Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

Unit 1 – Introduction to Green Industry

6.1.0 Introduction

Rapid rises in energy costs and climate change are making people more conscious of our individual carbon footprint and the role each of us has played. People are seeing more natural disasters and perceiving climate change and realize that each of us is responsible. Customers are asking for "green" choices. Although they cost more upfront, they are wiser choices in the long term.

As the human population on earth grows, there is increasing demands for natural resources. In 2010, more GM cars were sold in China than in the US. Look at the following 2 pictures of the US at night and find Nebraska. These were taken just 10 years apart!

Miles and miles of new homes each produce 3500 pounds of garbage, 450,000 gallons of wastewater and 54,000 pounds of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Every product you use has a history of production, extraction, manufacturing and transportation that used energy. Each home uses about $100 per month in electricity plus natural gas, and immense amounts of fuel for our cars.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

6.1.1 What is Green Industry?

"Green" has become a term that means many things in different contexts. According to Merriam-Webster, it means "tending to preserve environmental quality, as by being recyclable, biodegradeable, or nonpolluting." It is energy efficiency in appliances, high mileage in cars, low-energy living in homes or buildings and really about anything that is more environmentally friendly than what we used to do. With so many uses, "green" becomes a word that is attached to many uses, a catchall term for environmentally friendly. We will use "green" to mean the way that the systems of a home or business can be modified to use less energy, less water, give off less emission or lowering the carbon footprint.

Each of us creates a carbon footprint as we exhale carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. We burn carbon-based fuel releasing carbon dioxide. We heat our water by burning gas. We drive cars that burn gas. In fact, nearly every human activity produces carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide and the other exhaust gases are beginning to change the atmosphere of our shared planet. As the planet supports more and more people, it is harder for green plants to convert these gases into clean air.

You may remember from school that plants take up carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground in a process called photosynthesis. Through a process called transpiration, the plant then gives off water and oxygen, cleaning the air of what we call "greenhouse" gases. But as the world has more people and less forests and green areas, the plants are getting behind.

In addition to the environmental impact of greenhouse gases, the cost of the fuels we use for energy has greatly increased. We burn fossil fuels like coal, oil and gasoline to heat our homes, provide transportation, and create electricity. But burning all these fuels has created so much greenhouse gas that the world is experiencing warming and air pollution. Worldwide, people are concerned and are asking everyone to think about the carbon footprint they leave behind each day. A worldwide agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, established mandatory emission limits that each country will try to attain.

6.1.2 Energy Star

When people build houses, buy cars and buy appliances they are being more aware of the high cost of fuel, and people want to be environmentally friendly and conserve. Program such as Energy Star have put measures on the things we buy so we can make choices that will cost us less to operate. It is a way to compare the impact of the appliances, cars and other items we buy.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

Notice the arrow that allows you to compare models and also the estimated costs per year. Which is more expensive to run per year, a water heater or a clothes washer? Did you notice the two had different units and sometimes it is hard to compare?

6.1.3 LEED Certification

A program for people working in industry is called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). This is our industry's green building rating system. A home or building that attains a LEED rating is considered environmentally friendly with low energy usage and a low environmental impact. The LEED system includes a certification system for builders and architects called LEED AP (accredited professional). The LEED program was established by the U.S. Green Building Council, which designed the LEED rating system and wrote the standards for both constructing new buildings and remodeling existing buildings in a way that in energy sustainable by saving water and fuel while maintaining high indoor environmental quality. Since the LEED initiative, 20,000 commercial or industrial buildings have been certified "green". Let us look at what role you can play in this effort.

