Green Energy

Program paid for and brought to byProgram paid for and brought to by-Anja Bananja-Anja Bananja-Franz the Manz-Franz the Manz- And Just Chadrick- And Just Chadrick

Overview-

What is Green Energy?

Different Types?

What is sustainability?

German Green Energy

Cost and Efficiency

Recycling

What is Green Energy?-It is energy resources that are renewable

-Can be naturally replenished

-Clean, Safe and not harmful to the environment (aka mother earth)

Types of Green Energy

Green Energygoing cute

Solar Power

• Is produced by using photovoltaic cells, which capture sunlight and turns that into energy.

Problems?-The sun has got to shine

-The cost of solar panels and the systems rangebetween $20k-40k

-The light from the sunproduces a very small amount of energy

Wind Power-These giant pinwheels spin from strong winds whichspins a turbine of a generator to produce energy.

Giant Pin Wheels?

Any Studies done?• It is said that wind energy is

suppose to bring down costs and reduce the in the air.

• Well Forbes found a study on this and wrote an article about it.

• Forbes said “no”

• Bentek Energy did the Study and used about 1/3 of the US population for 2 years.

• The claims of cutting CO₂ emissions were actually less than half of what was stated.

• Subsidies (government money) to the wind sector is more than 200 times as great as those given to oil and gas sector.

Oh and the wind has to blow.

Hydropower

Power to the Water

• By using earth’s water cycles and running water used threw mostly dams to provide energy.

• Hydropower is about 1/3 the cost of using fossil fuels and about 1/6 the cost of natural gas.

• 90% energy efficient compared to natural gas being 50% efficient.

• The only problem is, you need water.

Biofuels

• Using natural materials to turn into fuel or forms of combustible energy.

• Which is mostly plants and plant products

I Love you Plants

Cost Efficient?

• A study done by OSU• Going to biofuels would

be like adding a new gas tax. About 25 cents.

• And it is not proven to reduce green house gases and may even produce more of them.

So much for the love….

Geothermal Energy

-By using heat from the earth’s crust in forms of hot water and steam to power generators for electricity.

The Math?

• Geothermal Energy systems are expensive to put in.

• But they are able to pay themselves off in 5 to 10 yrs.

• Is able to cut the energy bills by 30 to 40%.

Overall

Good• Hydropower• Geothermal

Bad (technology not there yet)

• Solar• Wind• biofuels

Germany and Sustainability

Key Concepts Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany have

reworked policies to promote growth that is more environmentally sustainable

Germany’s policies aimed at “greening” the economy provide several lessons for the United States about how to make sustainability politically acceptable in a federal system of government

Germany's impressive feat has been less about innovation than about implementation

Germany has become a forerunner in promoting a greener, more sustainable future

German Renewable Energy Act(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz (EEG))• The Act came into force in the year 2000 • Initial spark of a tremendous boost of renewable energies in

Germany• Proved to be the world's most effective policy framework at

accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies

• The Renewable Energy Act was the central political element of one of the greatest paradigm shifts since the start of the industrial revolution: the shift from fossil and atomic energy supplies to renewable energy sources.

Freiburg• Freiburg is a 900 year old city of under 250,000 people,

perched in the wine growing region of southwest Germany

• Citizens have high environmental awareness

• Sunniest Region in Germany, Making it the “Solar Capital”

• The Heliotrope (the world’s first energy self-sustaining solar building)

Germany and the Kyoto Protocol • Sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to reduce

emissions of greenhouse gases.

• Between March 1998 and March 1999, 84 countries including Germany signed the Kyoto Protocol.

• In March 2002, the Bundestag unanimously ratified Kyoto. In May 2002, the European Union submitted the articles of ratification for all 15 of its then member states.

• Since signing and ratifying the protocol, Germany has committed to reducing its emissions to 21% below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012

RECYCLING: A Prime Example of German Sustainability

How it began…

• The “Green Movement” in Germany was ignited by damaging acid rain that was ruining their forests

• Challenging the “Throwaway Society”• Space was becoming limited for landfills• NIMBY syndrome was rampant and there was

an imperative need to find a solution

VerpackungsverordnungThe Ordinance on the Avoidance of Packaging Waste

(1991)• Making the “Polluter Pay”• Goal: to give private industry incentive to consider the solid

waste consequences when it designs packages• Requires industry to take back, reuse, and/or recycle

packaging• Major Objectives

– Packaging should be made from “environmentally responsible” materials compatible with recycling

– Weight and volume of packaging should be minimized– Packaging should be refillable, if feasible– Packaging should be recycled if it cannot be refilled

How It Works

• This system requires thorough This system requires thorough implementation of the legislation implementation of the legislation

