I found the article, Minnesota Cities are Going Green, in the Minneapolis Start Tribune. This article talks about how many cities around the state want to go green and clean up their act but it is really hard to find funding to do so. This article introduces GreenStep Cities, which is a program that helps cities plan and implement green initiatives. They also challenge lawmakers to provide funding for green initiatives. The Minnesota Cities that are pilot cities for GreenStep include, Edina, Bloomington, Falcon Heights, and St. Louis Park. The main goal of GreenStep Cities is to have 25% of utilities and energy resources used by residents to come from renewable sources.
I think this a great step towards become energy efficient on a larger scale. The GreenStep Cities program website is included if you would like to check that out also. http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
New Blog Header
I have designed a fun new blog header. I took a picture of my mother and I hiking just south of Superior, Wisconsin. We are sitting in front of the big falls about 1.5 miles down the trail. I just love the fall and being able to get outside to enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Share and Voice: Recycling Online
Nowadays, you can do almost anything online.I came across a concept I thought was really cool. You can recycle online! The website ecycler.com does just that. You can recycle anything you normally would recycle. Recycling service costs money and this site is designed to set up users with other users who want their recyclable products. So instead of paying, you can recycle for FREE! This website is free to all users. It allows you to look for items, giveaway items and track the amount that you recycle. What it does is it connects those looking to get rid of lets say old newspapers with those in the area who are looking for old newspapers. They enter their information on the site, it alerts others in the area and then you put your product out on the curb for a pick up. It's really simple and I thought it was cool innovative idea. Soon everything will be able to be done over the internet!
Read n' Seed 4: Third Quater of Citizen Powered Energy Handbook
1. I read pages 144-259. I read 3 chapters that each covered 3 more different types of renewable energy sources.
2 & 3. The main topics were the 3 different renewable energy sources, biomass, liquid biofuels, and geothermal power. Biomass is basically stored solar power. What happens is the plants capture solar power through photosynthesis, and then the organic matter that makes up the plants and such are known as biomass. An example, is burning firewood to heat your home. Other examples of biomass include using pellets, and wood chips as a source of heat. Something I found really interesting is the methane gas that is produced in landfills, can be converted and used as a biofuel. So instead of polluting our planet and destroying our ozone, landfill gas is being reused.
The second renewable energy source that is discussed is liquid biofuels. Liquid biofuel is very similar to biomass. It is power from biomass (described above) that is converted into a liquid state to primarily to be used as a transportation fuel source. You have probably heard of ethanol being used in cars or biodiesel being used for diesel powered vehicles; this is a very common liquid biofuel. Ethanol is made from grain. Ethanol is a much cleaner fuel source and it is biodegradable so if there is ever an accident involving ethanol, there would be no major environmental impacts. One drawback of using ethanol, is the amount of land needed to grow feedstock crops can be grown on. Feedstock crops are the plants grown specifically to be converted into biofuel There may not be enough to reach the demand if ethanol became extremely popular. Biodiesel is not only good for the environment but it is good for an engine also. Not only can you use the same engine you've been using the entire time, biodiesel is actually more lubricated so increases the engine life. Biodiesel has none of the contaminants that have been associated with cancer in which traditional diesel contains. One drawback that is associated with biodiesel engines is that they are hard to start in the winter.
The final chapter I read discusses geothermal energy sources. This renewable energy uses heat produced from the Earth as energy. Processes such as volcanic eruptions and radioactive decay, which takes place deep within the Earth's crust, are used as energy sources.
Collecting Process:
Also, pools of super- heated water that is associated with geysers lie within the Earth. The way the energy source is collected is by drilling wells to these pools. The water and and steam that is collected is then used to spin turbines and to create the electricity. Geothermal energy is primarily used for heating buildings. Many people are unaware of geothermal potential. The use of geothermal energy could skyrocket if simply people become more aware of it and how it can be utilized.
4. I have mentioned this in my previous Read and Seeds, but I really can not stress this enough. We need to, as a nation, to find other sources of energy and incorporate them into our everyday lives. Otherwise, we will eventually run out of nonrenewable sources and our country and our people will suffer. I have just explained 3 different types of renewable sources. Each of these have the potential to replace our old energy habits, we just have to become more aware of how to use them properly. We should also find out how we can help advocate for renewable energy sources to be used. People need to become aware of these sources. Personally, I did not know what biomass or how geothermal energy was used before I read this book. I am sure many other people had never heard of these sources before. Hopefully, you have all learned something from the read and seeds and will pass this valuable information on.
2 & 3. The main topics were the 3 different renewable energy sources, biomass, liquid biofuels, and geothermal power. Biomass is basically stored solar power. What happens is the plants capture solar power through photosynthesis, and then the organic matter that makes up the plants and such are known as biomass. An example, is burning firewood to heat your home. Other examples of biomass include using pellets, and wood chips as a source of heat. Something I found really interesting is the methane gas that is produced in landfills, can be converted and used as a biofuel. So instead of polluting our planet and destroying our ozone, landfill gas is being reused.
