Author Archives: Emily Deyst

Solar Power & Its Applications

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Solar energy is a commonly referenced form of alternative energy in the conversation regarding the rising global temperatures and the consequences of human impact on our world. The sun is both a highly relevant and accessible form of alternative power, and solar panels, especially as of late, have begun to crop up, and many people have made the choice to install them into their own homes as a form of energy production and usage. According to the site Sustainable Energy – without the hot air, the raw power produced by sunshine on a clear day is ~ 1000 watts per square meter of land facing the sun, not ordinary land area. Because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis (~23.5 degrees), the calculations of sun that is able to be utilized in the form of solar energy needs to be accounted for. This leaves about 60% of viable solar power left over at the equator that is available to be used as an energy source when taking into account the tilt of the Earth’s axis. In the UK, sunshine is available for ~34% of the daylight hours, and the average intensity during more mild seasons is ~32%. Solar energy is more or less feasible in terms of a long-term energy source in that it is always available, but based on the changing seasons, particularly in temperate countries like the United Kingdom and the United States and Canada, the intensity levels and amount of power that can be drawn from the sun is highly variable and largely dependent upon the current season. Summarily, the average intensity per unit of land area in the UK is 100 watts per square meter. Additionally, four potential uses of solar energy include solar thermal energy, solar photovoltaic energy, solar biomass, and food in the form of solar biomass which would subsequently be consumed by humans and other animals. In terms of vitality and relevance, solar thermal energy is useful insofar as that it produces low-grade energy, and can produce heat, but this heat cannot be transmitted to the electricity grid, and is therefore wasted should it not be needed. Wind turbines are a more reliable source in this regard. Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy panels convert sunlight into electricity at an efficiency rate of ~10%. Expensive panels operate at a rate of about ~20%. With high-grade technology and proper installation, the best PV panels operate at an efficiency rate of ~60%, which is not bad. Solar biomass also provides an alternative solution and food source in the sense that we can grow specific plants and dispose of them in a power station that will turn the waste/by-products of human consumption into electricity, heat, or both. We can also grow and harvest plants that can be then transformed into fuels like ethanol and diesel fuel for engines and the like, this providing another substantial, and ethical, alternative form of fuel for transportation. In short, solar energy is both viable and readily accessible, and I think it is defiantly a form of energy worth considering.

Sources cited:

http://www.withouthotair.com/

Waste (in tons) Per Person in Landfills by State in 2019

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One major issue in today’s society is waste production and management. In recent years, there have been many concerns about a rise in pollution and global temperatures. Ocean acidification and air pollution are two direct results of improper waste management, and these have negative impacts on all of us, and many can lead to long-lasting health conditions and problems. As can be seen in the graph, Connecticut had the lowest per capita waste presence in landfills, with 8.7 tons of waste products in 2019. The next lowest state is Massachusetts, with 16.2 tons of waste byproduct in landfills. The trend continues increasing, with several states remaining in the 16-18 ton range. With regards to North Dakota, Maryland, South Dakota, and Vermont, and Maine, the per capita presence of waste in landfills in 2019 ranged from 20.3 to 21.9 tons, respectively. This is an alarming statistic, and the total gap between Connecticut and Maine is 13.2 tons.

Sources Cited:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/591862/least-waste-per-capita-in-us-landfills-by-major-state/

Racial Disparities Amongst Youth in the US Prison Systems

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There is a huge disparity in the disproportionate amount of African Americans that are incarcerated each year in the United States. This has been a long withstanding issue in America, but the issue itself has gained a lot of media attention, especially in recent years, due to current events that have taken place within the past five years or so. The staggering gap between racial identities that face imprisonment is alarming, and when applied with qualitative data, it becomes even more appalling.

This post is from the Census Bureau, and is as recent as 2019. It is a comparison between the percent that youth under that age of 18 from different racial demographics make up in the larger population compared with their respective incarceration rates. White youth make up approximately 72% of the population living in the United States (under the age of 18), and are 62% of juvenile imprisonments. There is a 10% buffer there. Hispanic youth/youth of other races account for around a quarter of the population under the age of 18, and make up 23% of juvenile imprisonments. Comparatively, black youth make up just 15% of their age pool, but are a whopping 35% percent of underage imprisonments/arrests. They account for 20% more of imprisonments than they do in comparison to their percentage of the populationThis is a staggering statistic, and speaks to the immense issue that is present with respect to racial disparities and the prison system. And this is just in regards to kids under the age of 18.

