EcoBlog

Most families and students want to save money. One way is saving money on home and apartment utilities. Saving energy is good for the pocket and simple, while preserving the environment.

A little bit can go a long way:
-Turn down your thermostat down to 70-65°F while you are there and 65-60°F while away saving 25% on your monthly heating bill
-Close off the vents to any unused room in the home and close the door
-Lock windows, it tightens the seal. Also cover single pane windows with plastic
-Turn down the thermostat on the water heater, the water heater accounts for 14-25% of monthly energy usage
-A water saving shower head will save $40 a year
-Turn up the temperature in your refrigerator
-Save half the energy in the dishwasher by not using the dry cycle
-During warm weather, line dry clothes
-Turn off or unplug appliances when not in use
-Do regular maintenance on appliances by replacing filters and removing scale build up
-Don’t block radiators with furniture for better circulation
-Insulate hot pipes
-Turn the lights off when you leave your room, lighting accounts for 15% of monthly energy usage
-Use fluorescent light bulbs or dimmer controls

When looking for new home accessories look for the Energy Star sticker:
Minnesota Power Energy Star Rebates for Appliances value between $50-100, visit
http://www.mnpower.com/energystar/special_offers/index.htm
for more information about rebates.

Lights
- Use 75% less energy, 75% less heat, and last 10 times as long
$4 rebate from Menards for a 2-pack compact fluorescent blubs
$2 rebate from Minnesota Power for any purchase of compact fluorescent blubs

Programmable Thermostat
- Approximately $150/year savings. Less than 1 year return on investments no mercury

Clothes Washer
- Save $550 over equipment lifetime tax and rebate incentives

Dishwasher
- Must use 41% less energy than federal minimum standard
Save $30 year over a 1994 or earlier model , save $90 lifetime over a new non Energy Star dishwasher

Refrigerator
– Must use 15% less energy of current Federal Standard and 40% less than a conventional 2001 model, ant 50% of a 1993 model or earlier.

Energy Audits
Minnesota Power offers FREE Energy Audits to customers which will analyze all of the energy uses in a home and inform the consumer about how to improve the energy efficiency of their home. More information about energy audits can be found at the following sites.

Minnesota Power
http://www.mnpower.com/your_home/energy_cost_savings/inhome_energy_analysis.htm
Department of Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/energy_audits/index.cfm/mytopic=11160

One last bit of information we would like to share is the Kill-A-Watt electric consumption meter. It will measure the electric consumption of specific 120v plug in appliances in kilowatt hours over a certain period of time. If you are interested in learning more about how much electricity your appliances are using, the KAW meter is available for checkout at all of Duluth’s public libraries and anyone that holds a library card can check one out for 2 weeks. See the 1/04/08 Eco Blog by Doug Anderson.

If anyone has any more tips to help save energy feel free to leave it as a comment to this post.

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Posted by Mark Schanzenbach at 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, play a major role in the destruction of the ozone layer, but what are they? CFCs are highly stable compounds used as propellants in spray cans and in refrigeration units. CFCs are composed of organic compounds with carbon, fluorine, chlorine, and hydrogen and are manufactured under the trade name Freon.
Although they were developed during the 1930s, CFCs were not widely used until after World War II. Because they are non-toxic, nonflammable, non-carcinogenic, and can easily be converted from a liquid to a gas and vice versa, they were used extensively as aerosol-spray propellants, refrigerants, solvents, and foam-blowing agents.
CFCs have been found to be a serious environmental threat. In the 1970s, various scientists studied CFCs and it was discovered that CFCs released into the atmosphere accumulate in the stratosphere and have a deteriorating effect on the ozone layer. In the stratosphere, the CFC molecules break down by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation and release their chlorine atoms, which then react with the ozone molecules and results in their removal.
CFCs have an atmospheric lifespan of between 20 and 100 years. Consequently, one free chlorine atom from a CFC molecule can destroy ozone molecules for a long time. Although emissions of CFCs in the developed world have largely ceased due to control agreements, the damage to the stratospheric ozone layer will continue well into the 21 century.

