Pharmaceuticals

Posted on April 1, 2011 by craigruark

Do not flush your leftover/expired medications down the sink or toilet.

The old recommendation that leftover and expired medications be flushed down the toilet is one of the worst things we could be doing. Researchers have found traces of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in our rivers and streams around the country. Not good for our wildlife. Also, our wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove medicines from the wastewater so it’s important not to let them go into the sewer systems.

Four of every five patients leave the doctor’s office with a prescription according to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS 2002), so the disposal of pharmaceuticals is an important issue.

The US Geological Survey studied water from 139 streams in 30 states and found that 80% contained traces of pharmaceuticals. The affect that those traces may have on the environment, plants, marine life and human health is unknown.

Tips to lessen your environmental impact:

  • DO make sure you take all of your prescription when a medication is prescribed to you.
  • DON’T flush your unused pharmaceuticals down the sink or toilet.
  • DON’T throw your unused pharmaceuticals in the garbage.
  • DO establish good eating/nutrition and exercise habits to prevent disease.
  • DO contact your city or county government’s household trash and recycling service and ask if a drug take‐back program is available in your community. If not, inquire into your city’s household hazardous waste collection sites.

A study of this issue was done for Environmental Health Perspectives and is posted on the Environmental Protection Agency’s site.  Its author, Christian G. Daughton, begins by stating:

Since the 1980s, the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) as trace environmental pollutants, originating primarily from consumer use and actions rather than manufacturer effluents, continues to become more firmly established. The growing, worldwide importance of freshwater resources underscores the need for ensuring that any aggregate or cumulative impacts on (or from) water supplies are minimized.

Some highlights of the study:

The age-old wisdom of flushing medication down the toilet (still recommended by many professionals)… is probably the least desirable of all the alternatives…

The key and critical disease-prevention role played by nutrition should continue to be explored and emphasized at all levels.

The connections between health maintenance/improvement via proper nutrition and the reduced need for medication are well documented.

Probiotics (beneficial, endogenous microflora) have long been used and studied for the protection of the gut [largely by blocking pathogen adhesion (e.g., Kaur et al. 2002)]. More recent work has expanded this important domain of clinical microbial ecology to other medical uses such as prophylaxis for postsurgical infection [in lieu of prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., Harder 2002; Reid et al. 2001)]. 

Local Safe Disposal:

 

Operation Medicine Cabinet in Southern Nevada, please call Jason Roth at 702-968-1633 or email jroth@usn.edu.

 

The LVMPD now has medication disposal boxes available at its area command stations. Southern Nevada residents may use these boxes for the safe and anonymous disposal of unused or expired medications. Click here for a map with participating locations. The disposal stations are a result of a grant funded program in partnership with the Clark County Water Reclamation District.

Related Articles
Posted in Green, LEED, Sustainability, Waste Minimization | Leave a comment

A Greener Holiday

Posted on December 1, 2010 by craigruark
Christmas lights on Aleksanterinkatu.

Image via Wikipedia

Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than any other time of year. This extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra ton of garbage per week. Give the planet a gift, take control of your waste this year.

The Use Less Stuff Report offers a checklist of simple things you can do to reduce waste while you eat, drink, and make merry this holiday season. Here are a few:

  • Turn down the heat before your holiday guests arrive. You’ll save energy while the extra body heat of your guests will warm up the room.
  • After your holiday parties, don’t throw away the leftovers. Put them in containers and send them home with guests.

At least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted each year – or over 100 pounds per person. Putting one less cookie on Santa’s plate will reduce his snacking by about 2 million pounds.

  • During the nation’s busiest shopping season, bring your own shopping bags.
  • Consolidate your purchases into one bag rather than getting a new bag at each store on your shopping rounds.

If each household canceled 10 mail-order catalogues it would reduce trash by 3.5 pounds per year. If everybody did this, the stack of canceled catalogues would be 2,000 miles high.

