SustainabilitySustainability

SustainabilitySustainability PA StandardsPA Standards

• 4.6.12.A: Ecosystems and 4.6.12.A: Ecosystems and their Interactionstheir Interactions

• 3.3.12.B: Biological Sciences3.3.12.B: Biological Sciences• 3.4.12.B: Physical Science, 3.4.12.B: Physical Science,

Chemistry, and PhysicsChemistry, and Physics

““The first law of ecology is that The first law of ecology is that everything is related to everything is related to everything else.”everything else.”- - Barry Commoner, Barry Commoner, The Closing Circle: The Closing Circle:

Nature, Man and TechnologyNature, Man and Technology, 1971, 1971

Analyze the Analyze the relationships among relationships among biotic and abiotic biotic and abiotic components of an components of an ecosystemecosystem..

Analyze the chemical Analyze the chemical basis of living basis of living organisms.organisms.

Apply and analyze Apply and analyze energy sources and energy sources and conversions.conversions.

Key QuestionsKey Questions

How can we shift to more sustainable How can we shift to more sustainable use of nonrenewable mineral use of nonrenewable mineral resources?resources?

How can we improve energy How can we improve energy efficiency and what are the efficiency and what are the advantages of doing so?advantages of doing so?

How can we shift to more How can we shift to more sustainable use of nonrenewable sustainable use of nonrenewable

resources?resources?

USING MINERAL RESOURCES USING MINERAL RESOURCES MORE SUSTAINABLYMORE SUSTAINABLY

What is sustainability?What is sustainability?

Scientists and engineers are Scientists and engineers are developing new types of materials as developing new types of materials as substitutes for many metals.substitutes for many metals.

Recycling valuable and scarce metals Recycling valuable and scarce metals saves money and has a lower saves money and has a lower environmental impact then mining and environmental impact then mining and extracting them from their ores.extracting them from their ores.

Solutions

Sustainable Use of Nonrenewable Minerals

• Do not waste mineral resources.

• Recycle and reuse 60–80% of mineral resources.

• Include the harmful environmental costs of mining and processing minerals in the prices of items (full-cost pricing).

• Reduce subsidies for mining mineral resources.

• Increase subsidies for recycling, reuse, and finding less environmentally harmful substitutes.

• Redesign manufacturing processes to use less mineral resources and to produce less pollution and waste.

• Have the mineral-based wastes of one manufacturing process become the raw materials for other processes.

• Sell services instead of things.

• Slow population growth.

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

Growing signs point to an ecoindustrial Growing signs point to an ecoindustrial revolution taking place over the next 50 revolution taking place over the next 50 years.years.

The goal is to redesign industrial The goal is to redesign industrial manufacturing processes to mimic how manufacturing processes to mimic how nature deals with wastes.nature deals with wastes.• Industries can interact in complex Industries can interact in complex resource resource

exchange websexchange webs in which wastes from in which wastes from manufacturer become raw materials for manufacturer become raw materials for another.another.

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

“Industrial Ecosystem”“Industrial Ecosystem”

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

Results:Results:• Reduce costs of managing solid wastes, Reduce costs of managing solid wastes,

controlling pollution, and complying with controlling pollution, and complying with pollution regulations.pollution regulations.

• Reduce potential lawsuits due to chemical Reduce potential lawsuits due to chemical outputs.outputs.

• Improves health and safety of workers.Improves health and safety of workers.• Reduces health-care insurance costs.Reduces health-care insurance costs.• Stimulates development of new products.Stimulates development of new products.• Improved image with consumers.Improved image with consumers.

Case Study: Case Study: The Ecoindustrial RevolutionThe Ecoindustrial Revolution

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M):Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M):• Makes 60,000 products in 100 manufacturing plants.Makes 60,000 products in 100 manufacturing plants.• Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program in 1975.Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) program in 1975.• By 2005, reduced waste production and air pollution By 2005, reduced waste production and air pollution

emissions.emissions.• Saved almost $1 billion.Saved almost $1 billion.

Since 1990:Since 1990:• DuPont, BP, and IBM have adopted similar programs.DuPont, BP, and IBM have adopted similar programs.• Cut costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.Cut costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

Thought ProblemsThought Problems

Are you for or against bringing about Are you for or against bringing about an an ecoindustrialecoindustrial revolution in the revolution in the country and community where you country and community where you live? Explain.live? Explain.

Do you believe it will be possible to Do you believe it will be possible to phase in such a revolution over the phase in such a revolution over the next two to three decades? Explain.next two to three decades? Explain.

ActivityActivity

Explain the quote: “Everything is Explain the quote: “Everything is connected to everything else.”connected to everything else.”

Word Map ActivityWord Map Activity

How can we improve energy How can we improve energy efficiency and what are the efficiency and what are the advantages of doing so?advantages of doing so?

REDUCING ENERGY WASTE AND REDUCING ENERGY WASTE AND IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCYIMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Flow of commercial Flow of commercial energy through the energy through the U.S. economy.U.S. economy.

