Today’s class we are working with other group, each of us have to do two experiments that other group created.

I did my two experiments on Fuel Cell and Radiation in colors. So I am going to write about what I did on one of the experiments – Radiation in colors.

Sometimes during summer I wonder why my hair (black color) is always warmer than those people who have blond hair?

This experiment shows how colors will effect on the temperature.

 

Introduction

Different surfaces with colors will give us different affect on the temperature change. In a green house people use the color glass to absorb the temperature from the Sun and the purposed of the color glass is to maintain the temperature inside the green house with out escaping temperature. This lab we are going to see how much the temperature will change under different cover with different colors.

Materials

4 Thermometers with clear cases

a lamp

4 different color of markers

a timer

Procedure

1. Before we start we need to “reset” all the thermometers into room temperature. Doing so we quickly swing each thermometer back and forth, beware of surroundings.

We found out that the room temperature was around 27 C. This is our initial temperature.

     one of the instructor is resetting the thermometer.

2. We can now choose what colors that we want to put on the cases so we will have nice color covers for the thermometer.

We choose Red, Green, Blue, and Black.

3. After we colored each case with different marker we place it under the lamp which is our heat source. We place it under the lamp for about 30 minutes and each 5 minute I recorded the temperature.

 when 4 thermometer is under the heat source

4. Record all the data and compare the result with different color covers.

Result

min	5	10	15	20	25	30
Green	28	30.8	32	34.6	36.8	38
Blue	29	31	33.5	35	37.9	39.5
Red	28.5	30	31.5	33	34.8	36.7
Black	30	34	38	40	41	42

As you can see the color black absorb the whole spectrum from the white light but it does not reflect any energy. This means it gets hotter faster and it gets the highest temperature than any other thermometers, this also means that it gets colder faster when there is now heat source. The color black has the extreme change on the temperature it can absorb most heat in short time also can release most of the heat in a short period of time. The result also shows the Green color also efficient to be in a house because it can absorb and reflect  radiation so it keeps the thermal radiation inside the area longer and warms up the area faster. But the color green will not be like the color black, color green actually can keep the heat inside the area. So it keeps warm longer than other colors.

Conclusion

This lab is fun we get to do other groups’ experiment and interact with other classmate. I learned a lot at different group experiment such as the fruits battery and fuel cell which might be the future of our energy source. The radiation and absorption in colors actually proof that colors effect the heating process, and the thermal energy can be used to warm the house faster and longer.

 

 

The movie Pandora’s Promises was a mind blowing film to me. This film pointed out that our deepest fear is the radioactive that will causes cancers even death. In the 1980, nuclear power was never a popular idea people were still questioning about the entire idea. And  after Chernobyl and Three Mile Island disasters, it was most certainly sure that people are terrifying and lost its appetite for the stuff.

 After 30 years the radiation still at high level.

Tokyo, Japan after the Fukushima disaster the level is rising. But the wind brought the radiation to the other side of the planet.

After the disaster the radiation pass thought the pacific ocean.

 

Although our fear to the nuclear power plant is about the radiation but there are some facts that we need to know. In the stats it shows that no one has actually died in the United States as a consequence of a nuclear power accident, while coal kills more than 14,000 people a year most of them die from pollution. Nuclear is scary, but it kills fewer people per watt of power than coal, oil, and even solar. Chernobyl, took 30 years ago, the worst nuclear accident in history, though it killed many people at the time, it has had surprisingly limited long-term effects, according to scientists. Chernobyl as Hell on earth, most people would agree when they know about the disaster. But within these few years animals and people are actually living there again there are animal activities on the place but the radiation ,as we can see from the above picture, is still at the background. The film is focus on a new breed of scientists and environmental activists, they now  believes that there are no other options. Now a day people are deciding between the green energy or reliable and efficient but dangerous source.

Watching this film is uncomfortable, also shocking. Because I had ideas about how bad and how terrible the nuclear energy is. But this file changes lots of ideas that I once believe in. It seems like the nuclear energy is not as bad as we think. Personally, I found out that it can consider as “Green” energy. And also the effect is not as bad as we think it is, during the Fukushima disaster people were killed. But most of them are from the Tsunami or injury. This makes me have changed my opinions about the nuclear energy.

Unfortunately Tom was sick therefore we did not have a presentation from him. Get well soon Tom!

But I did saw his presentation in different class (technical communication). So today I am going to blog about one of devices that he presented – Mendocino Motor.

There are many types of engine that can benefit us in our daily lives. During Tom’s presentation he introduced us 3 different types of motor that can create energy.

1. Stirling engine

2. Mendocino Motor

3. Peltier device

Mendocino Motor interested me the most. The other two engines both require the changing temperature to generate energy. Mendocino motor is using the solar panel and also the levitation from magnets that generate movement on the motor.

What is a Mendocino Motor?

The Mendocino Motor is a magnetically levitated, solar powered electric motor.  It was first made by inventor Larry Spring of Mendocino County in California, for which it is named. The motor consists of a spinning shaft that is held up by repelling magnets, stabilized by resting a point against a wall.  It is powered by solar panels mounted on the spinning shaft, which generate currents through coils of insulated wire.

