Ten Ways to Power the Twenty-First Century
http://www.livescience.com/environment/top10_power_21stcentury.html
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October 6, 2006
Top 10 Ways to Power the Twenty-First Century
http://www.livescience.com/environment/top10_power_21stcentury.html
Seawater Air Conditioning
Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc. is a Kailua, Hawaii based company. They specialize in ocean engineering and naval architecture. They are also looking into and reasearching sustainable and renewable energy sources and ways to cut back on our energy usage.
Currently, they offer information about:
- Air Conditioning Pipelines
- Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC)
- Aqua Culture
- [Deep Pipelines] for Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
- Pipeline Services
Please click here (link) to read more. You may contact them at makai@makai.com.
Hawaii's Energy Future
HECO provides many great resources in terms of research.
Please check out this site here (link) to learn more about "Hawaii's Energy Future."
As well, Dr. James K. Scott, President of Punahou School is also on the Board of Directors for the parent company of HECO which is HEI, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric Industries, Incorporated) which also operates a subsidiary, American Savings Bank.
October 5, 2006
Resources on Sustainability
This is, as the title states, a list of resources having to do with sustainability that was put together by the Hawaii State Public Library System for Hawaii 2050.
Earth 911
http://www.earth911.org/master.asp
I originally found this sight a while a go when I was researching battery recycling as an environmental project. However, it has a lot of connections to sustainability and not just in terms of waste management. This is a green advice site; it has lots of articles, facts, and tips on how to lead more environmentally friendly and sustainable life. It touches on everything from recycling to water quality to organic shopping. I like this site because it’s well organized and easy to read. I also really like the cheery “you can make a difference” corner.
October 4, 2006
Annual Energy Review
The Annual Energy Review published by the Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/overview.html
This website has every fact and statistic on energy in the US that you could ever imagine and probably a bunch you never could. I just looked at the Energy overview, and even that its packed with information on how much energy we use, how much we produce, how much we buy, what kinds (renewable, coal, gas), where it comes from and so much more! It also breaks down energy consumption by state, which is interesting.
However, it's important to note that these are raw statistics. Its not light reading. This is definitely a resource older students and teachers. However, it might have interesting curricular potential. Students can look at this data in math classes; they can use real world data in their exercises while simultaneously learning about sustainability.
Got Curbside?
http://www.gotcurbside.org/
This is a really good site on local effort to implement curbside recycling. It includes information on current waste levels on O‘ahu, a landfill countdown and links to help you contact your representatives. I used this site to contact members of the state house who are currently debating curbside legislation and submit testimony in support of such a bill. The “Take Action” link makes it really easy and all the evidence you need to back up your position can be found on the sight. On other good thing about this sight is that it has a "tools for teachers" link as well, with math activities and essay prompts. So, it has a curricular componet. I think this site would be an ideal tool for an ISS or contemporary issues class. They could use it as a spring board for getting involved in local politics.
Sun Power for Schools
Sun Power for Schools is a voluntary partnership between Hawaiian Electric Company, Oahu's public schools, and the community. HECO is committed over the next two years to install, operate, and maintain solar electric systems using photovoltaic technology in selected schools. HECO also used a grant for the development of a renewable energy teaching manual which includes lesson plans and activities that are aligned with the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards (HCPSII). This manual is available to middle and high school teachers through their school libraries.
Purpose and Objectives of Sun Power for Schools:
• To encourage renewable energy education for Hawaii's school children.
• To promote the concept of photovoltaic power systems as an alternative to conventional fuels used for the production of electricity.
• To produce electricity which can be used by the schools to reduce their electric consumption and peak electric demands from HECO's system.
Partners:
• Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc.
• State Department of Education
HECO's role:
Hawaiian Electric Company is conducting a green pricing program where electric customers have the opportunity to make voluntary contributions to encourage the development of renewable energy. Monies are placed in a Sun Power for Schools fund which is used to install AC grid-connected photovoltaic power systems at selected schools. HECO will operate and maintain the systems for two years after installation.
Read more here (link).
Solar Lighting
This document is about solar lighting and the applications of it.
PROJECT: OFF-GRID PV LIGHTING PROJECTS
DESCRIPTION: Currently, one of the most economical and practical uses for PV in combination with batteries is to provide security lighting, especially in off-grid locations. Here are some of the off-grid PV projects supported:
HELCO has installed off-grid PV lighting systems at Volcanoes National Park, the Honaunau Boat Ramp, and at the Pu'ala'a Park facilities near Puna.
HECO installed off-grid PV security lighting at its Makakilo substation on the island of Oahu.
The Sun Power for Schools program at HELCO has installed off-grid PV area lighting at Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School.
The Sun Power for Schools program at MECO has installed off-grid PV area lighting at Lahainaluna High School, Maui Waena Middle School, and Lokelani Middle School.
The Importance of Renewable Energy
What Is Renewable Energy?
Electricity is produced from a variety of energy sources. Some are fossil fuels such as oil and coal (natural gas is also a fossil fuel, but is not available in Hawaii). Other energy sources are "renewable," which means they can be replenished, often using sources from nature.
Why is renewable energy important?
To reduce Hawaii's consumption of oil.
Hawaii depends on imported petroleum for most of its electrical energy needs. There's a good reason for this. Unlike mainland states, Hawaii does not have access to other fuel sources such as natural gas, or large rivers to produce hydropower. Hawaii also doesn't use nuclear power. Diversifying Hawaii's mix of energy sources by using more renewable energy to produce electricity will help Hawaii use less oil.
Factoid: Only 32% of Hawaii's imported oil is used to make electricity. Get more facts
Factoid: Although using renewable energy will reduce Hawaii's use of oil to produce electricity, it won't eliminate the need to import crude oil to Hawaii. Get more facts.
To help Hawaii's environment.
Hawaii's air quality is among the cleanest in the nation. HECO, HELCO and MECO work hard to keep it that way by complying with stringent federal and state regulations governing emissions. Using renewable energy sources also helps Hawaii's environment because they generally produce less air emissions.
Why not get even more of Hawaii's energy from renewable sources?
HECO, HELCO and MECO are among the nation's LEADERS in supporting renewable energy that's reliable and cost effective for our customers. Although there are some challenges to using renewable energy, HECO, HELCO, and MECO are working to increase our use of renewable energy by getting electricity from renewable sources today and through many projects to encourage renewable energy development.