An Overview of Immediate Environment Reform Group IV

1
An Overview of Immediate Environment
ReformGroup IV

• Senait Gebredingle
• Weiming Li
• Yipei Yu
• Million Negassi
• Phil Losie
• Sean Perry

2
Introduction

• Our sustainability strategy
• Investigate technologies available now
• Combine general reforms in all areas for greater
  effect
  
• Determine net savings

3
Transportation Energy Consumption

• Transportation is almost totally dependent on ail
  as a source of energy
  
• Currently there are more that 400 million cars in
  the world
  
• In 2030 the worlds automobile population will
  surpass on billion
  

4
Transportation Energy Consumption

• U.S consumes 20 million barrels of oil each day
• 40 is used by passenger vehicles
• 24 by industry
• 12 by commercial and freight trucks
• 7 by aircraft
• 6 in residential and commercial buildings.
• The automobile is responsible for nearly 90 of
  the energy consumed for travel in U.S.
  
• High energy consumption is caused in large part
  by increasingly fuel-inefficient cars and
  trucks.
  
• By 2030 cars have to be 3-times more efficient to
  maintain the sectors present consumption.
  

5
Automobiles Role in Atmospheric Pollution

• In a typical U.S. city, motor vehicle emission
  accounts for
  
• 30-50 of hydrocarbon
• 80-90 of carbon monoxide
• 40-60 of nitrogen oxide emissions
• Cars and light trucks are responsible for about
  20 of the nations carbon dioxide, which is a
  powerful greenhouse gas.
  
• A gallon of gasoline which weighs about 6 pounds
  can produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide gas.
  
• The carbon dioxide from motor vehicles
  contributes to global warming.
  
• Vehicles with better fuel economy burn less
  gasoline and driving a fuel efficient vehicle
  helps the environment
  

6
Fuel Efficient Transportation

• cars that burn less gas, cost less to operate and
  drastically cut down on pollution.
  
• If we raise fuel efficiency standards in American
  cars by one mile per gallon, in one year, we
  would save twice the amount of oil that could be
  obtained from the arctic national wildlife
  refuge.
• Raise it by 2.7 miles a gallon to eliminate all
  the oil imports from Iraq and Kuwait combined
  
• Raise it by 7.6 mpg, we eliminate one-hundred
  percent of our gulf oil imports into this country
  .

7
Fuel Efficient Transportation

• Hybrid cars produce significantly fewer harmful
  emissions, and they save about 10 to 20 in
  primary energy (over the entire energy chain).
  
• There are now three gas-electric hybrid car
  models on the market the Toyota Prius, the Honda
  Insight, and the hybrid version of the Honda
  Civic.

8
Fuel Efficient Transportation
9
Energy

• Electrical
• Manufacture
• Household
• Public lighting
• Mechanical
• Transportationair planes, trucks, cars, trains
• Industry

10
Source for Electricity
11
Electric Power Energy Consumption
(Quadrillion Btu)
12
Source for Mechanical

• Fossil oil
• Natural gas

13
Transportation Energy Consumption
(Quadrillion Btu)
14
Emissions

• Carbon dioxide
• -- global warming
• -- 5.8 billion metric tons in 2002, 16 more than
  the level in 1990
  
• Sulfur dioxide
• Oxides of nitrogen
• Mercury

15
Scary?
16
(No Transcript)
17
Solar

• Most abundant natural energy
• Approximately 1,000 W/m²
• Free everywhere, unlimited

• Oops!
• No sunshine at night
• PV system is NOT free, but expensive!
• 3.6-kW costs around 32,000

18
Other Natural Energies

• Wind
• Geothermal
• Hydropowerlargest renewable energy source
• Ocean waves

19
Fuel cells

• Use hydrogen, by product is water
• Source natural gas, propane, gasoline, methanol
  and ethanol
  
• Feasible, Scalable
• Wide applications--cars, replace combustion power
  plants, backup power, electronics
  
• Downsidefuel processor release carbon dioxide
• OpportunityMetal Hydride Powerball technology
  
