Sustainability n Sustainability: Ability to meet current human
natural resource needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
n Sustainable Development: Economic
development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/15/how-the-white-house-thinks-about-climate-change-in-7-charts/
Carbon Footprint
n A carbon footprint is a measure of human activity on a part of the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gas produced.
n A footprint can be positive or negative n A carbon offset is conceptually a positive
footprint that represents the mitigation of carbon emissions through improvement projects
How Individuals Can Calculate Their Own Carbon Footprint
http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/
Fuel Cells Ø Device that uses hydrogen or hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen to create electricity by an electrochemical process.
Ø Produce much smaller quantities of green house gases & none of air pollutants that create smog & cause health problems.
Ø More efficient than combustion-based technologies Ø Variety of sources for hydrogen
n Consists of 2 electrodes & electrolyte n Hydrogen is oxidized @ anode. n Electrons released flow via the external
circuit to cathode. n Oxygen supplied to cathode is reduced by
absorbing electrons. n Flow of electrons through external circuit
produces electric current.