  • Plan your shopping in advance. Consolidating your shopping trips saves fuel.
  • Rather than piling up “stuff” under the tree, think about what friends and family really want or need. Try giving gift certificates if you don’t know what someone wants, or simply make a donation in his or her name to a favorite charity.
  • Give gifts that encourage others to use less stuff, like a book about making crafts from reusable items, a cookbook for leftovers, a reusable tote bag and so on.
  • For kids, start a savings account or give stocks or bonds. It’s fun to watch money grow and it teaches children the value of financial conservation.
  • Donate unwanted gifts, along with last year’s gifts that the kids have outgrown, to charity.
  • When buying electronic toys and other portable items that are used regularly, remember to buy rechargeable batteries to go with them.
  • Make new tree ornaments out of things you already have around the house, or from materials you might find in the backyard: twigs, bark, flowers and herbs, pine cones and so on.
  • Old clothes and jewelry make a great dress-up box for kids.
  • Tools and gadgets make a great idea box for a young inventor.
  • Give the gift of an experience: tickets to concerts, tickets to a museum, tickets to a sporting event, gift certificates or even gifts of your own time.
  • Tie a bow around oversized gifts like bicycles or CD racks, instead of wrapping them in paper.
  • Wrap gifts in old maps, newspapers, Sunday comics or fancy holiday gift bags. Kids’ art work is a perfect wrapping for presents to proud grandparents.
  • Use brown paper grocery bags to wrap small-to-medium size boxes that have to be mailed.

If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.

  • Compost your food waste. Fruits and vegetables and their peels, pits and seeds are all perfect for composting – a great natural fertilizer.

Source: Use Less Stuff

Related Articles
Posted in Green, Sustainability | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Talking Turkey

Posted on November 16, 2010 by craigruark
Group of turkeys

Image via Wikipedia

According to Sustinable Table, the traditional Thanksgiving turkey is different today than it was 50 years ago. Today, 99% of all turkeys raised in the U.S. are the “Broadbreasted White” variety (sometimes also referred to as the “Large White”).

These birds are raised in confinement in extremely crowded conditions on factory farms. They live in unnatural, uncomfortable conditions and are fed a steady diet of grain and supplements like antibiotics, rather than the grubs, bugs and grasses they should eat.

They are produced because of their large, white meaty breast. The breasts of these turkeys are so large that they are unable to reproduce naturally. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, without artificial insemination performed by humans, this variety of bird would become extinct in just one generation.

Industrial turkeys are often injected with saline solution and vegetable oils in an attempt to help improve the taste and texture of the meat. These factory farmed birds tend to be dry and tasteless, so cooks have developed a variety of methods to try to improve the taste. Turkeys are now marinated, brined, deep fried and covered with syrups, spices and herbs.

You have other options. You can order a heritage turkey, or you can look for organic and/or sustainable birds at butchers, specialty shops and at farmers markets around the country.

On to the leftovers:

You know you’re going to have them so make a plan. The Alternative Consumer has a wonderful suggestion in their green Thanksgiving guide.

Avoid plastic wrap. Most plastic wraps contain PVC which quickly winds up in landfills and has been linked to harmful environmental consequences. Use aluminum foil or, even better, send family home with glass or ceramic storage containers that they can return to you.

Or, call your guests and ask them to bring their own container if they’d like leftovers.

Sustainable Table
Sustainable Table was launched in 2003 to educate consumers about issues surrounding the food supply and to encourage individuals to switch to healthier, more sustainable eating habits.

Sustainable Table is also home to the Eat Well Guide, an online directory of sustainable products in the U.S. and Canada.

Posted in Green, Sustainability, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How do you “green” your Halloween?

Posted on October 27, 2010 by craigruark
Pumpkins, photographed in Canada.

Image via Wikipedia

  • Use the whole pumpkin: Most everyone buys a pumpkin to celebrate the holiday, and we all end up tossing it in the trash in November. However, avoiding that waste is easy by using the pumpkin for both food and decoration. It’s easy to bake the seeds with a little bit of salt for a tasty and healthy snack; or, puree the freshly cutout pieces for recipes that call for fresh pumpkin – avoiding canned pumpkin. All other parts of the pumpkin can be added to a compost pile.

