An Update on the Paris Climate Talks

Credit: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en

     As stated in a previous post, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change was held from November 30, 2015 until December 11, 2015 at the Le Bourget Exhibition Centre. December 12, 2015 will now be marked as a historic day for the fight against climate change because all scientists came to an agreement that the earth’s atmosphere is growing warmer due to greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity.

     The unanimous agreement has marked a turn in the right direction. The rise in temperature is to be kept below 2°C, but we should really aim for 1.5°C to insure protection for the island states. On this day, 186 countries published their action plan on ways in which they intend to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions however, the rise in temperature would still be too high. To keep the temperature from rising past 2°C, countries have been asked to check their contributions every five years from 2020.

     Other measures will be taken to keep the rising temperature down: $100 billion (in loans and donations) will need to be raised each year from 2020, and that amount will increase as needed. The money raised will go towards the financing for projects enabling countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

     Countries' obligations will differ in the fight against climate change. Industrialized countries are obligated to fund climate finance for poor countries, and developing countries may contribute on a voluntary basis. All of the funds will be put in the improved tracking system to record everyone’s efforts.

     The agreement was the first step needed to move onward in the reduction of climate change. A signing for countries will be open in New York on April 22, 2016. The agreement will be entered into force if it is ratified by 55 countries. A change is coming.

For more information on the Climate Talks: cop21.gouv

Old Right Road in Ipswich, MA

The start to a new project. More to come later...

Amesbury Project Beginnings in December 2015

Senior Dorm at Endicott College

This is a fun project to watch go up!

Ipswich YMCA December Progress

Energy-saving Tips for the Holidays

http://bit.ly/1RgNbMX

With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to underestimate all of the added expenses this time of year brings. But, there are simple things you can do to cut down on costs and your impact on the environment. Putting light decorations on a timer is simple and effective. This rids you from having to remember to turn them off and on everyday, saves electricity, and will make those bulbs last longer. To take this even a step further, use LED Christmas lights instead of incandescent.

        Try to plan your shopping trips so that you can get everything you need at once, therefore cutting down on gasoline use. Make sure to unload your car completely when you get home. It’s easy to reason that leaving groceries in the car for a few days saves you some time, but the added weight in the trunk actually makes you burn through more gasoline than you normally would. Making sure to only run the dishwasher when it’s completely full is also effective. This helps save water, and switching to the “air dry” setting can save on electricity.

        Although having a fresh Christmas tree is a holiday tradition for many families, buying a realistic-looking fake tree is much more economical and ecofriendly. That way you’re not cutting down a perfectly good tree every year, and you only have to pay for it once. If done correctly, these simple steps can really make a difference, and help make your holidays a little less stressful. Click here for even more tips.

Paris Climate Talks

Climate talks are set to take place at a summit in Paris from November 30^th to December 11^th. A carbon tax meant to cut down green house gas emissions will likely be one outcome of the talks. It's expected that these taxes will be based on either fuel use by diesel-driven ships, or a market based levy. Either way, this expense will add to rising costs in the industry. These added costs would likely get passed on to the consumer. A study by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) predicted that CO2 emissions caused by shipping could rise by 50% by the year 2050 if action isn’t taken. Without CO2 emission cuts by the shipping industry, it will be nearly impossible to remain under the 2 degree global warming limit. This goal aims to limit the average temperature rise to no more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average temperature during pre-industrial times. The summit talks will attempt to find the best possible solution to these convoluted issues. Click here for more information.

Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Purchases Are on the Decline

       As the economy rebounds, sales of hybrid and electric cars continue to decline. Sport utility vehicles, crossovers, and trucks are gaining popularity as buyers have more expendable income. Because gas prices are so much lower than in past years, consumers’ main motivation for buying hybrid and electric no longer applies.        

       According to an article by ClimateWire, the past six months were the best the American auto industry has seen in a decade. Sales of trucks, crossovers, and sports cars are as high as they’ve been since pre-recession 2007. Previous to this recent jump, consumers had been steadily purchasing more fuel-efficient cars each year. But, recent data has shown this trend reversing. Although the aforementioned data is conflicting and far from conclusive, the numbers are still worrying.  And this backwards trend is not only true in the U.S. Fiat-Chrysler plans on introducing new Jeep cross-over models to India and China, where SUV sales have soared since last year. 

