09/21/09 - What's Next

What’s Next?       By Bob Bruggner

Call it what you wish; The Information Age, Computer Age, Digital Revolution, That Stuff Young People Do, Whatever.  The facts are that our current economy did a rapid shift during the 1900s from one comprised mainly of traditional industry to an economy based on the manipulation and transfer of information. The explosion of information and technology necessary to drive this transition didn’t just suddenly happen overnight; rather it evolved steadily over the past 100 years.

The age of electronic technology was first jump-started in the early 1900s with the introduction of the Vacuum Tub. For the first time scientist and engineers could amplify, switch, and modify electrical signals, controlling the movement of electrons in a low-pressure space. This new device ultimately provided the mechanism that lead to the expansion and commercialization of radio broadcasting, television, radar, large telephone networks, and industrial process controls.   During the early 40s when engineers tried to build complex circuits using the vacuum tube, they quickly became aware of its limitations. In fact, the first digital computer ENIAC, weighed over thirty tons, consumed 200 kilowatts of electrical power, and contained over 18,000 vacuum tubes that were constantly burning out making processing a bit of an adventure.

The next giant leap forward occurred around mid-century at the AT&T Bell Laboratories with the development of the first transistor. These new devices were soon being combined and connected to resistors, capacitors and diodes to build advanced electrical circuitry that we now call integrated circuit. Integrated circuits, such as the microprocessor that is checking my spelling as I write this article, are now found in almost all electronic equipment and have revolutionized the world of electronics as they continuing to become smaller, faster, and more affordable.

If the 20^th century was characterized as the Age of Information, then the 21^st century may well be remembered as the Era of Greening.  Today, many leading economist point to green technology as the next major growth sector emerging in our economy with the development of renewable energy sources leading the way.

Currently, eighty-five percent of all energy produced in the United States today comes from oil, coal, and natural gas, which we collectively classify as fossil fuels. The reason fossil fuels are relied on so heavily is due to simple economics - supply and demand. Coal is currently an abundant resource, and the US government has worked to keep a steady supply of oil flowing to the United States, which has kept costs down for consumers. But it is becoming increasing clear to governments and businesses that the problems associated with fossil fuels, most of which stem from the by-products created when they are burned to create energy, cannot be sustained in an expanding world economy. The amount of carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the air today are thirty-five percent and eighteen percent higher, respectively, than they were before the industrial revolution.

The world’s insatiable appetite for abundant, clean energy is now making some of those futuristic alternative energy ideas seem a little more plausible if not necessary.  Here are six new innovative energy technologies that may serve to help wean us off our reliance on fossil fuels during the coming years.

1.    Enhanced Geothermal Systems are being designed to inject cool water two miles or deeper under the earth surface returning as geothermal power or steam that could be used to generate electricity.  This system could be set up almost anywhere and could become a major sustainable and reliable source of power.

2.   High Level Wind Turbines – Terrestrial wind turbines stop when the wind dies and are very regional in nature.  Turbine-bearing balloons or rotors could be floated 1,000 to 15,000 feet above the earth’s surface intercepting powerful, reliable winds that could potentially generate enough energy to power the planet many times over.

3.   Algae fuel – Biofuels made from plant matter require multi-steps for harvesting and processing.  Experimentation with genetically engineered algae that continuously secret oil suitable for refining into transportation fuel is now underway. Although not yet economically viable, this process holds great promise and scores of companies are currently investing heavily in this area.

 

4.   Wave Energy – The world’s first commercial wave farm was introduced off the cost of Portugal in 2008.  Each of the individual 13-foot-diameter wave machines that comprise the farm is capable of capture enough energy to generate the electricity necessary to power 500 homes.

5.    Nuclear Fusion  - for more that 50 years scientist have been working on generating fusion power … that is igniting a fusion reaction that will yield more energy than the energy required to create the reaction.  Next year scientist at the U.S. National Ignition Facility will focus 192 lasers on a tiny hydrogen-filled capsule in an attempt to generate fusion power for the first time.  This source of power may be many years down the road but offers many intriguing possibilities.

6.   Solar Satellites – clouds, dust, and the hours of daily sunshine they receive limit land-based solar collectors.   Orbiting solar collectors could generate power and beam it back to earth 24 hours a day.  Not surprisingly, NASA and The Department of Energy are actively exploring these concepts while California’s Pacific Gas and Electric has contracted to receive its first electricity from space starting in year 2016.

