ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ENERGY

We use energy in all aspects of our lives Electricity - Light, heat, appliance, iPods Oil – heat homes and water Fuel – cars, truck, trains, equipment How was energy used to produce…

Your clothes Your desk Your chips

ENERGY

Much of our energy comes from Fossil Fuels Coal and petroleum (oil) Originated from plants and animals that existed millions of years ago = fossil fuels

Known as non-renewable energy sources Once supply is gone, its gone forever

Are we in an energy crisis?

ENERGY CRISIS Energy Crisis = demand for energy is higher than amount of fuel produced

World demand for energy is rising

US uses 21 million barrels of petroleum per day

US petroleum mainly comes from Middle East We import, not produce it here What if they cut us off?

Petroleum is created from non-renewable resources. What happens if we run out?

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES Alternative Energy – any form of energy besides fossil fuels Biofuels – energy sources created from renewable resources such as agriculture crops

Wind Energy – energy created by harnessing wind power

Solar Energy – energy created by harnessing energy from the sun

BIOFUELS Biofuels – energy sources created from renewable resources Renewable energy = can be produced continuously Agricultural crops commonly used 4 Forms of Biofuels:

Ethanol Biodiesel Biomass Methane

BIOFUELS - ETHANOL Ethanol – created through fermentation and

distillation of grain. Illegal whiskey makes made moonshine – this was ethanol Brazilian ethanol made from sugarcane US grains used for production

Corn, sorghum, wheat

40% of US corn crop used for ethanol production E85 – 85% ethanol, 15% gasoline E10 – 10% ethanol, 90% gasoline

Standard fuel when you fill up at the pump

BIOFUELS - BIODIESEL Biodiesel – made by mixing oils from plant

and/or animal sources with petroleum diesel fuel Purpose is to make diesel fuel last longer Common sources:

Used vegetable oil from frying in fast food restaurants Soybean oil

Benefits: renewable resource, less emissions Issues: clogged fuel lines if not cleaned, oil filter must be changed frequently, slight fried food odor

B20: 20% biodiesel, 80% petroleum

BIOFUELS – BIOMASS Biomass – large amounts of organic products used for fuel Direct fuel: burned for energy

Wood, lawn clippings, wood chips, or manure Paper and lumber mills use scrap wood as fuel

Manure is used to power an ethanol plant in Hereford, TX (Cattle Capitol of the World)

BIOFUELS – METHANE Methane – natural gas Natural Gas – created by the transformation of plants and animals into fossil fuels

Benefits: burns clean Issues: difficult to transport, highly flammable

BIOFUEL CONCERNS Can the US produce enough ethanol to be a

serious alternative to gasoline?

High demand for ethanol = high demand for corn = rising corn prices = cost of animal feed rises = cost of food at grocery store rises

Possible lower gas mileage

Possible corrosion of the engine block because of high water content in fuel

What if the crop is affected by drought, disease, insects and yields for the year are low?

Is it wise to grow crops for fuel? Will there be enough to also meet our food supply?

WIND ENERGY

Used for many years to bring water up from deep wells to provide water to people and livestock where there was no electricity (windmills)

“Wind Towers” are more efficient windmills Large propeller blades turn in the wind to power generators that produce electricity

WIND ENERGY CONCERNS Does the wind blow everywhere?

Does the wind blow all the time?

Does the wind always blow at the same speed?

How can wind energy be stored?

SOLAR ENERGY

Most abundant, less exhaustible, and less pollution than any other energy source

2 types of solar energy systems: Active – collects the sun’s energy in the form of heat and stores is for future use

Passive – collects the sun’s energy, but does not store it South-facing solar panels

SOLAR ENERGY CONCERNS How can the sun’s heat be converted to electricity?

What is the best way to store the sun’s heat to use in the dark?

CONVENTIONAL VS. ORGANIC AGRICULTURE

We live in a very wealthy society where we buy nearly everything we consume

People used to grow at least some of the food they ate – garden, chickens and eggs, cows for milk They knew where their food came from and how it was produced

Today, people have no idea!

MODERN AGRICULTURE Today less than 2% of the US population are

farmers and they must feed: Over 300 million people in the US today Nearly 7 billion people in the world

Can that be done using the same farming methods that people used when everyone grew a lot of their own food?

