370 likes | 562 Views
Green. Energy. Program paid for and brought to by - Anja Bananja -Franz the Manz - And Just Chadrick. Overview-. What is Green Energy?. Different Types?. What is sustainability?. German Green Energy. Cost and Efficiency. Recycling . What is Green Energy?.
E N D
Green Energy Program paid for and brought to by -Anja Bananja -Franz the Manz - And Just Chadrick
Overview- What is Green Energy? Different Types? What is sustainability? German Green Energy Cost and Efficiency Recycling
What is Green Energy? -It is energy resources that are renewable -Can be naturally replenished -Clean, Safe and not harmful to the environment (aka mother earth)
Types of Green Energy Green Energy going cute
Solar Power • Is produced by using photovoltaic cells, which capture sunlight and turns that into energy.
Problems? -The sun has got to shine -The cost of solar panels and the systems range between $20k-40k -The light from the sun produces a very small amount of energy
Wind Power -These giant pinwheels spin from strong winds which spins a turbine of a generator to produce energy.
Any Studies done? • It is said that wind energy is suppose to bring down costs and reduce the in the air. • Well Forbes found a study on this and wrote an article about it. • Forbes said “no” • Bentek Energy did the Study and used about 1/3 of the US population for 2 years. • The claims of cutting CO₂ emissions were actually less than half of what was stated. • Subsidies (government money) to the wind sector is more than 200 times as great as those given to oil and gas sector.
Power to the Water • By using earth’s water cycles and running water used threw mostly dams to provide energy. • Hydropower is about 1/3 the cost of using fossil fuels and about 1/6 the cost of natural gas. • 90% energy efficient compared to natural gas being 50% efficient. • The only problem is, you need water.
Biofuels I Love you Plants • Using natural materials to turn into fuel or forms of combustible energy. • Which is mostly plants and plant products
Cost Efficient? So much for the love…. • A study done by OSU • Going to biofuels would be like adding a new gas tax. About 25 cents. • And it is not proven to reduce green house gases and may even produce more of them.
Geothermal Energy -By using heat from the earth’s crust in forms of hot water and steam to power generators for electricity.
The Math? • Geothermal Energy systems are expensive to put in. • But they are able to pay themselves off in 5 to 10 yrs. • Is able to cut the energy bills by 30 to 40%.
Overall Good Bad (technology not there yet) Solar Wind biofuels • Hydropower • Geothermal
Key Concepts • Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany have reworked policies to promote growth that is more environmentally sustainable • Germany’s policies aimed at “greening” the economy provide several lessons for the United States about how to make sustainability politically acceptable in a federal system of government • Germany's impressive feat has been less about innovation than about implementation • Germany has become a forerunner in promoting a greener, more sustainable future
German Renewable Energy Act(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG)) • The Act came into force in the year 2000 • Initial spark of a tremendous boost of renewable energies in Germany • Proved to be the world's most effective policy framework at accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies • The Renewable Energy Act was the central political element of one of the greatest paradigm shifts since the start of the industrial revolution: the shift from fossil and atomic energy supplies to renewable energy sources.
