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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR A WARMING PLANET. Jack Parker, Professor Emeritus Environmental Science, Chemistry Florida International University. {}. GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE. Ocean Degradation/Pollution Tropical Deforestation, Endangered Species
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SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR A WARMING PLANET Jack Parker, Professor Emeritus Environmental Science, Chemistry Florida International University
{} GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE • Ocean Degradation/Pollution • Tropical Deforestation, Endangered Species • Water and Food Resources • Population Growth
TROPICAL DEFORESTATION(ABOUT 15% OF GHG EMISSIONS) • Beef Cattle Grazing • Logging/Paper • Soybean production (food/animal feed) AMAZON: droughts/wildfires in 2005/6: more CO2 than 10yrs of sequestering SAVE THE RAINFOREST!
DENIALISTS: No Warming Last DecadeDISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNRoyal Society of London: criticized Exxon's funding of "organizations misinforming the public about the science of climate change" • LAST 12 MONTHS: WARMEST EVER RECORDED • 4 OF THE 5 WARMEST YEARS IN LAST DECADE 1 UP 1.6OF IN LAST 50 YRS
THE CLIMATE CRISIS Up 4oC or 7oF more by 2100------>
MAJOR FEEDBACKS Current (In Models) • Melting Glaciers/Sea Ice + • More water vapor + Future (Not in Models) • Methane from Permafrost & Seabeds+ • More clouds + or –
ClimateChangeScience • U.S. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: A strong, credible body of scientific evidence shows that climate change • is occurring, • is caused largely by human activities, and • poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems • 97% OF RESEARCH CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SURVEYED SAID HUMANS ARE CAUSING GLOBAL WARMING
SURPRISES:RECENT INCREASE IN EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS THAILAND 2011 AUSTRALIA FLOODING IN PAKISTAN (2010 AND 2011) 500 YEAR FLOOD EXPECT MORE PRECIPITATION IN SHORT PERIODS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT! ARCTIC SEA ICE NEW ALLTIME LOW 2012 ANTARCTICA WARMING WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ARCTIC DOESN’T STAY IN THE ARCTIC!
BALLPLAYER ON STEROIDS Extreme Heat, DROUGHT, FIRE • JULY 2011:Oklahoma & Texas Hottest monthly temperature ever recorded • July 2012: United States Hottest month ever recorded • 2011/12: United States • Hottest 12 months ever recorded • Worst Heat/Drought and Wildfires since 1930’s
SEA LEVEL RISE NEXT TWO DECADES • Saltwater • Intrusion, 2009 Well-field Area FLORIDA 2080? MIAMI BEACH FLOODING FROM SFWMD
OCEAN and COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS“FUNDAMENTAL AND IRREVERSIBLE TRANSFORMATIONS” • Temperature up over 1oF • Ocean Acidification impact on calcifiers • Rapid decline in Phytoplankton MANGROVES CORAL REEFS BLEACHING
SOLUTIONS80% REDUCTION IN CO2 BY 2050MIAMI-DADE 2% SOLUTION Up 4oC or 7oF more by 2100------> <------Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change------>
HIGHEST PRIORITY: STOP BURNING COAL CLEAN COAL??? WHEN??? REPLACE WITH CHP AND NATURAL GAS FRACKING
REDUCE NON-CO2 GHG’S(OFTEN MORE EASILY REDUCED THAN CO2) FOOD/YARD WASTES • METHANE • Landfills • Recycle • Compost • Methane capture • Meat production Eat less beef! • REDUCE TROPICAL DEFORESTATION “Save the Rainforest” • SOOT From cooking, waste burning, forest fires, diesel engines, ocean ships 20% REDUCTION IN SOOT & CO2
PERSONAL CO2 EMISSIONSCARBON FOOTPRINT UNITED STATES • 20% of World’s Emissions • 22 TONSCO2/person/year • Car ~ 7 tons CO2/yr • Airplane ~ 2-3 tons CO2/yr • House ~ 13 tons CO2/yr
WORST IMPACTS ON POOREST COUNTRIES, WOMEN, FOOD SECURITY DROUGHTS IN AFRICA IMPACTS ON WORLD FOOD SUPPLY
CARBON OFFSETS SOLAR ELECTRIC LIGHT FUND (SELF.org) Haiti: Solar Electricity and Lighting for Partners in Health Clinics SOLAR IRRIGATION
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE COFFEE FAIR TRADED/ORGANIC/SHADE GROWN Reducing pesticides and fertilizers: Reduces fossil fuel inputs/water pollution Use agricultural waste to make BIOCHAR BIOCHAR BUY LOCAL …
