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basics:energy_and_ecology:greenhouse_effect_and_climate_protection [2015/09/12 14:57] – [And how can we put that into effect?] wfeistbasics:energy_and_ecology:greenhouse_effect_and_climate_protection [2020/08/09 15:32] (current) – [And how can we put that into effect?] wfeist
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 |{{:picopen:erde_von_messenger.png?150}}|//**Planet Earth viewed from space (image by NASA):\\ \\ 2007 CO2 concentration: 0,038 %\\ Average surface temperature: 15.5 °C.\\ \\ The blue planet providing ideal\\ conditions for water and biodiversity...**//|\\ |{{:picopen:erde_von_messenger.png?150}}|//**Planet Earth viewed from space (image by NASA):\\ \\ 2007 CO2 concentration: 0,038 %\\ Average surface temperature: 15.5 °C.\\ \\ The blue planet providing ideal\\ conditions for water and biodiversity...**//|\\
 \\ \\
-The Passive House Institute doesn't need to add anymore to the the information already available about climate change. The effects of continuing and unchecked emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere can be tremendous and irreversible. Some of these effects are becoming more and more apparent today, for example, melting glaciers.\\+The Passive House Institute doesn't need to add anymore to the information already available about climate change. The effects of continuing and unchecked emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere can be tremendous and irreversible. Some of these effects are becoming more and more apparent today, for example, melting glaciers.\\
 \\ \\
 |{{ :picopen:see_eis_wf.gif }}|//**The northern polar region (image by NASA): a thermometer.\\ \\ The enormous temperature increase over the past decades\\ has caused vast parts of the polar ice to vanish.\\ Glaciers are another long-term indicator for the increase in\\ temperature: To learn more about this phenomenon, please\\ read the following Wikipedia article:\\ [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850|Retreat of glaciers since 1850]].**//|\\ |{{ :picopen:see_eis_wf.gif }}|//**The northern polar region (image by NASA): a thermometer.\\ \\ The enormous temperature increase over the past decades\\ has caused vast parts of the polar ice to vanish.\\ Glaciers are another long-term indicator for the increase in\\ temperature: To learn more about this phenomenon, please\\ read the following Wikipedia article:\\ [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retreat_of_glaciers_since_1850|Retreat of glaciers since 1850]].**//|\\
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 ** Climate change is mainly caused by fossil energy consumption.**\\ ** Climate change is mainly caused by fossil energy consumption.**\\
 \\ \\
-About 85 % of the worlwide energy consumption today is covered by crude oil, natural gas and coal. These fuels are also known as "fossil energy sources". They consist mainly of the elements carbon and hydrogen; when these fuels are burned, CO<sub>2</sub> and water (H<sub>2</sub>O) are produced.+About 80 % of the worlwide energy consumption today(2020; 2008 it was still 85%) is covered by crude oil, natural gas and coal. These fuels are also known as "fossil energy sources". They consist mainly of the elements carbon and hydrogen; when these fuels are burned, CO<sub>2</sub> and water (H<sub>2</sub>O) are produced.
  
 These combustion gases are mostly (over 99%) given off into the atmosphere. The water doesn't cause problems, however; it is the  global CO<sub>2</sub> content of the atmosphere which constantly keeps increasing, significantly and measurably (see the following illustration), due to the continued burning of fossil fuels. That the increase measured in the Atmosphere's CO<sub>2</sub> contend (see the Graph following) is indeed mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels was independently proven by measurements of the development of the Carbon (C)-isotopes in the air: [[http://www.skepticalscience.com/anthrocarbon-brief.html| See: antgropogenic CO2?]] - Fossil fuels do not contain a large amount of the <sup>14</sup>C-isotope.  These combustion gases are mostly (over 99%) given off into the atmosphere. The water doesn't cause problems, however; it is the  global CO<sub>2</sub> content of the atmosphere which constantly keeps increasing, significantly and measurably (see the following illustration), due to the continued burning of fossil fuels. That the increase measured in the Atmosphere's CO<sub>2</sub> contend (see the Graph following) is indeed mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels was independently proven by measurements of the development of the Carbon (C)-isotopes in the air: [[http://www.skepticalscience.com/anthrocarbon-brief.html| See: antgropogenic CO2?]] - Fossil fuels do not contain a large amount of the <sup>14</sup>C-isotope. 