Your comments, ideas and suggestions are always welcome. (bbruggner@gmail.com)

09/05/09 - A Cool Idea For Saving Energy

A Cool Idea For Saving Energy                    by  Bob Bruggner

You’ve probably heard the old joke, “If a man speaks in the woods and his wife is not around to hear what he says, is he still wrong? “  Those of us who have been married for a while are well aware that the genders in this joke can easily be reversed without inflicting any real damage to the punch line.

In the interest of full disclosure I must state upfront that I have been happily married to the same wonderful woman for over 30 years and we seldom have any major disagreements.  But about a year ago, my wife and I became embroiled in a major confrontation over what temperature to keep our home thermostat set on.  Coincidently, this conflict began about the same time that I first became aware that the phrase, “Hot mid to late 50s,” could be used to describe something other than a 259 Studebaker.  It was clear that global warming had struck my wife’s HVAC system (an acronym for the closely related functions of ”Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning”) and I needed to find a solution…..  in a flash.

After a great deal of exploration and discussion, it was decided that keeping the house cool at night for sleeping lay at the heart of the crisis.  As I weighed my options of either turning our entire house into an evening meat locker by lowering the thermostat or installing one of those noisy, inefficient window units that would provide a nightly reminder of my last night in a La Quinta Inn, a friend suggested I look into something called a split ductless air condition system.

Split ductless systems have been used extensively in Europe and Japan for many years and, as I discovered, are a smart way to add air conditioning and/or heating to a limited number of rooms without having to open up walls to install ductwork.  Like traditional central-air-conditioning systems, the split-ductless system has an exterior condenser unit but the evaporator (that unit that houses the cooling coil, fan, and controls), is located indoors, usually mounted high on the interior wall of the room or area you want to cool.  (Envision a small computer printer operated by a hand remote mounted high on the wall blowing out cold air.) Instead of using air ducts, cool air flows from the exterior condenser to the indoor evaporator through a small ½ inch copper pipe.  Some larger models are designed to power up to four room evaporators from one condenser allowing for zone cooling of individual rooms.

As it turned out my friend with the good advice had also just replaced all his old ductwork and central-air-conditioning unit in his home with a split ductless system.  I went over for a look, and, along with a little Internet research, here’s what I found most attractive about these systems.

SEER Efficiency - The efficiency of air conditioners is often rated by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER).  The higher the SEER rating of a unit, the more energy efficient it is. In the late 1980's the average SEER rating for an air conditioner was around 6.0. The United States now requires that residential systems manufactured after 2005 have a minimum SEER rating of 13, although window units are exempt from this law so their SEERs are still around 10.  Substantial energy savings can be obtained from more efficient systems. For example, by upgrading from SEER 9 to SEER 13, the power consumption is reduced by 30% and can result in an energy savings valued at up to $300 per year depending on the usage rate and the cost of electricity.   Split ductless systems offer high efficiency units ranging from 16 SEER all the way to 20 SEER.  Factor in the absence of leaky, often dirty ductwork and the potential for energy savings is considerable.

They’re Really Quiet –Split ductless systems have indoor decibel levels as low as 22Db and you often have a hard time knowing when the systems are actually operating. To put this in perspective, a human whisper is in the range of about 40Db and a quiet refrigerator is around 48-55 Db. 

Eco-friendly Refrigerant – All Split ductless systems use R-410a refrigerant which is a totally friendly, non-ozone depleting refrigerant, making smaller, more energy efficient systems practical. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that R-22 refrigerants (chlorodifluoromethane) along with other hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) be phased-out in the U.S. Only a few window-mounted air conditioners are available that use newer R-410A refrigerants.

After my tour I was pretty much sold on this new technology and placed an order for a 15,000Btu air-conditioning split ductless system manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric. My brother (the electrician) and I were able to do the installation in a few short hours and I’m happy to report that my wife is now sleeping much better and we’ve returned to arguing over more sensible issues such as who controls the television remote and who will be next contestant eliminated from Dancing With the Stars.