BUS TUBE CURITIBA URBAN SUSTAINABILITY GREEN ROOF ELEVATED BUS URBAN DESIGN TREE-SHADED SIDEWALKS BIKING/WALKING
REDUCING YOUR TRANSPORTATION CARBON FOOTPRINT 2010 Prius-50 mpg NEW U.S. Standards 27.5mpg 35.5mpg by 2016 54.5mpg by 2025 • Average Car ~1#CO2/mile • Conservation • Empty the trunk • Inflate to max psi on tire (usually 35psi) • Combine trips • Car/Truck Purchase: • each extra mpg: 700#CO2/yr 2012 PRIUS PLUG-IN HYBRID ~90MPG BIKE SHARING CITY CAR
REDUCING THE UHI WHITE REFLECTIVE ROOFS AND ENERGY EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING HABITAT FOR HUMANITY COMMUNITY HOMESTEAD
AUTOMOBILE FUEL ALTERNATIVES?? • Canadian Tar Sands—low net energy, high pollution, high CO2 • Hydrogen Car • NOTan energy source, 30 X more costly • Not within 20 yrs, maybe never; need fuel cell breakthroughs • High pollution if made from coal • Clean and renewable if made from solar/wind • Biofuels—Ethanol, Biodiesel
SUSTAINABLE BIOFUELS • Substantial reductions in CO2 emissions • Use plant/agricultural Wastes or algae grown in eutrophic water • Minimal competition with food production • Uses sustainable agriculture, preserves soil CELLULOSIC ETHANOL PLANT ALGAE IN WASTEWATER
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Cogeneration--Combined heat and power—80 GW Biomass—Agricultural and municipal wastes, wood Wind Solar—local and utility scale Geothermal Ocean Energy—Tidal, Waves SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY
EFFICIENCY/CONSERVATIONTHE GREENEST ENERGY • Saves money • Lowers trade deficit and increases national security • Increase in jobs (particularly local jobs) Energy Efficient Lights CFL LED
HANDOUT ON RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY • Hot Water: Low-flow Showerhead, Solar • Electronics/Computers/Cable Boxes: turn off when not used • Energy-efficient Appliances: • front-loading clothes washer • Refrigerator • dishwasher
Reduce Air Conditioning by 50% • SMALL, HIGH-EFFICIENCY (SEER 16) AIR CONDITIONER • White Reflective Roof or Radiant Barrier • More Insulation and weather-stripping • Plug Duct Leaks • A.C Thermostat up 1oF (saves ~5%) • Ceiling Fans (particularly in bedrooms) • ENERGY EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
ENERGY-EFFICIENT LANDSCAPINGReduces air-conditioning by 20-40% • Drought-resistant Shade Tree: 60#CO2/yr sequestered BUT600#/yr if energy-efficient landscaping • Plant on East, South and West so that MATURE CANOPIES ARE ADJACENT TO BUILDING 6o cooler WALL UP TO 25oF COOLER
WIND ENERGY • Increasing almost 30%/yr for last two decades, very large potential • World: 240,000MW, most in Europe, China, and U.S. (Texas, Mid-west) • Major advances in Carbon-fiber blades,Variable speed turbines, Tubular towers • Low Environmental Impacts (birds, aesthetics) • Renewable and NO CO2 • Costs: 6-10c/kwh, boon to ranchers OFFSHORE WIND & SOLAR WERE TWO THIRDS OF NEW EUROPEAN POWER, 2011
SOLAR HOT WATER & ELECTRICITY SOLAR HOT WATER SOLAR PV CELLS • Increasing about 40%/yr, • Minimal environmental impacts, NO CO2 • But High Costs/Low Efficiency: 12c/kwh 26c/kwh GREEN JOBS Zero-energy Habitat- For-Humanity House
CENTRALIZED SOLAR(10-15c/kwh) • Photovoltaics • Concentrating Solar Power/Solar Thermal • trough systems, • dish/engine systems, and • power towers.
SOLAR ENERGY AND CHEMISTRY ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS 8% EFFICIENT SOLAR LEAF (Silicon Wafer) H2O O2 + H2
Global Warming is “Breathtaking opportunities disguised as insoluble problems” John Gardner, Founder, Common Cause
IMPACTS ON AGRICULTURE • Longer growing season in cold areas • More frequent heavy down-pours • More intense droughts, heat waves • More pest, weeds SUMMER 2012
URBAN TREES AND SUSTAINABILITYSOCIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION Florida Urban Forestry Council Award: Outstanding Tree Advocacy Group
{} GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE • Ocean Degradation/Pollution • Tropical Deforestation, Endangered Species • Water and Food Resources • Population Growth