        There is a clear correlation between the sales of trucks and economic activity. SUV and truck sales are up, and hybrid and electric car sales are down. It’s obvious that the big auto-industry companies, as well as consumers, are under the impression that this shift is good for the economy and themselves. But this is false. The positive effect that sales of expensive trucks, and the gas to go along with them, have on the economy is extremely short term. In the long run it’s only increasing our country’s dependency on fossil fuels, and taking a huge step back from progress made towards lower carbon emissions and sustainable energy. Quarterly sales mean nothing if they negatively affect our economy and environment long term.

Source: ClimateWire’s July 31, 2015 edition

By: Kaitlyn Maskalenko, Intern

Current by GE and Sparkplug have the right idea in Energy Storage

by: Donald E. Bowen, Jr., PLS

      Principal

My trip to San Diego and recent pursuit of large utility scale energy/battery storage is a work-in-progress that I am very confident will come to fruition similar to wind and solar PV.  The intermittencey of renewable energy, specifically large scale wind and solar PV along with the need for greater grid resiliency given the growing threat from climate change obviate this emerging opportunity. 

Homeowners seeking protection from grid outages and for safety reasons will increasingly pursue battery storage for their homes in lieu of generators due to the readiness capability and minimal/no cost maintenance. 

Large institutional, commercial and utility scale installations and deployment will quickly recognize the return on this investment.  Energy storage will be big.  Very big. 

http://cleantechnica.com/2015/10/08/what-will-drive-growth-of-stationary-battery-energy-storage-systems/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=164e377f14-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-164e377f14-332042853 

We see significant financial support and regulatory mandate for large scale energy storage in CA which it is often where adaptive innovation originates - then spreads across the country.

We are already witnessing demand rising in the New England region for large scale energy storage.  Companies from around the world are investing Billions into a wide range of technologies especially in the US, South Korea, Japan, China and Germany.   The article below illustrates the major organizations such as GE are well under way positioning themselves to seize the business opportunities in this industry. 

A dramatic drop in the cost of high density battery technology will be compressed to next 3-5 years in the global race toward large scale energy storage similar to the precipitous drop of solar panel manufacturing over the last 8-10 years.  

"To create Current, GE is combining its light-emitting diode, or LED, business with its solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle businesses."

"....Sean Becker, owner of the Somerville energy-storage startup Sparkplug Power, said he can understand why GE chose Greater Boston over Schenectady. The labor pool here is deeper, he said, and it’s easier to persuade talented workers to be in Boston than in upstate New York."

This highlights this rapidly moving industry:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2015/03/05/sunedison-buys-energy-storage-startup/ 

Natural Gas Leaks Plaguing the U.S.

Wouldn’t you want to know if your money was being used to destroy the planet? Well it is, and here’s how… 

By Kaitlyn Maskalenko, Intern Fall 2015 Endicott College                    

Leaking natural gas isn’t some far off problem, affecting someone other than you. It’s not a problem that we can afford to put off until tomorrow. Every second, there is methane seeping from broken pipes into the atmosphere, trapping in heat and warming our planet’s climate. This is the message that the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) wants every single person to know and understand. As a non-profit organization based in Cambridge, HEET has recently joined efforts to map the natural gas leaks plaguing U.S. cities. So far they have located over 20,000 leaks across Massachusetts alone. They have published maps, like the one below, that pinpoint the exact locations of these leaks.

Credit: HEET

Unburned methane is an extremely powerful greenhouse gas. It is said to trap 86 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years, and is 34 times more potent than CO2 over 100 years. Unless leaks pose a safety hazard, the city isn’t required to fix them. But the problem is that they ultimately are a safety hazard, even if not an immediate one. The damage done by these leaks will be apparent one day, and by then it will irrevocable.

Not only is this an issue for the environment, but it’s also a problem for the pockets of Americans. In Massachusetts, it is within the law for natural gas companies to pass along the cost of lost gas to their customers. A study in 2013 showed that leaks cost natural gas customers between $640 million and $1.5 billion from 2000 to 2011 for gas that never even reached their homes. The oldest leak in the state, located near Fenway Park, has been leaking natural gas into our atmosphere since it was first recorded in 1985. On top of that, the methane leaked annually is the greenhouse gas equivalent to the CO2 emitted by 6 million cars.

