“Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us. They are

discovered in tunnels in the ground, the heart of flowers, the hollows of trees, fresh-water ponds,

seaweed jungles between tides, and even drops of water. Life in these hidden worlds is more

startling in reality than anything we can imagine”- Walt Disney (Gennawey 2013). Although

many people feel the world is a place of beauty and wonder, as Walt describes above, many do

nothing to protect it. People have modified the land and developed it to suit their needs; yet, they

have disregarded the impact that such development has made on the environment. In recent

decades, people have realized the importance of protecting the environment in order to sustain

life and biodiversity. Land development, sustainable energy and energy efficiency all affect

carbon emissions. Although Carbon is an essential component of life, as seen here on Earth, an

over abundance of it can be lethal. Some of the other concerns that need to be addressed that

effect the environment includes: climate change, oil insecurity/import costs, and fossil fuels costs

(Brown, 2009). Now is the time to restructure the renewable energy economy with advanced,

efficient technologies, to reduce energy use and carbon emissions to ensure a sustainable future

for life on planet Earth (Brown, 2009).

Plan B states, “The world is in the early stages of two energy revolutions” (Brown,

2009). The first is in regards to energy efficient technologies (EET), and the second is in

reference to using wind, solar and geothermal energy as energy replacement resources (Brown,

2009); both of which are discussed below. In Plan B, there are several technologically advanced

energy efficient options suggested, in an effort to prevent carbon emissions from reaching 400

parts per million (ppm) by 2020 (Brown, 2009). One of the most straightforward suggestions is

to change the types of light bulbs that are made and distributed; compact florescent lights (CFLs)

use 75% less energy, and would save 200 pounds of coal per CFL used (Brown, 2009). A light

emitting diode (LEDs) is another type of light bulb which uses 85% less energy (Brown, 2009);

energy efficient lighting would reduce electricity use by 12% worldwide (Brown, 2009). Another

EET suggested in Plan B is the use of energy efficient appliances, which reduces energy used

during stand-by mode (Brown 2009). According to one study, in the U.S, 5% of electricity usage

is a result of appliances on stand-by mode; the study suggests reducing that usage by 4%, and

closing seventeen coal plants would further reduce carbon emissions (Brown 2009).

Developing carbon free buildings is yet another way to incorporate EET, and to help

protect the environment (Brown, 2009). Currently, a staggering 38% of carbon emissions is

directly related to commercial and residential buildings in the United States (USGBC, 2009).

These buildings also contribute to 72% of electricity usage by Americans (USGBC, 2009).

Permits can be issued for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

certification, for the buildings that are as energy efficient, and carbon free as possible (USGBC,

2007). Not only must a LEED certified building be energy efficient, but it must be water efficient

as well (USGBC, 2009). Many LEED certified buildings have utilized solar water heaters, and

electric panels, natural ventilation and cooling systems as well as ultra insulation (Brown, 2009).

Urban transportation and the evolution into a hybrid vehicle market, has dramatically

reduced carbon emissions and has undoubtedly reduced the consumption of fossil fuels (Brown,

2009). Many people have begun using alternative transportation sources such as walking, biking,

light rails, and electric cars. Another economic and environmentally acceptable form of

transportation between cities is by utilizing high speed trains (Brown, 2009). High speed electric

trains help reduce carbon emissions; they emit only one third the amount of carbon emitted by

that of cars and one fourth respectively of planes (Kinstlinger, 2007). Utilizing electric transit,

trains specifically, would also reduce air pollution, noise, traffic congestion, and accidents

(Brown, 2009). By converting to an electrical transit system, energy from fossil fuels, in regards

to transportation, would be reduced by 70% (Brown, 2009).

The new materials concept discussed in Plan B promotes recycling, reduces material use

and raises resource productivity (Brown, 2009). The recovery of used steel would reduce energy

use by 23%; by recycling and manufacturing goods more efficiently in the petrochemical

industry, for example fertilizers, plastics, and detergents, energy usage can be reduced by 32%

(Brown, 2009). In the United States, 20 million tons of waste that is not recyclable, is converted

into energy and power for millions of consumers (Brown, 2009).

If the United Sates implemented a smart grid technology, they could significantly reduce

power fluctuations, and increase energy transmission capacity from areas of surplus to areas of

power deficit (Brown, 2009). The utilization of smart grids requires collaboration between

utility corporations and consumers. If smart meters were installed it would also allow people to

monitor their electrical usage time. It would also make the transfer of that usage information

between utility companies and consumers simpler and more effective (Brown, 2009).

Carbon emissions will be further reduced by implementing the use wind, solar, and

geothermal energy rather than by continuing to using coal and oil. If the world is to reduce 80%

of carbon emissions by 2020, as Plan B hopes, finding and implementing the use of renewable

resources and energy efficient technologies need to be the top priority and focus of all nations.

Wind Energy is an innovative technology which can never be depleted, and therefore should be

utilized to its upmost capabilities (Brown, 2009). Sunlight can be converted to electric power by

using solar thermal cells; in fact, solar power is one of the world’s fastest growing sources of

renewable energy (Brown, 2009). Geothermal energy has also become a valuable source of

renewable energy. It involves drilling through the Earth to its hot rock layer and extracting water

into a steam turbine which then creates new energy (Brown, 2009). There is fifty-thousand times

the amount of energy found inside the Earth’s crust than by using the entire stockpile of non

renewable energy from fossil fuels, including oil and gas (Brown, 2009).

My actions directly affect the environment, and everything in it. I am a consumer of

electricity, a producer of CO2 emissions, and I want to be part of the solution to create and

utilize more energy efficient technologies. This in return, will help create a sustainable

environment for future generations. I currently drive a gas powered car, but if the cost were

lower, I would opt for a hybrid car that was environmentally safer. I would not mind using an

electric train transportation system either; however, in Florida, there are no intercity high speed

train systems. As a person in the health field, I have a responsibility to protect the health of

myself, the health of others, and to educate others. This includes teaching others about the

environment, the resources available and how to sustain them, as well as about the animals in it

and how to coexist naturally without disrupting the natural order of things. One way in which I

am contributing to the solution is by attending an environmentally conscious college, FGCU.

One of the initial reasons why I decided to attend FGCU was because of their interest in

protecting the environment. They have a vested passion for restoring the everglades, protecting

plants and animals, recycling, preserving the water including recycling and filtering it, and

FGCU utilizes effective measures to reduce carbon emissions from buildings on campus, which

protects the air and ozone layer.

According to Orr, past environmental ignorance was related to the increase of

civilization, and a decreased sense of nature’s wonder (Orr, 2011). As development occurred,

people were more secluded form the environment and nature. They, for a time, seemed to forget

that their actions were still affecting everything around them. According to Plan B, now that the

world has been forced to once again become environmentally conscious, change is needed with

“wartime speed” (Brown, 2009). Realistically, the options illustrated offer a tangible solution to

reduce carbon emissions, for a sustainable future but only with extensive dedication and

collaboration by everyone.

References:

Brown, L. R. (2009). Plan B 4.0 mobilizing to save civilization. New York, NY.: W.W Norton & Company, Inc.

Gennawey, S. (2013). The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney's Dream. The Unofficial Guides.

Kinstlinger, J.(2007). Magnetic Levitation High speed Rail Service Along The Eastern Seaboard. Hunt Valley, MD.: KCI Technologies, Inc.

Orr, D. (2011). University Colloquium: A Sustainable Future. Acton MA.: XanEdu Publishing Inc.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)(2009). “Green Building Facts”. Washington, DC.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)(2007). “About LEED”. Fact sheet. Washington, DC.