Green Technology Movement and Impact on Global Environment

COMM 12 Fall 2007

Erica Eaton, Page Nichols, Kate Devlin
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What is Green Technology?

Environmental technology or green technology is the application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and by curbing the negative impacts on human involvement
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The 7 Rs of Green Technology:

Who is involved in the Green Technology Movement?

With rising energy costs and the threat of global warming, any businesses are now recognizing the benefits of using technology to reduce their carbon footprint and minimize waste Go to: http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp# and see what your carbon footprint is.
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continued who is involved

As Green becomes trendy, businesses benefit from becoming part of the movement Green products sell = overall revenue increases THE EXPERTS! Those most familiar with the material who can teach the technologies to push for a greener world
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Why are companies choosing to go Green?

Because people are requesting environmental technologies Example: hybrid versus non-hybrid most people want the hybrid for a variety of reasons Green is a trend that is going to be around for a while. It will stay important as long as climate change is an issue
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continued why companies

are going Green:

Companies benefit from going Green because: a) its a trend so it sells b) although the cost of going green may be high, the cost of staying green is significantly cheaper in the long run
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How are companies going Green?

By working with experts who know the material well Using sustainable building plans Implementing restrictions on waste -example: Wal-Mart has been aggressively pursuing a variety of environmentally friendly strategies over the past few years. The impact on the retailer and its suppliers could be significant. Wal-Mart suppliers are required 8 to meet certain waste standards.

GREEN SYNDICALISM
green syndicalists have understood that labor struggles and ecological struggles are not separate. Definition: a radical political movement that advocates bringing industry and government under the control of federations of labor unions by the use of direction such as general strikes and sabotage.
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continued Syndicalism
Green syndicalists insist that overcoming ecological devastation depends on shared responsibilities towards developing convivial ways of living in which relationships of affinity, both within our own species and 10 with other species, are

GREEN BUILDING
Green Building is the practice of increasing the efficiency of buildings and their use of energy, water and materials and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment through better citing, design, construction, operation, maintenance and removal - the complete building life cycle.

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Daily Water Waste:

Some Facts: Dishwashers use 1418 gallons of water per cycle Top loading washers use 45 gallons per wash A dripping faucet wastes 15-21 gallons of water per day

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How people can contribute to Green Building:

Think small Heat with the sun Use renewable energy Conserve water Use local/natural materials Recycle materials
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Renewable/ Alternative Energy Sources

Energy obtained from sources that are essentially inexhaustible. Have less of an impact on the environment

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Solar Power
Heat Transfer oil in a pipe is heated, then runs through reservoir of water. Heat from oil causes water to boils, creating steam which turns turbines. Photovoltaic (common solar panel) photons from sunlight knock electrons into higher sates of energy causing potential voltage difference (electricity).

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Solar Power
CIS Tower, Manchester England. Was covered in mosaic tiles, which with photovoltaic panels turned grey due to pollution. Tiles replaced, costing 5.5 million. Began feeding National Grid in 2005.
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Water Power: Tidal Flux

Captures energy of waves in the ocean or large lakes Repairs are more costly at sea

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Water Power: Hydroelectricity

Rivers are dammed, and water is released slowly Force of rushing water creates electricity Environmental concerns of building dams

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Wind
Wind rotates turbines to create electricity. Has potential to take over all of our electricity needs (on 13% of all land area)

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Geothermal
Pipes are routed near geothermal activity. Boiling creates steam, which turns turbines.

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Why are businesses going green?

Saving energy = saving money Gaining consumer confidence Managing dependence on oil and other fuels that could spike in price, or become regulated.

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What are businesses doing?

Wal-Mart recently began cleaning up its environmental practice, dropping customer complaints by 10% GE spent $1.5 billion on new technology to help reduce waste products and energy consumption

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What are businesses doing?

FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service have invested in vehicles that run at least partly on alternative fuels. DuPont, a chemical company, was once Americas main producer of greenhouse gasses. Now, they are slowly reducing their production of carbon emissions.
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Triple Bottom Line

Businesses are taking into account their effects on the environment. CLP Group, a Hong Kong based power plant operating company, now includes data in its annual reports such as waste produced and effectiveness of environmental programs.