 

How it works

The motor base consists of five sets of magnets. Four magnets in the base are levitation magnets which provides levitation force against the shaft magnets. The fifth magnet, is a field magnet which provides the magnetic field for the rotor. The back plate has a piece of glass as a bearing plate.

The rotor consists of a shaft with a point on one end, magnets and rotor block. On the rotor block, there are four solar cells; one cell on each of the four sides and two sets of windings.

How it works. The rotor is levitated by the repelling force between the shaft magnets and the levitation magnets on the base. The levitation magnet also provides a forward thrust to keep the shaft point against the bearing plate.
When the light strikes one of the solar cells, it generates an electric current thus energizing one of the rotor windings. The Mendocino Motor floats in its own magnetic field and converts light into electricity and magnetism, which are then converted into the motion of the motor. It provides the satisfaction of creating an amazing bit of technology, and the opportunity to explore magnetism, electromagnetism, electric motors, solar power generation, and personal manufacturing. This produce an electromagnetic field which interacts with the field magnets in the base, causing the rotor to turn. As the rotor rotates, the next solar cell comes in position, This cell now energizes the second winding. The process repeats again.

 

 

 This picture shows when the Motor is floating in the air.

 

When the solar panel getting the light it will change the magnetic field and start turning as the picture shown at the left.

 

 

In the graphic below, we change the rotating magnet into an electromagnet, represented by the classic example of wire wound around a nail.  In one region, from 45 to 135 degrees of rotation, we run current through the electromagnet in one direction.  To keep trying to rotate the spinning electromagnet in the same clockwise direction, we run current in the opposite direction in the 225 to 315 degree region.Because we run the current in opposite directions, the torque is always turning the shaft in one direction.  During the “off” periods, inertia of the spinning motor has to be enough to get it to the next “on” cycle for it to keep spinning.

 

In brushed DC motors, conductive brushes are set up to make contact from an electrical source to the coil of wire.  With brushes setup to only make contact during those times in the rotation cycle that will help it rotate, the motor will spin powered by the electric current provided.

 

Math:

Solar panels like these have a performance curve that describes what they are capable of.  On this curve is an important point called the, “characteristic resistance.”  If you hook up the panel to a resistor with that value (or some load at that resistance), you’ll get the most power from it.  Therefore we choose a length of magnet wire that had a resistance equal to that spec.We take the electricity from the panel and run it through a coil of thin magnet wire, consisting of many turns around a loop.  When sitting in a magnetic field (near a magnet), a torque can be felt in that loop of wire.  How much torque?  The maximum torque, at the angle where maximum torque is found, can be expressed as , where

• N = the number of turns of wire
• I = the current through the wire
• B = the magnetic field within the loop of wire
• A = the area of the loop

The picture shows resistance occurs right at the bend of each panel spec.  While both panels represented can offer a similar amount of power, one will offer higher currents at a lower voltage, while the second offers a much lower current but at a higher voltage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Mendocino Motor.” MAKE. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.<http://makezine.com/projects/make-31/mendocino-motor-2/>

“Information on the Mendocino Solar Motor.” Information on the Mendocino Solar Motor. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.<http://www.chessplayingrobot.com/id4.html>

“Sign up for Our Monthly Newsletter!” K&J Magnetics Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2013.<http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=mendocino-motor-1>

 

Today we went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Reactor Laboratory to see a 6 MW nuclear reactor. When we first checked in we were given a meter that can detect the  surrounding uranium radiation level. By peeking through the hole we are were be able to see a ruler that showed us the radiation level sound us, and the changing scale will show how much radiation we are exposed in the environment. When I got mine it says about 23 curies.

Then we were having a great Lecture by Tom, the head of department, and we had a better understanding about what we should look in the laboratory and what we should avoid in there.

In the lecture he introduce us the process of fission which is a process that a neutron collides with a nucleus and the product will keep reacting with other neutron and other nucleus. The process creates heat in order to heat up the water and change to steam to turn the turbine generator and produce electricity.

Unfortunately, due to safety issue we were not allow to bring our cell-phone inside the lab. So there is no inside footage.

The MIT nuclear lab still provide the reactor to their student to access and do experiment on it. But they shut down the medical lab which they were using the radiation beam to strike the tumor in patients’ head. The medical examination was hard the patient was not supposed to move while in the process. And also he/she could not fall asleep due to the medical issue, they need a functioning brain. They have to lay there for 12 hours without moving. Then we get into the control room,  which is the second following picture. The control room have overview about everything in the lab. And the personnel can react on any emergency or any unexpected situation at the right moment without more serious damage. As we can see and imaging the further the control the less important it is.

 

After we finished the tour we have to exam out of the lab to see if we are under radiation expose. Also when we are returning the radiation meter we still need to check the meter if the meter changes to tell if we were exposed. When I return my meter it says 23 curies which is the same as when I came in.

This tour I have learn a great deal.  And I found out that the reactor lab is not as dangerous as I thought would be. During the lecture Tom told us that even taking the flight from New York to LA has more radiation than in the lab, which I found out quite stunning. But it kind of make sense that with out the “air” and cloud we will be on the higher atmosphere which will give us more radiation from the sun. And in the lab because it is well-protect therefore the radiation should be less than the flight to LA. I have seen a lots on this trip and now I have a better understanding of nuclear plant and how it generate energy. It is quite interesting  that I changed my point of view on the entire nuclear system.

