TODAY'S VIDEOS

Today's videos can be re-visited at the following web-addresses
Global Dimming Tragic End of Humanity?
BBC Horizons (50 min 7 sec)

ABSTRACT

We are all seeing rather less of the Sun, according to scientists who have been looking at five decades of sunlight measurements. They have reached the disturbing conclusion that the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth's surface has been gradually falling. Paradoxically, the decline in sunlight may mean that global warming is a far greater threat to society than previously thought. The effect was first spotted by Gerry Stanhill, an English scientist working in Israel.

Climate Catastrophe Cancelled: What You're Not Being Told

Friends of Science Society (24 min 35 sec)

ABSTRACT

At a news conference held in Ottawa, some of North America's foremost climate experts provided evidence demonstrating that the science underlying the Kyoto Protocol is seriously flawed; a problem that continues to be ignored by the Canadian government. Scientists called on the Canadian government to delay implementation of the Kyoto Protocol until a thorough, public review of the current state of climate; science has been conducted by climate experts. Such an analysis has never been organized in Canada despite repeated requests from independent, non-governmental climate experts.

You should have taken notes and for revision compare the two contrasting stand points.

Cheers

Rich

Dr Richard Knight
Co-ordinator: National Information Society Learnerships - Ecological Informatics
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

Phone 27 + 21 + 959 3940
Fax 27 + 21 + 959 1237

Email Rknight@uwc.ac.za

Web http://nisl.uwc.ac.za

STANDARDISED PENALTIES FOR THE SCIENCE FACULTY

It is important that these measures be communicated to the students at the beginning of each and every term. They must be adhered to by all Departments so as to have uniformity of treatment for all the students in the Faculty.

Late submission of assignments 15% off per 24hrs


Plagiarism:
50% off for undergraduates, 100% off for postgraduates with submission of disciplinary action against the student if intent can be proven. NB the lecturer must be able to demonstrate the plagiarism and adhere such proof to the script for recording purposes. This ruling will apply to assignments and tests alike.

“Sick tests “:
Each programme will set One Day Only per term on which all sick tests and special occasion tests will be written. A doctor’s certificate stating that the student was unfit to write the test/exam on the set date will have to be supplied to the department

Special Occasions tests:
As above. The student needs to supply documentary proof of the special circumstances that prevented the writing of and/or preparation for the test.

Special Exams:
These are in addition to the supplementary exams and can only be set by the department in the exam period at the discretion of the Chairperson of the department. Outside the exams period the Student Affairs Committee needs to make a recommendation to the Senate Exams Committee

IS THE USE OF NATURAL GAS CHEAPER TO PRODUCE ELECTRICITY?

Electricity is one of our most valuable resources. Without it, is it
impossible to do half the work required. It allows us to work
efficiently, like using computers for example, it keeps us warm and the
list could go on. Its thus all the more reason to find ways to produce
electricity in a much energy efficient way. However the electricity that
comes from nuclear and coal power plant can be quite costly.

It is therefore known that natural gas is more convienet than other
ways. When natural gas is burned in a gas turbine to produce electricity
the heat that is produced in first turbine is used in a second heat
turbine to produce more electricity or heat. As mentioned above natural
gas is a more energy efficient and cheaper than nuclear and coal power
plants. The reason being is that coal power plants emitts more carbon
dioxide and dust particles in the air. Natural gas however, emits less
corbon dioxide and dust partcles in which its much safer.

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

IS TRAINS AND SHIPS A MORE EFFICIENT MEANS OF TRANSPORT?

The answer to this question is a yes. Trains and ships do or is an
efficient means of transport. It is known that public transport
especially taxis; cars can cause a loss of energy. Thus energy
efficiency is the percentage of total energy input that does useful work
in an energy conversion system. Cars and taxis thus has an increase in
production of electricity from fossil fuels thereby having a loss of
energy at each production step. It is however, estimated that most oil
is from motoring and driving.
By making less use of this way of transport may also help us save on
oil which we don't have sufficient of.

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

CAN CONSUMPTION OF ANY SORT BE REDUCED, EG PRODUCTS?

It is known that people consumes the products and services of nature, thus everyone has an impact on the earth. The answer to the above question is defininately yes; we can consume less by consuming less per person and lowering the population size of the future generations by reducing fertility below mortality. Thus one strategy of most cost effective that may also increases peoples quality of life and their future possibilities is to meet the demand for safe effective family planning.

 

Consumption can thus be reduced in many ways. For e.g. the environment tax reforms can make the production of disposable products more costly and resource efficient products more affordable. However, this reduction in consumption may then allow people to save money and afford more time for them, having more leisure time.