Freiburg • Freiburg is a 900 year old city of under 250,000 people, perched in the wine growing region of southwest Germany • Citizens have high environmental awareness • Sunniest Region in Germany, Making it the “Solar Capital” • The Heliotrope (the world’s first energy self-sustaining solar building)
Germany and the Kyoto Protocol • Sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. • Between March 1998 and March 1999, 84 countries includingGermany signed the Kyoto Protocol. • In March 2002, the Bundestag unanimously ratified Kyoto. In May 2002, the European Union submitted the articles of ratification for all 15 of its then member states. • Since signing and ratifying the protocol, Germany has committed to reducing its emissions to 21% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012
How it began… • The “Green Movement” in Germany was ignited by damaging acid rain that was ruining their forests • Challenging the “Throwaway Society” • Space was becoming limited for landfills • NIMBY syndrome was rampant and there was an imperative need to find a solution
VerpackungsverordnungThe Ordinance on the Avoidance of Packaging Waste (1991) • Making the “Polluter Pay” • Goal: to give private industry incentive to consider the solid waste consequences when it designs packages • Requires industry to take back, reuse, and/or recycle packaging • Major Objectives • Packaging should be made from “environmentally responsible” materials compatible with recycling • Weight and volume of packaging should be minimized • Packaging should be refillable, if feasible • Packaging should be recycled if it cannot be refilled
How It Works • This system requires thorough implementation of the legislation • It could not possibly work without the cooperation of its citizens • According to a 1998 survey, about 91% of German homeowners separate their waste in order to contribute to environmental protection
TheColorSystem • White – white or clear glass • Brown – brown glass • Green – green glass • Blue – paper and cardboard • Yellow – Packaging (Green Dot) • “Bio” – leftover food and plant waste • Grey – Household waste • Orange – miscellaneous plastic and metal
Glas • All glass bottles are collected at community “igloos” • It is very important that the colors are sorted properly • A sophisticated sorting system processes the glass and produces new glass as beverage containers
Papier Various Recyclables Envelopes Books Catalogues Cartons Writing Pads Washing Detergent Boxes (without plastic) Newspapers Paper Boxes • All collected paper is processed at a sorting plant where any “mixed paper” packaging is removed • The paper is dissolved, pulped, pressed, and dried • Turned into newspaper and the beginnings of corrugated cardboard
Der Grüne Punkt“The Green Dot” • Established by DSD • Manufacturers pay a fee to become a member of DSD and are permitted to use the trademark on all their packaging • Fees are determined based on the material, weight, and number of items, as well as the costs for appropriate disposal
Verpackung Metal/Other Plastic Plastic wrap Liquid Refill bags Yogurt cups Plastic bags Screw-top bottle tops • Aluminum foil • Tins, Cans • Polystyrene • Composite Beverage containers • Empty spray cans
Die Anderen Bio / Household Miscellaneous (Orange Bin) This newly added category has been developed for the collection of misc. non-packaging items Frying pans Appliances Broken plastic toys CD’s • Citizens are urged to keep a compost bin at their home • An alternative is to dispose of old food and garden waste in the gray bin to be sent to the incinerator. • Household waste includes: ash , cigarette butts, personal hygiene products, nylon stockings, and others
Interesting Statistics • Germany leads European nations in recycling, with around 70% of the waste the country generates successfully recovered and reused each year • In 2007, the US was able to recover only about 33% of the waste generated that year • Between 1996-2007, the country has reduced its total net waste amount by more than 37.7 million U.S. tons • In 2004, package recycling saved about 73.2 billion mega joules of primary energy which equals about 20 billion kilowatt hours. • In 2004, about 5.2 million tons of packages were recycled, which equals 63 kg per capita • Since its implementation, recycling has prevented about 1.06 million tons of CO2from being emitted into the atmosphere.
Works Cited • Blue, Laura, and Schwandorf. "The Environment." Time. Time, 17 Apr. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. • Bryce, Robert. "A New Study Takes The Wind Out of Energy." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. • Fishbein, Bette K. Germany, Garbage and the Green Dot: Challenging a Throwaway Society. N.p.: Inform, 1994. Print. • "Freiburg Green City." Freiburg Green City. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. • "Germany, Garbage, and the Green Dot: Challenging the Throwaway Society (Executive Summary)." Informinc.org. INFORM, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. • "Green Econometrics." Green Econometrics RSS. N.p., 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. • Hansen, Holger. "Germany Eyes Cap for Support for Wind Power, Biomass." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. • Hickman, Leo. "A Small Town in Germany Where Recycling Pays." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. • "Hydroelectric Power." Renewable Energy,. Alternative Energy, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. • Look, Marie. "Trash Planet: Germany." Earth911com RSS. Infinity Resources, 13 July 2009. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. • "News & Research Communications." OSU Study Questions Cost-effectiveness of Biofuels and Their Ability to Cut Fossil Fuel Use. Oregon State University, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2012. • "Picture Gallery." Facts about Germany: Environment, Climate, Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. • "Recycling and Waste Separation in Germany | Germany | Country Profiles." Recycling and Waste Separation in Germany | Germany | Country Profiles. Textronics, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. • Rogers, Stephanie. "MNN - Mother Nature Network." MNN - Mother Nature Network. MNN, 25 July 2012. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. • Watson, Stephanie. "How Geothermal Energy Works." HowStuffWorks. Discovery, n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.