 

How do Nuclear Plants works?

Nuclear Plants are much like fossil-fueled power plants. The idea of fossil fueled power plant is to heat up the water until it boils and changes to steam, then the steam will turn the turbine generator to produce electricity. The difference between them is the source of heat. Inside of a nuclear power plants, the heat to make the steam is created when uranium atoms split, also known as the fission.

Fission:

Fission is a process that the nuclear reactor to provide heat. It is a process that a neutron, in this case uranium neutron, collides with a target nucleus, in this case is uranium nucleus. After the first collide the products are more neutron and more nucleus then the neutron will keep repeating the collision with other nucleus. The process will create heat and we use the heat to boil water.

Types of Reactor:

There are two types of Nuclear reactor.

First is called pressurized water reactor, known as PWRs. It keeps water under pressure so that it heats, but does not boil. This heated water is circulated through tubes in steam generators, allowing the water in the steam generators to turn to steam, which then turns the turbine generator.

 

The water between the reactor and the steam are separated.

 

Second,  called Boiling Water Reactors also known as BWRs. In this type of reactor, the water heated by fission actually boils and turns into steam to turn the turbine generator.

In both PWRs and BWRs, the steam is turned back into water and can be used again in the process.

 

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

It was March 11, 2011, an earthquake led to major problems at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. A 14-m high tsunami triggered by the earthquake disabled all AC power to Units 1, 2, and 3 of the Power Plant, and carried off fuel tanks for emergency diesel generators. The cooling systems did not work and hydrogen explosions damaged the facilities, releasing a large amount of radioactive material into the environment. On April 12, 2011 the Japanese government officially announced that the severity of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster had reached level 7, the highest on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Before Fukushima, the only level 7 case was the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, whose 25th anniversary was marked on April 26.

 

 

The Fukushima nuclear disaster showed us once again that nuclear reactors are fundamentally dangerous. Not only do they cause significant damage to the environment, the health of populations and to national economies, the heavy financial cost of a meltdown is inevitably borne by the public, not by the companies that designed, built, and operated the plants. None of the world’s 436 nuclear reactors are immune to human errors, natural disasters, or any of the many other serious incidents that could cause a disaster. Millions of people who live near nuclear reactors are at risk.The lives of hundreds of thousands of people continue to be affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, especially the 160,000 who fled their homes because of radioactive contamination, and continue to live in limbo without fair, just, and timely compensation. They have only a false hope of returning home, yet the Japanese government is eagerly pushing to restart reactors, against the will of its people, and without learning true lessons from Fukushima.

Fukushima disaster caused Japan at a stroke the country to lose 20% of its nuclear electricity supply. Nuclear produced 300 TWh of power in 2010, and before the March tsunami, the plan was for this to increase by nearly 50% to 447 TWh by 2019. Japan had made aggressive commitments to reduce carbon emissions, and despite broad targets for renewable energy.

New strategy

After the disaster Japan now has couple targets they want to improve on.

1. Target world leadership in energy efficiency

Japan should now embark on a crash programme of energy efficiency, in industrial, commercial and residential applications. Creating large pools of demand for LEDs, building automation systems, smart grids and other efficiency technologies should be accompanied by programmes to support the supply side, so that Japanese companies can become export powerhouses to help fund the investment.

2. Pass a feed-in tariff

In Japan today, there is a need for speed. Restoring the country’s electricity supply is urgent. A feed-in tariff should be the policy-maker’s weapon of choice in giving momentum to a clean energy roll-out.

3. Restructure power markets

Despite much debate about liberalisation, Japan’s power markets are more rigid than in almost any other divided up into 10 regional near-monopolies. Given the extremity of the challenge, the priorities must be innovation, flexibilityand rewards for problem-solving, but the system is biased towards protecting the status quo. In particular, with Tepco, one of the world’s largest privately-owned utilities with 24m customers, bearing massive liability and needing full support from the national government, now would be a good time to advance a broader reform agenda on energy.

4.Start to rebuild trust in nuclear power

It will be hard to erase those images of Japanese toddlers being checked for radiation by masked inspectors. From an engineering standpoint, however, there is no reason why nuclear power cannot meet a significant and even growing part of Japan’s energy needs. The nuclear industry practically invented the science of risk management, and has at its disposal
techniques to understand and manage risk with clinical thoroughness.

5.  Fire up gas generation to bridge some of the gap

Inevitably, ramping up renewables and, especially, rebuilding trust in nuclear power will take years. In the short term, Japan needs quickly to increase its ability to import natural gas and increase gas-fired power capacity, beyond 2010’s figure of just over 60GW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“How Do Nuclear Plants Work?” -Duke Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.<http://www.duke-energy.com/about-energy/generating-electricity/nuclear-how.asp>

 

“NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.” <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246178/>

“Global Research.” Global Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2013. <http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-severity-of-the-fukushima-daiichi-nuclear-disaster-comparing-chernobyl-and-fukushima/24949>

Solar Energy project around the world:

Solar energy is the cleanest and most abundant renewable energy source available to us. It is no surprise that all around the world, architects and designers are incorporating solar technology into new buildings and projects to make them as green as possible.