 

 

 

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

 

celeste thomas
2324851@uwc.ac.za

MENTION THE MAIN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY VIABLE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF EACH.

There are a multitude of energy sources that exist, but at the same time
there are but several that can be considered in the South African
context. These are wind energy, solar energy and full-scale nuclear
energy.

Wind turbines that are arranged on wind farms accomplish the harnessing
of wind energy. This is an unlimited source of energy at favorable
sites.

ADVANTAGES
Wind farms can be built in 3-6 months
Emits no harmful air pollutants during operation
No water needed for cooling Space
Manufacture and use produce little water pollution Can

DISADVANTAGES
Visual pollution
Noise and interference with communication systems
Can interfere with flight patterns of migratory birds
The production of wind turbines could be costly and detrimental to the
environment (in terms of processes)

The main source of solar energy is the sun. Solar energy can be
converted directly in to electrical energy by photovoltaic cells.

ADVANTAGES
Reliable
Quick and easy installation
Little maintenance
No carbon dioxide emissions Net useful energy yield is fairly high

DISADVANTAGES
Presently costs are high (production)
Visual pollution
Limits could be placed on there use by insufficient amounts of gallium
or cadmium.
Production could produce moderate levels of water pollution from
chemical wastes introduced through the manufacturing process

In nuclear fission, neutrons split the nuclei of atoms such as uranium
and plutonium to release energy as high temperature heat. This heat
produces high-pressure steam that spins turbines to generate
electricity.

ADVANTAGES
Large supply of fuel
Low environmental impact (without accidents)
Moderate land use
Emits 1/6 as much CO2 as coal
Low accident risk-multiple safety systems

DISADVANTAGES
High cost
Low net energy yield
Catastrophic accidents can happen
Long-term storage of radioactive wastes

http://www.lenntech.com/search/search.cgi?VTI-GROUP=0&zoom_query=renewable+energy

Dane McDonald
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

ARE THERE ANY INTERNATIONAL POLICIES IN PLACE THAT MONITOR COUNTRIES WITH REGARD TO EMISSIONS? ARE THESE EFFECTIVE?

Yes, monitoring policies exemplified by the Kyoto treaty do exist. The
Kyoto treaty is a convention whereby developed countries commit
themselves to reducing their emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse
gasses to 1990 levels by 2002. The efficacy of this treaty and other
existing policies however, is questionable. The following loopholes are
evident:

Ratification by developed countries is not compulsory.

The U.S, which has the world's highest total and per capita CO2
emissions, refuses to ratify the treaty.

Countries are not physically monitored (e.g. as in the International
Atomic Energy Agency- IAEA), hence the purpose of the treaty can and
probably is compromised.
Hence treaties such as Kyoto are not as effective as it could be.

Dane McDonald
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

IS SOLAR POWER THE ANSWER TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS?

Solar energy is free therefore it requires no fuel and produces no waste or pollution. In sunny countries, solar power can be used where there is no easy way to get electricity to a remote place.

 

Solar power doesn't work at night although installing a battery into the solar cells can store energy for the use at night, its also very expensive to build solar power stations and the solar cells cost a large deal of money compared to the amount of electricity they'll produce in their lifetime.
Solar power can be unreliable unless you're in a very sunny climate. In the United Kingdom for example, solar power isn't much use except for low-power applications, as you need a very large area of solar panels to get a decent amount of power.

 

Solar power could be an answer but technology has to become more advance in order to utilize the sun's power but at the current time it is not very reliable.

 

Ashton Mouton
Student Number: 2432509
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

 

E-mail: 2432509@uwc.ac.za

SOLAR ENERGY IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF USING ENERGY SUSTAINIBLY.NAME EXAMPLES OF HOW SOLAR ENERGY CAN BE DERIVED?

A photovoltaic cell or called a photoelectric cell is used-sunlight hits it, creating electricity ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/solar-energy.html ).

A solar thermal collector has a dark absorber surface- sunlight hits the surface warming it. A fluid circuit then carries the heat energy derived from the collector away ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/solar-energy.html ).

A craft (used for motion) contains a solar sail- sunlight hits the sail and is directly converted into a force on the sail causing motion of the craft ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/solar-energy.html ).

Sunlight can also be used to supplement lighting in a building. Sunlight is focused on a fibre optic cable situated outside the building; the fibre optic then conducts light into the building ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/solar-energy.html ).

 

Simone Neethling
BCB Department
University of the Western Cape
241343632@uwc.ac.za

I HAVE HEARD OF A FEW KINDS OF SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS. WHAT ARE THE DIFFER

The different kinds of solar energy include:

 

Passive solar heating systems which capture sunlight directly and convert it into low- temperature heat for heating (Miller, 2000).