84% of all 84% of all commercial energy commercial energy used in the U.S. is used in the U.S. is wasted wasted

41% wasted due to 41% wasted due to 22ndnd law of law of thermodynamics.thermodynamics.

REDUCING ENERGY WASTE AND REDUCING ENERGY WASTE AND IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCYIMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Four widely used devices waste large amounts of Four widely used devices waste large amounts of energy:energy:• Incandescent light bulbIncandescent light bulb: 95% is lost as heat.: 95% is lost as heat.• Internal combustion engineInternal combustion engine: 94% of the : 94% of the

energy in its fuel is wasted.energy in its fuel is wasted.• Nuclear power plantNuclear power plant: 92% of energy is : 92% of energy is

wasted through nuclear fuel and energy wasted through nuclear fuel and energy needed for waste management.needed for waste management.

• Coal-burning power plantCoal-burning power plant: 66% of the : 66% of the energy released by burning coal is lost.energy released by burning coal is lost.

Solutions

Reducing Energy Waste

Prolongs fossil fuel supplies

Reduces oil imports

Very high net energy

Low cost

Reduces pollution and environmental degradation

Buys time to phase in renewable energy

Less need for military protection of Middle East oil resources

Creates local jobs

WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

Industry can save energy and money by Industry can save energy and money by producing both heat and electricity from one producing both heat and electricity from one energy source and by using more energy-energy source and by using more energy-efficient electric motors and lighting.efficient electric motors and lighting.• Industry accounts for about 42% of U.S. Industry accounts for about 42% of U.S.

energy consumption.energy consumption. We can save energy in transportation by We can save energy in transportation by

increasing fuel efficiency and making vehicles increasing fuel efficiency and making vehicles from lighter and stronger materials.from lighter and stronger materials.

WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

Average fuel Average fuel economy of new economy of new vehicles sold in vehicles sold in the U.S. between the U.S. between 1975-2006.1975-2006.

The governmentThe government Corporate Corporate Average Fuel Average Fuel EconomyEconomy (CAFE) (CAFE) has not increased has not increased after 1985.after 1985.

WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

Inflation Inflation adjusted price of adjusted price of gasoline (in gasoline (in 2006 dollars) in 2006 dollars) in the U.S.the U.S.

Motor vehicles in Motor vehicles in the U.S. use the U.S. use 40% of the 40% of the world’s gasoline.world’s gasoline.

WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY WAYS TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCYEFFICIENCY

We can save energy in building by We can save energy in building by getting heat from the sun, getting heat from the sun, superinsulating them, and using plant superinsulating them, and using plant covered green roofs.covered green roofs.

We can save energy in existing We can save energy in existing buildings by insulating them, plugging buildings by insulating them, plugging leaks, and using energy-efficient leaks, and using energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, heating and cooling systems, appliances, and lighting.appliances, and lighting.

Why Are We Still Wasting So Why Are We Still Wasting So Much Energy?Much Energy?

Low-priced fossil fuels and few Low-priced fossil fuels and few government tax breaks or other government tax breaks or other financial incentives for saving energy financial incentives for saving energy promote energy waste.promote energy waste.

Class DiscussionClass Discussion

Should the United States (or the country Should the United States (or the country where you live) greatly increase its where you live) greatly increase its emphasis on improving energy efficiency?emphasis on improving energy efficiency?• a. No. The free market already encourages a. No. The free market already encourages

investments in energy efficiency.investments in energy efficiency.• b. Yes. Without government participation, there b. Yes. Without government participation, there

is little incentive to improve energy efficiency is little incentive to improve energy efficiency until a crisis occurs. until a crisis occurs.

Manufacturing ProcessManufacturing Process What steps are necessary to manufacture goods? What steps are necessary to manufacture goods?

• Design ProcessDesign Process Product ConceptualizationProduct Conceptualization DesignDesign

• MaterialsMaterials Raw Material SelectionRaw Material Selection ExtractionExtraction ProcessingProcessing

• ManufacturingManufacturing ManufactureManufacture AssemblyAssembly

• TransportationTransportation Transportation of Raw Materials/ProductsTransportation of Raw Materials/Products

• UsageUsage Industrial and Household UsageIndustrial and Household Usage

• ReintroductionReintroduction Reintroduction of the product into industrial systemsReintroduction of the product into industrial systems Reintroduction into the environment when it no longer serves a Reintroduction into the environment when it no longer serves a

useful function.useful function.

ProjectProject

Sustainability/Environment Sustainability/Environment EvaluationEvaluation

• What efforts can be made to make What efforts can be made to make Greensburg Salem High School become Greensburg Salem High School become more sustainable/environmentally friendly?more sustainable/environmentally friendly?

Review Key QuestionsReview Key Questions

How can we shift to more sustainable How can we shift to more sustainable use of nonrenewable mineral use of nonrenewable mineral resources?resources?

How can we improve energy How can we improve energy efficiency and what are the efficiency and what are the advantages of doing so?advantages of doing so?