 

  • Skip the expensive plastic costumes: Put less stress on your wallet by opting for costumes made of reusable or recycled materials. Incite your family’s creativity by constructing a unique, exciting costume from scratch. Sites like TreeHugger (http://www.treehugger.com) offer free instructional videos on how to make popular costume ideas for $10 or less.

 

  • Use recyclable bags for your Trick-or-Treaters: A fun family activity is to create a unique Trick-or–Treat basket, or simply put a reusable bag to good use. Avoiding the plastic Jack-O-Lantern type containers will avoid clutter, save money, and add a dash of originality to your Trick-or-Treaters’ costume.

 

  • Candy options are out there: When stocking up for Halloween, look for candy brands that donate part of their profits to environmental causes; Fair Trade-sourced chocolates; or sweets made with pure cane sugar, fruit juice, and natural colors. There are a number of different eco-friendly candies now available at your local grocery stop, health food stores or co-ops. These organic candies can provide Halloween treats that are a little friendlier for your trick-or-treaters and are produced using methods that are gentler on the environment. If you’re skipping candy for health reasons, try handing out small toys, pencils, or soy crayons. In addition, don’t forget to buy in bulk to avoid the packaging waste!

 

  • DIY Decorations: Making your own decorations provides yet another money-saving, eco-friendly opportunity. Must-haves like plastic spiders, witches and ghosts can be a one-time purchase saved for use, year after year. When possible, look for reclaimed material; if you’re buying things you know you can’t keep – like streamers or paper plates – be sure to look for brands that are both recycled and recyclable.
Posted in Green, Sustainability | Leave a comment

Is Wind Energy Right For Nevada

Posted on September 14, 2010 by craigruark
wooden sailing boat Kleine Freiheit - 70 year ...

Image via Wikipedia

The wind has been a friend of mine since my early childhood days in St. Petersburg, Florida. Each year during, hurricane season, both the wind and waves would pick up days before an approaching storm. When we were not at the beach body surfing the breakers, we would get out the Western Flyer and sail the wind. My buddy and I would take turns sitting in this red wagon to steer while the other would stand up, arms out stretched, holding the corners of a bed sheet in each hand and the other end tied around our waist to create a large sail. Depending on the wind speed, we could get quite a ride.

In 1993, my wife and I bought our first sailboat, a twenty-three footer aptly named Mariah IV, docked on Lake Mead. Strangely enough, we began learning how to sail by entering into club races. Racing gave us the skills to sail the boat from point “A” to point “B” and then to point “C” in the most direct and efficient manner. This meant that we controlled how the boat used the wind instead of letting the wind dictate our destination. The Boulder Basin of Lake Mead is six miles wide and eleven miles long so there was plenty of sailing room. We soon learned how the surrounding mountains would cause the wind direction to shift as much as 15 to 20 degrees without notice. We learned to predict a gust of wind by watching the water and reading the ripples referred to as “Cat Paws” as they crossed the water toward the boat. We learned how the water cooled faster than the shore when the sun set, creating a “On Shore” breeze and how it reversed in the mornings when the sun rose to reheat the water surface.

From 1993 until 2003, my wife and I spent almost every Saturday and Sunday on our boat on Lake Mead. The one thing we learned is that the wind can be fickle, especially when you are racing. There were days when the wind would blow twenty plus miles per hour and we would practically fly across the lake with just a single headsail. However, there were many a hot day when there was not a puff of air to be felt and the only thing to do to escape the heat was to motor out to the center and jump in the water. The lake turned into a very large swimming pool on many a hot summer day.

Wind as an energy source

There has been a bit of controversy over the establishment of wind farms in Nevada. Aside from the visual and audible annoyance that leads companies to place these farms away from populated areas, there is one key factor that will determine the success of the project. That factor is wind speed.

In reality, wind energy is a converted form of solar energy of which we have plenty of here in Southern Nevada. As I alluded to above, the sun’s radiation heats different parts of the earth at different rates-most notably during the day and night, but also different surfaces like water and land which absorb or reflect at different rates. This in turn causes portions of the atmosphere to warm differently. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at the earth’s surface, and cooler air is drawn in to replace it and voilà you have wind.

Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of that motion (“kinetic energy”) and just as my wife and I used that energy to sail across Lake Mead, that energy can also move the blades on a wind generator which is then converted into electricity.

However, consistent wind speed is a crucial element in the generation of electricity. Unlike my sailboat, which could drift along nicely in light breeze of about 5 mph; an annual average wind speed greater than 9 mph, is required for small wind electric turbines, the type that you would see on a sailboat to charge up the batteries. On the other hand, utility-scale wind power plants require much more energy and minimum average wind speeds of 13 mph (usually measured in “m/s” or meters per second which would equate to 6 m/s).

Most of the people that live in Southern Nevada think that the wind blows constantly and that this would be an ideal area for wind generation. My wife and I (along with a Yacht Club full of sailboat enthusiasts), can testify that there are a lot of days, particularly between June and October, when the wind does not blow at all. In fact, if you check out the Nevada Wind Map and Resource Potential from the U.S. Department of Energy (http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_resource_maps.asp?stateab=nv) you will see that only a few mountain ridges near Laughlin and some up in Northern Nevada fall within acceptable annual average wind speeds of around 6.5 m/s and greater at 80-m height; which are generally considered to have suitable wind resource for wind development. A wind map of your state can be found by clicking on this map of the U.S. http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp

So is wind energy right for Nevada? Would you invest?

Posted in Green, Green Energy, Sustainability | Leave a comment

Sustainability Trends In Commercial Development

Posted on September 2, 2010 by craigruark
Created in Photoshop, based on "Sustainab...

Image via Wikipedia

When I was asked to write the “Trends” feature article about sustainability in commercial development for the summer issue of NAIOP Now, I was both honored and thrilled.  My thought was; ‘this will be easy!’  To research the story I would simply talk to developers, architects, contractors, commissioning agents, etc., about the projects they are working on or are planning and develop a chart quantifying the number and size of sustainable projects versus non-sustainable.  Based upon the results of that research I would see a trend and be able to report on whether or not sustainability is catching on in Las Vegas.

So off I went on my merry way, confident in my reporting skills and optimistic that I would be able to discern a pattern of sustainability or non-sustainability in the Las Vegas commercial development community.  Confident that is until reality set in, that the developers are not developing product in Las Vegas, nor do they have any plans for the near future.  This fact was backed up during the NAIOP breakfast meeting on June 17, when the representatives of four major developers each indicated that the Las Vegas market is slow to rebound from the current recession.  New speculative office and warehouse product has been put on hold until demands for product returns.  Until that time, each of the developers indicated that they are investing some money into maintenance and upgrades of existing product, and in doing so are improving building efficiency (some greening), whenever possible.

Not much of a trend resource there!  So where do I go for my story?

I think that we can all agree that “sustainability” is here to stay.  But the big question is…to what benefit is sustainability to a developer?  The answer to that question is not very straight forward. To explore the question, we must look at what is driving the “green” movement.  In a single word that driver is “DEMAND.”  And that demand starts from the bottom up with a grass roots movement toward sustainable products and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

LOHAS.com (an acronym for Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), reports there is now a $228.9 billion U.S. marketplace for goods and services focused on holistic health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living.  In research conducted by the Natural Marketing Institute, more than 63 million LOHAS consumers support businesses that share their commitment to natural living and the health of their families, communities and environment.

However, this movement did not spring up over night.  In the 1990’s, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, Business for Social Responsibility, was founded and today has grown to over 400 organizations, including about half of the Fortune 500.  Internal pressures for change in the corporate sector come from people realizing that there’s more to life and business than profits alone.  There’s been an increasing emphasis on what’s called “work/life balance”—as the work-addicted find a way “to get a life”—carve out time for other interests and needs outside of work.

