Why do WE need to Reduce?

1. Why do WE need to Reduce? • Global Warming is a fact • China has surpassed the U.S. in Greenhouse gas emissions and India is on it’s way • If we do nothing, they will continue to do nothing (The Economist 9/9/06)

2. What can we do? • Build Green

3. Build Green

4. What can we do? • Build Green • Use Electricity not from Fossil Fuels

5. Green Electricity

6. Deep Heat Mining http://www.dhm.ch/dhm.html and http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/01/29/the_power_of_rocks/?p1=email_to_a_friend • Geothermal energy is the only renewable source of energy which can be tapped year round and no need of storage facilities

7. What can we do? • Build Green • Use Electricity not from Fossil Fuels • Hydrogen or Solar-Powered Vehicles

8. Hydrogen Powered Vehicles

9. What can we do? • Build Green • Use Electricity not from Fossil Fuels • Hydrogen Powered Vehicles • Invest in Green Companies

10. What can we do? • Build Green • Use Electricity not from Fossil Fuels • Hydrogen Powered Vehicles • Invest in Green • Remove the CO2 from the Atmosphere

11. Carbon Sequestration • Planting vegetation • Carbon dioxide capture and storage • Underground injection and geologic sequestration, or permanent storage, of the CO2 in rock formations that contain tiny openings - or pores - that trap and hold the CO2 • Baking Soda?

12. Carbon Sequestrationhttp://sequestration.mit.edu/technology_overview/index.html The Sleipner project in Norway's North Sea is the world's first commercial carbon dioxide capture and storage project Started in 1996, it sequesters about one million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year http://www.statoil.com/STATOILCOM/SVG00990.NSF/web/sleipneren?opendocument

13. Can Baking Soda curb Global Warming? Staff Writer, CNET News.com November 27, 2007, 4:00 AM PST “Jones, the founder and CEO of Skyonic, has come up with an industrial process called SkyMine that captures 90 percent of the carbon dioxide coming out of smoke stacks and mixes it with sodium hydroxide to make sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. The energy required for the reaction to turn the chemicals into baking soda comes from the waste heat from the factory. The system also removes 97 percent of the heavy metals, as well as most of the sulfur and nitrogen compounds, Jones said.”

15. What can we do? • Build Green • Use Electricity not from Fossil Fuels • Hydrogen Powered Vehicles • Invest in Green Companies • Remove the CO2 from the Atmosphere • Encourage Ratification of Kyoto Protocol

16. Goals of Kyoto Protocol Reduction of greenhouse gases to below 1990 levels: • 5.2% reduction by industrialized nations by 2012 • 7% for US, 8% for European Union; developing nations were exempt • US Senate voted no • 2001- Bush said no until all countries be subject to emission limits • As of 2010: 190 countries have ratified; US only one not to ratify

17. What can we do? • Build Green • Use electricity not from fossil fuels • Hydrogen Powered Vehicles • Invest in Green Companies • Remove the CO2 from the Atmosphere • Encourage Ratification of Kyoto Protocol • Cap and Trade? • Cut back on the eating of Red Meat

18. Cattle and Methane • Cattle and other ruminant animals • Methane is by-product of digestion • Organisms in their stomachs break down fiber in grasses and grains they eat • Methane is 20 to 60 times as strong of a greenhouse gas as CO2

19. Reducing the Threat of Outdoor Air Pollution • Cut fossil fuel usage (especially coal) • Transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy sources to developing countries • Reduce deforestation • Use sustainable agriculture • Slow population growth • Remove CO2 from smokestacks and vehicle emissions

20. Indoor Air Pollution • EPA found indoor concentrations of toxic air pollutants are often higher than outdoor.

21. Important Indoor Air pollutants • Nitrogen dioxide • Carbon monoxide • Formaldehyde (carpeting and plywood) • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (paints and solvents) • House dust mites (and other allergens, e.g. from pets) • Fungi, bacteria • Tobacco smoke • Fine particles • Chlorinated organic compounds (e.g. pesticides) • Asbestos and man-made mineral fibers • Radon

22. Asbestos • Several different fibrous forms of silicate minerals widely used since the 1940s • Used for fireproofing, insulation of heaters and pipes, soundproofing • Negative effects: • Remain in lungs for years • Can cause asbestosis • Can cause mesothelioma

23. Fig. 17-18 p. 436 Radon • Radon 222- a colorless, odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the radioactive decay of uranium-238 • Can cause lung cancer • Lifetime exposure in a home responsible for 13,600 deaths a yr.

24. Fig. 17-17 p. 434 Indoor Air Pollution

25. Sick Building Syndrome • Flu-like symptoms from indoor pollution • a building is “sick” when at least 20% of its occupants suffer persistent symptoms that stop when they go outside • no specific illness or cause can be identified • Causes: • Inadequate ventilation • Chemical contaminants • Biological contaminants

26. Reducing indoor air pollution • Ban smoking or limit to well ventilated areas • Set stricter formaldehyde emission standards • Prevent radon infiltration • Increase intake of outside air • Use machines in well ventilated areas • Circulate buildings air through rooftop greenhouses • Use less polluting harmful cleaning agents, paints and other products

27. Air Pollution Prevention:Specific Air Pollution Treatment Technology • Traditional • Move factory to remote location • Build taller smokestack so wind blows pollution elsewhere • New • Fabric filters (baghouse filters) • Electrostatic precipitators: electrically charged particles are attracted to – or + charges on the sides of the precipitator • Scrubber: particles are “scrubbed” from the exhaust stream by water droplets; water particle sludge is collected

28. Clean Air Legislation • Clean Air Act 1963 • Amended • in 1970: 6 criteria pollutants • Primary standard-set to protect human health • Secondary standard-set to prevent environmental and property damage • In 1990: cap and trade system • companies buy and sell "emission allowances" for a particular pollutant • Government sets standards