Schemel.Taylor.wiki.spring2011

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__**Wind Turbines And** **Hydrogen Power** __ =====

hi Throughout the past decade the present fear of fossil fuels running out has become evident, and with that scientists have made many attempts to try and come up with alternatives to the crisis that lies amidst our future. There have been many developments in the scientific field in the hopes of somehow achieving alternative means to the energy problem. Advancements such as Wind Turbines and Solar Energy have already made a significant impact on the consumption of fossil fuels. Though these new contributions to alternative energy means are extremely costly the benefits that one can reap from them are significantly evident. Within a few years the asset will pay itself off due to the cost savings it brings with it. There are many fields in which one can try to attain energy from however the wind energy that is present in some areas can create a significant impact on the global economy and its consumption of fossil fuels.

Wind turbines work in a very simple way, which does not create pollution or effect the global environment. The only downside to that of the wind turbine is that it changes the landscape in which we live, however there has to be some lee-way in order for us to preserve some of the fossil fuels. Wind turbines work by harnessing the wind within the atmosphere and then converting it into useful energy, the most popular alternative means being that of electricity which we rely on to go about our daily lives. “The first windmills were developed to automate the tasks of grain-grinding and water-pumping and the earliest-known design is the vertical axis system developed in Persia about 500-900 A.D. ”[1] However it was not just the Persian people who had thoughts about wind power, many also stem from the Greek empire all the way to the Chinese Empire, in which philosophers also had ideas of alternative means of energy. The wind Turbine or windmill in earlier years was used in the effort of water pumping in order to sustain a village’s thirst as well as their livestock. Since then multiple advances have been made in the scientific center in which the wind turbines are now also used to generate electricity. “The first use of a large windmill to generate electricity was a system built in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1888 by Charles F. Brush.”[2] Within this first electricity producing windmill Bush attached a generator which would in turn produce roughly 12 kilowatts of energy based on a scale of 50 revolutions to 1 kilowatt. Following the creation of the first power generating turbine the scientific sector of the economy attempted to make vast improvements in the generation of wind power, producing wind farms with various wind turbines. The effort became prominent with the first war in the Arabian Gulf when oil was targeted due to its substantial economic power. With that wind farms across the global economy became visible and so did the other technical advances in renewable energy.

So how is it that a wind turbine actually works, one may ask. Well it is actually a very simple design. With simple innovation scientists are able to harness the energy which is entrapped within the wind and transferring into electricity in very easy means. The wind turbine is made of some very key feature, one being the most well known, the blades. The blades on the wind turbine are critical for they are the means in which the turbine harnesses the wind. From there the blades spin which then spins a shaft within the housing of the windmill that is connected to a generator that converts the mechanical energy produced by the blades in to electric energy. media type="youtube" key="mcNCXIUfJlY" height="349" width="425" Once the mechanical energy has traveled down the vertical shaft of the windmill the mechanical power then is traveled into a exterior building that then converts the mechanical energy in to electrical energy. With this energy produced there is no CO2 emissions in creating this energy, and the energy is from a natural resource in this case the natural resource in abundance is wind.

With this efficiency there are a lot of pro's however there are also some cons to wind turbines. Some of the pros that are involved in wind turbines are there are zero emissions, it is renewable, there are declining costs involved, it creates new jobs, it has quick installation, and lastly they are self efficient. The Wind Turbines emit zero emissions allowing it to be a lot more eco-friendly, there is no CO2, Sulfur, or waste emitted that are associated to with green house gasses involved in global warming. With the declining costs involved the wind turbine will essentially pay itself off and then produce savings in the long run with its energy created, and with all this they create jobs in order for them to be installed which assists the economy. The installation period required for wind turbines is also relatively quicker than and other means of eco-friendly inventions. The time required in order to set up a wind turbine is within a few months due to the fact that the company installing the turbine as to conduct so anemology, or otherwise wind study in order to make sure that the wind turbine is going up in a place where it will generate its maximum potential energy. Lastly the turbines are self efficient, in so they do not require other means in order to power them. Wind turbines can be set up in a location and left for a while, they just require wind, no staff or other fuel means. When something does cause a mishap one can just come to the site are replace it.



