Month: September 2014

In June of this year, a plan to cut carbon emissions was created by the EPA to go along with President Obama’s Clean Power Plan. This plan is supposed to help with greenhouse gas emissions, and should help the environment. If there is a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, the percentages for what is emitted into the atmosphere will drop, and will help with the greenhouse effect. This could include electricity, pollution in transportation, and what we do as humans.

Above is the Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector in 2012. Electricity is the highest emitters. “The electric power sector accounted for 32% of U.S. total greenhouse gas emissions in 2012. Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity have increased by about 11% since 1990 as electricity demand has grown and fossil fuels have remained the dominant source for generation” (EPA). With the electricity emissions increasing, too much electricity is being used. Us as people do not fully do our part when trying to stop it. There could be so much more that we could do if we really wanted to reduce this sector. Many people leave lights on when unnecessary, keep chargers and things plugged in when not being used, and much more. If this were reduced and people tried to save electricity, this sector percentage may be lowered.

“This proposal will maintain an affordable, reliable energy system, while cutting pollution and protecting our health and environment now and for future generations” (EPA). This quote says what this power plan is designed to do. This system is going to be something that is reliable, or so that is the plan. Cutting pollution will be a big help, whether it be from the transportation we use, or from what humans litter and leave behind. There have been different cars that have been made to be more echo-friendly, so this should help cut down on the transportation pollution, or at least the fossil fuels. Cleaner air will definitely improve our health, because breathing in cleaner air will be better for us.

I think that this Clean Power Plan should help the greenhouse effect a lot. The only thing is that people need to try and actually help to make this happen. When people don’t put in any effort in to try and fix this problem, it will not be able to be completely successful. What people don’t realize is that they are who are complaining and making a big deal about global warming and the greenhouse affect, but they don’t realize they they should be doing something too to help the situation as well.

“Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule.” Clean Power Plan Proposed Rule. EPA, 16 Sept. 2014. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.

“Learn About Carbon Pollution From Power Plants.” Carbon Pollution Standards. EPA, 16 Sept. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2014.

Tincher, Sarah. “WVU Law Professor Provides Insight on Clean Power Plan from Appalachian Perspective.” WVU Law Professor Provides Insight on Clean Power Plan from Appa. The State Journal, 26 Sept. 2014th. Web. 26 Sept. 2014.

 

For my group, the robotics activity had some difficulties. When we had first tried making the robot, we did not have all of the necessary parts that we had needed. We discovered a way to fix this problem, until we found this did not allow the robot to do what it was supposed to do. After we learned we had some errors within our robot, we joined with another group so that we had a properly working robot that was able to move like we needed.

The program on the computer, for me personally, was difficult to navigate. Once we had figured it out, programing the robot to move how we wanted to was interesting. We learned that the degree that the wheel rotated is related tot he turns of the wheels because it determines how far the robot will move. After playing around with different tricks it could do, we had difficulties when we unplugged it from the computer. We had it set on too fast of a speed, but when we had tried to re-program it, it just kept staying at the same speed.

Finally the next day, when we were checking how far it could go in so many seconds, it was able to work. On our first try, we had it set on a speed of 25, and in one second it traveled 29 centimeters. On the second try, we kept it on a speed of 25, and in two seconds it traveled 32 centimeters. This did not seem like it made a huge difference, but it does make sense. A small discrepancy that we realized could have happened, is that it was possible that the line of the tire was not perfectly matched up with the line of the centimeter, so our reading could not be entirely accurate.

The automobile industry is a very big part in everyday life all over the world. As the years pass and newer models of cars come out, there have been many modifications to increase gas mileage. With gas prices constantly going up people are looking to have more fuel efficient cars so they don’t spend as much on gas. The automobile industry must make changes to meet this need.

In 2012, the Obama administration had rules set that by 2025, each car will need to get 54.5 miles per gallon. To most this may seem impossible. It is possible, and would be a lot better for the economy. Although, this is not exact realistic for EVERY car. The average mileage will most likely be 40 miles per gallon. “Automakers can reduce the mileage they’re required to get with credits for selling natural gas and electric vehicles, changing air conditioning fluid to one that pollutes less, and adding stop-start circuits that temporarily shut off the engine at stop lights” (Krisher, Fuel Efficiency Standards). With hybrid cars, there has been a lot more efficiency. Not as much gas needs to be used, and a lot of dealerships are finding that they can sell them for the low gas mileage.

“Building a more fuel-efficient car no longer follows the familiar smaller-is-better blueprint that spawned the proliferation of subcompacts” (Leiser, Auto Industry Makes Strides Toward Improving Fuel Economy). Smaller cars aren’t now the only thing that creates less gas mileage. If the engine is smaller, it will use less fuel, but that does not mean the car itself must be smaller. Lighter moving parts are also being used, such: lighter connecting rods or lighter pistons. Direct injection is also being used. An idea from diesel technology, gasoline  is inserted directly into the cylinder block instead of the intake manifold. This allows for optimal fuel atomization, therefore resulting in optimal fuel mileage.

One more way is echo mode. This only allows you to reach a certain RPM so that not too much fuel is used. There is a simple button (eco button), and that electronically controls the shift points within the transmission. It restricts the RPM of the engine, because with a lower RPM, less gas mileage is used. It helps the car shift sooner so that the car does not waste gas.

cferBanerjee, Neela. “Auto Industry Fights Fuel Efficiency Standards.” Chicago Tribune. N.p., 20 July 2011. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Krisher, Tom. “Fuel Efficiency Standards: Obama Administration Finalizes New Regulations For Cars And Trucks.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 28 Aug. 2012. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

Leiser, Ken. “Auto Industry Makes Strides toward Improving Fuel Economy : Business.” Stltoday.com. N.p., 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Sept. 2014.

GMO’s are genetically modified for the economic world. They are genetically modified for consumers, and consumer interests. GMO’s are highly controversial yet have many economic benefits. They do still stray away from organic principals of food. Some people may agree, and many may disagree. GMO’s have different effects depending on what they are.

In the article,”A Lonely Quest for Facts on Genetically Modified Crops” shows how the people of Hawaii feel about the GMO’s. They say these crops have a negative impact on the people that live there. One large issue was the rainbow papaya. Hawaii farmers had genetically mutated this against a virus that was killing crops in Hawaii. GMO’s are meant to add more nutrients to food, but is that always the case with GMO’s? Margaret Wille is a sponsor who wanted to make a GMO free oasis on Hawaii. The battle started with Margaret Wille sponsoring, and asking the council to get rid of GMO’s. Unfortunately, this request was declined.

I feel that GMO’s are not okay. It is too late to go against them. GMO’s are unreliable and take away from the original organic line of food, which is pure for the natural human being. GMOs are unnatural and do not encourage natural growth, which is essential to a healthy life. Th unnatural growth process will become the norm, and therefore decrease the health standard of human life. We need a stable food industry of organic growth to not just increase human health standards but increase economic stability and growth. We need to make a food industry that is good for the whole.