critical thinking report for environment

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Week Nine/Ten Energy and Water

“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out until we tackle that.” Thomas Edison

Energy Efficiency

Area Action
Electronics Turn off computers and monitors when not in use. Plug all electronic devices into power strips, and turn strips off when devices are not in use. Screen savers do not save energy. Instead, switch computers to sleep mode or turn off monitors.
Temperature Lower your hot water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Set your thermostat as low in winter and as high in summer as is comfortable. Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. During winter, keep south-facing windows unshaded during the day and shaded at night to maximize heat gained from sunlight. Avoid placing lighting fixtures or large electronic devices near an air-conditioning thermostat, as the heat from these devices may interfere with the thermostat temperature.
Lighting Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Open blinds to use direct sunlight instead of indoor lights when possible. Install occupancy sensors, dimmers, or timers to lighting fixtures.
Insulation Invest in insulation for walls/windows

Product categories must contribute significant energy savings

Qualified products must deliver the features and performance demanded by consumers, in addition to increased energy efficiency

If the qualified product costs more than a conventional, less-efficient counterpart, purchasers will recover their investment in increased energy efficiency through utility bill savings within a reasonable amount of time

Energy efficiency can be achieved through broadly available, non-proprietary technologies offered by more than one manufacturer

Product energy consumption and performance must be measured and verified with testing

Labelling would differentiate products

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlbsGxe93e8

Energy Star Certification Guidelines

Energy Efficiency in Event Production

After testing, leave equipment off until 30 minutes before use

Handle equipment/cords with care

Bigger is not better

Position equipment strategically

Reuse when possible

Turn equipment off as soon as possible

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhenC3AvH-Q

Energy Efficiency in Catering/Food Service

Area Action
Cooking Keep your refrigerator at 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Regularly defrost manual-defrost freezers. Make sure refrigerator doors are tightly sealed. Keep items in refrigerator wrapped and contained. Keep a lid on cooking pans to conserve heat. Do not put small cooking pans over large burners. Keep range-top burners clean.
Service Buffet, French, or family-style service allows diners to choose their own portions, creating less food waste. Keep lids on buffet chafing dishes to conserve heat.
Cleaning Air dry dishes when possible. Only use the dishwasher when full. Do not wash silverware, dishes, or napkins that you are sure are untouched.

Renewable Energy Sources

Energy Opportunities
Solar Solar PV power generates electricity with solar panels. Solar thermal power generates water heat. Solar panels create an impressive display. Let the sunshine in! Create skylights and windows to use passive solar power to light and heat a room or tent.
Wind Wind turbines can provide site-specific wind energy. Turbines make a striking, powerful look on an outdoor event site. Many local energy companies offer wind power already.
Hydro Hydroplants make scenic and unique venues for events run on renewable energy. Look into microhydropower solutions from either running water or rainwater.
Biofuel Filtered waste vegetable oil (WVO) from deep fryers can provide fuel. Work with your local generator rental company to find generators that can run on biodiesel.
Human Bicycle pedal power can generate electricity. Simple machines such as push mowers operate without electricity. Wind-up radios and other devices require only a little elbow grease. Bicycles and pedicabs are eco-friendly alternatives to cars and cabs.

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtXS0WyqN8s

Renewable Energy - Solar

Icon Energy displays solar thermal heating technology at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.

Solar Power

Solar Photovoltaics (PV)

Solar Thermal

Passive Solar Power (daylighting)

The SolarPump, a solar-powered charging station, in use at South by Southwest 2010. Beth Ferguson, 2010, SolDesignLab.com.

http://smartflowersolar.com /

Total existing solar-panel systems in US Homes and Businesses

Series 1 2005 2010 2014 20000 156000 644000

Renewable Energy - Wind

http:// science360.gov/obj/video/de111fd3-5fb6-49ae-a02f-11558b417011/green-revolution-wind-power

http://inhabitat.com/wind-energy-made-beautiful-with-these-silent-wind-tree-turbines/

Renewable Energy - Hydro

Renewable Energy - Biofuel

A biofuel is a fuel that is produced through contemporary biological processes, such as agriculture and anaerobic digestion, rather than a fuel produced by geological processes such as those involved in the formation of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, from prehistoric biological matter

https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKYp0p8po

Renewable Energy - Human Power

Guerilla Cinema provides pedal power for a movie screening at the Take One Action film festival.

http://www.fireflycleanenergy.co.uk/media-section/videos-archive/

SAFE DRINKING WATER

Which consumes the most water?

A: a 10 minute shower

B: a handful of 10 almonds

C: a quarter pound hamburger patty

D: a washing machine load

SAFE DRINKING WATER

Without water, life would not exist. It is a prerequisite for all human and economic development.

Yet today, 780 million people – about one in nine – lack access to clean water. More than twice that many, 2.5 billion people, don’t have access to a toilet.

There has been significant public attention paid to the issue of water scarcity, and for good reason. Although water is a renewable resource, it is also a finite one. Only 2.53 percent of earth’s water is fresh, and some two-thirds of that is locked up in glaciers and permanent snow cover. But despite the very real danger of future global water shortages, for the vast majority of the nearly one billion people without safe drinking water, today’s water crisis is not just an issue of scarcity, but of access.

www.water.org

https:// www.youtube.com/user/water

Water Efficiency and Conservation

Catering

Only use the dishwasher when full.

Scrape, don’t rinse food off dishes.

Melt ice or frozen foods in a still basin, not with running water.

Cleaning

Only use washing machine when full.

Reuse indoor cleaning water for clean outdoors.

Water Efficiency and Conservation

Outdoors

Position sprinklers strategically.

Water the grounds in the morning to reduce heat evaporation.

Do not cut grass shorter than 3 inches.

Plumbing

Detect and repair all leaks.

Adjust flush valves and install dams on toilets.

Rainwater Harvesting

TECHNIQUE DESCRIPTION BENEFITS
Rain Gardens Landscaped areas that absorb runoff from nearby buildings Absorbs about 30% more water than a plain grass lawn. Reduces storm water runoff
Porous Pavements Permeable substances that treat water & allow it to drain into the soil Filters oil out of storm water. Reduces storm water runoff.
Green Roofs Rooftop gardens Reduce runoff. Increase access to plants for urban dwellers. Keeps buildings cooler.
Storm Water Planters Small, contained vegetated areas that collect and treat storm water using bioretention Filters pollutants. Provides plants in urban areas with limited space.
Rain Barrels Containers that collect rain water for later use Commercial or municipal irrigation. Reduce runoff.