Sources cited:

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/07/27/disparities/

Fast Fashion and It’s Consequences

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Many companies involved in fast fashion and unsustainable practices use outdated and less eco-friendly processes to produce their goods. A a result of these outdated manufacturing practices, the carbon footprint of many clothing brands are alarmingly high. Fast fashion caters to increasingly high levels of supply and demand, so the products are over produced, and then retailers buy them at exceedingly high prices. Whatever is left over are usually disposed of unethically, rather than being donated or up-cycled. Brands like Aerie, She-in, and the like are some of the biggest contributors to this issue. However, there are viable, and fun alternative solutions to this issue that not only are sustainable, they’re also very much within current fashion trends and practices. As mentioned earlier, up cycling is not only an alternative option, it’s also affordable. Thrifting is also a popular alternative, and it’s also way more affordable than buying at full price in-store. Savers, Goodwill, and the Salvation Army are all large and fairly well known companies that utilize thrifting practices. There are several benefits to thrifting and buying clothes which include, but are not limited too, lesser levels of air pollution, less waste production, and healthier oceans. It turns out that polyester, which is used in many fabrics, doesn’t decompose in water, and instead just adds to the pollution of our oceans. Strikingly enough, people throw away 60-80 pounds, on average, of unwanted clothing over the course of their lifetimes. The fashion industry also contributes to ~10% of global carbon emissions. So, it is not unfair to state that thrifting is, in fact, good for the environment, and it’s also wicked fun.

 

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/01/31/sustainability-in-fast-fashion-how-tech-can-minimize-waste/?sh=2f5be76331e6

https://www.swiftfit.net/blog/sustainable-thrift-shopping

Carbon Emissions

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The United States emitted a grand total of 5,222 million metric tonnes of CO2 in 2020, which was an 11% decrease following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this downward trend would prove to be only temporary. However, in comparison to 2005 CO2 emission levels, there was a 21% decrease, which I found to be interesting. In 2020 alone, carbon dioxide accounted for  ~79% of GHG emissions, while nitrous oxide, methane, and various fluorinated gases made up the other 21%. 27% of these emissions were caused by transportation alone, electricity contributed to 1/4 of these emissions, and the rest were sectioned off into industry, commercial usage, and, unsurprisingly, agricultural energy consumption. Ten years prior, the overall emission measurement (circa 2010) fell around 5,594 million metric tonnes, which while not a huge difference, really puts things in perspective. If we could somehow figure out a balance between all the above aspects of everyday life, and managed to cut back on energy consumption in a realistic yet sustainable way, it would be for the better.

 

 

 

 

sources:

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks

https://www.statista.com/statistics/183943/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-1999/

Hot Dam! (Hydroelectricity)

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Hydroelectric power is an alternative method to fossil fuel-driven mechanisms. Take, for instance, the Hoover Dam, which generates ~4 billion kilowatt hours per year, and is one of the nation’s largest sources of hydroelectric power.

Hydroelectric power plants and dams usually draw the majority of their power from a reservoir of water, whose output is then controlled by a gate-like mechanism. Potential energy is gained as the water flows down hill, and in the case of the Hoover Dam, power is derived from two ‘wicket gates’ which then reach turbines that control the main power output for the Dam.

Hydroelectric power, be it through dams or other resources, is responsible for ~71 of renewable energy used worldwide, the biggest contributors being the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, and China.

Hydroelectricity is unique in its versatility and application, as well as its vast potentiality in power capacity and drive. It is a form of renewable energy that we should consider making more use of.

Resources:

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/hydroelectric-energy/

https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/faqs/powerfaq.html

Fossil Fuels and Human Health

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We talk a lot about fossil fuels, greenhouse gases, and how the impacts they have on the environment. Something that is not often talked about, however, is the impact of fossil fuels on human health. According to an article published by the NYU School of Law, the burning of fossil fuels and the inhalation of the subsequently polluted air contribute to several health conditions, including, but not limited to: asthma, cardiovascular disease, and preterm birth. What’s more, the article states that “if fossil fuels were completely eliminated, the global average life expectancy would increase by 1.1 years”. The article then goes on to describe the effects of burning fossil fuels, and different variations of pollutants. The thing that interested me most about this article was the mention of a study done in Southern California, where diminished levels of particulate matter (mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets) and nitrogen dioxide over a 21 year period lead to 20% fewer cases of childhood diagnoses of asthma. This is just one of many examples of how fossil fuels and greenhouse gases effect both the environment, the world around us, and humanity as a species.

Sources Cited:

https://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/state-impact/projects-reports/projects/climate-and-health/health-effects-of-burning-fossil-fuels

Intro – Emily Deyst

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Hi, my name is Emily, and I am a sophomore psychology major and Spanish minor. Sustainability to me means making sure to take care of the Earth, and to reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. I want to help sustain and maintain the presence of natural resources without taking more than I give. I think minimizing human impact on the environment is critical, and that we should all try to do our part to leave the world  better than how we found it. I am taking this class because I want to learn more about sustainability, and the class looks really interesting.