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Green Construction on Campus

Innovations in the design and renovation of two UMD buildings have improved energy usage at UMD. The Life Science Renovation and the design of the Labovitz School of Business and Economics are going for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification as established by the U.S. Green Building Council. In the LEED rating system there are different levels of certification that can be awarded. These levels are decided by a point system that reflects how well the building is designed and built with “green� ideals in mind. There are a total of 69 points for new buildings and four point levels: Certified 26-32 points, Silver 33-38 points, Gold 39-51 points, Platinum 52-69 points. For the LSBE building UMD has applied for 40 points, with 24 earned in the design stage and 3 denied. The rest of the points are still pending with 9 that can only be awarded when construction is complete. Points from the design phase can be taken way if the finished building doesn’t reflect the design, and points that have been denied in the design phase can be awarded if the actual construction meets requirements. So with all that in mind it is very likely that LSBE will be LEED Certified at least with a chance at Silver and a very slim chance at Gold.

Without going into a more in-depth review of the information we have on the LSBE building it, seems that a lot of planning and effort was put into making the new building as Earth friendly as possible while still meeting the needs of the school. Of course it would be wonderful for the building to achieve the Platinum level but the points that UMD has not perused are either significantly more costly to peruse or just aren’t feasible here in Duluth.

For more information about the rating system for the LEED Program you can follow this link (page 4 is the project checklist that outlines the categories required) http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/3.4xLEEDRatingSystemJune01.pdf

We do not have any information on the Life Science renovation, but we did find some information about efficiency improvements over older buildings in the Swenson Science Building. The following link from Minnesota Power describes the energy efficiency efforts built into the Swenson Science Building and the grants UMD has received because of it. http://www.mnpower.com/powergrant/profiles/umd.pdf

We discussed several suggestions for further energy efficiencies for UMD buildings and want to know what you think about them.
-Light sensors in the dorms, dims hallway lights when no one is there but brightens when motion is detected
-Paint more walls white/light colors to reflect more light
-Apply weather stripping to the bottom of doors in the dorm hallways to control heat

However…
It’s Not Just the Buildings…It’s the People That Can Make a Difference Too

There will still be problems with inefficiencies based solely on the energy consumption habits of individuals. This includes heating and cooling system temperature control, lighting and water usage.

Please continue to look around your own living environment to see what energy inefficiencies you see.

Posted by thom1968 at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

By 2030 the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by new coal power plants is estimated to be approximately 7.6 billion metric tons. If companies can capture carbon dioxide before it escapes into the atmosphere this number will greatly reduce. Current carbon capture technologies due exist but are not yet making a big enough impact. These technologies allow for the capture of CO2 which is sent deep underground where it won't surface for thousands of years. This process aids in the recovery of oil in oil fields as well. Experts beleive this same idea can be applied to saline aquifers and other geological formations as well. CCS, carbon capture and storage facilities, exist but currently have performance and cost drawbacks with most of the costs being pushed upon the companies. The newest technology available, IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) allows for the removal of CO2 before combustion. The problem is that companies are frowning upon implementing this technology. The reasons for this are due to reliability and efficiency drawbacks. The only way to have companies jumping on the bandwagon would be to offer grants and aid to theses companies for implementing a environmentally friendly technology.

Link to site
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/05/coal_report.html

Picture of Current CO/CO2 levels around the Globe
http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2001/08/082001t_smog.jhtml#

Posted by klymx003 at 11:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Ozone is a pale blue, relatively unstable molecule made of three atoms of oxygen, represented with the chemical formula O3. It was first discovered by Christian Friedrich Schonbein, a German scientist, in 1893. Ozone molecules are angular, polar, and diamagnetic. The oxygen bond lengths are identical. Ozone is formed from molecular oxygen (O2) by ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet photolysis and then recombination of atomic oxygen (O) with O2. It can also be formed by passing an electrical discharge through gaseous oxygen. Ozone has a unique odor that is often noticed during electrical storms and near electrical equipment.
Ozone can have vastly different effects depending on where ozone resides. At atmospheric heights of about 15 miles up, ozone acts as a shield to protect Earth’s surface from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation. It this shield was not there, humans would be more vulnerable to skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. In the air closer to Earth, that humans breathe, ozone is a harmful pollutant that can damage lung tissue and plants. Ozone is a major component of smog. Because ozone also reacts strongly with other molecules, it is dangerous to have large concentrations near the ground. Hot weather and strong sunlight cause ground-level ozone concentration levels to rise to hazardously high levels. Urban areas often have high levels of “bad� ozone.
About 90 percent of the Earth’s ozone is at higher altitudes, where it absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Wither out the shield in the stratosphere, the radiation would have an easy path to follow to strike Earth. The hole in the ozone layer is allowing this radiation a clearer shot at the Earth.
Ozone depletion occurs naturally over Antarctica because of the ice clouds formed during the winter. The ice clouds convert the chlorine to its atomic form. The air over Antarctica is the only place where it is cold enough for the reactions necessary to convert the ozone to oxygen due to the polar vortex formed by the cold polar winds. There is no hole above the North Pole because the average temperature is warmer than at the South Pole.
The polar winds keep the ozone surrounding the hole from filling in the hole, but if the winds are strong enough to keep the ozone out, why don’t they keep the hole from getting bigger? Any thoughts would be great. We hope to answer this in our next post.