  

20
Other Technologies

• Biomass
• Bio-diesel
• Nuclear

21
Energy Source Diversity

• Open door for any potentially clean sources
• Diversity ? Security
• Maximize the advantages to disadvantages ratio by
  applying to the most efficient field
  
• Easier to overcome disaster
• stabilize electricity prices
• Goal ? reduce fossil fuel dependency, cut back
  emissions

22
(No Transcript)
23
Proposed Improvement

• Domestic multiple-pipeline system
• One pipeline for fresh drinking water
• One pipeline for recycled water use for toilet,
  carwash and other area.
  
• Industry water recycling
• Agriculture water recycling through wastewater
  and nature.
  

24
(No Transcript)
25
Domestic Water Recycle

• Afterward shower water, bath water, and water
  from wash machine (45 of water) goes back to the
  water management facility for processing.
  
• After processing, the water is pumped back to the
  pipe for toilet usage and carwash.
  
• Save 29 of the water usage by toilet flush
• 16 of the recycled water can be used for
  agriculture and industries.

26
Agricultural and Industrial usage

• Agriculture mainly used to water crops.
• Water in the industries serves many different
  purposes
  
• as an ingredient of a product,
• a part of the whole production process
• used to cool substances in the production
  process
  
• for transportation and conditioning of raw
  materials
  
• for boiling or cooking, for flushing, as a
  cleaning agent and for product transport by
  shipping.

27
Wastewater Recycling

• Softening - Removal of Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium
  (Mg) ions
  
• Adsorption - removing a soluble substance from
  the water
  
• Membrane filtration - In the reversed osmosis
  process water is forced across a membrane,
  leaving the impurities behind
  
• Ion exchanger - remove salts (cations and anions)
  from the water
  
• Disinfection remove Bacteria and other
  microorganisms
  
• Iron removal - remove excessive iron and
  manganese

28
Water reuse in different industries

• paper industry - water can be recycled by
  membrane filtration and membrane bioreactors.
  (MBR)
  
• textile industry - membrane filtration
• poultry industry - filtration and ozone
  disinfection, cooling water can be recycled
  
• food and beverage industry - Water recycling
  using UV-disinfection and membrane filtration
  
• greenhouse horticulture - Water recycling and
  disinfection heat treatment, sand filtration and
  ozone- and UV treatment.
  
• oily wastewater - oil can be removed by membrane
  filtration and ozone/UV treatment.
  
• cooling water savings - open recirculating
  cooling towers.
  
• agricultural irrigation recycling by municipal
  wastewater effluent

Source Lenntech Overview Water
recycling applications in the industry
29
Benefit with water recycle

• Industry
• Energy savings in the heating process and cooling
  process because the energy requirement demands
  are lowered.
  
• Agriculture
• Apart from the removal of unwanted elements,
  nutrients for plants can add to the recycle water
  for healthy grown plants.
  

30
Agriculture water from nature

• Collect rains during rain/snow season.
• Filter out the dirty substance.
• Process the rain if the acid level is high.
• Feedback into the pipe for agricultural usage
• Can save 10-20 of the water

31
(No Transcript)
32
Summary

• Domestic 29-30 from toilet and cleaning
• Industry Estimate 40-50 from wastewater
  recycling
  
• Agriculture Estimate 35-40 from the wastewater
  recycling and rain/snow collecting
  
• Overall improvement
• Save at least 36 of the total water usage.
• 0.08(0.29) 0.22(0.4) 0.7(0.35) 36

33
AIR QAULITY

• OVER VIEW
• Outdoor air qaulity
• Air quality index(AQI)
• Measuring air quality
• Acceptable AQI values
• Identify air threats
• Ecological impacts
• Results

34
Outdoor Air quality

• Air quality improvement is measured by using
  Air Quality Index.
  
• Data collection is based on national definition
  of pollutants that are monitored by stations on
  yearly basis.
  
• Each data collection station reports its findings
  reports to county/region is responsible for
  collecting data and the AQI is compiled to
  identify Air quality threats if any.