1. Sanyo’s Solar Ark

Japan, Sanyo aimed to make the largest PV system in the world, a 3.4 MW installation. They use the materials was meant to be thrown away. But there are still some problem within this project. The company’s monocrystalline cell scandal that saw thousands of units recalled, and all of the reclaimed cells were destined for the dump. But Sanyo opted to built a massive monument to their solar technology.  However, they need no apologize, because the Ark can collect 630 kW that has 5000 solar panels and produces over 500000 kWh of energy per year. It produce the energy to power up 75000 colored LEDs that placed on the Ark and also it supply the energy for the inside museum.

2.China’s Solar Powered Office Complex

China are now the world leader in solar cells, it is no surprise to learn that they have the “largest solar-powered office building in the world.” It is located in Dezhou in the Shangdong Province, it is a multi-use building and boasts exhibition center, scientific research facilities, meeting rooms, and a hotel they are all solar powered. The structure enables to save 30% or more energy than national standard.

3.EnviroMission’s Solar Tower

This idea has been passing around since the 1980s. EnviroMission Ltd is aiming big with their proposed project. They are planing to build two massive 2400 ft solar updraft towers (almost tall as the Burj Khalifa) that span hundreds of acres in La Paz County, Arizona. Using Solar draft technology, the towers will generate hot air with a giant greenhouse and then channel the air into the chimney. The warm air then turns a turbine to produce energy. This project is still in the development phase, it will cost about $750 million.

4.The Sahara Forest Project

Designed by biomimicry architect Michael Pawlyn, Seawater Greenhouse designer Charlie Paton, and structural engineer Bill Watts, the Sahara Forest Project aims to enable restorative growth in the world’s most arid regions. The project will hopefully first get the go-ahead in the country. The team have even been invited to the country to discuss a feasibility study.Currently, the project is scheduled to go ahead in 2015, and if it is a success, it will have massive environmental benefits, such as  alleviating food and water shortage, producing biofuels, and contributing to forestation efforts in desert lands.

5. The Desertec Initiative

The Desertec Industrial Initiative is the largest solar project in the world it cost about US$550 billion. The plan aims to develop “a reliable, sustainable and climate-friendly energy supply” in North Africa’s Sahara desert that will be capable of providing the entire MENA region with energy as well as Europe.When the project was first announced in July 2009, it sounded a bit like science-fiction and was dismissed as being “unrealistic” and even exploitative. However, once it was noted that the project could provide 15 percent of Europe’s electricity by 2050, people began to sit up and listen.Currently Desertec’s first solar power plant is under construction. The $822 million Moroccan power plant will be a 150-megawatt, 7.4 square mile solar plant and is the first step in the major 500MW super project.

6.The Vatican

Solar power must be the future if the Catholic Church is getting on board with it. The Vatican has the largest solar power plant in Europe.Although it is the smallest country in the world, the Vatican has spent $660 million to build a massive 100MW photovoltaic installation. The output will be more than enough to provide enough power for the whole country.The main installation is located on a 740 acre site near Santa Maria di Galeria and has seen solar powers placed all over the city.

 

The wisdom of  clean energy subsidies in general:

Clean tech has enjoyed quite the party these past few years. Solar, wind, plug-in vehicles — they’ve all benefited from billions of dollars in subsidies from Congress, through various energy and stimulus bills. As a result, many industries, like solar, have taken lengthy strides.clean-energy subsidies are disappearing fast, as the stimulus winds down and various laws and tax credits expire. Back in 2009, clean tech got $44.3 billion in federal support. By 2014, that will have shrunk to just $11.1 billion.

The new report, co-authored by researchers from the Brookings Institution, the Breakthrough Institute, and the World Resources Institute, is the first to examine in detail which policies are actually expiring and when. All told, Congress has created more than 92 different programs dealing with clean tech — everything from production tax credits for wind power to advanced manufacturing credits to loan guarantees for nuclear power. And, by 2014, 70 percent of these programs will have vanished.The authors argue that letting all of these programs expire could cause the clean tech sector to “go bust,” as budding energy technologies like solar, wind, and even next-generation nuclear plants are currently facing pressure from ultra-cheap natural gas and from subsidized competitors in China.