 

08/24/09 - An Idea With Roots

An Idea With Roots       by Bob Bruggner

It could be just a coincidence but I’ve noticed that more and more vegetables are sprouting up around my neighborhood this summer. It started innocently enough with a few bell pepper plants here, an earth-box planted with fresh herbs for salads and seasoning there, here a squash, there a tomato (growing upside-down in a bag) everywhere an eggplant.   I wouldn’t exactly classify them as Victory Gardens, but with home budgets tightening and the volatility of food pricing now days, the idea of growing your own fresh vegetables is starting to emerge again around the country. In fact, the idea has really started to blossom in some of our neighboring communities.

Last week I had the privilege of accompanying Town Manager Howard McKinnon, Town Council Member Shirley McGill and three members of the Havana Garden Club, Margaret Staron, Wendy Adams, and Judy Brundidge on a tour of the Apalachicola Community Garden. Our tour started at The Grill Restaurant over lunch with local garden organizers Karla Ambos, Jenny Billings, Beverly Hewitt and city administrator Betty Taylor-Webb.  The idea of creating a community garden arose just over a year ago out of discussions around beautifying the city, the local Food Pantry’s need for fresh vegetables, and the desire to find a vehicle to help strengthen the bond between all segments of the Apalachicola community.

Following lunch it was off to the community garden where Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson, who presented our group with a key to the city, was there to greet us.  Mayor Johnson had obviously done his homework as he related that “Havana was not the only friendly city in North Florida” as he sheepishly smiled and passed over the key. 

Working with 4 vacant lots provided by the city, the community garden group volunteers worked alongside inmates from the Franklin County work camp, to build 29 raised garden beds and two large tilled plots, one each for the Food Pantry and local Charter School.  Topsoil was trucked in from the county landfill, the city ran a waterline to the site and water spigots were placed at each individual bed as they were completed.  By the time the garden was finished in March, the city had received so many requests (over 60) from potential gardeners that they wound up sharing the 29 beds among 54 gardeners.  Over 100 people attended the “Blessing of the Garden” by local clergy on Earth Day and the garden has become a popular stop on the annual Apalachicola Tour of Homes.  Mayor Johnson was quick to point out that the city’s investment in the community garden is paying big dividends. Not only has it served as a vehicle for providing sustenance to needy families in Apalachicola, it has also created opportunities for social gatherings, beautification, education and recreation throughout the entire community.

Would the Town of Havana support a community garden? We’d like to hear your thoughts.  Personally, after the lunch I had at the Grill last week, I’m especially interested in planting some of those shrimp and oyster bushes next spring. Your comments, ideas and suggestions are always welcome. (bbruggner@gmail.com)

08/05/09 - A Glimpse into the future?

A Glimpse into the future?  Perhaps.    By Bob Bruggner

 Last month while visiting my oldest son in California, I had the opportunity to visit the Tesla Motors showroom and assembly plant in Menlo Park.  This Silicon Valley startup company is the only automaker currently selling serial production, highway capable all electric vehicles in North America and Europe.  I figured if someone picked this point in time to start a new automotive company…. they must have something a little unique to offer.

The company is currently offer just one model for sale and you better bring along the big cookie jar. The Tesla Roadster uses lithium-ion battery cells and will travel more than 200 miles on a single charge. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds (we’re talking Corvette quick here) and has been rated at twice the energy-efficiency as the Toyota Prius.  The sticker price is just over $100,000 and to date, over 600 Roadsters have been delivered worldwide.  These cars are obviously cost prohibitive for the average consumer but as with all new technologies (personal computers, cell phones, flat screen TVs, etc.) the price tends to decreases proportional to the number of items sold. What was so exciting about these “cars without a tailpipe” was the simplicity yet sophistication of their design. Features that will most certainly be included, in one form or another, by all car manufactures in the very near future.

The big takeaway from my visit was that electronics and software have now taken the place of the mass amount of machinery and moving parts present on today’s vehicles. As an example, the typical four-cylinder engine of a conventional car includes over a hundred moving parts. By comparison, the motor of the Tesla Roadster has just one: the rotor.  When we looked under the hood (actually two of people lifted off the fiberglass body) here’s what we found.

A large Energy Storage System (battery pack) sitting on the back of a lightweight aluminum chassis.  Below the battery pack was the 115-pound electric motor  (the engine) connected to the single forward-speed transmission.  These components were all connected to a Power Electronics Module box in the front of the car which functions as the car’s brain, monitoring and directing all aspects of the car’s performance.  That was pretty much it… battery, motor, transmission and CPU all for only 100K.