 

Active solar heating systems collect sunlight and through the use of a fan or pump produce heating for space or water.

 

Solar Thermal plates (High temperature heat and electricity) concentrates sunlight onto a central receiver system with computer controlled mirrors, curved or parabolic collectors, or optical concentrators. Water or oil is heated to produce steam which moves turbines in order to generate electricity.

 

Photovoltaic solar cells make use of silicon cells which release a flow of electrons when struck by sunlight. This generates an electrical current.

 

The best type of system to use for a medium sized building would be the Passive solar heating systems which can be matched with insulation and orientation of the building to enhance energy saving. This type of system has no CO2 emissions with very little air and water pollution. A major drawback of this system is that it has a relatively short life span.

 

Jovanovich N (2005) Renewable energy resources. Unpublished.

 

Miller G T (2000) Living in the environment. Cole Publishing Company, pp 396-434

 

Marlee De Vries
BCB
2234552@uwc.ac.za

WHAT IS HYDROPOWER AND IS IT AN EFFECTIVE SOURCE OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY?

Hydropower is a form of energy that is obtained from the movement of (flowing) water ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/hydropower.html ). In water, energy is extracted and used in two forms: motive energy and temperature differences ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/hydropower.html ). It is therefore an example of a renewable energy source.

Hydroelectric power harvested from potential energy of water elevation now supplies 19% of the world's electricity, although not used world wide because of the need of constant flow in large dams, dams which under normal circumstances are constantly stopped and started ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/hydropower.html ). Hydroelectricity can also not be used, in many situations as a sole resource for energy as in many situations environmental consequences have to be considered, although small-scale hydropower can be used as an effective alternative energy source in particular remote areas where other power sources are not viable ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/hydropower.html ).

 

Simone Neethling
BCB Department
University of the Western Cape
241343632@uwc.ac.za

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

Sustainability is the skill to provide for the needs of the world's current population without negatively influencing the ability of future generations to provide for themselves.

Sustainability/sustainable development refers to doing something (e.g. Mining, Farming, etc.) with the long term in mind. Today's decisions are made with a consideration of sustaining our activities into the long term future.

When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over without negative environmental effects or impossibly high costs to anyone involved.

 

Anzio Abels
Biodiversity & Conservation Biology Department
University of the Western Cape
2429667@uwc.ac.za

 

 

IS SOUTH AFRICA*S CURRENT FORM OF DEVELOPMENT COMPATIBLE WITH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?

South Africa is currently following the North American model of
capitalistic development. This form of development encourages the
ownership of private transport (e.g. automobiles) and also the mentality
of owning large, over-consuming vehicles. The following resulting
environmental impacts are evident:

Large-scale air pollution due to exhaust emissions

Over-population of vehicles, which result in excessive road and
parking development to the detriment of natural areas.

Exploitation of resources as well as pollution with regard to the
over-production of cars.

The most comprehensive solution to these problems is the development of
an efficient public transport system (E.g. Railway, bus) that can
service the needs of the masses.

Another issue that is in complete contradiction with sustainable
development is the private ownership of property. According to this
system, an elite group of people (usually foreigners) own most of the
land. This entitles the majority of the country to an insulting
proportion of land (townships, squatter camps) that undergoes
irreparable environmental degradation within a matter of years.
Furthermore degradation extends to environments such as the ocean that
is affected by huge quantities of untreated sewerage. This problem and
the multitude that stem from it can only be solved efficiently by the
abolition of private property.

Hence it is clear that South Africa is currently on an unsustainable
course of development.

Dane McDonald
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

HOW CAN NATURAL GAS BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND HOW EFFICIENT IS IT?

The gas collected is burned in a gas turbine. The resulting heat produced in the turbine is then transferred to a second turbine which produces either more electricity or more heat. This type of system is known as the Combined-cycle natural gas system. The system is more energy efficient and a lot cheaper than nuclear and coal power plants (Miller, 2000).

 

Jovanovich N (2005) Renewable energy resources. Unpublished.

 

Miller G T (2000) Living in the environment. Cole Publishing Company, pp 396-434

 

 

Marlee De Vries
BCB
2234552@uwc.ac.za

WHAT IS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND HOW CAN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES BE MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES?

Renewable Energy Sources, known as RES, is an alternative resource of energy other than the burning of fossil fuels, which we now know causes many detrimental environmental issues. RES captures energy from continuous natural processes that exist, examples include wind, sunshine, flowing water, biological and geothermal processes ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/ ).

