November 2015 – Contemporary Science & Innovation

Fukushima Daiichi

The Tepco Fukushima Daiicho nuclear accident occurred on 11 March, 2011. The disaster was the result of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that was followed by a tsunami.

The disaster highlighted a number of holes in the safety standards and emergency procedures . The parties involved at Tepco failed to develop the most basic safety requirements – such as assessing the probability of damage, preparing for containing collateral damage from such a disaster, and developing evacuation plans for the public in the case of a serious radiation release.

On top to the obvious flaws in the safety standards, the disaster also shed light on a lack of knowledge, training and proper equipment inspection. Had there been specific instructions given to the workers during a state of emergency within a reasonable time, the accident could have been contained more effectively (There were complete sections in the instruction manual that were missing)

In the period immediately following the disaster, the chain of command at Tepco was disrupted by the prime ministers office and this caused a great deal of confusion. Also, the government failed to inform people about the severity of the accident.

The many failures led and insufficient evacuation measures led to many in the affected area receiving unnecessary radiation exposure. Other residents were forced to leave their homes

Geothermal Energy in Iceland

The first geothermal power plant was built in 1969, today Iceland is home to seven of them. Initially, Icelanders used the energy for simple tasks such as cleaning and bathing and it wasn’t until the start of the 20th century that Icelanders started to use geothermal energy in different ways.

Today, Iceland is a pioneer in the geothermal energy sector and it accounts for 25% of the country’s total energy production. It has transformed itself into the world leader in geothermal heating.

There is no national grid in Iceland, instead the energy is produced by simply drilling a hole in the ground near one of the 600 natural springs. The steam released is then used to turn the turbines and pump water to nearby settlements.

Geothermal water is used to heat about 90% of the homes in Iceland and the hot springs have become a tourist attraction that generate millions in revenue for the Icelandic government annually

Obama’s Climate Action Plan

When he took office in 2009, Obama unveiled an extensive plan to reduce green house gas emissions by 17% by 2020. The plan also guaranteed loans for fossil fuel, wind and solar projects. by creating a plan.

Obama suggested that the government needs to do a better job at controlling the carbon emissions. As a result, the Carbon levels fell lower than they have ever been in 2012. Obama’s;’s aim was to reduce the carbon pollution in america by at least 3 billions metric tons by 2030 through the use of efficiency standards set for appliances.

The plan also aims at sparking innovation across a wide range of technologies, which will result in cleaner forms of US made energy and a reduction in the cost of energy which will benefit millions of American families in the long-run.

Apart from inspiring innovation and reducing carbon emissions, the Action plan also prepares the United States for the impacts of climate change.

Finally, the plan aims to lead global efforts to address and tackle climate change. It creates international initiatives and strengthens the global planning and response capacities when dealing with climate related issues.

MOS

Catching the Wind

This exhibition focused on wind turbines and the elements necessary for optimal performance. When installing a wind turbine you must take in consideration the wind strength and power. The exhibit also showcased which of the museum’s turbines were running and also how much energy was being produced by each of the active ones.

Conserve at Home

This exhibition focused on conserving energy at home. The exhibition had a section named “Whats Watt” which allowed victors to view and compare the energy levels of household electronics/appliances. Another part of the exhibit focused on preserving heat and alternative ways to keep heat from leaving your household. I found this especially interesting because I was able to walk away with a few tips that will help me reduce my electrical bill once the weather begins to drop in Boston.

Energized

exhibits_energized

The final exhibition focused on the energy that we need in our every day lives and on how we can use alternative energy sources because coal, oil and gas will eventually run out. The exhibit shed light on wind, solar, water and other sources of self-replenishing energy and other ways to save and consume clean energy.