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A World Health Organization (WHO) report estimates that diseases triggered by indoor and outdoor air pollution kill 656,000 Chinese citizens each year. Heart, strokes and several types of cancer are also on the rise. Children are especially susceptible to air pollution. The number of children with acute respiratory infection, asthma, and pneumonia symptoms is growing.

I recently heard one of Chinas excuses on environmental initiative on CBS, “As long as the U.S. does not move forward, how do you expect a poor country like China to move forward.�

China’s pollution has spread internationally to its eastward Asian neighbors and countries in the western hemisphere, especially Canada and the United States. The satellite picture below emphasizes the haze within the region. Researchers in California have seen a steady increase of primary pollutants, mainly from coal combustion, that have drifted across an ocean. I believe there is great potential for international collaboration. The environmental and health costs affecting neighboring countries will tend to surpass the costs of China cutting its pollution.

China has attempted to solve their air pollution problem by issuing a set of five year plans. These five year plans provide a framework by setting quantitative time bound goals in order to improve their pollution problem. Even though these five year plans have been set, doesn’t mean that they are being obtained. The Chinese government has identified that many of the plans had inadequate enforcement in order to comply with the plans. Some of the other five year plans have been identified as unrealistic with the continuing industrial growth.

China has been unsuccessful in trying to control the pollution problem. In order for them to increase the environmental compliance rates China needs to change some things. First and foremost they need to raise awareness and give incentives for good environmental behavior. The environment laws also have to be consistent, as of now there are still discrepancies and gaps in their regulations. China also needs to devote more funding to the State Environmental Protection Agency in order for them to have the resources they need in order to carry out their tasks effectively.

Over the past few decades China has put economic development ahead of environmental stewardship. Pollution prevention is costly and would lower the effective growth rate of the country. China does not believe they can afford to take extensive measures to control air pollution if that slows down their growth out of poverty. If other nations do not approve of China’s environmental polices, what lies ahead? Would neighboring nations make treaties of economic retaliation? Or would local governments take initiative and cooperate to solve the problem?

Posted by gass0035 at 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

The mercury that ends up in the fish that we love to eat comes from a variety of different sources. Approximately one third of the mercury in the environment comes from natural sources. It is released from the earth’s crust by volcanic activity and weathering and erosion of rocks and minerals. The other two thirds of the mercury is mostly from coal burning power plant, municipal and medical waste incinerators, and especially in Minnesota, taconite processing. The included chart shows where the man made mercury emissions in Minnesota are coming from and how much the different sources are putting out.

Due to the large percentage of mercury emissions attributed to power plants, the EPA has set new regulations which will require more effective mercury removal technologies. The Clean Air Mercury Rule will reduce electric utility mercury emissions by nearly 70 percent from 1999 levels when fully implemented. Current technologies such as settling, flocculating, and coagulating will not achieve the requirements set by the EPA according to members of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council.

A new advancing technology being tested and implemented is activated carbon injection. New systems will inject specialized carbon materials into the power plant ductwork ahead of particulate removal equipment to adsorb mercury from the flue gas before it can be emitted to the atmosphere. Carbon is especially useful for capturing (adsorbing) gas phase mercury due to the many active sites on it surface. To increase the amount adsorbed, the carbon is often treated with a halogen such as Bromine. Brominated activated carbons have shown mercury capture rates approaching 95% in PRB fuel systems, which would meet the EPA regulations if widely implemented.

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