Besides geothermal and tidal, most processes are powered by the sun ( http://renewable-energy-source.info/ ). The most important characteristic about RES is the fact that capturing these alternative forms of energy does not permanently deplete the resourse and is much more eco-friendly in the long term, unlike the burning of fossil fuels which will inevitably be fully exploited.

 

Simone Neethling
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
University of the Western Cape
241343632@uwc.ac.za

HOW CAN NATURAL GAS BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY AND HOW EFFICIENT IS IT?

The gas collected is burned in a gas turbine. The resulting heat produced in the turbine is then transferred to a second turbine which produces either more electricity or more heat. This type of system is known as the Combined-cycle natural gas system. The system is more energy efficient and a lot cheaper than nuclear and coal power plants (Miller, 2000).

 

 

Jovanovich N (2005) Renewable energy resources. Unpublished.

 

Miller G T (2000) Living in the environment. Cole Publishing Company, pp 396-434

 

 

 

Marlee De Vries
BCB
2234552@uwc.ac.za

 

Marlee De Vries
BCB
2234552@uwc.ac.za

Fwd: WHEN SOLAR ENERGY IS STORED, IN WHAT FORMS CAN BE USED?

Solar energy comes from the sun; it is produced by nuclear reactions
that occur inside the sun. Solar energy is stored in precipitation, wind
and ocean currents. The precipitation that falls into the river produces
energy from the moving water; this energy is collected by hydroelectric
power stations. Wind farms are made in areas where the wind is strong
and constantly occurring so that they produce electricity.

Solar energy is stored in plants and animals, it can therefore be used
as: firewood (where it is burned to produce heat energy in the form of
fire) or as in the case of beet, maize, sugar cane it can be used to
make alcohol through the process of fermentation. This process is very
similar to the petrol. Petrol is made from plant fossils and fuels have
solar energy that has been stored in the earth for millions of years
ago.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/coal.html

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

WHY ARE FOSSIL FUELS USED AND ARE THERE OTHER ENERGY SOURCES AVAILABLE?

Coal, Oil and Petrol are called "fossil fuels" because they have been formed from the fossilized remains of prehistoric plants and animals, they provided around 66% of the world's electrical power, and 95% of the world's total energy demands (including heating, transport, electricity generation and other uses) to make it the most used non renewable resource in the world. These fossil fuels have to be mine from certain areas and the mining process is both dangerous and expensive.

 

Providing a new form of fuel that does not damage the environment, for example bio-fuels, this is a form of fuel that does not produce a very large amount of harmful substances and is more renewable or more available than fossil fuels. Other sources include using natural sources like: wind power, wave power and solar energy to generate energy to sustain human existence by reducing pollution.

Ashton Mouton
Student Number: 2432509
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

 

E-mail: 2432509@uwc.ac.za

COULD BIO-FUELS BE THE ANSWER TO OUR INCREASING FUEL NEEDS

This is very highly, unlikely to happen! The amount of plant biomass
needed to be able to generate enough liquid fuel will impact negatively
on other essential resources. Space are already a problem, the
population are growing at a very high rate. Water that is already in
short supply in our country, as well as much needed agricultural lands
would have to be sacrificed, to accommodate these crops. For good crops
with optimal biomass production, there must also be other inputs, like
oil, to plough and maintain these crops. Machinery that uses fuel to
operate will also be needed to convert the biomass into liquid- fuel.
This means that will be a net loss of energy. In this case it would
actually be more feasible to burn the inputs as primary source and
forget about the plant biomass. Bio-fuels would also be very expensive
to start off with. Big storage facilities would be needed to convert the
biomass. This can also be very labor intensive and not very economical.
These plants would have to be in rural areas, to accommodate the need
for space. This will mean that it will still need to be transported to
city centers. In most scenarios bio-fuels will only use more fuel than
it will produce, so we will have to look at other alternatives.

Eugene Marinus
2357422@uwc.ac.za

Fwd: WHAT IS RECYCLING AND WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RECYCLING PAPER? WHAT HAPPENS TO PAPER DURING THE

Recycling is the processing of waste products so that it can be re-used. Cans, newspapers and glass can be recycled. Recycling helps the environment because there are less trees being cut down to make paper. The cans are melted down and used to make new cans. The old newspapers are turned into pulp and then into clean newsprint. The ground-up glass is an important ingredient in road building materials. A special process melts tyres during which chemicals like oil and gas are given off.

Paper recycling starts with a pulping process. All the waste paper is out into a large container called a pulper. The process of turning the paper into pulp involves water and chemicals in the pulper that remove the ink from paper and in turn making the soft and wet. The pulp is placed in a whirling cylinder to remove solid objects like staples and paper clips. Then a primary water removal process follows where a machine squeezes the pulp, separating it from all chemicals, ink, and dirty water that were flowing with it.