• It could not possibly work without the It could not possibly work without the cooperation of its citizenscooperation of its citizens

• According to a 1998 survey, about 91% of According to a 1998 survey, about 91% of German homeowners separate their waste in German homeowners separate their waste in order to contribute to environmental order to contribute to environmental protectionprotection

The Color System

Glas

• All glass bottles are collected at community “igloos”

• It is very important that the colors are sorted properly

• A sophisticated sorting system processes the glass and produces new glass as beverage containers

Papier

• All collected paper is processed at a sorting plant where any “mixed paper” packaging is removed

• The paper is dissolved, pulped, pressed, and dried

• Turned into newspaper and the beginnings of corrugated cardboard

Various Recyclables• Envelopes• Books• Catalogues• Cartons• Writing Pads• Washing Detergent Boxes

(without plastic)• Newspapers• Paper Boxes

Der Grüne Punkt“The Green Dot”

• Established by DSD

• Manufacturers pay a fee to become a member of DSD and are permitted to use the trademark on all their packaging

• Fees are determined based on the material, weight, and number of items, as well as the costs for appropriate disposal

Verpackung

Metal/Other• Aluminum foil• Tins, Cans• Polystyrene• Composite Beverage

containers• Empty spray cans

Plastic• Plastic wrap• Liquid Refill bags• Yogurt cups• Plastic bags• Screw-top bottle tops

Die Anderen

Bio / Household• Citizens are urged to keep a

compost bin at their home • An alternative is to dispose

of old food and garden waste in the gray bin to be sent to the incinerator.

• Household waste includes: ash , cigarette butts, personal hygiene products, nylon stockings, and others

Miscellaneous (Orange Bin)• This newly added category

has been developed for the collection of misc. non-packaging items

• Frying pans• Appliances• Broken plastic toys• CD’s

Interesting Statistics• Germany leads European nations in recycling, with around Germany leads European nations in recycling, with around 70%70% of the waste of the waste

the country generates successfully recovered and reused each yearthe country generates successfully recovered and reused each year

• In 2007, the US was able to recover only about 33% of the waste generated In 2007, the US was able to recover only about 33% of the waste generated that yearthat year

• Between 1996-2007, the country has reduced its total net waste amount by Between 1996-2007, the country has reduced its total net waste amount by more than more than 37.7 million U.S. tons37.7 million U.S. tons

• In 2004, package recycling saved about In 2004, package recycling saved about 73.2 billion mega joules 73.2 billion mega joules of primary of primary energy which equals about 20 billion kilowatt hours. energy which equals about 20 billion kilowatt hours.

• In 2004, about In 2004, about 5.2 million tons of packages 5.2 million tons of packages were recycled, which equals 63 kg were recycled, which equals 63 kg per capitaper capita

• Since its implementation, recycling has prevented aboutSince its implementation, recycling has prevented about 1.06 million tons of 1.06 million tons of COCO22 from being emitted into the atmosphere.from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Works Cited

• Blue, Laura, and Schwandorf. "The Environment." Time. Time, 17 Apr. 2008. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. • Bryce, Robert. "A New Study Takes The Wind Out of Energy." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19 July 2011. Web. 2 Dec.

2012. • Fishbein, Bette K. Germany, Garbage and the Green Dot: Challenging a Throwaway Society. N.p.: Inform, 1994.

Print. • "Freiburg Green City." Freiburg Green City. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. • "Germany, Garbage, and the Green Dot: Challenging the Throwaway Society (Executive Summary)."

Informinc.org. INFORM, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. • "Green Econometrics." Green Econometrics RSS. N.p., 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. • Hansen, Holger. "Germany Eyes Cap for Support for Wind Power, Biomass." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 11 Oct.

2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. • Hickman, Leo. "A Small Town in Germany Where Recycling Pays." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 17

Mar. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. • "Hydroelectric Power." Renewable Energy,. Alternative Energy, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2012. • Look, Marie. "Trash Planet: Germany." Earth911com RSS. Infinity Resources, 13 July 2009. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. • "News & Research Communications." OSU Study Questions Cost-effectiveness of Biofuels and Their Ability to Cut

Fossil Fuel Use. Oregon State University, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 15 Dec. 2012. • "Picture Gallery." Facts about Germany: Environment, Climate, Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. • "Recycling and Waste Separation in Germany | Germany | Country Profiles." Recycling and Waste Separation in

Germany | Germany | Country Profiles. Textronics, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. • Rogers, Stephanie. "MNN - Mother Nature Network." MNN - Mother Nature Network. MNN, 25 July 2012. Web. 2

Dec. 2012. • Watson, Stephanie. "How Geothermal Energy Works." HowStuffWorks. Discovery, n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.