small solar plans are sprouting up across the nation to harvest solar energy.  Their systems as shown below is able to transfer that produced solar power in two different ways, then distribute that produced alternative energy into electricity.

WAPSEC Water & Power Security – Zulenet

These solar power plants not only harness the photovoltaic rays to help produce energy but they use the heat produced from the solar rays the help produce thermal energy. 

“The high temperatures produced by CSP systems can also be used to provide heat and steam for a variety of applications (cogeneration). CSP technologies require direct sunlight (insolation) to function and are of limited use in locations with significant cloud cover.” 3

As you can see, there are a couple of advantages from harnessing the sun’s rays to make energy.  Private sectors are taking steps to not only become more sustainable, but to lower energy costs for themselves, and in return, help lower the power demand throughout the city.  Many buildings and homes are installing simple solar energy systems.  Years ago, this process was rarely used in private homes due to the high expense and low output and return in energy savings.  However, as technology improves, more and more homeowners are utilizing solar power to assist in their energy needs.  This need for private businesses and homes has produced many solar panel companies to become more main stream. 

How to Wire a Solar Powered House
Launie Sorrels, eHow Contributor

As we progress further into a more sustainable world, organizations are forming, lending a helping hand and help work towards a greener world, by offering their knowledge and services to help provide education about solar energy to communities in San Antonio. One such company is Solar San Antonio:

As per their website, “Solar San Antonio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocacy and resource center for renewable and sustainable energy applications. Utilizing community education and outreach, we strive to decrease energy costs and improve the quality of life in San Antonio and South Texas." 2

Their mission is to “establishing lines of communications throughout South Texas to nurture advocates and consolidate support for renewable energy, educating citizens and local governments using Solar San Antonio as a venue and forum to advance renewable energy applications, creating a network of positive relationships to achieve productive changes throughout South Texas, and becoming a champion for South Texas to communicate positions, ideas and input on renewable energy issues facing our region”. 2 Solar San Antonio is becoming a leader is spreading the word about renewable energy and providing that much needed education about alternative energy sources.  They offer networking opportunities for the community and general public, officials, and local businesses to learn about solar energy and other renewable energy and offer a bridge between those who are familiar with alternative energy sources and who are just beginning to learn about those resources.  Solar San Antonio provides a connection from solar suppliers to consumers.  They “organize workshops for architects, engineers, and energy managers, and act with local, state, and federal organizations to support clean energy options.” 2 They are active members of organizations such as:

·         The Department of Energy Solar America Cities

·          American Solar Energy Society

·         Texas Solar Energy Society

·         Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association

·         Texas State Energy Conservation Office

·         USGBC Central Texas Balcones Heights Chapter 
·         Build San Antonio Green

Solar San Antonio has become a pioneer in offering that education of solar power to their local community in San Antonio.  Their efforts have been recognized and awarded since 2001.  Some of their awards and recognitions include:

• 2011 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, honored as one of San Antonio Magazine’s Men of the Year
• 2011 Best Nonprofit in San Antonio Current Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2011 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, wins San Antonio Current’s Best Activist/Watchdog in Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2011 Solar San Antonio wins ‘Best Green Award’ in the Downtown Alliance Awards
• 2011 Finalist in the Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards
• 2010 San Antonio Business Journal “40 Under 40” winner, Christine Chapa
• 2010 OneStar Foundation “Governor’s Lonestar Achievement Award” winner, William Sinkin
• 2010 San Antonio Business Journal “Going Green Awards” winner for Green Marketing Campaign
• 2010 Best nonprofit in San Antonio Current Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2010 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, wins San Antonio Current Best Activist/Watchdog in Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2010 Finalist in the Business Media Public Relations (#BMPR) Awards
• 2009 Top 100 for USA TODAY #AmericaWants advertisement
• 2009 Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter Special Service Award for Lanny Sinkin & Bill Sinkin
• 2009 American Solar Energy Society Solar Hero Award for Bill Sinkin
• 2009 Founder & Chairman, Bill Sinkin, wins San Antonio Business Journal “Going Green Award”
• 2008 U.S Department of Energy designates San Antonio as a Solar America City
• 2003 U.S. Department of Energy Million Solar Roofs True Champion Award
• 2002 City Public Service Shining Star Award
• 2001 Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) Member of the Year Award

Solar San Antonio - http://www.solarsanantonio.org/

Many companies are sprouting up all over the countries that are offering the guidance of using solar panels.  Alternative energy is quickly becoming a necessary path to meet our nation’s energy demands.  We can all do our part to make those changes and become part of the solution, instead of becoming part of the problem.