The pulp through vibrating screens and is given a final wash on rollers to remove the unwanted material. The clean pulp is mixed with clean water in a machine until it becomes a thick white substance. This is spread evenly into a thin layer and is heated, dried, and smothered on a series of rollers. As material dries it forms a sheet of clean paper. And the finished paper is put on rolls, cut and then packaged.

http://www.afandpa.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Environment_and_Recycling/Recycling/Recycling.htm

http://www.recycle.cc/freepapr.htm


NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

 

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

IS NUCLEAR POWER ENVIRONMENTALLY BETTER THAN FOSSIL FUELS?

No, Nuclear stations work in the same way as fossil fuel burning stations do, except that a "chain reaction" inside a nuclear reactor makes the heat instead. It requires uranium rods to operate and the heat is produce by nuclear fission. The advantages of nuclear power are that the costs are about the same as coal, so it's not expensive to make, it does not produce smoke or carbon dioxide, and so it does not add to the greenhouse effect, produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel, produces small amounts of waste and Nuclear power is reliable.

 

 

Ashton Mouton
Student Number: 2432509
University of the Western Cape
Private Bag X17
Bellville 7535

 

E-mail: 2432509@uwc.ac.za

HOW CAN ENERGY BE CONSERVED IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR?

17% of all fossil fuels used in US are consumed by the food production
system. The agricultural sector tends to be isolated or far removed from
the cities, and so doing large amounts of fossil fuels are consumed for
transport of products. Fuel is also used for heavy farming machinery
while the use of fertilizers increases nitrogen emissions to the
atmosphere.

What can farmers do?

Farmers can reduce or eliminate tillage, and practice certain crop
rotations such as the incorporation of legumes in crop rotations. It has
been shown that non-till systems consume less Diesel fuel and produce
less carbon dioxide than till-systems.
Reduce fertilizer use and work towards more efficient manure use.
Organic farming has been shown to require 60% less fossil fuels than
conventional industrial farming.

What can consumers do?

Consumers should try and purchase food from local farms as this will
reduce the distance that food is transported. Consumers can also try and
grow their own fresh produce in their garden at home. It is better to
purchase unprocessed food as this requires less energy and is more
nutritive than processed foods.

M.van der bank
2401402@uwc.ac.za

WHAT ARE BIO FUELS AND HOW DO THEY BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT AND US? HOW CAN THEY BE USED SUSTAINABLY?

The earth's vegetation and its products are referred to as biomass.
Biomass contains energy that can be harvested. Fuels that are used for
transport can be made from biomass through thermo chemicals. Examples of
these fuels are: ethanol, methanol, bio diesel, bio crude and methane.
These bio fuels recycle Carbon dioxide. This Carbon dioxide is released
by the combustion of these bio fuels and recycled. This in turn reduces
the build-up of greenhouse gases. If we use bio fuels, the fossil fuels
that are still in reserve can be preserved and the Carbon dioxide from
these fossil fuels will be displaced. Because plants undergo
photosynthesis, they use up Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This
carbon that is absorbed is a major component of biomass. If we produce
and use fuels from renewable domestic resources, our dependence on
foreign fuel imports will decrease significantly and therefore also
reducing our vulnerability to severe energy disruptions.

(http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&q=are+biofuels+sustainable&meta=)

Nicole Prinsloo
Zoology Department
University of the Western Cape
Email : 2449162@uwc.ac.za

Fwd: 3.WHAT IS THE HYBRID CAR AND DOES IT IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY?

DALE OVERMEYER

2355332

696 0309

083 272 1002

>>> DALE LEONARD OVERMEYER 02/27/06 02:59PM >>>

The development of hybrid vehicles is probably one of the most
significant advances in automotive technology in recent decades. It has
been spurred on by a pressing requirement for the reduction in the
environmental impact of land transport, particularly urban transport.
This fuel cell car has been welcomed as a solution, but if it is then it
is only a long term one. The term `hybrid' implies the bringing together
of two forms of vehicle propulsion, normally mechanical and electrical,
drawing on the best features of each, to produce a vehicle which not
only meets user needs, but also can comply with increasingly demanding
environmental standards. The hybrid car reduces emissions and increases
the mileage of a petrol powered car while overcoming the disadvantages
of an electric car (Author unknown, 2005).