Congress should rejigger its clean-energy subsidies in several ways. First, it should focus heavily on research and development. And second, the subsidies that are geared toward deploying new technologies — the credits and policies that help wind turbines sprout up and nuclear reactors get built — should be structured so that they reward improvements in performance. Solar power shouldn’t just get propped up no matter what. It should get money in such a way that manufacturers have incentives to keep putting out more efficient panels that get steadily cheaper. There are plenty of ideas for doing this. Nations like Germany and Denmark offer “feed-in tariffs” for wind and solar power that get smaller over time — which forces the technology to keep improving in order to stay profitable. Japan, meanwhile, has its Top Runner program that sets efficiency standards for appliances that are based on the best-performing leaders in the market. That is, the most efficient firms set the pace for the rest of the industry. A similar program could, in theory, be set up for clean energy sources.The ultimate goal of these policies, the authors note, is to push clean tech so that it can eventually stand on its own and compete with older, more established fossil fuels.The report, titled “Beyond Boom & Bust,” doesn’t, however, set a specific dollar amount for how much the U.S. government should be actually spend on renewable energy, electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, and other clean tech.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://inhabitat.com/the-worlds-6-coolest-solar-powered-projects/solar-projects/” The World’s 6 Coolest Solar Powered Projects top 6 solar projects around the world”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post/clean-energy-subsidies-are-vanishing-what-should-replace-them/2012/04/18/gIQApCUYQT_blog.html “Wonkblog, Clean -energy subsides are vanishing. What should replace them?” by Brad Plumer 4/18/2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-muro/solyndra-solar-bankruptcy-solar-power-_b_947046.html ” The blog, Learn from Solyndra”

What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

Hydraulic fracturing also know as Hydro-Fracking is a process, which takes place at natural gas well,  by using millions gallon of water, sand and chemicals to pumped into underground to break apart the rock to release the gas. Scientists are worried that the chemicals used in fracturing may pose a threat either underground or when waste fluids are handled and sometimes spilled on the surface.

 

How Fracking works

Vertical well bores are drilled thousands of feet into the earth, through sediment layers, the water table, and shale rock formations in order to reach the oil and gas. The drilling is then angled horizontally, where a cement casing is installed and will serve as a conduit for the massive volume of water, fracking fluid, chemicals and sand needed to fracture the rock and shale. In some cases, prior to the injection of fluids, small explosives are used to open up the bedrock. The fractures allow the gas and oil to be removed from the formerly impervious rock formations.

Although fracking has technically been in existence for decades, the scale and type of drilling now taking place, deep fracking, is a new form of drilling and was first used in the Barnett shale of Texas in 1999.

Risks and Concerns of Fracking

• Contamination of groundwater
• Methane pollution and its impact on climate change
• Air pollution impacts
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Blowouts due to gas explosion
• Waste disposal
• Large volume water use in water-deficient regions
• Fracking-induced earthquakes
• Workplace safety
• Infrastructure degradation

Impacts:

There are some impacts about the fracking.

Air Pollution

Methane is a main component of natural gas and is 25 times more potent in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. A recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitoring gas wells in Weld County, Colorado,</a> estimated that 4 percent of the methane produced by these wells is escaping into the atmosphere. NOAA scientists found the Weld County gas wells to be equal to the carbon emissions of 1-3 million cars.

 

A number of other air contaminants are released through the various drilling procedures, including construction and operation of the well site, transport of the materials and equipment, and disposal of the waste. Some of the pollutants released by drilling include: benzene, toluene, xylene and ethyl benzene (BTEX), particulate matter and dust, ground level ozone, or smog, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and metals contained in diesel fuel combustion—with exposure to these pollutants known to cause short-term illness, cancer, organ damage, nervous system disorders and birth defects or even death .

The Associated press recently reported that Wyoming’s air quality near rural drilling sites is worse than Los Angeles’–with Wyoming ozone levels recorded at 124 parts per billion compared to the worst air day of the year for Los Angeles, at 114 parts per billion. The Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum healthy limit is 75 parts per billion.

 

 

A 2007 report prepared for the Western Governor’s Association, that inventoried present and future nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions from oil and gas drilling in the west, projects Montana to experience a 310% increase in nitrogen oxide pollution (smog).

 

 

Crystalline silica, in the form of sand, can cause silicosis (an incurable but preventable lung disease) when inhaled by workers. Sand is a main ingredient used in the fracking process. The National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH)collected air samples from 11 fracking sites around the country. All 11 sites exceeded relevant occupational health criteria for exposure to respirable crystalline silica. In 31% of the samples, silica concentrations exceeded the NIOSH exposure limit by a factor of 10, which means that even if workers were wearing proper respiratory equipment, they would not be adequately protected.

Water Pollution:

 

 

Chemical additives are used in the drilling mud, slurries and fluids required for the fracking process. Each well produces millions of gallons of toxic fluid containing not only the added chemicals, but other naturally occurring radioactive material, liquid hydrocarbons, brine water and heavy metals. Fissures created by the fracking process can also create underground pathways for gases, chemicals and radioactive material.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States Geological Survey(USGS) have recently confirmed what residents of Pavillion, Wyoming had been claiming–that hydrofracking had contaminated their groundwater.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initially under an emergency administrative order forced three oil production companies operating on the Fort Peck Reservation, to reimburse the city of Poplar, MT for water infrastructure expenditures incurred as a result of drilling contamination. The oil companies appealed the EPA order, but were forced to rectify their violations by a federal judge.

 

Another scenario for contamination to occur is by faulty design or construction of the cement well casings–something that happened in the BP Gulf blowout disaster. Storage of the waste water is currently under the regulatory jurisdiction of states, many of whom have weak to nonexistent policies protecting the environment.