35
Outdoor Air quality

• From the data collection air pollution
  concentrations are decreasing and quality is
  improving.
  
• Overall, most parts of the US have low level
  NO2,SO2,CO and lead that meets EPAs standard.
  
• Ozone level is still consider to be above the
  standard.
  
• Acceptable level 0.12 ppm (235 µg/m3)0.08 ppm
  (157 µg/m3).

36
Outdoor Air Quality

• Highest AQI value for an individual pollutant
  becomes the AQI value for that area for that
  particular day.
  
• For example
• If area A had AQI values of 150 for ozone and
  120 for PM, the AQI value would be 150 for the
  pollutant ozone on that day.
  
• For pollutants above 100, sensitive groups should
  be cautioned.
  
• Ozone levels most often drive the AQI.

37
IDENTIFYING Air Quality THREAT

• Air quality index values range from 0 to 500.
• Higher numbers indicate more air pollution.
• Potential risk to public health.
• What if AQI is 100?
• It is considered to be okay and EPA defines it as
  a standard pollutant.

38
IDENTIFYING Air Quality THREAT

• AQI less than 100 is a satisfactory.
• AQI 50 -100 affects sensitive groups.
• This individuals are considered as exceptionally
  sensitive.
  
• If AQI is above 100 the air is believed to be
  unhealthy.
  
• It affects children, the elderly, and those with
  respiratory illnesses.

39
AQI VALUES

• 1988 and 2001
• 1000 days with an AQI of 100 or greater.
• There were 3,300 days prior to 1988.
• AQI of 100 or more is 1000-2000 on average.
• AQI more than 100 was 10 (1988).
• It decreased to 3 ( 2001).

40
Measuring Air Quality

• One measure of outdoor air quality is the daily
  AQI.
  
• AQI is based on concentrations of five air
  pollutants
  
• ozone, PM, CO, SO2, and NO2.
• AQI indicates how clean or polluted the air is.

41
Measuring Air Quality

• AQI
• Indicates health concerns.
• Focuses on breathing polluted air with in hours
  or days.
  
• AQI findings by state agencies are reported in
  metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs).

42
COLOR-CODED AQI

• Green - good AQI from 0 to 50.
• Yellow - moderate51 to 100.
• Orange - unhealthy for sensitive groups101 to
  150.
  
• Red - unhealthy151 to 200.
• Purple - very unhealthy201 to 300.
• Maroon - hazardous301 to 500.
• If AQI values over 300 emergency conditions for
  the entire population.
  

43
Pollution and Health Risk

• Pollution of air can cause series heart problems
  by narrowing blood arteries.
  
• A recent research conducted on 800 people
  demonstrated that air pollution affects blood
  flow.
  
• For every ten microgams/m3 there was a 5.9
  thickness increase around the neck.
  
• Some pollutants have an inflammatory effect on
  the inner linings of arteries.

44
Pollution and Health Risk

• Generally high level pollution narrows the
  arteries that leads to heart attack and stroke.
  
• If AQI is above 100 the air is believed to be
  unhealthy.
  
• AQI between 50 and 100 affects exceptionally
  sensitive groups.

45
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT

• Poor Outdoor air
• Affects human health and transports pollutants.
• Deposits pollutants onto soils.
• Transports pollutants to waters.
• Pollutants
• Cause ecological hazardous.
• Plants and crops can be damaged by ground-level
  ozone.
  
• Affect plants health and the ability to grow and
  reproduce.

46
ECOLOGICAL IMPACT

• Through its effects on plants, ozone can pose
  risks to ecological functions
  
• Water movement.
• Mineral nutrient cycling.
• Habitats for various species.
• Airborne nitrogen species
• Contribute to excess nitrogen levels in
  ecosystems.

47
Results

• The world's atmosphere
• Currently is 380 parts per million of carbon
  dioxide.
  
• It was 280 parts per million in 1800.
• Greenhouse gases from 1990 to 2002
• 13.1 increase in U.S.
• 38.5 reduction in Russian.