However with these green pro's there are con's which are unfortunate but there are very few. They are an extremely high initial investment, they make a lot of noise at their location, they are a visual impact on the scenery, they are intermittent, and their distribution is not very effective. One of the most impeding effects of installation of wind turbines is they are a high initial investment. "With a typical cost of $8,000 to $10,000 to purchase and install, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in 5 to 12 years. This payback period will vary and can be much quicker in states with investment rebates. It's anticipated that Skystream 3.7 will save the average homeowner $500 to $800 per year."[4] Most of the cost in the installation of a wind turbine is directed towards the parts that are involved. "About 80% goes to machinery, and 20% to site preparation and installation.'[5] The other cons associated with wind turbines is that they are very noisy. Due to the amount of wind required to power the turbine, the blades produce a lot of noise and it hinders the installation of a turbine. Other being that they are a visual impact on the scenery in the location that they are installed. Alot of the public do not appeal to the design of the wind turbines and how they create such an impact on the scenery, but with this scientists have come out with sleek and appealing designs of new turbines that do not create such an impact on the environment. But in order for one to develop newer means of energy efficiency there needs to be some lee-way granted by the public. Along with the con's associated with the wind turbines they are also intermittent. "Wind must blow between 16 mph and 60 mph for power generation. At present, wind energy cannot be easily stored.[6] Finally their distribution is not relatively good, due to the relative size of the wind turbines. The large size of the wind turbines creates a lot of problems in the distribution of the turbines. All the stated above are generated cons based on the wind turbines that are expected, however based on the pro's wind turbines are extremely efficient. media type="youtube" key="38mHWSEkNMI" height="349" width="560"

So why should we turn to wind turbines, one may ask. Well wind turbines have already become a major industry in the efforts to seek out new alternatives for means of energy, due to the evident lack of fossil fuels. Many countries have already installed wind turbines in other countries such as China, U.S., Spain, Germany, and India. When fossil fuels such as coal and oil do run out many countries will struggle to seek alternative energy sources. The global population is extremely dependent on fossil fuels to complete there daily routine. With wind turbines there is mean of new alternative sources, with the turbines electricity will probably increase if we see a shift from fossil fuels to alternative means. Wind turbines can be extremely effective in conserving fossil fuels, wind turbines are usually found in large numbers together. These sites are known as wind farms, they consist of a large amount of wind turbines used to power houses and assist with a citys electricity production. The largest wind turbine farm is located in the United Kingdom, at Thanet wind farm which consists of over 300 wind turbines. However wind turbines can also be installed in offshore areas, the largest wind farm of this kind is found in Denmark, which consists of 209 wind turbines. The closest wind farm to us who are located near, and on the cape is one known as Cape Wind located on the Nantucket Sound. This wind farm is the first ever offshore wind farm located in the United States. The closest wind turbine to us is the one located on our campus. Our wind turbine assists in the electricity production on our campus in order to decrease our electricity production and assist in the Academy's effort to go green, or eco-friendly.

In the conclusion wind turbines are extremely effective, their pro's significantly out number their con's and they are extremely eco-friendly. However not many people see eye to eye on wind turbines, many have formed their own opinions on the wind turbines based on other facts about the structures that out companies may have stated. Wind turbines also require very little maintenance, but the production factories of these companies create various jobs within the economy that boost the economy and the countries global standing. In order to give way to our reliance on fossil fuels the population needs to agree that seeking alternative means in energy production is extremely crucial.

Fun Facts about Wind Turbines. Wind energy can provide us with cleaner air and much healthier environment, Wind energy is very exploited in Germany where Germany leads the way with 8750 MW of electrical energy produced from wind energy, Wind energy can be used in nearly 50 % of USA territory, Wind energy can be very soon the cheapest way to produce energy on the large scale, of course in areas with suitable climate conditions, Wind energy could really increase energy diversity and improve the security of energy supply.[8]

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__Hydrogen Power__ The thing about the hydrogen powered anything is distribution of it. Except in Iceland, Iceland is sitting hydrogen and it has the first hydrogen gas station. Also the station is a self producing hydrogen station. It uses reverse fuel cells technology. Instead of taking hydrogen then breaking it up into electricity and water, it takes water and electricity and produces hydrogen. I learned this from watching “Scientific American Frontiers” when I was a kid and I still watch the show. The other great thing I learned about was Stan Ovshinsky. He is one of the greatest inventors of his time. He has no formal degree of then from high school, but he has created the environmentally friendly nickel-metal hydride battery. You can find the use of that in lap top batteries, cell phones, and in his self made hydrogen car. Also he has perfected the solar panel, normal solar panels are only good when it receives direct sunlight. During cloud covered sky’s, early morning or evening sun is not direct sunlight. Also normal solar panels are good if the entire panel is intact, in his the panel can have holes drilled in it and it still works and it is very efficient.