Soil and Oil Spill Contamination:

 

According to journalists at Pro Publica, oil companies reported over 1,000 oil spills in North Dakota, 2011, with many more going unreported, state officials admit. The Associated Press also recently reported that the amount of chemically tainted soil from drilling waste increased nearly 5,100 percent over the past decade, to more than 512,000 tons last year. Steve Tillotson, assistant director of the North Dakota Health Department’s waste management division, told reporters that trucks are hauling oilfield waste to facilities “24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

An ExxonMobil pipeline rupture spilled 42,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River,near Billings, MT. In the aftermath of the spill, ExxonMobil has disclosed that thepipeline has been transporting tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, which is a low grade, more toxic and corrosive type of oil. Regulators had not been informed that the pipeline was carrying tar sands oil and the disclosure was a result of the spill. Tar sands oil was not in the pipeline at the time of the spill, though regulators are investigating whether or not it played a role in causing the pipeline to corrode.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes constitute another problem associated with deep-well oil and gas drilling. Scientists refer to the earthquakes caused by the injection of fracking wastewater underground as “induced seismic events.” Although most of the earthquakes are small in magnitude (the strongest measured 5.2), their relationship with the storage of millions of gallons of toxic wastewater does little to ease the fears over fossil energy’s long list of externalities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/hydrofrac/HdryoFrac2.htm “Neighbors of Nonodaga nation.”

http://www2.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing “Natural Gas Extraction – hydraulic Fracturing”

http://www.safewatermovement.org/what-is-hydrofracking/ “Save water movement!”

http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/hydrofracking_w.html “Geology and Human Health, Potential Health and Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking in the Williston Basin, Montana” by Joe Hoffman.

 

Now a day, gas price is sky high, people need to find an efficient way to increase the mileage for each gallon.

Fuel economy standards which established in 1975, hadn’t changed much since the mid-1980s. But now the Obama Administration is ratcheting up pressure on the auto industry to dramatically increase the average miles-per-gallon of each company’s fleet. Under a rule passed in 2010, carmakers were already on the hook to achieve an average 34.1 mpg across their fleets by 2016. This week, the government raised the bar even higher, to an average 54. 5 mpg by 2025. But the new standards will likely require auto companies to develop more hybrids, plug-ins and natural gas vehicles, while using more lightweight materials and improving traditional gasoline engines.

So far, the new mileage rules have generated tangible benefits for consumers, with few of the downsides opponents have predicted. “Without a doubt, the new rules have been a win-win for everybody,” says Jesse Toprak, of the car-research site TrueCar.com. “It’s a win for consumers, a win for manufacturers, and a win for the environment.”

The “Corporate Average Fuel Economy,” or CAFE standards, will vary by automaker depending on the mix of models they sell. The requirements will be lower for companies such as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, which offer more pickup trucks. The standards can be lowered by the government if people suddenly start buying less-efficient vehicles in the future, although few expect that to happen.

How the automobile helps the customers to increase the gas mileage?

The very common technology we can see in many new cars, there is a Econ mode in lots of Europe cars. What it does is to shut down the engine while drivers are waiting for the red light of trying to pick up someone and just make a short stop at the airport. This technology benefit not just the user but also the environment, when the econ mode is on the engine shut off when the vehicle stopped, this helps to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide.  And here are some other examples from different companies, with different type of cars that have similar technology to benefit the driver and the environment. The 2013 Kia Rio, for instance, joins the BMW 3-series and Porsche Cayenne in offering a start-stop engine. That technology, once reserved for hybrids, saves fuel by shutting down the engine when the vehicle is stopped. Many cars, including the Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Golf, use variable valve timing to maximize fuel efficiency and performance. It was first seen on Acura’s exotic NSX in 1991. Others are offering continuously variable transmissions (CVT), which have no traditional gears but keep the engine at its most fuel-efficient RPM across a wide range of speeds. Cars with CVTs include the Infiniti JX, Nissan Altima and Subaru Outback. Aerodynamics also plays an increasing role in improving fuel efficiency. Modern cars like the Cadillac ATS, Dodge Dart and Ford Escape, for example, have shuttered panels in the grille that allow air to flow more smoothly around the vehicle, depending on speed and driving conditions.You can also buy a car that shuts down one or more engine cylinders when it is coasting, or cruising under a light load, reducing fuel consumption without sacrificing performance. Vehicles that offer this technology include the Audi S8 and Honda Odyssey minivan. Cars like the Buick Encore, Fiat 500 andLincoln MKZ, meanwhile, improve mileage through direct fuel injection, which injects gas directly into the combustion chamber in extremely precise amounts.

Even hybrids have changed. The Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Prius are all available as a plug-in hybrid, while General Motors uses a smaller motor and battery pack to give a little electric assist to cars like the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu.

Here, courtesy of Total Car Score, are 10 fuel-saving technologies that will save you money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5RhAN2EGQ

This video gives some tips that you can do to improve gas mileage.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5RhAN2EGQ “youtube.com, lessons from a car expert: how to increase gas millage.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/08/30/10-ways-automakers-are-helping-you-spend-less-on-gasoline/ ” Forbes, 10 ways Automakers Are helping you spend less on gasoline.” by Joann Muller 8/30/2012

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/rick-newman/2012/08/27/tough-government-gas-mileage-rules-good-for-drivers-auto-industry “US news, Tough Government Gas Mileage Rules Good for Drivers, Auto Industry” by Rick Newman

 

What is Smart Grid?