Credit: http://earthtechling.com/tag/greenhouse-gases/

Not only is this leaking gas costing our planet, it’s costing our wallets. HEET wants to publicize the leaks so that utility companies will be pressured to fix them. And they aren’t the only company with this goal in mind. Last year the Environmental Defense Fund teamed up with Google Earth to map leaks in cities across the country. This will make it possible to fix the biggest leaks first, which is the quickest and most effective way to remedy the problem. HEET’s ultimate goal is to convert to energy sources with 0% carbon emission. This will no doubt take some serious effort, but getting these leaks under control is just the first step in that direction. Click here to see what you can do to help. 

What is the price of Climate Change? The Damage is immeasurable!

Cal Fire firefighters douse flames from a back-burn while fighting the Rocky Fire off Highway 20 near Clear Lake, California, on Aug. 2. (Photo: Josh Edelson)

Millions are being spent to fight forest fires that could easily be prevented if the changes in the climate were taken as seriously as they clearly are. What may be done? We must start now with the changes!

According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, fighting wildfires will take up two-thirds of Forest Service funding by 2025, or nearly $1.8 billion, as summer temperatures continue to rise owing to greenhouse gas emissions.

“Climate change and other factors are causing the cost of fighting fires to rise every year,” Vilsack said in a statement timed to the release of a new report on the Forest Service’s wildfire spending. “But the way we fund our Forest Service hasn’t changed in generations.”

For more on this: Read 

Alaska's on Fire: Climate Change Milestone

Humankind may have reached a potential climate change milestone. Excessive wildfires have spread across over Alaska (600 fires) and Canada (4,000 fires) extending around 3 million acres. This year has been exceptionally hot and dry, but has not surpassed the scorching temperatures or number of fires in 2004.

The real problem is what lies beneath the surface, permafrost. Permafrost is ground that remains frozen year after year and consists of soil, rocks, and frozen water. It forms when the depth of the winters freezing exceeds the depth of summer thaw. It covers about 85% of Alaska and extends up to 2,000 feet below the ground. Most permafrost ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 years old reaching back to the last ice age. Permafrost is also one of the Earths greatest accumulations of carbon and methane. All the permafrost in the world holds about 1.4 trillion tons of carbon and methane, which is twice the amount in the atmosphere. If the permafrost melts and the carbon and methane are released, it could speed up climate change.

Above the permafrost there is a layer called “duff’, which is a layer of moss, twigs, and organic matter that is used as insulation for the permafrost and can be up to a foot thick. When this layer is burned off from fires “It is like ripping the insulation out of a refrigerator” according to Sarah Zhang. A forest alone can take up to a decade to recover 4 inches of lost duff from fires.

Forest fires are getting worse and the Alaskan fire season has extended 40% longer than half a century ago. Last year, was Alaska's hottest year ever recorded and is warming twice as fast as other states. The fires are burning the insulation and melting the permafrost. 

Alaskans are already becoming worried because if the permafrost melts;  vegetation, habitats for animals, and infrastructure of buildings, roads, and sewer systems will all start to fail and sink into the ground. The permafrost is supposed to be permanent, but if vegetation is removed from thawing, the insulation will be lost and the ground will become water logged, soft, and then collapse. 

There is hope that ecological succession will take place and primary producers will grow immediately after the fire and help capture more carbon and methane than released. However, if this does not happen this could mean more extreme weather events and could even turn into a dangerous feedback loop. 

http://www.wired.com/2015/07/alaskas-fire-may-make-climate-change-even-worse/

Once Change is Embraced

I remain resolute about the fight to reverse the rate of carbon emissions.  A calm, grim determination to demonstrate that human activity can co-exist with the balance of human activity and environmental protection.  I advocate a steady commitment toward the evaluation of emerging technologies and non-linear thinking to create sustainable infrastructure and behavior - adapting to evolving conditions dictated by Climate Change.

A dynamic intensity and openness will be necessary to successfully navigate disaster and opportunity.

Social protest against legislation to combat Climate Change and lower carbon emissions is grounded mostly in the human fear of change.  The status quo is a fierce obstacle which we must overcome in order to avoid coastal inundation of major cities such as Miami, New York and Boston.   The disruption caused by rising sea levels and catastrophic impacts from increased intensity of storm-surge and hurricanes (Typhoons in the Southern Hemisphere), will result in the global collapse of economies without exception or preference. 