Resources for this Blog Entry

1. The National Academies - http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-use/

2. Solar San Antonio - http://www.solarsanantonio.org/

Retail – Solar Homes - http://www.solarhome.org/

Bloomberg Report - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-05/darwin-effect-cuts-photovoltaic-panel-prices-abound-solar-says.html

Wikipedia – Solar Panels - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

Energy Matters - http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/solar-power/solar-panels.php

Ehow.com - http://www.ehow.com/how_4870036_calculate-panels-needed-whole-house.html

Ehow.com - http://www.ehow.com/how_4703480_wire-solar-powered-house.html - add reference

Wikipedia – Solar Power in the US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_States

Wikipedia – Energy Policy of the US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_the_United_States

The Daily Chode - http://dailychode.blogspot.com/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics - http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo10503/solar_power.pdf

Careers in solar power [electronic resource] / James Hamilton.

Other titles: At head of title: Green jobs: solar power Author: Hamilton, James. Other authors: United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online: http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo10503 Publisher info: [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, [2011] Subjects: Solar energy -- United States.
Solar energy industries -- Employment -- United States -- Forecasting. Description: 1 online resource (19 p.) : ill., col. map. Includes: computer file Notes: Title from PDF title screen (bls.gov., viewed July 28, 2011).
"June 2011--Report 2."
Includes bibliographical references.
System requirements: WWW browser and pdf reader.

3. WAPSEC Water & Power Security – Zulenet - http://www.zulenet.com/electriceco/CSP-Concentrating-Solar-Power.html

Solar Panels for RV Solar Panels - http://solarpanelsforrv.com/solar-power-home-and-save-the-environment/

Water – Conservation Methods / Initiatives

Sustainability Issues Course

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Water – Conservation Methods / Initiatives

While it may seem that water is everywhere, being that over 70% of the earth is water, it is made up of mostly salt water which is unusable.  Unfortunately, 99% of the water on our earth is unusable, which only leaves 1% of our water that can be safely used for human consumption.  Lakes make up 0.86% of our water supply while rivers only make up a mere 0.02% of our safe drinking water.  Ocean water can be treated for human use and consumption, but a. it’s a lengthy and expensive process for mass quantities, and b. it can be lethal if not done properly.  Here is a breakdown of the earth’s water supply.

Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission

The process of purifying salt water into drinking water is done through a process called Desalination.  “The traditional process used in these operations is vacuum distillation—essentially the boiling of water at less than atmospheric pressure and thus a much lower temperature than normal. This is because the boiling of a liquid occurs when the vapor pressure equals the ambient pressure and vapor pressure increases with temperature. Thus, because of the reduced temperature, energy is saved”. 1  This process not only produces safe drinking water, but conserves energy as well.  This process is being used in Israel, where they just opened the world’s largest reverse osmosis desalination plant.  This plant will provide more than 127 million cubic meters of purified water a year, providing roughly 20% of the annual household consumption in Israel.

This desperate situation causes many to stop and ask several questions.  What is the largest source of waste of water?  Is it possible to recycle water?  How can we conserve water?  Is water a right, or is it a privilege?  One thing we do know is that humans cannot survive without water.  A person can go without food for several weeks; however, a person can only live roughly 3 to 5 days without water.  Therefore, water is critical to our survival on this planet.  And with the knowledge that our usable water is roughly 1% of our water supply on this earth, this leads us to a grave concern.  While some countries view water as a privilege, most industrial countries view water as a right and tend to waste water at a much higher rate due to that belief.  The countries that perceive water as a privilege, while they are conserving water at a much higher rate than those who view it as a right, continue to have contamination issues and are unable to purify their water correctly.  “About 20% of the world's population lacks access to safe drinking water and about 50% lacks adequate sanitation.” 2 They are receiving their water through rivers and streams and other sources that lack the either a natural purification process or a safe way to purify their own water.  And communities, who view water as a right, are themselves running into complications of purifying water quick enough to meet the needs and demands of the local community.  With such pressing issues, within both communities, it’s important to take a good look at how we use water today, and investigate ways to change those habits and become more responsible with our precious water usage.  First thing to look at is how close we are guarding the usable water we do have.  Studies show that many various countries are polluting their waters in very different ways:

“Some more water pollution facts: Asian rivers are the most polluted in the world. They have three times as many bacteria from human waste as the global average and 20 times more lead than rivers in industrialized countries. Thirty percent of Ireland's rivers are polluted with sewage or fertilizer. The King River is Australia's most polluted river, suffering from a severe acidic condition related to mining operations.100, 000 marine mammals, 1 million sea birds and other aquatic lives are killed due to plastic waste in water and coastal area. Bangladesh has some of the most polluted groundwater in the world. In this case, the contaminant is arsenic, which occurs naturally in the sediments. Around 85% of the total area of the country has contaminated groundwater, with at least 1.2 million Bangladeshis exposed to arsenic poisoning and with millions more at risk. Pollution of freshwater (drinking water) is a problem for about half of the world's population. Each year there are about 250 million cases of water-related diseases, with roughly 5 to 10 million deaths.” 2

The graphic below demonstrates how various homes, business, factories, and even animals are contributing to the world’s water pollution.