Before we get in to Smart Grid, we should know what is a grid? A grid, also known as the electric grid, is a network of transmission lines, substations, transformers and deliver electricity from the power plant to customers. easier way to understand is what you plug into when you flip on your light switch or turn on your computer. Current electric grid was built in the 1890s and improve as the technology growth. Early 19 Century people only need to power few light bubs and a radio in the house therefore the supply is more than demand. As the technology grow the demand of electricity has become much greater than it used to be therefore costumers need to communicate with the power plant to adjust usage of the electricity. A smart grid is an “intelligent” electricity distribution network that uses two-way communications connect between customers and the power plant, advanced sensors and controls, advanced meters, and customers will be able to reduce or increase energy use through computer, improve the efficiency and reliability of the electricity grid, facilitate the connection of distributed generation facilities to the system, and optimize the integration of renewable energy systems. Smart Grid also benefit users with energy control for their purpose, also gives them control when and how to use the electricity. This way people can save money and also it helps to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, especially in how it can facilitate the connection of large amounts of renewable energy.

What Smart Grid can do?

The Smart Grid beings many benefit to the communities. First it is more efficient transmission of electricity, because of the usage of electricity is different we can control the energy supply by ourselves therefore there will be no surplus or lack or energy and it will be more efficient. Second, it has quicker restoration of electricity after power disturbances. During bad weather there might be some interrupt transmission, but with smart grid it counters the interruption, once it detect where has power interrupt it will find another way round to transfer the energy. Third, people now can save moneys from the electric bill. Since we can manage the operating time and also the usage, we will be able to cut off the waste of electricity. Forth, with the previous benefit the power plant can reduce the peak demand, and it will also help to lower the electricity rate. Fifth, with this smart grid there will be increase integration of large-scale renewable energy system, such as having a hybrid vehicle.

Today, an electricity disruption such as a blackout can have a domino effect. This is a main threat in the winter, when homeowners can be left without heat. A smarter grid will add resiliency to our electric power system and make it better prepared to address emergencies such as severe storms. Because of its two-way interactive capacity, the Smart Grid will allow for automatic rerouting when equipment fails or outages occur. This will minimize outages and minimize the effects when they do happen. Also when a power outage occurs, Smart Grid technologies will detect and isolate the outages, containing them before they become large-scale blackouts. The new technologies will also help ensure that electricity recovery resumes quickly and strategically after an emergency—routing electricity to emergency services first, for example. In addition, the Smart Grid will take greater advantage of customer-owned power generators to produce power when it is not available from utilities.  The Smart Grid is not just about utilities and technologies; it is about giving you the information and tools you need to make choices about your energy use. In this case you will no longer have to wait for your monthly statement to know how much electricity you use. With a smarter grid, you can have a clear and timely picture of it. “Smart meters,” and other mechanisms, will allow you to see how much electricity you use, when you use it, and its cost. Combined with real-time pricing, this will allow you to save money by using less power when electricity is most expensive.

Now the US Smart Grid

This map shows us the US transmission grid.

California and Texas lead the U.S. in efforts to modernize their electrical grids with smart grid technologies, according to a newly developed index that evaluates and ranks states.

The Grid Modernization Index also know as GMI, created by GridWise Alliance and Smart Grid Policy Center, evaluates the progress of state grid modernization efforts in three categories: policy, customer engagement and grid operations. California and Texas, which tied for the highest overall score, are far ahead of other top-ranked states, such as Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Arizona. This chart shows us that the leading states are doing on the smart grid, this chart also helps us to recognized how the idea and technology is helping us and also helping the environment.

Smart Home

Adding devices that can communicate data in real-time about electricity use between utility and customer. For instance, smart meters will deliver signals from your energy provider that can help you cut your energy costs. Smart meters also provide utilities with greater information about how much electricity is being used throughout their service areas.

 

It is also expected to be an important enabler for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles, two promising technologies that can help dramatically reduce oil consumption.

This energy information coming to and from your home through your smart meter can be run through a home energy management system (EMS), which will allow you to view it in an easy-to-understand format on your computer or hand-held device. A home EMS allows you to track your energy use in detail to better save energy. For instance, you can see the energy impact of various appliances and electronic products simply by monitoring your EMS while switching the devices on and off.

Impact

US Department of Energy (DOE) report warns about the massive direct and indirect impacts climate change is expected to have on the United States’ energy grid in the coming years. From a reporter: “Increasing temperatures, decreasing water availability, more intense storm events, and sea level rise will each independently, and in some cases in combination, affect the ability of the United States to produce and transmit electricity from fossil, nuclear, and existing and emerging renewable energy sources.” There are some unexpected impact will soon be the main concerned of this smart grid project. Last year, the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Connecticut had to deactivate one reactor because the water it normally draws from the Long Island Sound for cooling was too warm, the report noted. Similar events took place at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey and the Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania in 2010. In another incident affecting the energy grid, lower precipitation levels in the Sierra Nevada last year reduced California’s hydroelectric power generation by 8 percent. In 2010, record-low water levels in Nevada’s Lake Mead resulted in a 23 percent loss in the Hoover Dam’s power generation.With this technology, this will not only benefit our lives by having the control for each individual but also making the climate changing even worst. The prediction of this project was to help the climate and also benefit users. The statistics shows that it is not going as we planted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.smartgrid.gov/ “Smartgrid.gov”

https://www.nationalgridus.com/energy/index.asp “National Grid”

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/chart-of-the-day-top-15-states-leading-us-smart-grid-deployment/24740 “Chart of the day: top 15 states leading US smart grid deployment” by Kirsten Korosec, July 22, 2013

 

What are Renewable Energies?