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Green Business?
Big business is a leading producer of greenhouse gasses, but according to Janet Ranagathan, the director of the World Resources Institute, businesses voluntary reducing waste and energy consumption is the fastest way to curb greenhouse gasses Many companies claim to be green, while only making unsubstantial changes 25

Hybrid Vehicles
Honda Civic Honda Accord Ford Escape Volkswagon Chevy Malibu Honda Subcompact (2009) Hyundai Accent (2009) Lexus GS 450h Lexus LS 600H L Saturn Aura Green Line Nissan Altima Toyota Camry Toyota Prius Chevy Tahoe Dodge Durango (2008) GMC Yukon Lexus RX 400h Toyota Highlander Mercedes ML 450 (2009) Mercury Mariner Porsche Cayenne (2010) Saturn Vue Green Line Toyota Sienna Minivan Pick-up trucks coming in December:
Chevy Silverado GMC Sierra
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Driving Trends
Since 1770, miles increased 150% while population increased 40% 200 million vehicles in the U.S. 700 million in the world By 2008, one million hybrid gas-electric cars in the U.S.
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Vehicles and the Environment

1 gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds When burned Carbon + Oxygen = 20 pounds of CO2 CO2 is the dominant greenhouse gas causing global warming!
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Connect the Dots

Driving is our most air polluting activity We spend an hour per day in the car (on average) Thats 8 BILLION hours per year collectively 3 out of 4 people drive to work alone Families take about 10 vehicle trips per day Less than 5% use public transportation Health care from transportation pollution costs 29 $60 billion per year

Health Effects
Automobile pollutants have an impact on health and the environment
Respiratory problems Impair the bodys immune system Increase a persons risk of cancer Birth defects, low birth weight, infant deaths Asthma
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Total Impact of Green Vehicles

Smaller, lighter cars Fewer materials Decreases emissions Eases environmental impact No proven reduction in cars safety! 31

Solar Power
* power from the sun *

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Benefits

Reduces local air pollution Offsets greenhouse gases Conserves energy Reduces the need for dry-cell battery disposal
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The Green Grid

The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to developing and promoting energy efficiency for data centers and information service delivery How? By defining user-centric models and metrics, Developing standards , measurement methods, & new technologies to improve performance, Promoting adoption of new energy efficient 34 standards

Conclusion?
More and more corporations are jumping on the green bandwagon. Its trendy Its important! Its good for the environment It saves companies money It benefits our health

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Bibliography
HybridCars.com, Bradley Berman. "HybridCars.com." Hybrid Cars. 2007. 5 Nov. 2007 <http://www.hybridcars.com/about.html>. Solar Electric Light Fund. "Solar Electricity in the Devloping World form the Solar Electric Light Fund." Benefits of Solar: Environment. 2007. 4 Nov. 2007 < http://www.self.org/shs_envir.asp>. The Conde Nast Building at Four Times Square. Building Green. Accessed on 2 November 2007. http://www.buildinggreen.com/hpb/overview.cfm?projectid=32 Green Syndicalism. Answers.com. Accessed 5 November 2007. http://www.answers.com/topic/green-syndicalism?cat=technology Green Technology Forum. Accessed on 4 November 2007. http://www.greentechforum.net/index.php Simon, Timothy A. Curbing Global Warming. Green Technology. Accessed on 4 November 2007. http://www.greentechnology.org/green_technology_magazine/simon_oped.htm http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17969124/page/2/ http://home.utah.edu/~ptt25660/tran.html http://edition.cnn.com/2006/BUSINESS/12/14/environment/index.html http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm
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Images Used for Educational Purposes:

Solar Panels grid tied roof.jpg Traffic Jam 060801_trafficJams_hmed_1p.hmedium.jpg Sun sun_main.jpg Honda Prius prius.jpg Lexus Hybrid SUV 96_1.jpg Solar building solarwww.hartleynature.org/.../ buildingbest.jpg 7 Rs www.jwri.osaka-u.ac.jp GreenTech www.alrdesign.com Oragnic Farmers www.orcasrec.com Solar panel http://www.caseelectricalservices.co.uk/images/solar-panel-1.jpg Wind turbine http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/wind_turbines_html_html_ geothermal http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/geo/image002.jpg dam 37 http://www.bpa.gov/Corporate/KR/ed/nwpower/pics/bonny%20dam.jpg

GO GREEN!
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