Besides a smaller, more efficient engine, today's hybrids use many
other tricks to increase fuel efficiency. Some of those tricks will help
any type of car get better mileage, and some only apply to a hybrid. To
squeeze every last mile out of a liter of petrol, a hybrid car can:

It can recover energy and store it in the battery - Whenever you step
on the brake pedal in your car, you are removing energy from the car.
The faster a car is going, the more kinetic energy it has. The brakes of
a car remove this energy and dissipate it in the form of heat. A hybrid
car can capture some of this energy and store it in the battery to use
later. It does this by using "regenerative braking
Sometimes shut off the engine - A hybrid car does not need to rely on
the engine all of the time because it has an alternate power source -
the electric motor and batteries.
Use advanced aerodynamics to reduce drag
Hybrid cars use special tires that are both stiffer and inflated to a
higher pressure than conventional tires. The result is that they cause
about half the drag of regular tires.
Finally the hybrid car also consists of lightweight materials to reduce
drag and increase mileage
Source: http://auto.howstuffworks.com

Reference:

Author unknown (2005) http://auto.howstuffworks.com

Douthwaite, R (2005) Radical overhaul of emissions allocation required,
Irish Times

Jefferson, C. M.; Barnard, R. H. (2002) Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion.
Hybrid Vehicle Propulsion, pp. 150.

Fecher, R.S (2002) Energy and sustainable development in South Africa,

http://www.helio-international.org

Shrivistava, P. (1995) The role of corporations in achieving ecological
sustainability, The academy of management review, Vol 20, No 4, 936 -
960

Ward, G (2001) the Economic and Commercial Benefits of Long-term
Sustainability, 18th World Energy Congress

DALE OVERMEYER

2355332

696 0309

083 272 1002

WHAT ARE FOSSIL FUELS? AND HOW HAVE THEY CREATED PROBLEMS IN OUR SOCIETY?

Fossil fuels are all natural substances and they are found deep within
the earth. They are composed of ancient animals and plants. When these
fuels are burnt, it releases energy. The three main fossil fuels are:
coal, oil and natural gas. The kind of plant and animal material
determines the kind of fossil fuel developed and this is also dependent
on heat and pressure. The sun was the main source of stored energy in
fossil fuels and when we burn these fossil fuels, the stored energy is
released. We use these fossil fuels to make electricity, to heat our
homes and buildings. Ninety percent of the world's energy comes from
fossil fuels. Humans are dependant on these fossil fuels and overuse and
exploit them. This has created problems such as:
Because they take millions of years to form, we are using fossil fuels
100 000 times faster than they are being produced. Fossil fuels are
non-renewable resources.
Greenhouse gases are also released into the atmosphere when these
fossil fuels are burnt.
Because fossil fuels contain carbon, it is released into the air. This
in turn joins with oxygen to form Co2, which is the largest source of
greenhouse gases.

(
http://www.ecokidsonline.com/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/ecostats/index.cfm)

Nicole Prinsloo
Zoology Department
University of the Western Cape
Email : 2449162@uwc.ac.za

CAN SEAWATER BE USED AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY?

Seawater is probably one of the few natural resources that is easily accessible with minimal processing. Seawater can be converted to a more direct fuel, according to Pfeffer R and Macon W. However this requires the desalinization of seawater which in itself is a very high energy operation. If seawater is desalinized, thermochemical water splitting processes can be used to break water down to hydrogen and oxygen. This hydrogen can then be burned, combine with oxygen to form water and more importantly, energy.

Geothermal energy (from geothermal fluid) and seawater has been used for the heating and cooling of a terminal building in an airport of Thessuloniki (Mendrinos D, Karytsas C. 2003). Seawater and geothermal fluid was extracted from boreholes and the energy contained by these fluids was exchanged to a water source heat pump by using plate heat exchangers. During winter both seawater and geothermal fluid were fed into the heat pump, however in summer only 15 degrees Celsius seawater was fed into the heat pump.

The heat energy rejected by the heat pumps was absorbed by the seawater, hence providing cooling. The system is energy efficient and decreases reliance on fossil fuels (saves up to 90% of energy used by conventional air conditioning systems). Cool air is not generated by the evaporation of liquid into a gas ( as in conventional systems) but rather directly form cold deep water readily available from lakes and the sea ( http://www.aloha.com/~craven/coolair.html ).

 

M.van der bank
2401402@uwc.ac.za

HOW CAN ENERGY BE SAVED IN HOME HEATING SYSTEMS?

Water heating systems run either on gas or electricity, both requiring
large amounts of energy. Tank water heaters are wasteful because they
keep the water heated 24 hours a day. The energy use of a water heater
can be reduced by using a tankless water heater instead of a tank
heater.