48
AQI
49
RESULTS
50
RESULTS
51
Sustainability in Materials/Chemicals

• Glass versus plastic
• Lightweight recyclable materials
• Nontoxic chemical alternatives

52
Glass versus Plastic

• Plastic is difficult to recycle
• 26 types of plastics in use today as well as many
  variations
  
• Different types dont mix well together
• Many plastics are bonded to other materials
  (wood, fabric, rubber, metal)
  
• Common plastics are contaminated by food, glues,
  pigments, etc.
  
• Emphasize glass over plastic
• Easier to recycle
• 100 recyclability

53
New Materials

• Carbon Fiber
• Lightweight, strong, long life cycle, improved
  corrosion resistance
  
• Replacement for steel parts in automotive/aircraft
  industries
  
• Eco-plastic
• Biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic
• Contains an additive that is food for
  microorganisms in landfills
  
• Straw Paneling
• Alternative to wood for building construction
• Derived from agricultural waste products

54
Nontoxic Chemical Alternatives

• Polylactic Acid (PLA)
• Polymer derived from cornstarch fermentation
• Used in manufacture of plastics
• Biodegradable
• U.S. produces 70-80 billion pounds of plastics
  derived mostly from petroleum
  
• A shift to PLA-based plastics would consume 2
  billion bushels of corn annually
  
• Spinosad
• Pesticide produced from soil-dwelling microbe
• Environmentally friendly alternative to other
  pesticides such as Malathion
  
• CO2 usage in styrofoam production
• Replacement for pentane, a low-level smog
  contributor
  
• CO2 is recovered from existing commerical and
  natural sources, creating no net increase in CO2
  levels in the atmosphere
  

55
Sustainable Building Materials

• Lumber/steel combinations for structural frames
• Composite lumber made from waste goods
• Recycled rubber floor cushioning
• Made from ground-up, tire rubber
• Imitation slate roofing
• Made from 100 recycled materials, including
  rubber/cellulose
  
• Longer lifespan than shingles
• Organic insulation
• Insulation made from recycled newspapers
• Cotton insulation made from recycled textiles

56
Sustainable Agriculture

• Overview by Sean Perry

57
Organic Agriculture

• Alternative approach to agriculture that utilizes
  existing ecosystems and natural mechanisms to
  achieve human goals.
  
• Replaces most chemical approaches with holistic
  approaches such as companion planting, crop
  rotation, composting, etc. Reduces number of
  chemicals allowed in farming from 350 to 4.
• More reliance upon natural mechanisms reduces
  energy requirements by 50 - 70
  
• Organic practices shown to be an economically
  efficient way to greatly reduce soil erosion and
  maintain purity of groundwater.
  
• Conventional techniques deplete soil of nutrients
  and creates dependence upon synthetic
  fertilizers, while Organic techniques maintain
  fertility and usability of land indefinitely.
• 5 less average overall yield compared to
  conventional techniques, but significant
  increases in nutrition and shelf life of
  produce.
• Significant improvements to human health through
  reduction of contaminants in food, water, and air

58
High Yield Crop Alternative Industrial Hemp

• Hemp is the most versatile crop known to man, and
  can be used to create over 25,000 different
  products including paper, cloth, cosmetics,
  concrete, food, fuel, plastic, etc.
• The Department of Energy has recognized hemp as
  having a high hydrocarbon content, making it a
  highly suitable bio-mass producer of many forms
  of fuel. One acre of hemp can produce 1000
  gallons of methanol per year. Devoting 6 of US
  farm land to hemp would produce enough fuel to
  supply 100 of our current energy demand.
• Hemp seed is a very nutritious food, containing
  more essential fatty acids than any other plant
  source. Its protein content is second only to
  soybeans, and is more easily digested.
• Can be cultivated only three months after
  planting. Hemp plants grow too densely and
  quickly for any known weed to compete.
  