6.1.4 Energy Efficiency

How do we define energy efficiency? The less energy used to produce the work required, the greater the energy efficiency. Work not only refers to people output, but machine operation as well. A power drill is doing work by converting electrical energy into radial mechanical energy. An example of wasting energy is the use of the common light bulb. It converts some of its electrical energy into light but also wastes heat. The less heat the bulb produces at the same level of light, the more efficient the light bulb. The newer LED lights give off very little heat, converting more electricity to light, and thus are more efficient. Energy conversion is finding ways to build and design devices and homes that use less energy to provide the heat and light we need. Energy conservation also means maintaining equipment and buildings in a way that increase energy efficiency.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

6.1.5 Recycling

Another way to conserve is to recycle. Energy can be recovered and reused in some forms. It is much cheaper to melt an aluminum can down to create another than to make the one from raw materials. You may collect cans, separate plastic bottles and save newsprint. All can be reused much cheaper and with less energy added than making the original product.

6.1.6 Making the Change to Think "Green"

Here is an example from a typical home. Often, as soon as the shower gets turned on, the gas water heater comes on and stays on while the shower is drawings water from the water heater. It works by holding a tank with 40 gallons of water at about 110° Fahrenheit. With a thermostat, the water heater knows to light the main burners when the cold water starts to replace the hot. Holding 40 gallons of water at 110° ensures that there is hot water on demand. But is this really environmentally friendly? It keeps these 40 gallons hot, night and day waiting to be used at any time to wash clothes or do the dishes or shower. It keeps the water warm even when the residents are out of town.

The tankless water heater is a much greener option. It does not keep 40 gallons of water hot day and night. It just heats the water on demand by running the hot water pipes around an electric coil or a gas burner chamber.

There are some obvious trade-offs here. The traditional water heater is about $700 and lasts up to 10 years. The tankless can lasts up to 20 years but it is about 4x ($2500-$2800) as expensive and will take a long time to recover the added cost. The traditional water heater uses about 1/3 of our home's energy. The company which manufactures the tankless water heaters claims they will save about $70 to $90 per year. At that rate it would take about 15 years to break even. But is money the only consideration? Tankless water heaters do not provide instant hot water. It takes several minutes to supply the hot water, but they would reduce the energy consumption. This is only one of many steps that can be taken. Together, a bunch of little steps add up to significant savings.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

Another option is the solar water heater. This has the traditional storage tank but it is warmed by sun light. This option also has limitations based on the location and exposure to the sun. Some areas of the county do not get sufficient sunlight to warrant the use of a solar water heater.

6.1.7 Renewable Energy

A term commonly used is renewable energy. Forms of energy that will not become depleted within the lifetime of humankind such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro-generated energy are considered renewable.

Most of the choices for renewable energy sources are typically not the cheapest option, nor do they show instant benefits. It becomes a choice of investing now to create savings over time. Many people are beginning to take steps and choosing environmental friendly solutions.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

Assessment

An average garbage can is 32 gallons, estimate the number of cans you set out per week and multiply by 52 weeks/year. How many gallons of garbage does your household toss per year? ______________

Locate an electric bill for an average month (summer months are higher due to air conditioning). How many kilowatt-hours of electricity do you use in a year (12 months)? ____________

Locate a gas bill for an average month (winter months are high due to heating). How many therms of natural gas do you use in a year?

On the average, what is your yearly usage in dollars for water and sewer?

What is the square footage of your home? Draw a floor plan.

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

How many miles do you drive in an average week?_____ What is the mileage on your car? _____ What does this cost on the average per year? _______ How many gallons of gas do you use, on average in a year? ________

How many miles do you travel on public transportation?_______ How many people typically travel with you? _________ If 8 miles / gallon is the average for a bus, what is your share per year in gallons of gas?_________

Carbon Footprint

Module 6 – The Green Industry Environment Unit 1

Use gasohol or regular?

Let's consider ethanol-based gas to fuel cars. Gasohol is mostly made by distilling corn, an agricultural product mostly used for animal feed and human sweeteners. It is part of America's effort to become less dependent on imported oil. But gasohol takes almost as much energy to make as you get back when you burn it to fuel your car and gasohol wastes lot of water. You must have noticed at the pump it is a cheaper option by about $0.10 but this is due not to savings. It is due to a subsidy the US Government gives producers. Again, we are paying to be "green." Use your best English skills to write a short paragraph of what you know or think about the use of ethanol: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________