Once change is embraced, wildly interesting options appear.

Climate Change affects priorities as the amplitude of storms multiplies and weather related drought, unprecedented rainfall and snow, and damaging winds shut down or impair local economies and entire regions of the US.

Forward looking businesses are developing strategies, devising plans, and implementing tactics to mitigate impacts from financial risk to their organization.  

Climate Change not only disrupts operations, but will paralyze entire organizations as we witnessed in New England during the period where we received almost 10 feet of snow in two months. Western portions of the US are facing an unprecedented drought which is crippling food production, power generation from dams, fire protection, and every single business that utilizes this precious resource in manufacturing or processing along with surrounding communities. 

Regional and national corporations are meeting regularly to analyze disaster recovery plans to insure the predictability of resources and supplies necessary to maintain operations. 

We have a set of unique assets in the realm of sustainability with an innovative expertise to deliver solutions in this changing business environment.

Donald E. Bowen, Jr., P.L.S.
Principal 

Truth Box: What is behind The Box Office

Image by Truth Box, Inc. z

The Box Office was built in 2009 during the recession, at the time when there was a greater demand for small office space to accommodate down-sizing and start-ups in business. The property is located in Providence, Road Island on a former lumberyard. The structure is one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in the region and is recognized worldwide for its innovation; it consists of 12 smaller offices and made out of 37 recycled shipping containers. The building is all electric and uses air to air heat pumps for heating and cooling and the energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system used to circulate the air in each office. The ERV exchanges inside and outside air and preconditions the outside air to assist with heating and cooling. Both technologies are used to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. 

The developer of Truth Box, Inc. hoped the building would be cheaper to construct than a conventional office building; but it turned out to be equivalent to a typical construction cost. A portion of the building was constructed off site and the project was completed in 2010. During a recent interview with Peter Case, principle of Truth Box, Inc., we learned that there would be development of a sequel Box Office adjacent to the original.

Mr. Case expressed his confidence in the future for sustainable land development because a door has opened on the market for creative and out of the box projects such as the Box Office. Projects like these are the future of sustainable planning and architecture with careful planning around the earth’s resources.

Following is our interview with Peter Case:

Q. How did you decide on the land you would use for this project?

A. We focus mostly on urban infill projects such as old lumber yards, mill buildings, empty industrial lots, and used properties. This allows us to build with more design freedom. The Box Office site was mostly vacant and just needed clearing before construction started.

Q. Where did the idea come from?

A. We wanted to build something that fit in an industrial neighborhood. We thought the recession was an opportunity for an unusual real estate venture in small office spaces. We wanted to start building with shipping containers because we thought it would require less money and use less space. The Box Office is located next to a highway, which also suggested an opportunity to build something unconventional.

Image by Truth Box, Inc. z

Q. What specific aspects of the building make it green? Are there any other natural or recycled materials incorporated within the building?

A. The building is run only on air to air heat pumps and electric energy. The heating and cooling is provided by an air-2-air device that looks like a typical air conditioner. There is no furnace or boiler involved with the heating. The building has walls made of steal and all the joints are welded together, which helps with keeping the building well sealed from the exterior. The windows are designed to be large enough to bring enough daylight in so the lights can be kept off for most of the day. Yet are a small enough and dispersed in a strategic way to decrease energy loss. There is a 10 kWh solar array on the roof that covers about 10 percent of the energy load. The interior finishes include bamboo, cork, and recycled carpet tiles. The paint used throughout the building is no VOC paint. The indoor air quality is excellent.

Q. What new technology is involved in the series of buildings?

A. When the windows are closed, air is being exchanged in and out and circulated throughout the building with ERV at the rate of about four air changes a day. The air filters have to be changed twice a year.

Q. What kind of cost savings have you seen or hope to achieve for this project?

Image by Truth Box, Inc. z

A. Renters are paying about a third of the typical rate of the energy costs then if they were renting from a conventional office building.

Q. How long did the Box Office property take to build and what went into the project?

A. The project took between 9 and 10 months to build. The shipping containers took four days to erect; 20 percent of the construction was off-site, mostly modifying the shipping containers and installing the windows and doors

Q. Is there anything you would change?

A. I would like to do the next project with more work done off-site if possible. During this project there was more time put. Overall I am very pleased with the work.