Tankless water heaters instantly heats up water when the faucet is
turned on. Thus water is only heated when it is required. Tankless
heaters also leak much less, whereas frequent leaking in tank heaters
consumes even more energy. If consumers are unable to purchase a
tankless water heater, it is advisable to switch the tank water heater
off when warm water is not required for a long period of time (eg. at
night).

M.van der bank
2401402@uwc.ac.za

Fwd: 2.ARE THERE BENEFITS ATTAINED BY COOPERATIONS IF SUSTAINABILITY IS ACKNOWLEDGED?

DALE OVERMEYER

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>>> DALE LEONARD OVERMEYER 02/27/06 02:58PM >>>

Industrial development in the last 200 years has brought immeasurable
wealth and prosperity (Shrivastava, 1995). However it has also caused
unintended ecological degradation (Shrivastava, 1995). In 1987 the
Brundtland commission report popularized "ecologically sustainable
development as a means for simultaneously dealing with economic and
ecological problems (Shrivastava, 1995). Government policies and
programs have selectively mitigated many environmental problems
(Shrivastava, 1995). However, because much economic activity occurs
within corporations, these government efforts need to be supplemented
with new voluntary efforts by cooperation's in order to address the
industrially induced ecological problems (Shrivastava, 1995).

Macro-economic benefits are readily identifiable as: reduction in
pollution, lower clean up costs and more effective utilisation of
resources (Ward, 2001). In general, the responsibility for pollution and
other costs has been borne by society as a whole (Ward, 2001). The cost
of cleaning up after the benefits provided to today's generation are
often borne by future generations (Ward, 2001). The principle of
sustainability would place this responsibility on those who have
greatest ability to control these costs: those who are receiving the
benefits (Ward, 2001). According to Shrivastava, 1995, some of the
benefits that can be attached to sustainability are:

There is an opportunity to drive down operating costs by exploiting
ecological efficiencies
Ecological sustainability provides a basis for creating a competitive
advantage
At this early stage of corporate environmentalism, companies have the
potential to create unique and unmatched environmental strategies.

DALE OVERMEYER

2355332

696 0309

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HOW CAN I SAVE ENERGY AND CARBON DIOXIDE IN MY HOME?

Fit an insulating jacket around the hot water geezer. This will save about 150 kg Co2 per year. If floors and doors have gaps around them, it accounts for 11% of heat loss in a home that is not insulated. If you have an air conditioner in your home, turn it down by 1°C and save 300 kg Co2 per year. Have a shower instead of a bath and use two thirds less energy and save on water. If you can afford this, upgrade to an energy saving recommended fridge freezer and save 190 kg Carbon dioxide per year. Windows and doors could also be draught proofed to save 140 kg Co2 per year. Walls leak a lot of heat. Therefore have them insulated and save approximately 1 ton of Co2 per year. A fifth of heat is lost through windows. Windows could be double glazed to save heat. If you decide to do the laundry, wash clothes at a lower temperature and use one third less electricity. When the TV and other appliances are not in use, turn them off and save on a substantial amount of energy.

(http://www.est.org.uk/flash/house/13039_EST_house10.swf)

Nicole Prinsloo
Zoology Department
University of the Western Cape
Email : 2449162@uwc.ac.za

Fwd: 1.WHAT IS SOUTH AFRICAS POSITION AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY IS CONCERNED AND IS IT IMPROVING SUSTAIBIL

DALE OVERMEYER

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>>> DALE LEONARD OVERMEYER 02/27/06 02:52PM >>>

At the 11th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate change in 2005 in Montreal evidence of South Africas
unsustainability was exhibited (Douthwaite, 2005). The members of these
meetings in Montreal understand that to stand a good chance of
preventing mass extinctions, droughts, runaway melting of icecaps and
the Gulf Stream turning off, the volumes of greenhouse gases released
into the atmosphere need to be reduced sufficiently quickly to prevent
earth's average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees above
pre-industrial levels (Douthwaite, 2005). They also agree that unless
these reductions begin within about five years, the rate at which cuts
would have to proceed would be so rapid that many people might regard
them as impossible (Douthwaite, 2005). A problem that the UN faces is
that it has to allocate a restriction of the main greenhouse gases to
each country, about 900 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide - should be
allocated around the world over the next century (Douthwaite, 2005). The
negotiations which have taken place so far show this quite clearly
(Douthwaite, 2005). The "developing" countries have argued that they
need a bigger allocation in order to be able to catch up with the rich
countries which have caused the climate problem (Douthwaite, 2005).
South Africa is a good example (Douthwaite, 2005). With only 0.7 per
cent of the world's population, it is responsible for 1.4 per cent of
global emissions (Douthwaite, 2005). Will it cut these back? No, says
its government. We need to increase the amount of fossil energy we use,
hence our emissions, if we are to lift millions of our people out of
poverty (Douthwaite, 2005). The truth, of course, is that there are two
South Africas (Douthwaite, 2005). One is a grossly over-developed
country which should be making emissions reductions now, the other a
very poor "developing" country which the over-developed one is using as
an excuse to shirk its international responsibilities (Douthwaite,
2005).