The second renewable energy source that is discussed is liquid biofuels. Liquid biofuel is very similar to biomass. It is power from biomass (described above) that is converted into a liquid state to primarily to be used as a transportation fuel source. You have probably heard of ethanol being used in cars or biodiesel being used for diesel powered vehicles; this is a very common liquid biofuel. Ethanol is made from grain. Ethanol is a much cleaner fuel source and it is biodegradable so if there is ever an accident involving ethanol, there would be no major environmental impacts. One drawback of using ethanol, is the amount of land needed to grow feedstock crops can be grown on. Feedstock crops are the plants grown specifically to be converted into biofuel There may not be enough to reach the demand if ethanol became extremely popular. Biodiesel is not only good for the environment but it is good for an engine also. Not only can you use the same engine you've been using the entire time, biodiesel is actually more lubricated so increases the engine life. Biodiesel has none of the contaminants that have been associated with cancer in which traditional diesel contains. One drawback that is associated with biodiesel engines is that they are hard to start in the winter.
The final chapter I read discusses geothermal energy sources. This renewable energy uses heat produced from the Earth as energy. Processes such as volcanic eruptions and radioactive decay, which takes place deep within the Earth's crust, are used as energy sources.
Collecting Process:
Also, pools of super- heated water that is associated with geysers lie within the Earth. The way the energy source is collected is by drilling wells to these pools. The water and and steam that is collected is then used to spin turbines and to create the electricity. Geothermal energy is primarily used for heating buildings. Many people are unaware of geothermal potential. The use of geothermal energy could skyrocket if simply people become more aware of it and how it can be utilized.
4. I have mentioned this in my previous Read and Seeds, but I really can not stress this enough. We need to, as a nation, to find other sources of energy and incorporate them into our everyday lives. Otherwise, we will eventually run out of nonrenewable sources and our country and our people will suffer. I have just explained 3 different types of renewable sources. Each of these have the potential to replace our old energy habits, we just have to become more aware of how to use them properly. We should also find out how we can help advocate for renewable energy sources to be used. People need to become aware of these sources. Personally, I did not know what biomass or how geothermal energy was used before I read this book. I am sure many other people had never heard of these sources before. Hopefully, you have all learned something from the read and seeds and will pass this valuable information on.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Share and Voice: YouTube Video: Trash to Treaure
So I was on YouTube today and this popped up while I was searching something else. This video may be a little ridiculous but I think it has good intentions behind it and it has a good message for all of us to ingrain in our minds. In fact, the main chorus is can be quite catchy so perhaps you'll here these guys in your head when you are about to throw something recyclable in the trash :)
Share and Voice: Eco Exclusive Store in Duluth
I was walking in downtown Duluth yesterday when I saw a large green sign that said ECO. I was instantly intrigued. Since it was after business hours, I went home and looked up the store on the internet. Turns out, ECO stands for Environmentally Conscience Options. This store is dedicated to suppling environmentally friendly, non-toxic building supplies, such as counter tops, tiling, flooring, and even home furnishings. The store even offers classes that teach about how to make your home more energy efficient and do it yourself projects.
We all may be a little ways off of building our own homes or having the money to fix up our current ones but I just thought it was great to know that there a businesses that exclusively offer eco-friendly products and when were to find them. Also as Duluth native I was surprised I have never heard of this place before. It's kind of nifty to know there is some place besides Home Depot or Menards to buy home improvement products.
We all may be a little ways off of building our own homes or having the money to fix up our current ones but I just thought it was great to know that there a businesses that exclusively offer eco-friendly products and when were to find them. Also as Duluth native I was surprised I have never heard of this place before. It's kind of nifty to know there is some place besides Home Depot or Menards to buy home improvement products.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Read n' Seed 3: Second Quarter of Citizen Powered Energy Handbook
1. I have read the second quarter of the book which covers 3 chapters: Solar Energy, Wind Power, and Water Power. Pages 33-141.
2 & 3.
These 3 chapters cover 3 different types of renewable energy sources. The first is solar energy. Solar energy is very easy to acquire; enough solar energy falls onto the Earth every 45 minutes to power the entire world's energy use for one year. We need to discover a way to harness this energy. Solar energy can be used for electricity, heating, and lightening. The main ways to harness solar energy is building design, active solar systems, and photovoltaic installations (solar panels). There are basically 2 types of solar design: active and passive. Active solar design is when in order to capture the sun's energy you must have a specially designed system such as pipes, fans ducts, that move the energy into a storage place to be later used. An example of this would be a water heater system that uses solar energy. Passive solar design does not require special equipment or mechanical design. For example, a building is designed with large windows facing the East and South to properly catch the sun and provide heat.