Water Filters and Purification Guide  from the EPA

As you can see, water pollution is a worldwide issue and is a problem that deserves every cultures attention.  Now that we know how industries are polluting our waters, how are we as individuals polluting our waters?  Did you know every time you use the restroom, or do laundry, wash the dishes or pour grease down the drain, that you are polluting the water?  Grey water is any waste water generated from those every day domestic activities.  Black water is waste water that contains sewage from human waste.  And finally there is potable water that is safe and clean drinking water.  Private individuals pollute up to 80% of our earth’s safe drinking water. 

The Safe Drinking Water Foundation states: “ Plant nutrients, such as phosphates and nitrates, enter the water through sewage, and livestock and fertilizer runoff. Phosphates and nitrates are also found in industrial wastes. Though these chemicals are natural, 80 percent of nitrates and 75 percent of phosphates in water are human-added.”

The Oil Spill Blog

The second issue to examine is how do we use our water more wisely?  How can we use water that isn’t safe for drinking, to provide the irrigation and hydration of the community around us?  Many homeowners are utilizing a system called rainwater harvesting.  They have made improvements to their homes so that they are able to literally harvest any natural moisture that the weather may provide.  They are able to take that harvested rain water and purify and filter it so that it is safe for human consumption.“By some estimates, residential water usage can be reduced by 50% or more if we harvest and reuse our rainwater.   The payback for commercial establishments can be even greater.” 3 

The graphic below demonstrates this system and how it is being used in homes today.

Black Diamond NOW – Rainwater Collection systems

Another method of conserving water through recycling or redistribution is through water reclamation.  Water reclamation is a process that takes waste water from homes and businesses is then purified through a process using biological and chemical treatment so that it is safe to be returned into the environment.  WaterSMART, an organization from the Bureau of Reclamation, offers education, grants, and more for individuals, state agencies and local governments to assist with water reclamation.  For those of you who know nothing of the Bureau of Reclamation, they were established in 1902 and have been a major contributor to the development of our western portion of the nation.  

“The Bureau of Reclamation is best known for the dams, power plants, and canals it constructed in the 17 western states. These water projects led to homesteading and promoted the economic development of the West. Reclamation has constructed more than 600 dams and reservoirs including Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and Grand Coulee on the Columbia River.  Today, we are the largest wholesaler of water in the country. We bring water to more than 31 million people, and provide one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts.”  

The Bureau of Reclamation

As you can see, water conservation can go anywhere from an individual level to a huge metropolitan level.  There are many things that we as individuals and businesses can do to prevent water pollution and help conserve water for not only our generations but future generations to come.
-We can recycle instead of create more waste that, in turn, demands more water usage for our waste management facilities. 
-We can dispose of our household chemicals more responsibly instead of introducing those toxins into our water supply. 
-We can purchase items that haven’t been packaged with poisonous dyes that go into our groundwater in our landfills. 
-We can limit our travel and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into our atmosphere. 
-And lastly, we can practice water conservation through methods such as rainwater harvesting and recycling grey water for plant irrigation. 

We can all make a difference, once we know how to conserve and makes those improvements, we can begin our steps in the right direction.

International Water Conservation

Resources for this Blog Entry

Data source: Igor Shiklomanov's chapter "World fresh water resources" in Peter H. Gleick (editor),  1993, Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World's Fresh Water

Resources (Oxford University Press, New York).

Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission - http://www.pacificwater.org/pages.cfm/water-services/water-demand-management/water-distribution/

International Water Conservation - http://www.keepbanderabeautiful.org/waterconservation.html

Discovery Health - http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/death-dying/live-without-food-and-water2.htm

2. Buzzle.com – Water Pollution - http://www.buzzle.com/articles/facts-about-water-pollution.html

SDWF - http://www.safewater.org/PDFS/resourcesknowthefacts/WaterPollution.pd

The Oil Spill Blog - http://www.oilgoneeasy.com/oil_spill_blog/storm-water-pollution

Water Filters and Purification Guide  from the EPA- http://www.waterfilters-camping-water-purifier.com/pollution-sources.html

 

3. Black Diamond NOW – Rainwater Collection systems - http://www.blackdiamondnow.org/2009/10/rainwater-harvesting-one-solution-to-stormwater-runoff.html

The Bureau of Reclamation - http://www.usbr.gov/main/about/

1. Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desalination

Reuters - http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/05/16/idINIndia-48529520100516

Arlington's Eco-fest on Sept. 17th

 

 

I wanted to send out the word about Arlington's Eco-Fest coming up on September 17th!

It's a great chance to get out and learn about what our city is doing for the environment

and a great chance to get your kiddos involved!

 

http://www.arlingtontx.gov/ecofest/