More than 300 global firms have signed onto the UN Global Compact, pledging to demonstrate good global citizenship in the areas of human rights, labor standards, and environmental protection. More than 2,000 corporations now voluntarily report on their environmental and social performance. Fifty-four socially responsible mutual funds have been created in the United States and scores more in Canada, Europe, and Japan. Based on the premise that companies that “do good, will also do well,” approximately $1.5 trillion worldwide are now invested according to social or ethical criteria.

Early pioneers in the field of social responsibility that have developed well-respected brands and loyal customers include The Body Shop, Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, Stoneyfield Yogurt, Timberland Shoes, Patagonia, Tom’s of Maine and the Men’s Wearhouse. These companies typically support community projects and good causes, and find more innovative ways to support their employees and protect the environment.

How does all of this equate to the Commercial Real Estate Industry?  Quite frankly, a major part of life is spent in the work environment and therefore that environment has more effect on individuals than any other factor. 

In an article entitled “Gen Y’s Green Demands for the Workplace” By Leslie Guevarra and published in GreenBiz.com: “The 18- to 25-year-olds just entering, or poised to enter, the workforce aren’t likely to be satisfied with shared “hotel-style” desk assignments, drab cubicles or windowless spaces that have characterized offices in the past, according to new research that could strongly influence space and energy efficiency strategies in the corporate world.”  The article goes on to state that for them, work isn’t just a place they go to from 9 to 5, then go home. They want an office and a work culture that’s an extension of themselves and their home life — a place that supports what they value — and it better be green, according to a new study by Johnson Controls Inc. that has implications for employers, facility managers, human resources departments and building and office space designers.

Based on the study findings, employers can also expect that Gen Y:

Want their jobs to be located in an urban area within an easy commute by foot, public transportation or by car. In the U.S., 79 percent said they prefer to work in an urban setting, 51 percent they’d get there by car (and for 34 percent that would be a hybrid vehicle) 18 percent would walk,15 percent would use public transit and 9 percent said they’d use a motorcycle or scooter.

They also want office space to support collaboration, productivity and creativity. Forty-one percent said they’d prefer access to a team space, such as an area dedicated to their work group, and 32 percent said they prefer breakout spaces over conventional meeting rooms that are used by various work groups and usually need to be booked. Sixty-one percent want to work in natural light or with a combination of natural and artificial lighting.

If you want to know what offices will look like in the future check out Google’s Toronto office with its famous cafeteria areas that boast free employee meals, and a wonderful play area complete with foosball, video games, and upside-down umbrellas. The workstations as cubes, but not so high as to feel trapped or isolated.  Or check out the Zapos.com office located right here in Henderson.

For developers, this means building a product to accommodate this new attitude.  And we are already seeing proof that green is paying off.

In one of the first systematic studies to address questions on the benefits of investments in energy savings and environmental design; a study by Norm Miller, Jay Spivey and Andy Florance (http://www.costar.com/josre/pdfs/CoStar-JOSRE-Green-Study.pdf), provides substantiated and usable statistics.

Their casual surveys suggest much faster absorption rates for LEED certified buildings. Operating expenses based on energy costs also varied with Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.27 per square foot per year for energy in 2006 compared to non-Energy Star-rated buildings running $1.81 per square foot. These 50 cent or so differences continue to be reported in 2008.

The sample of properties where cap rates were known is modest but Miller/Spivey/Florance observe a differential in terms of lower cap rates by about 55 basis points suggesting higher values by just under 10%. Together, the higher occupancy rates, higher rents and lower operating expenses logically translate to higher values.  This study also shows that occupancy rates through 2008 remained 3.5% higher in Energy Star rated buildings over Non-Energy Star and jumped to 4% higher for LEED over Non-LEED buildings.  Direct Rental Rates for LEED building leveled out at an average of $11 per square foot higher over Non-LEED buildings.  A PowerPoint presentation of charts from this study can be found by clicking here:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/craigaruarkleedap

So what is the trend for sustainability in Las Vegas?

While the current market may not be seeing premiums paid for sustainable space, we are also not seeing as dramatic a drop in occupancy or leasing rates for properties that qualify as green.  An article by Tony Illia in the Business Press on June 21, 2010 reports that: “recent research suggests that certified green projects could grow 900 percent worldwide in the next 10 years…”

The trend is clear; “sustainability” is here to stay, and it is something that developers and lenders must keep in mind as we enter a new era of commercial development.

