Category: Policy

The Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy

The Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy

10/18/19

“What is the carbon footprint of wind energy?”

As we discussed earlier in the carbon footprint of solar energy, even the greenest of technologies have an environmental impact. Wind energy is no exception to this rule. During manufacturing, rare-earth minerals have to be scavenged up and forged to produce the technology, creating CO2 emissions in the process. Although these problems are caused by the creation of wind turbines, research has shown that their operate produces only a 90th of greenhouse gases of coal plants and a 40th of natural gas plants (Dolan et. al 2012), making their energy payback period as quick as six months in some areas! (Haapala and Prempreeda 2014). As a result, when discussing The Carbon Footprint of Wind Energy, one must realize that most of it is simply concentrated in the manufacturing phase.

References

Dolan, S. L., & Heath, G. A. (2012). Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Utility-Scale Wind Power. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 16(s1), S136–S154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9290.2012.00464.x

Karl R. Haapala; Preedanood Prempreeda. Comparative life cycle assessment of 2.0 MW wind turbines. International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, 2014 DOI: 10.1504/IJSM.2014.062496

The Carbon Footprint of Solar Energy

The Carbon Footprint of Solar Energy

10/17/19

“How does solar energy have a carbon footprint?”

Renewable energy is marketed as being clean and healthy for the planet. However, like all industrial processes in this world, its manufacturing phase produces pollutive byproducts. Solar panels are made through the extraction of minerals such as quartz and the use of high temperatures. All of these actions are not only energy intensive but also creates greenhouse gasses. But even through solar panels have a carbon footprint associated with their construction, the fact that they do not produce any climate externalities during operation mean that they will emit much less carbon over their lifetime than traditional energy sources. In fact, research has shown that by displacing other more carbon intensive energy sources they can pay back their production pollution in as little as a few months (Comodi et. al. 2016) ! And with more and more factories adopting renewable energy as their power source and using cleaner production methods, the The Carbon Footprint of Solar Energy will only shrink in the future.

Comodi, G., Bevilacqua, M., Caresana, F., Paciarotti, C., Pelagalli, L., & Venella, P. (2016). Life cycle assessment and energy-CO2-economic payback analyses of renewable domestic hot water systems with unglazed and glazed solar thermal panels. Applied Energy, 164, 944–955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.08.036

Managed Retreat

Managed Retreat

10/16/19

“Why might people have to move away from certain areas because of climate change?”

Without a doubt, climate change is causing sea levels to rise and wildfires to spread. And as such, property near the coast or in fire-prone areas will be damaged. Things may get so drastic that a Managed Retreat of civilians away from these zones may need to be performed in order to prevent further losses.

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Why Electric Vehicles Are Better for the Environment Despite Their Batteries

Why Electric Vehicles Are Better for the Environment Despite Their Batteries

10/15/19

“Why are critics wrong about electric vehicles being worse for the environment than their petroleum counterparts?”

Electric vehicles are often marketed as being cleaner than their petroleum alternatives. However, many critics point out that the carbon intensity of their battery manufacturing process makes them much more harmful for the environment. Although this is true, by taking into account that electric vehicles pollute much less over their lifetime, this carbon debt is paid off. In fact, studies have shown in some areas of the world electric vehicles can cross this mark in only two years! And with future improvements in the manufacturing process and grid decarbonization, this payback can be achieved on an even faster timescale. This is Why Electric Vehicles Are Better for the Environment Despite Their Batteries.

Why Hydropower Infrastructure Needs Maintenance

Why Hydropower Infrastructure Needs Maintenance

10/14/19

“Why does hydropower infrastructure need maintenance?”

Hydropower is one of the cornerstones in the energy world. However, like everything in the physical world, it is subject to wear and tear, especially in the face of unpredictable droughts and floods. As a result, engineers will have to keep on top of hydropower infrastructure to make sure that everything operates smoothly. This is Why Hydropower Infrastructure Needs Maintenance.

How to Create a Better Alert Systems for Wildfires

How to Create a Better Alert Systems for Wildfires

10/11/19

“How can we create a better alert system for wildfires?”

Wildfires are becoming an ever-increasing problem with the advent of climate change, whether one lives by the California Pacific coast or the Mediterranean Basin. One of the most common pitfalls of these systems is that many of these geopolitical entities lack a national communications protocol. This can be remedied by creating more uniform structures, thereby Creating a Better Alert Systems for Wildfires.

Why Spring Is Coming Earlier with Climate Change

Why Spring Is Coming Earlier with Climate Change

10/10/19

“Why is Spring coming earlier with climate change?”

In the past, the four seasons in many places were fairly consistent and equal. However, in recent years Spring has been found to be coming earlier and Winter ending faster. This is because rising average temperatures have turned the warmer tail-end of Winters into extended Springs. This is Why Spring Is Coming Earlier with Climate Change.

How Electricity Blackouts Can Be Detrimental to Health

How Electricity Blackouts Can Be Detrimental to Health

10/09/19

“How can electricity blackouts harm human health?”

Electricity blackouts are infamous for their threats to economies. But their harm extends far beyond the monetary. Since appliances such as HVAC systems and plug-in medical devices cannot function properly, individuals will be exposed to much more harmful conditions without any aid. For example, the loss of refrigeration will cause food to spoil, a lack of AC can cause people to be exposed to extreme temperatures, and a lack of medical support can be fatal to the unprepared. All of these show how How Electricity Blackouts Can Be Detrimental to Health.

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How Energy Efficiency Appliances Can Be Less Accessible to Lower Income Communities

How Energy Efficiency Appliances Can Be Less Accessible to Lower Income Communities

10/08/19

“Why is it that the most advanced energy-efficient appliances are not always available in lower-income communities?”

Who doesn’t love the latest energy efficient appliances. Not only do they help save the planet, but they also look quite attractive. However, because of their higher upfront cost and complicated supply-chain logistics favoring wealthier areas, these new devices are often not available in lower-income areas at the same frequency. This discrepancy causes such communities to be stuck with higher energy bills and have greater difficulty recovering from a blackout. All of this as a result of How Energy Efficiency Appliances Can Be Less Accessible to Lower Income Communities.