From the words we know that is a type of energy could be used multiple times even limitless times, for example: wind and solar energy, hydro-power, geothermal energy and bio-energy, these energy are available in almost limitless supply. Fossil energies such as natural gas, coal, uranium, and most important oil. We rely on the fossil energy for almost every transportation and heavy machines, unfortunately this type of power source can not be re-used. The use of renewable energies protects the climate and environment, is resource-efficient and safe. Using renewable energies can avoid climate-damaging emissions which have serious impacts. The use of renewable energies has therefore not only appropriate from an environmental perspective, it also has macroeconomic benefits.

The following pie-chart shows the renewable energy produced in 2011.

 

Germany’s green energy revolution called the “energiewende” – proceeds as planned, the price of electricity in Germany will increase by upwards of 20%, according to government estimates. The purpose of this green energy policy is Germany government wants to achieve a climate-friendly and secure energy supply for Germany.

 

The following goals are laid down by law: The share of renewable energies in total electricity consumption will be increased to at least 35% by 2020. By no later than 2050, that share is expected to grow to at least 80%. In 2020, the share of renewable energies in heating is to reach 14%.

There are five green energy source that Germany thinks it will be the primary source for the stable and secure supply.

First, the German government considers wind energy is the key technology for a future carbon-free environment. Wind power is an affordable, efficient and abundant source of domestic electricity. Right now wind energy has a leading position with regard to generating electricity from renewable energies. The German government believes that increasing the use of offshore wind energy,also replacing older installations with modern, more effective ones, these ideas are still debatable.  Second, the German government plans to further exploit the potential of hydro-power by replacing and build new mini-hydro-power plants.  Third, Biomass for generating electricity or heat includes renewable resources such as wood, but also animal or vegetable waste. In 2009 around 9% more electricity was generated from biomass, bio-gas and landfill then a year before. Forth, the sun provides us with enough energy every year to cover Germany’s energy. Last, Geothermal energy is an energy source which in all probability will never run out. Geothermal installations for power generation are supported by the German government under the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

Right now in Germany:

Right now other nations are watching closely to see how the experiment proceeds, and whether they should follow the German lead. “Germany’s Energiewende can mobilize a global energy revolution,” says Harry Lehmann, chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energies.  The result in the Energiewende is not either stopped or cancelled, using expert termed a “chaotic standstill.” Merkel’s energy plan called for the addition of 25,000 megawatts of sea-based wind turbine power by 2030. However through the first six months of 2012 only 45 megawatts had been added to Germany’s existing 200-megawatt supply, according to an industry analysis. And despite massive subsidies funded by a household energy surcharge, which currently comprises 14 percent of German power bills, major wind projects in the North Sea are being delayed or canceled due to skittish investors. The household in Germany pays the second highest electricity price in Europe.  Right now people in Germany are questioning the entire Energiewende policy. They did not get the promises that the government gave, and they are paying higher rate than others. The high costs, low and unreliable productivity, intractable problems with grid integration, a reliance on subsidies that impose bizarre and counterproductive distortions on energy markets, and an unbreakable dependency on the fossil fuels it is supposed to displace. People are also complaining about the place of those Green energy equipment, some say that the equipment is blocking the sun from the people. Wind farms are notoriously unreliable as a power source. Not only that, they take up vast amounts of space and kill tens of thousands of birds annually. During winter time the demand is higher than summer time but the power source is less gets deliver to people.

 

Germany’s Energiewende is leading the world to become carbon-free environment. The estimate about the entire green energy was great that within 30 to 40 years they will be able to replace the fossil energy with renewable energy. Turns out that there are lots of unexpected result that appear while operating the event. People in Germany are questioning the estimate of this project, also some people from animal protective foundation are questioning the equipment killing wild species. People still paying the highest electricity price in Europe, and the cost of every equipment is also giving the citizen a lot of pressure. Right now they are having a different opinion about the benefit that this green energy will bring. I guess we just have to wait for the time to tell.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/09/05/germans-revolt-against-germanys-green-energy-revolution/ “Forbes, Germans Revolt Against Germany’s Green Energy Revolution.” by William Pentland, 9/05/2013

http://www.bmu.de/en/topics/climate-energy/renewable-energy/general-information/ “BMU, General Information Renewable Energy.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9559656/Germanys-wind-power-chaos-should-be-a-warning-to-the-UK.html “The Telegraph, Germany’s wind power chaos should be a warning to the UK.” by Christopher Booker, 9/22/2012