Posted in Green, Green Energy, Sustainability, Waste Minimization | Leave a comment

Are We Running Out of Fossil Fuels?

Posted on August 26, 2010 by craigruark
Coal, one of the fossil fuels.

Image via Wikipedia

Someone recently commented on a LinkedIn post that I made regarding “Green Energy”.  The essence of his post was: ‘…why should we pushing green energy that is still many years off before it is cost effective when we have 600-900 years of coal, 200 years of oil and infinite natural gas supplies in this country.’ 

This comment to my post seems to be typical of the thinking of many people around the country and while I have to admit that I did not know the exact number of years of Fossil Fuels available to the world, the numbers above seemed a little out of line.  So I decided to do a little research.   If you Google the words “Fossil Fuel Reserves” you will find hundreds of hits particularly as the subject pertains to “Climate Change”.  The facts that I present below are from sources that are not bias for or against the idea of Climate Change but instead are more interested in the actual calculation of Fossil Fuel Reserves as a matter of scientific and/or economic projection.  The fact that this research is the result of a posting on “Green Energy” has nothing to do with the fact that Fossil Fuel Reserves are being depleted, a fact that cannot be disputed.  This post is basically for my education (and any one else’s with an open mind).

So, with the above disclaimer in mind, I realize that it is difficult to know the exact date that we will run out of carbon based fuel.  However a number of scientific organizations have agreed on a fairly consistent level how many years worth of oil, natural gas and coal are left in your reserves.  These estimates of course are based on a number of factors (e.g. rate of current world consumption per person, rate of the world’s population increase, and proven reserves for each of the commodities. 

 This excerpt from the World Coal Institute seems to dispute the amount of coal reserves available:

 “Coal has an important role to play in meeting the demand for a secure energy supply. Coal is abundant and widespread. It is present in almost every country in the world with commercial mining taking place in over 50. Coal is the most abundant and economical of fossil fuels. At current production levels coal will be available for at least the next 119 years – compared to 46 years for oil and 63 years for gas. Indigenous coal resources enable economic development and can be transformed to guard against import dependence and price shocks.”  Source: World Coal Institute http://www.worldcoal.org/coal-society/coal-energy-security/

 Just how limited are our fossil fuel reserves? No doubt that is a subject of debate.  Some estimates say our fossil fuel reserves will be depleted within 50 years, while others say it will be 100-120 years. The fact is that neither one of these projections is very appealing for a global community that is so heavily dependent on fossil fuels to meet basic human needs. The bottom line: We are going to run out of fossil fuels for energy and we have no choice but to prepare for the new age of energy production since, most certainly, human demands for energy will not decrease.

While the World Coal Institute states that supplies should last for the next 119 years the chart below from Shell Oil gives us up to 210 years of Coal supply.  But then again, Shell is in the Oil and Gas industry, not necessarily into Coal. 

Fossil Fuel Facts

 Source: Shell Oil

 The fact is, nobody really knows when the last drop of oil, lump of coal or cubic foot of natural gas will be collected from the Earth. All of it will depend on how well we manage our energy demands along with how well we can develop and use renewable energy sources.

And here is one very important factor: population growth. As the population grows upwards towards nine billion people over the next 50 years, the world’s energy demands will increase proportionately. Not only will it be important for renewable energy to keep up with the increasing population growth, but it must outpace not only these demands but begin replacing fossil fuel energy production if we are to meet future energy needs.

By the year 2020, world energy consumption is projected to increase by 50%, or an additional 207 quadrillion BTUs. If the global consumption of renewable energy sources remains constant, the world’s available fossil fuel reserves will be consumed in 104 years or early in the 22nd century.(Source: US Department of Energy) Clearly, renewable energy resources will play an increasingly vital role in the power generation mix over the next century.

