Why do WE need to Reduce?

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Why do Why do WEWE need to Reduce? need to Reduce?

• Global Warming is a factGlobal Warming is a fact

• China has surpassed the U.S. in China has surpassed the U.S. in Greenhouse gas emissions and India Greenhouse gas emissions and India is on it’s wayis on it’s way

• If we do nothing, they will continue If we do nothing, they will continue to do nothing to do nothing ( (The EconomistThe Economist 9/9/06) 9/9/06)

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What can we do?What can we do?

• Build GreenBuild Green

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Build GreenBuild Green

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• Use Electricity not from Fossil Use Electricity not from Fossil FuelsFuels

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Green ElectricityGreen Electricity

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Deep Heat Mining Deep Heat Mining http://www.dhm.ch/dhm.htmlhttp://www.dhm.ch/dhm.html and and http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/01/29/the_power_of_rocks/?p1=email_to_a_friendhttp://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/01/29/the_power_of_rocks/?p1=email_to_a_friend

• Geothermal energy is the Geothermal energy is the only renewable source of only renewable source of energy which can be energy which can be tapped year round and tapped year round and no need of no need of storage facilities storage facilities

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• Use Electricity not from Fossil FuelsUse Electricity not from Fossil Fuels

• Hydrogen or Solar-Powered Hydrogen or Solar-Powered VehiclesVehicles

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Hydrogen Powered VehiclesHydrogen Powered Vehicles

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• Hydrogen Powered VehiclesHydrogen Powered Vehicles

• Invest in Green CompaniesInvest in Green Companies

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• Invest in Green Invest in Green

• Remove the CORemove the CO2 2 from the from the AtmosphereAtmosphere

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Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestration

–Planting vegetationPlanting vegetation–Carbon dioxide capture and storageCarbon dioxide capture and storage

–Underground injection and geologic Underground injection and geologic sequestration, or permanent storage, of sequestration, or permanent storage, of the COthe CO22 in rock formations that contain in rock formations that contain tiny openings - or pores - that trap and tiny openings - or pores - that trap and hold the COhold the CO22

–Baking Soda?Baking Soda?

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Carbon SequestrationCarbon Sequestrationhttp://sequestration.mit.edu/technology_overview/index.htmlhttp://sequestration.mit.edu/technology_overview/index.html

The Sleipner project in Norway's North Sea is the world's first The Sleipner project in Norway's North Sea is the world's first commercial carbon dioxide capture and storage projectcommercial carbon dioxide capture and storage projectStarted in 1996, it sequesters about one million metric tons of Started in 1996, it sequesters about one million metric tons of carbon dioxide each yearcarbon dioxide each year http://www.statoil.com/STATOILCOM/SVG00990.NSF/web/sleipneren?opendocumenthttp://www.statoil.com/STATOILCOM/SVG00990.NSF/web/sleipneren?opendocument

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Can Baking Soda curb Global Can Baking Soda curb Global Warming?Warming?

Staff Writer, CNET News.com November 27, 2007, 4:00 AM PSTStaff Writer, CNET News.com November 27, 2007, 4:00 AM PST

““Jones, the founder and CEO of Skyonic, has come up Jones, the founder and CEO of Skyonic, has come up with an industrial process called SkyMine that captures with an industrial process called SkyMine that captures 90 percent of the carbon dioxide coming out of smoke 90 percent of the carbon dioxide coming out of smoke stacks and mixes it with sodium hydroxide to make stacks and mixes it with sodium hydroxide to make sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. The energy required sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda. The energy required for the reaction to turn the chemicals into baking soda for the reaction to turn the chemicals into baking soda comes from the waste heat from the factory. comes from the waste heat from the factory.

The system also removes 97 percent of the heavy The system also removes 97 percent of the heavy metals, as well as most of the sulfur and nitrogen metals, as well as most of the sulfur and nitrogen compounds, Jones said.”compounds, Jones said.”

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What can we do?What can we do?• Build GreenBuild Green




• Remove the CORemove the CO2 2 from the Atmospherefrom the Atmosphere

• Encourage Ratification of Encourage Ratification of Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol

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Goals of Kyoto ProtocolGoals of Kyoto ProtocolReduction of greenhouse gases to below 1990 Reduction of greenhouse gases to below 1990

levels:levels: 5.2% reduction by industrialized nations by 5.2% reduction by industrialized nations by

20122012– 7% for US, 8% for European Union; developing 7% for US, 8% for European Union; developing

nations were exemptnations were exempt US Senate voted noUS Senate voted no 2001- Bush said no until all countries be subject to 2001- Bush said no until all countries be subject to

emission limitsemission limits As of 2010: 190 countries have ratified; US only one As of 2010: 190 countries have ratified; US only one

not to ratifynot to ratify

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What can we do?What can we do?• Build GreenBuild Green