2 types of Modern Agriculture: Conventional farming Organic farming

MODERN AGRICULTURE Conventional Farming –

Food is produced in huge quantities Shipped from where it is produced to where it is consumed Very efficient form of farming

Due to technology advances Equipment Pesticides (Insecticides, Fungicides, Herbicides) GE Crops

Technology allows farmers to produce enough food to feed all America’s and much of the world’s people

MODERN AGRICULTURE There became some concerns…

The USDA regulates how much pesticide residue can be on food Very, very, very tiny amounts are allowed, but are tested for years on

animals and even babies to make sure they are safe

Some people believe that any chemical residue on food is too much Any food produced using pesticides and fertilizers are unhealthy

So we ended up with a new agriculture movement…

MODERN AGRICULTURE Organic Agriculture

Food and fiber are produced using only materials that are “organic”

“Organic” are substances that only occur in nature and did not result from manufacturing

There are many rules and regulations about what can and cannot be used for growing food Many types of pesticides are prohibited Manure may be used for fertilizer if composted properly Hormones and antibiotics are not allowed in animals

So is one system any better than the other???

LET’S COMPARE…

Activity: Have groups or pairs research and present each aspect of conventional vs. organic farming. Have them list practices, advantages, and disadvantages of each

Insect Control Weed Control Fertilizers Animal Housing Animal Feed Animal Hormones Animal Antibiotics Food Safety GMO Foods Environmental Safety Family or Corporate Farms Food Prices Nutrition of food

Use http://findourcommonground.com/, Agriscience text book

MODERN AGRICULTURE

So, Conventional Farming or Organic Farming?

The Bottom Line:

We are all part of the agriculture industry. There is a demand and place for both types of systems, and each system works for its

consumers. Different is not wrong, it is just different. Remember, we are all on the

same team, so let’s support each other.

INTENSIVE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Systems that produce a large amount of food in a very small area Aquaculture Vertical Farming

AQUACULTURE

Up until the 1970’s, most of the fish sold in the markets were caught from the wild

However, as the world population has increase, more and more fish were caught from the ocean

A few years ago, maximum amount of fish that could be taken from the oceans in a year was reached The ocean cannot produce enough fish and seafood to feed the world

Fish prices were sky-high

AQUACULTURE

Aquaculture systems are fish and seafood farms

Fish and seafood are raised in both natural constructed ponds that have controlled environments Fresh water or salt water systems

Many fish are raised in a very small area

Challenge: the environment must be managed very carefully to provide adequate nutrition, disease control, and physical maintenance to the fish

SHRIMP FARMS IN EAST AFRICA

FRESHWATER TILAPIA FARM

CHANNEL CATFISH FARM

VERTICAL FARMING

By 2050, 80% of the world’s population will live in urban areas

We will need more farmland to grow enough food for over 9 billion people

Since 1982 America has lost over 23 million acres of farmland to development That’s the size of Indiana!

Our farmland is already shrinking – where will that food be grown?

VERTICAL FARMING

One possibility is vertical farming

Vertical Farming – producing food in a skyscraper greenhouse or vertical structure Hydroponics – growing plants in water without soil

Use nutrient solutions, gravel, pebbles

Aeroponics – growing plants in air without soil Roots are sprayed with nutrient solution

VERTICAL FARMING

Advantages: Crops can be produced year-round Controlled environment, so more consistent, predictable yields

Crops would be sold from same building No transportation needed Reduced loss from spoilage or damage

Reduce need for new farmland, so saves natural resources such as forests

Reduce use of fossil fuels because no equipment or machinery is needed for production

VERTICAL FARMING

Disadvantages: May be too expensive –

start-up costs, operation costs, cost of lighting, heating, and powering may not be possible

Pollution: Greenhouse produce produces more greenhouses than field

produce

Large quantities of water with fertilizer and pesticides need a place for disposal

So many plants in one small area could be severely damaged by spread of insects or disease

A Vertical Garden in Singapore

THIS “PINKHOUSE” IN BRYAN, TX GROWS 2.2 MILLION PLANTS UNDER BLUE AND RED LED LIGHTS

Artist rendering of a 177 foot Vertical Garden planned for Sweden

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION Farm Bill

EPA regulations