Also when you are thinking about getting a electric cat you may what to think twice. The reason being is the electric car will need to plug into the wall at your house to juice up. So you’re just rerouting where the fuel is coming from. Algae as biofuel is one of the best things science has ever has made, so works by eating at the stack gasses in coal plants. See the stack gasses contain harmful gases to the inverioment. Willy Nelson is a great example for a great pioneer in this topic because when ever he is on tour all of buses run on soy bean oil. Willie says "There is really no need going around starting wars over oil. We have it here at home. We have the necessary product, the farmers can grow it."

In another interview he says "My wife, Annie, came to me and said, 'Hey, I want to buy this car that runs on vegetable oil,' and I was a little skeptical naturally," he said. "But she did. She bought a [diesel] Volkswagen Jetta. It ran so well on vegetable oil - clean running, good gas mileage - I bought a [diesel] Mercedes. I was sold."

Below is a list of celebrities that have gone green this is from [] **Cate Blanchett:** plans to equip Sydney Theatre Company building with solar panels, rainwater collection systems to make it completely eco-friendly. Sydney home is fully powered by solar energy, donates to Forest Guardians. **Richard Branson:** Virgin Group chairman, a former global warming skeptic, who in Sept. 2006 pledged to spend all profits from his airline and rail businesses (estimated $3 billion over 10 years) on investments in biofuel research and projects to tackle emissions. **Pierce Brosnan:** focuses on marine mammal and wetland protection, headlined Natural Resources Defense Council campaign against effects of Navy sonar on whales, awarded 1997 Green Cross International Environmental Leadership Award. **Ward Burton:** Ward Burton - Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation: NASCAR driver and winner of the Daytona 500, he is the founder of this foundation whose mission is to conserve America’s land and wildlife. **Gwyneth Paltrow & Camerson Diaz: Act Green:** "unite to conserve energy and reduce our reliance on oil." **Cameron Diaz:** Trippin', MTV Series: "Cameron Diaz and a group of her close, personal friends think globally and act globally too as they travel to unlikely getaways...from Chile to Yellowstone, on a quest to safeguard the environment." **Leonardo Dicaprio:** started the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 to promote environmental issues, drives a hybrid car, currently writing and producing a feature length documentary on global warming called "11th Hour". **Harrison Ford:** vice chairman of Conservation International, has a Central American ant named after him, won the Global Environmental Citizen Award in 2002. **Jane Goodall:** The Jane Goodall Institute: Purpose to advance the power of individuals to take informed and compassionate action to improve the environment of all living things **Daryl Hannah:** arrested in June 2006 for staging a 23-day tree sit-in during a bid to preserve an urban community garden in Los Angeles, traveled across America in 2005 in a biofuel car, home is entirely off-grid. dh love life: a video blog focused on green topics **Woody Harrelson:** "transforming the world together." This is a guy that is inspiring, focuses on biodiesel, getting off the grid, organic & overall good green-ness. **Josh Hartnett, Orlando Bloom, Maroon 5, Kt Tunstall:** promoting 2007 Global Cool initiative to cut carbon emissions by encouraging people to turn off TVs, mobile-phone chargers and other energy-draining gadgets. **Barenaked Ladies:** run their tour buses and trucks on biodiesel fuel. **Alanis Morissette:** given 2003 Environmental Media Association Missions in Music Award; campaigns against oil drilling in Alaska; has solar panels on home. **Willie Nelson:** singer, co-partner in the Willie Nelson Biodiesel Company. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Edward Norton:** launched the BP Solar Neighbors Program in 2003 which matches each celebrity purchase of a solar energy home system with a solar installation in a low-income family home in Los Angeles. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Brad Pitt:** co-creator of design competition to build 20 affordable, reduced energy, environmentally friendly homes in New Orleans. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Robert Redford:** 30 years on board of Natural Resources Defense Council, founder of Sundance Preserve, winner of 1993 Earth Day award, 1987 United Nations Global 500 award. In April 2007, launches weekly three-hour slot called "The Green", dedicated entirely to the environment, on his Sundance TV channel. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Sting:** founder in 1989 of Rainforest Foundation to protect rain forests and their indigenous peoples. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Kt Tunstall:** ran her US tour bus on biodiesel fuel, performed at eco-friendly "Golden Green" at the 2007 Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles. <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Neil Young:** 2004 North American tour fueled entirely with biodiesel. ||  || See all of these people have gone green as well.
 * || <span class="blue_12" style="color: #594e85; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: none;">**Dave Matthews Band:** offsets CO2 emissions produced by their multi-city tours by funding projects such as tree plantings and wind turbine construction.

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