ENERGY: Less as More

The world we live and love today is a result of one miraculous material.  This simple matter is responsible for the rich variety of spices in our cabinets and mangos in California; it has allowed heat to enter the homes of not only noble but the common class as well.  This material has allowed for endless exploration of distant lands bridging cultures and creating cross-culture communities, which without we would live a life of very different circumstances.  From the fibers on our backs to the luxury of entertainment, we owe our known existence to the magic, of Oil.  The fiber, fuel, plastic, food, industrial and medical industries have all thrived and been brought to life by the manipulation of fossil fuels.  The composition of this society is built on its’ use and exploitation.  Not since the conception of the printing press has society been so drastically altered.  Unfortunately, we have crossed the boundary from necessity to gluttony.  We are no longer using this abundant resource to alleviate our lives of unnecessary strife; we have crossed the line to unnecessary consumption.     

It is understood that our use of fossil fuels will have to drastically change.  This will be difficult, for our addiction has become cultural and so embedded in the fabric of this country that it has become trademark of the western lifestyle.  Two choices we must take are; a radical change in the amount of Fossil fuels are consumed and the search and development of alternative energy sources.  In chapter four of Richard Heinberg’s book, “The party’s over” he illustrates to us different methods that can be used and a clear understanding of their pros and cons. 

We can conclude that no one source of energy will alleviate the current crisis our global nation faces as a result of our dependence on oil.  We are however, blessed with many natural resources that once harnessed can become great supplies for our energy needs.  These include; wind, running waters of tides and rivers, saline waters, biomasses, geothermal, and most abundantly (in some areas) our sun.   Each system posses pros and con’s which can only be assessed according to size and design. 

Through foolish exploitations, we are approaching a great shift in the way our energies are obtained.  Most importantly we are facing a huge shift in the ways we use and view energy.   This change is not merely effective to the ecological, political, and economic sectors but most importantly and most drastically; this shift is cultural.  We have reached a drastic point where our actions and lifestyles must act according.  To us, where washing a week’s worth of clothes and days’ worth of dishes is a simple load and push of a button, it seems like centuries ago that our ancestors manually scrubbed dirt from dish and stain from rags.   It’s amazing how much we have forgotten in such little a time, for it was in this past century that cart and wheel where built by hand and ridden to plow this land.  And it is not far that our brothers and sisters in the near south and distant east continue to do so today.  These communities in the “underdeveloped” world have an advantage over those of us addicted to the lifestyle that Fossil fuels have brought.  Already accustomed to a lifestyle with much less energy intake for daily existence, these nations might not feel the effect of Peak Oil as drastically as those in the West.  One area that I have personally come to love and witness is the state of Bahia in Brazil.  As their needs are much less some methods that couldn’t easily serve large scale are much more feasible.

LOCATION

Bahia is located on the northeast coast of Brazil, stretching for hundreds of miles along the warm Atlantic Ocean. Itacaré is one of these small rural towns located on a peninsula on the coast of Bahia. This results in strong winds and some of the best Surf in Bahia. This area is home to the endangered ecosystem, “Mata Atlantica” which today only 2-5 % of its original size remains.  Many families in the surrounding areas have/work on plantations of coconut, cocoa, or a variety of other fruit.  This lush vegetation is scattered with abundant rivers and freshwater springs. Cow’s and other livestock are common in and around family farms.  Classified as Tropical, Itacaré has a hot average climate with humid air in the summer and temperate winters.  The winter experiences heavy rains and the summer is sometimes sprayed with daily tropical showers. 

Here are some of the possible energy sources that Itacaré can harness and benefit from:

OCEAN

The Ocean, covering around two-thirds of the earth’s surface is in constant angulations offering us huge amounts of energy.  The monthly and daily pulls from the moon affect the levels of our tides.  The sun’s heat along with gravitational pull contributes to powerful currents and waves.   

Tidal Energies

The power of tides is in the twice-daily rise and fall of water levels on beach shores.  This produces strong currents which can, using modern technologies, harness kinetic energies and feed for non-pollutant and renewable power usage. 

Shore-based and Ocean-based systems have similar ways of function.  Fluctuating columns of water (by oceans natural flux) propel turbine blades generating electricity.  

Barrage is a Shore-based damn like in structure built across a narrow mouth of where river meets ocean.   As the tide levels fluxes water flows through tunnels in barrage creating turbines (fan-like formation) to turn to generate energy.  Shore and Ocean systems have an initial large investment as these barrages, are expensive to build, however, cost little to maintain and energy (after investment) is virtually free.  Large systems would have a negative impact as restricted water flow can cause harm to estuaries.  In Itacaré I would recommend smaller systems for small-scale energy needs.

BIOMASS

Biomass is the energy obtained from the burning of organic materials.  This can include trash, compost, animal manure, seaweeds, plant stalks, and other natural wastes.  

The process: Fuel from these materials is burned to heat water creating steam, which turns turbines turning generators, harnessing electricity.

The advantages are the recycled elimination of waste and the expense of the system.  However it is an unfortunate fact that Biomass gasses create greenhouse gasses (CO ) making it a fuel solution to be used in small quantities on a small, family scale.  

WIND ENERGY

Energy harnessed from wind has been used for centuries as a way to power and aid human environments.  Windmills were used in the Middle Ages to grind grain in Europe.  Wind power used to pump water is seen in societies as distant as those from China to Babylonia over 4 thousand years ago and sailboats far before that.  Wind power is a concept similar to that of tide turbines.  It uses a high tower with propellers attached, as the wind blows the propellers move to generate a battery transforming wind into electricity.  The concept is simple, the electronics a little more complicated, yet can be done with simple mechanical understanding.   

Wind energy is ideal for high coastal areas, as the wind tends to be stronger and in a more constant flow.  

Some drawbacks:

Wind power is the unpredictability of the source; like some days the air is violent and others still.  

Another factor to take into consideration during the design stage is the threat to migratory birds, which can be killed by the high speeds of the propellers.  A cage-like structure (much like a house fan) can help to alleviate the problem.  

Sound is another issue to take into consideration when deciding on a location, as the generator tends to create a constant “swooshing” sound.  

Advantages:

The wind is a free and abundant source free from fossil fuels.

Wind lets out no greenhouse gasses 

Renewable energy source.

Although the second oil producer in South America, behind Venezuela, Brazil’s energy import and consumption are higher than the extraction rate.  World wide numbering the 16^th largest Energy producing nation (1.5% of the world’s total) its’ expenditure rate is as the 6^th greatest oil consumer. Brazil is a Nation rich with an abundance of natural resources.  From the Sun, wind, and ocean alone systems can be created to feed a large amount of the countries energy needs.  The systems mentioned above could feasibly be of use and service in Brazil.  These procedures do require a high initial investment, yet become virtually free, as these systems are renewable and abundant.

Amanda Greene

Energy Paper

Cohort 16

October 25, 2005

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