This excerpt from a presentation on Fossil Fuels by Osman Chughtai and David Shannon at the University of Michigan gives a great overview of the origination of Fossil Fuels and as you will see in the excerpt below, how long they estimate the resources will last:   

Oil

On a worldwide basis, there are 400 Gb (billion barrels) per person. The timescale when this resource is used up is dependent on the world consumption rate, a figure difficult to estimate. A worst case scenario is the “Third World” scenario which has the third world nations aspire to the US consumption rate causing the world rate to double: there would be only 400/24, meaning 17 years left. Although this is a worst case, most best case scenarios offer a resource exhaustion timescale which is at most 3-4 times this value which is 50-70 years.

Note that Saudi Arabia produces the same as the US. The US needs 600,000 wells for its production and Saudi Arabia, only 860 wells. This is because the US sits on an old oil field while Saudi Arabia is located over a very young and rich one.

Natural Gas

Natural gas accounts for 24% of the energy in the United States. Domestic production of natural gas peaked in 1973; this is because we do not import due to safety problems. Consumption of natural gas is actually flat as opposed to increasing usage of coal and oil.

Coal

Petroleum / Natural Gas will run out in the next 50 years. 97% of fossil fuel reserves are coal. 20% of the world’s coal supply is located in the United States. 

  • Energy yield depends on how much carbon is contained in the coal. Two types dominate US reserves. Anthracite is 95% carbon and is approximately 300 million years old. Lignite is 25% carbon is nearly 150 million years old.
  • Deposits are around 300 feet below the surface and typically 2-8 feet thick.
  • Coal production has increased since 1970.
  • At current usage, the supply will last 1500 years. However at a 5% growth rate the supply will last only 86 years. We can expect even greater usage as other fossil fuels become scarce.

Source: http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/fossilfuels.htm 

EarthTrends, a publication of the World Resource Institute is an online collection of information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. They are, (according to their charter), “committed to the principle that accurate information drives responsible decisions by governments and individuals, EarthTrends offers the public a large breadth of statistical, graphic, and analytical data in easily accessible formats.”  The publication has compiled a well detailed lengthy study on “Fossil Fuel Consumption and its Implications.”  This one paragraph from the study gives a fairly succinct snapshot of our Fossil Fuel reserves.

” Although estimates of available reserves vary, at current annual rates of production about 155 years of coal, 40 years of oil, and 65 years of natural gas are left, worldwide (BP plc, Statistical Review of World Energy 2006). “  Source: World Resource Institute http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/100

 You will note that each one of the sources above give different timelines for expiration of Fossil Fuels but differences say ten to twenty or maybe fifty years are rather small in the overall scheme of things.

So what conclusions can we draw from these varied sources of facts and figures?  Regardless as to whether it is 100, 200 or more years, the earth will eventually run out of precious Fossil Fuels.  The big question is, can we replace those fuels with alternative energy in time and at what cost?

UPDATE:

Since publishing this blog, I have had a few comments that the figures quoted are U.S. quantities and that there are far greater supplies available around the world.  If so I challenge you to send links prove those facts.  In the mean time, I am providing a number of other links regarding the shrinking supply of “Fossil Fuels” that might be of interest.

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/datablog/2009/sep/02/oil-reserves

http://www2.sfu.ca/geog250spring03/index/250_georgia.pdf

http://energysavingnow.com/energytoday/reserves.shtml

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/53509

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/pdf/0484(2010).pdf

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/preface.html

http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/energy-supply.php

http://crc.nv.gov/docs/world%20fossil%20reserves.pdf

Posted in Green, Green Energy, LEED, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Green NIMBY

Posted on August 24, 2010 by craigruark
An early wind farm in the Tehachapi Mountains ...

Image via Wikipedia

NIMBY (an acronym for “Not In My Back Yard”), advocates have been the stumbling block for hundreds of public works projects over the years.  Of course I can fully understand why someone would object to having a Fire Station built next door to their home and having to listen to sirens at all hours of the day and night, the same holds true to hospitals with the addition of heavy traffic .  Schools also pose a perceived nascence to neighborhoods; children cut across yards and scale fences instead of following sidewalks in an effort to find a more direct route to school or home.  In addition, streets in front of or around schools are crowded with automobiles and busses during drop-off and pick-up times mornings and afternoons. 