• Use electricity not from fossil fuelsUse electricity not from fossil fuels



• Remove the CORemove the CO2 2 from the Atmospherefrom the Atmosphere

• Encourage Ratification of Kyoto ProtocolEncourage Ratification of Kyoto Protocol

• Cap and Trade? Cap and Trade? • Cut back on the eating of Red Meat Cut back on the eating of Red Meat

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Cattle and MethaneCattle and Methane• Cattle and other ruminant animals Cattle and other ruminant animals

– Methane is by-product of digestionMethane is by-product of digestion

• Organisms in their stomachs break down fiber in Organisms in their stomachs break down fiber in grasses and grains they eatgrasses and grains they eat

• Methane is 20 to 60 times as strong of a Methane is 20 to 60 times as strong of a greenhouse gas as COgreenhouse gas as CO22

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Reducing the Threat of Outdoor Air Reducing the Threat of Outdoor Air PollutionPollution

Cut fossil fuel usage (especially coal)Cut fossil fuel usage (especially coal) Transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy Transfer energy efficiency and renewable energy

sources to developing countriessources to developing countries Reduce deforestationReduce deforestation Use sustainable agricultureUse sustainable agriculture Slow population growthSlow population growth Remove CO2 from smokestacks and vehicle emissionsRemove CO2 from smokestacks and vehicle emissions

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Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution

EPA found indoor concentrations of toxic air EPA found indoor concentrations of toxic air pollutants are often higher than outdoor.pollutants are often higher than outdoor.

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Important Indoor Air pollutantsImportant Indoor Air pollutants Nitrogen dioxideNitrogen dioxide Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide Formaldehyde (carpeting and plywood)Formaldehyde (carpeting and plywood) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (paints and solvents)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (paints and solvents) House dust mites (and other allergens, e.g. from pets)House dust mites (and other allergens, e.g. from pets) Fungi, bacteriaFungi, bacteria Tobacco smokeTobacco smoke Fine particlesFine particles Chlorinated organic compounds (e.g. pesticides) Chlorinated organic compounds (e.g. pesticides) Asbestos and man-made mineral fibers Asbestos and man-made mineral fibers RadonRadon

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AsbestosAsbestos

Several different fibrous forms of silicate minerals widely used since the 1940s– Used for fireproofing, insulation of heaters and

pipes, soundproofing

Negative effects:– Remain in lungs for years– Can cause asbestosis– Can cause mesothelioma

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RadonRadon Radon 222-

a colorless, odorless, tasteless, naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the radioactive decay of uranium-238

Can cause lung cancer Lifetime exposure in

a home responsible for 13,600 deaths a yr.

Fig. 17-18

p. 436

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Indoor Air PollutionIndoor Air PollutionIndoor Air PollutionIndoor Air Pollution

Fig. 17-17p. 434

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Sick Building SyndromeSick Building Syndrome

Flu-like symptoms from indoor pollution a building is “sick” when at least 20% of its

occupants suffer persistent symptoms that stop when they go outside– no specific illness or cause can be identified no specific illness or cause can be identified – Causes:Causes:

Inadequate ventilationInadequate ventilation Chemical contaminantsChemical contaminants Biological contaminantsBiological contaminants

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Reducing indoor air pollutionReducing indoor air pollution

Ban smoking or limit to well ventilated areasBan smoking or limit to well ventilated areas Set stricter formaldehyde emission standardsSet stricter formaldehyde emission standards Prevent radon infiltrationPrevent radon infiltration Increase intake of outside airIncrease intake of outside air Use machines in well ventilated areasUse machines in well ventilated areas Circulate buildings air through rooftop greenhousesCirculate buildings air through rooftop greenhouses Use less polluting harmful cleaning agents, paints and Use less polluting harmful cleaning agents, paints and

other productsother products

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Air Pollution Prevention:Air Pollution Prevention:Specific Air Pollution Treatment Specific Air Pollution Treatment

TechnologyTechnology TraditionalTraditional

– Move factory to remote locationMove factory to remote location– Build taller smokestack so wind blows pollution elsewhereBuild taller smokestack so wind blows pollution elsewhere

NewNew– Fabric filters (baghouse filters)– Electrostatic precipitators: electrically charged particles are

attracted to – or + charges on the sides of the precipitator– Scrubber: particles are “scrubbed” from the exhaust stream

by water droplets; water particle sludge is collected

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Clean Air LegislationClean Air Legislation

Clean Air Act 1963Clean Air Act 1963– Amended Amended

in 1970: 6 criteria pollutantsin 1970: 6 criteria pollutants– Primary standard-set to protect human healthPrimary standard-set to protect human health

– Secondary standard-set to prevent environmental and property Secondary standard-set to prevent environmental and property damagedamage

In 1990: cap and trade systemIn 1990: cap and trade system– companies buy and sell "emission allowances" for a particular companies buy and sell "emission allowances" for a particular

pollutantpollutant

– Government sets standardsGovernment sets standards

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Why do WE need to Reduce?