In the second chapter, wind power is discussed. The primary way wind power is collected is through the use of wind turbines. Most of the world's wind turbines reside in Europe, Denmark and Germany are leading the way, but the United States has made a lot of progress in developing wind turbines. There are 2 main designs of wind turbines; vertical and horizontal. One of the most important things to consider before constructing a wind turbine is location; there must be adequate wind in the area in order to make the turbine work. In the United States, Minnesota has some of the most wind turbines. Minnesota is leading the way in promoting and using locally owned wind turbine projects. In the United States, community owned wind turbine projects are encouraged. The advantages of using wind power are creating jobs (workers need to construct the wind turbines) tax credit and new income for the owners; all of these are advantages along with wind power being very clean and reusable free power.
In the third chapter I read, Pahl discusses water power. Hydro-power has been used for hundreds of years. One of the oldest inventions to capture energy was the water wheel from the time of the Romans and Greeks. Hydroelectricity powers about 20% of the world's electricity. In the United States, hydro-power is most notably relied on for power grid failures. There are 3 main types of hydro-power facilities: impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage. Impoundment is when a dam is used to capture water energy. Diversion uses only a part of the river flow to create hydro-power. Finally, pumped storage is when water from a lower reservoir is pumped to a higher reservoir for times when energy is high demand. Hydro-power can also be captured from the Ocean. Energy from ocean waves can be harnessed. There are 3 main ways to harness wave energy: using floating devices that use the bobbing from the waves to create energy, using water columns that rotate in the ocean to measure energy, and the use of "focus" devices that channel wave energy into a reservoir. One final way to harness energy from the ocean is thermal energy. Thermal energy from the ocean can also be used. This is when heat from the sun that has been captured by the ocean water is used as an energy source.
I have just read about 3 different types of readily available renewable energy sources. These 3 energy sources need to implemented into the United States because eventually our non-renewable energy sources, such as oil, which we rely so heavily on, our going to run dry. By now knowing more about these different energy supplies we can either start using them, for example building our homes more solar efficient, or push for our government to build systems to harness the solar, wind, and water power. These sources are all literally in our backyard and we should take advantage of them. The costs might be steep upfront but over time these systems will pay for themselves.
2 & 3.
These 3 chapters cover 3 different types of renewable energy sources. The first is solar energy. Solar energy is very easy to acquire; enough solar energy falls onto the Earth every 45 minutes to power the entire world's energy use for one year. We need to discover a way to harness this energy. Solar energy can be used for electricity, heating, and lightening. The main ways to harness solar energy is building design, active solar systems, and photovoltaic installations (solar panels). There are basically 2 types of solar design: active and passive. Active solar design is when in order to capture the sun's energy you must have a specially designed system such as pipes, fans ducts, that move the energy into a storage place to be later used. An example of this would be a water heater system that uses solar energy. Passive solar design does not require special equipment or mechanical design. For example, a building is designed with large windows facing the East and South to properly catch the sun and provide heat.
In the second chapter, wind power is discussed. The primary way wind power is collected is through the use of wind turbines. Most of the world's wind turbines reside in Europe, Denmark and Germany are leading the way, but the United States has made a lot of progress in developing wind turbines. There are 2 main designs of wind turbines; vertical and horizontal. One of the most important things to consider before constructing a wind turbine is location; there must be adequate wind in the area in order to make the turbine work. In the United States, Minnesota has some of the most wind turbines. Minnesota is leading the way in promoting and using locally owned wind turbine projects. In the United States, community owned wind turbine projects are encouraged. The advantages of using wind power are creating jobs (workers need to construct the wind turbines) tax credit and new income for the owners; all of these are advantages along with wind power being very clean and reusable free power.
In the third chapter I read, Pahl discusses water power. Hydro-power has been used for hundreds of years. One of the oldest inventions to capture energy was the water wheel from the time of the Romans and Greeks. Hydroelectricity powers about 20% of the world's electricity. In the United States, hydro-power is most notably relied on for power grid failures. There are 3 main types of hydro-power facilities: impoundment, diversion, and pumped storage. Impoundment is when a dam is used to capture water energy. Diversion uses only a part of the river flow to create hydro-power. Finally, pumped storage is when water from a lower reservoir is pumped to a higher reservoir for times when energy is high demand. Hydro-power can also be captured from the Ocean. Energy from ocean waves can be harnessed. There are 3 main ways to harness wave energy: using floating devices that use the bobbing from the waves to create energy, using water columns that rotate in the ocean to measure energy, and the use of "focus" devices that channel wave energy into a reservoir. One final way to harness energy from the ocean is thermal energy. Thermal energy from the ocean can also be used. This is when heat from the sun that has been captured by the ocean water is used as an energy source.
I have just read about 3 different types of readily available renewable energy sources. These 3 energy sources need to implemented into the United States because eventually our non-renewable energy sources, such as oil, which we rely so heavily on, our going to run dry. By now knowing more about these different energy supplies we can either start using them, for example building our homes more solar efficient, or push for our government to build systems to harness the solar, wind, and water power. These sources are all literally in our backyard and we should take advantage of them. The costs might be steep upfront but over time these systems will pay for themselves.
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