• One acre of hemp produces paper pulp equivalent
  to 4.1 acres of trees. Hemp paper is naturally
  pale and needs no chlorine to bleach white. It
  does not yellow or disintegrate with age, and is
  stronger and smoother than any wood-based paper.
• One acre of hemp produces cloth fiber equivalent
  to 3 acres of cotton. Hemp cloth naturally repels
  95 of UV rays and has three times the tensile
  strength of cotton. 50 of the worlds pesticides
  are used on cotton, while hemp requires no
  pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides to grow.

59
Solar Powered Equipment

• Solar-electric tractors are already in use, and
  extremely effective.
  
• The electric propulsion systems are 90
  efficient, compared to 15 for internal
  combustion.
  
• Electric motors are ideally suited for
  high-torque, low speed work. Their lower number
  of moving parts also reduces the amount of
  maintenance required.
• Heavy lead-acid batteries add beneficial weight
  to the tractor, giving substantially better
  traction. These are the cheapest batteries
  available, and can be recycled at the end of
  their useful lifetime.
• Solar collectors can be used to dry crops and
  grain more evenly and with less risk of pests.
  Also, these same collectors can be used to
  provide heat for other buildings at other times
  of year.

60
Agricultural Water Management

• 80 of available fresh water is used for
  agriculture in the US
  
• 60 of the water used in irrigation never reaches
  the crops.
  
• Automated weather stations can schedule and
  regulate irrigation to maximize efficiency
  
• Drip irrigation can greatly reduce water lost
  through evaporation by slowing distribution and
  allowing more efficient ground absorption.
  
• Cover crops and crop rotation can protect topsoil
  and dramatically decrease loss of water though
  erosion and runoff
  
• Choosing crops according to local land
  conditions.
  
• Example Irrigation-grown wheat takes three times
  the water of rain-grown wheat.

61
Conclusion

• Summary of our Research

62
City Concept
63
Resource Savings

• 64 overall water savings (water management and
  agriculture)
  
• 20 reduction in fuel consumption (hybrid
  electric cars), more for public transportation
  
• 100 reduction in import of foreign fuel
• 25 reduction in overall air pollution
• 100 recycled building materials
• 80 reduction in lumber use

64
Human Savings

• In 1989, air pollution caused more deaths than
  any other threat 50,000
  
• Significant reduction in health problems such as
  cancer, asthma, allergies, leukemia from
  elimination of food pesticides
  
• Increase in overall health due to increased food
  nutrition, reduced quantities of food needed.
  
• Reduction in heart attacks, asthma, immune
  deficiency from reduced air pollution

65
References
http//www.hybridcars.com http//www.managenergy.
net http//sciencepolicy.colorado.edu http//www
.fueleconomy.gov

66
Sources

• http//www.epa.gov/indicators/roe/pdf/tdAir1-1.pdf
  
  
• http//www.worldecology.com/
• http//www.ucla.edu/

67
Sources

• http//www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/0/
  4032f112d1a4a17880256e92005365ec?OpenDocument,
  Soil Association Facts and Figures
  
• http//www.ofrf.org/general/about_organic/,
  Frequently Asked Questions About Organic
  Farming, Organic Farming Research Foundation
  
• http//www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file
  /DOCREP/005/Y4137E/y4137e02.htm, Organic
  agriculture, environment and Food Security,
  Sustainable Development Department
• http//maxpages.com/hemplife/Hemp_Info
• http//www.thehia.org/hempfacts.htm
• http//www.hemp.co.uk/html/hempfact.html
• http//www.motherearthnews.com/rec/re/2123/
• http//www.scwa2.com/wc_awc.html

68
Water Reference

• Industrial Water Sustainability
• http//www.cdm.com/Ideas_at_Work/RegulatoryArticles
  /IndustrialWaterSustainability.htm
  
• Lenntech Water purification and Air Treatment 
  
  
• http//www.lenntech.com/
• Industry Water Conservation Home Page
• http//www.p2pays.org/water/industry.htm
• EPA Water Topic of the Month
• http//www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater/month.h
  tml