According to a sustainable energy watch report, estimates as shown in
table 1 have been developed for eight indicators (Fecher, 2002). For
each of these indicators, the value of 1 is either the global average or
the historical trend for South Africa, while the value of 0 is the
sustainability target (Fecher, 2002). The low value for resilience to
external impacts (energy exports) may be somewhat misleading (Fecher,
2002). While it is true that South Africa is not as vulnerable to
international energy markets as the OPEC countries, there is significant
concern in the country about how the implementation of the Kyoto
Protocol will affect the coal industry, and the 61 000 workers that it
employs (Fecher, 2002) . A report from the International Energy Agency
suggests that South Africa may be the most vulnerable fossil
fuel-exporting country in the world to the impacts of the Kyoto Protocol
(Fecher, 2002). South Africa will have to drop well below 0.09 on this
indicator, therefore, before it is less vulnerable to external impacts
(Fecher, 2002).

South Africa performs worst on the indicators for carbon emissions per
capita (2.35) and energy intensity (2.21) (Fecher, 2002).

Post apartheid government recognizes the importance of equal access to
energy (Fecher, 2002). Progress in this important area of sustainability
is a major accomplishment (Fecher, 2002). The new South Africa sadly
still holds traditions from old government and adopts practices such as
an energy intensive economic structure and reliance on domestic coal
(Fecher, 2002).

DALE OVERMEYER

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WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?

Sustainability is the skill to provide for the needs of the world's
current population without negatively influencing the ability of future
generations to provide for themselves.

Sustainability/sustainable development refers to doing something (e.g.
Mining, Farming, etc.) with the long term in mind. Today's decisions
are made with a consideration of sustaining our activities into the long
term future.

When a process is sustainable, it can be carried out over and over
without negative environmental effects or impossibly high costs to
anyone involved.

Anzio Abels
Biodiversity & Conservation Biology Department
University of the Western Cape
2429667@uwc.ac.za

HOW IS SOLAR POWER STORED? IN WHAT WAY CAN SOLAR ENERGY BE TRANSFORMED INTO ELECTRICITY?

A flat plate collector is used for heating water and air inside
buildings. It consists of an insulated box that is covered by layers of
clear flat glass or plastic. The plate absorbs sunlight and converts it
into heat, which is trapped underneath the glass layers. The plates have
tubes welded into it, which helps air, water and other fluids to
circulate and absorb heat from the plate. The heated fluid flows into a
heat exchanger, where the heat is converted into water. This hot water
is stored in a tank and is pumped from the tank to the house taps.

Direct solar energy can be used to create electricity. With the use of
photovoltaic cells and high temperature collectors. Photovoltaic cells
are solar cells with semi-conductor materials. When sunlight is incident
on the solar the cell changes some solar energy that falls on it into
electrical energy. These cells have the ability to power electronic
equipment.

High temperature collectors-solar furnaces generate a lot of
electricity in one type of high temperature collector, many flat or
slightly curved mirrors focus the sun's rays on a target i. e. a piece
of metal. A fluid is pumped inside the target where it is heated. Then
the steam or gas that is produced carries heat energy to turbines that
generate electricity

http://science.howstuffworks.com/solar-cell.htm

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

WHEN SOLAR ENERGY IS STORED, IN WHAT FORMS CAN BE USED?

Solar energy comes from the sun; it is produced by nuclear reactions
that occur inside the sun. Solar energy is stored in precipitation, wind
and ocean currents. The precipitation that falls into the river produces
energy from the moving water; this energy is collected by hydroelectric
power stations. Wind farms are made in areas where the wind is strong
and constantly occurring so that they produce electricity.

Solar energy is stored in plants and animals, it can therefore be used
as: firewood (where it is burned to produce heat energy in the form of
fire) or as in the case of beet, maize, sugar cane it can be used to
make alcohol through the process of fermentation. This process is very
similar to the petrol. Petrol is made from plant fossils and fuels have
solar energy that has been stored in the earth for millions of years
ago.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/non-renewable/coal.html

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za

NCUMISA MNOTOZA
Environmental and Water Sciences
2253897@uwc.ac.za