But like it or not, schools, hospitals and fire houses must be located in or close to neighborhoods’ that they serve.  Most parents don’t want their children bussed five or more miles away to attend school.  Likewise, when your house is on fire or you need medical assistance, you want emergency response time to be as quick as possible.   

However, when it comes to renewable energy projects such as large solar collector arrays or wind turbines the decision as to where to locate the project is a little different.  Sure, you have to locate wind turbines where there is wind but there are a lot of areas that fit that bill.  Another criteria for both solar and wind energy generation plants is access to transmission lines that carry the energy to needed areas.  Given those two factors there still maybe many ideal and palatable choices for the location of these projects, you simply have to work through the environmental and public concerns.

On the one hand, do you locate these projects near highways to allow easy access and less costly construction?  After all, the highway already impedes upon the land and with highways there is usually some sort of development even if it is a gas station and small store miles from the nearest town.  Some people think that it is objectionable to place a solar field near a highway because it spoils the view of nature for motorists as they drive through the area.  These people would rather see the project built somewhere where it cannot be seen.  The question is, where would that place be located? 

If you look at a forestry map of Nevada, Arizona, and California you will soon realize that there is a lot of hidden beauty across each of the states.  To see this beauty you might have to abandon the main highway for a more rural route and perhaps take a little hike.  There are hundreds of people who enjoy exploring the beautiful mountains, meadows, valleys, rivers, and lakes that are hidden beyond the horizon of the towns and cities.  Would you have these virgin areas of nature disturbed in order to mask the construction and operation of solar and wind energy projects that you can see from the highway or edge of town?

The US 95 corridor north of Las Vegas near Amargosa Springs in Nye County has been targeted as a likely corridor for solar energy projects.  It sits along a major highway and is logical in terms of access to the operation and linking into the existing transmission network.  Likewise, there is a spot near the California-Nevada border town of Primm for a large solar generation facility.  Controversy has preceded both projects as they are said to impact the natural beauty.  In reality the natural beauty was impacted (in the case of Primm), when four casinos, a shopping mall and an interstate highway were built.

Mountain tops are a little tougher to justify when it comes to wind energy but again it comes down to being realistic as to whether or not we want green energy.  Here in the west, there are a lot of ridges and valley terrains that act as wind tunnels generating a fairly consistent flow of energy.  Due to the barren or should I say treeless nature of these ridges, not much clearing of is needed so the area is ideal for generating electricity.  One such area identified for a wind generating farm is outside the old mining town of Searchlight, Nevada about sixty miles south of Las Vegas along U.S. Highway 95.  You can read about Searchlight’s origin and history here http://tinyurl.com/2wr7ogq. To many, driving through town is like going back in time.  All along the road and dotting the hilly landscape are abandon mines, buildings and mining equipment.  Some would call it ugly, some would call it rustic, some would call it beautiful.  It is all in the eye of the beholder.  The following web site (http://tinyurl.com/2ukoxk6) describes the proposed wind generating farm and the negative impact as seen by residents and a few ecological scientists. 

As I said, wind farms are a little tougher to justify especially here in what is called the high desert region of the southwest.  Wind maps clearly show this area not to be particularly suited for wind energy generation due to the inconsistency of both direction and speed.  Therefore I would tend to agree that we should think very hard about where we place this wind farms. 

That said, I do believe if an area has commercial development that is already visible for long distances and there is a consistent wind to justify wind energy generation, we should by all means build the farm.  One such site worth a look might be in the area of APEX Nevada, where industry already exists and the mountains create a funnel effect that could be sufficient for wind generation.

Not every place is pristine and there is certainly enough land along designated highway corridors that building clean energy plants would not disturb either the nature or one’s view of nature.  In fact, given some of the industrial garbage that lines I-15 as you drive through Las Vegas, a solar plant or wind farm would be a rather pleasant sight.

Related Articles
Posted in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR),, Green, Sustainability | Leave a comment