Last month three car companies, Tesla, Ford and Nissan, were awarded low cost loans by the Department of Energy to promote the development of energy efficient vehicles.  Tesla will use their $465 million award to set up a plant in Southern California to begin production, engineering and assembly of the Model S, an all-electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels up to 300 miles per charge. Scheduled for release in 2011 with an anticipated sticker price of $49,000.  They won’t be alone with every major car company racing to bring their electric and hybrid vehicles to market with Japan leading the way.

Currently, over 63% of the oil consumed in the US is used for transportation, a level that is both cost prohibitive and environmentally unsustainable going forward. Electric vehicles and rechargeable batteries are getting so much attention from auto manufactures because electricity is really the universal currency of energy. It can be generated from coal, solar, wind, hydro, nuclear sources or even hydrogen. 

Advanced batteries are the major bottleneck in the chain of progression from internal combustion to all-electric vehicles. Last Wednesday, President Obama announcing $2.4 billion in stimulus grants aimed at helping US automakers with the development of electric vehicles, infrastructure and development of the advanced batteries they need to compete with Japan. Detroit's Big Three securing the majorities of these funds.

Are electric cares in our future?  One thing is for certain; the auto industry is shifted gears rapidly. Your comments, ideas and suggestions are always welcome. (bbruggner@gmail.com)

07/24/09 - Our Sustainable Community

Our Sustainable Community                           By Bob Bruggner

Most of us baby boomers have all, at one time or another, had the rewarding experienced of trying to pass on to our children and/or grandchildren those riveting stories of what it was like growing up during the post-World War II era. I think the late Bill Spooner may have described the experience best when he said; “they start to scatter like a covey of flushed quail.”  I’ll try to be brief because I suspect you’ve probably heard this one before.

In 1950, the year I was born on a small barrier island off the west coast of Florida, our state had a population of 2.8 million inhabitants, the United States 152 million, with the world population standing at around 2.6 billion. Most families,  “in my neck of the sand” as we used to say, had little choice but to lived within their means in modest homes with few of today’s modern day amenities such as air-conditioners, televisions, dishwashers, etc. They had one family vehicle (that actually ran) and often earned their living engaged in some form of hard, physical labor.  The 50’s were also the beginning of an emergence from the deprivations of the great depression and sacrifices endured during World War II.  America, along with other developing nations, was entered a new period of escalating growth and prosperity. Innovations in new technologies such as plastics, nuclear energy, and synthetic chemicals coupled with the increasing use of fossil fuels, were rapidly transforming our daily lives while the development of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides were having a similar impact on agriculture.  The hopes for a brighter future were on the horizon and just around the corner.

Let’s fast-forward nearly 60 years to 2009.  No matter what yardstick you use as a measure tool, it’s hard to argue that many, if not most, of those 50’s futurist dreams have become reality. Our current standard of living as measured by income levels, quality of housing and food, medical care, educational opportunities, transportation, and communications, have all improved for Americans and citizens in developing countries.  This prosperity and increase in standard of living has also been accompanied by rapid population growth and a sharp increase in individual consumption, which has more than doubled over the past 45 years.  Florida’s population has ballooned from 2.7 to 18.5 million, our US population has doubled from 152 million to 304 million while the world population has increased from 2.5 billion to nearly 6.8 billion inhabitants.  It is project that somewhere around the year 2050, the world population will reach nine billion, essentially adding two Chinas to the number of people alive today. These new billions, (along with us members of the old billions that are still around), will be seeking food, water and other finite resources on a planet that may have already exceeding it’s long term carrying capacity.

As a result of this mounting pressure on available resources, we’re hearing a great deal of conversation today regarding “eco and green initiatives” which are primarily targeted at developing long-term, sustainable programs and policies that will allow us to meet the needs of our present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  It’s a complex and challenging task with a great deal of private sector and government investment being poured into areas such as alternative energy production, sustainable design and building materials, agriculture practices, transportation and urban infrastructure just to name a few.

When I approached Nick about writing a column for the Havana Herald, I assured him that the focus of this column would be neither technical nor political in nature.  Rather, the intent will be to keep Herald readers informed of some of the issues, new ideas and emerging technologies that will have an impact on our community while shape our lifestyle over the coming years.  Your comments, ideas and suggestions are always welcome (bbruggner@gmail.com)