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 > **CO<sub>2</sub> therefore functions as an additional layer of insulation enclosing the earth **: an insulation layer which is transparent for the entering sunlight.  Solar radiation is the main energy supply to the earth's surface, that is why we speak of the **greenhouse effect **.\\ > **CO<sub>2</sub> therefore functions as an additional layer of insulation enclosing the earth **: an insulation layer which is transparent for the entering sunlight.  Solar radiation is the main energy supply to the earth's surface, that is why we speak of the **greenhouse effect **.\\
 \\ \\
-|{{ :picopen:co2_mauna_kea_messung.png }}|//This time series was obtained from quantitatively analysed sam-\\ ples of air at the Mauna Loa Observatory on Hawaii. The yearly\\ variation of the CO<sub>2</sub> content due to the change in vegetation on\\ the northern hemisphere can be seen clearly.// |+|{{ :picopen:co2_mauna_kea_messung.png?400 }}|//This time series was obtained from quantitatively \\ analysed samples of air at the Mauna Loa Observatory on Hawaii. The yearly variation of the CO<sub>2</sub> \\ content due to the change in vegetation on the northern \\ hemisphere can be seen clearly. (Data up to 2006. \\ In the meantime the level is still continuously rising,\\ e.g. at 414 ppm in 2020.)// |
 |//**The increase of the CO<sub>2</sub> content of the earth's atmosphere.** |//**The increase of the CO<sub>2</sub> content of the earth's atmosphere.**
-Since 1900 the concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> has increased from  293 to 380 ppm, i.e. by 30%. The additional CO<sub>2</sub> is due almost without exception to combustion processes. (1ppm = 1 part per million = 0.0001 %).\\ **Source of information:** [C.D. Keeling, T.P. Whorf, and the Carbon Dioxide Research Group Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)], University of California, La Jolla.+Since 1900 the concentration of CO<sub>2</sub> has increased from 293 to 414 ppm in 2020, i.e. by more than 40%. The additional CO<sub>2</sub> is due almost without exception to combustion processes. (1ppm = 1 part per million = 0.0001 %).\\ **Source of information:** [C.D. Keeling, T.P. Whorf, and the Carbon Dioxide Research Group Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO)], University of California, La Jolla.
 //||\\ //||\\
 \\ \\
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 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-The most important principle in science is, that scientific questions can be scrutinised by everybody: You can just visit your nearest glacier and check whether and how fast it is retreating. There is not a big problem in demonstrating CO<sub>2</sub> absorbing infrared readiation, you can ask anybody with a thermal camera to assist you in doing this experiment yourself. You can even start to measure the CO<sub>2</sub>-content of the atmosphere yourself - CO<sub>2</sub> sensors are available now for reasonable prices, we use them for measuring and controlling the indoor air quality (well, be aware, you do have to calibrate these sensors, the sensors age, without calibration the results are poor). It is not so, that the question ends with "Whom do I trust? Which expert do I choose?". So why is there this growing deception - with self declared "scientists" on every channel that proclaim that there is nothing to be concerned about and that the global warming process is nothing but a Hoax? It's easy: Check whose interests are involved and there the money comes from. Yes, it's a lot of money; yes, there are a lot of rich and powerful special interests affected. Here is another video giving some background information: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_eJdX6y4hM|science and distortion.]]   +The most important principle in science is, that scientific questions can be scrutinised by everybody: You can just visit your nearest glacier and check whether and how fast it is retreating. There is not a big problem in demonstrating CO<sub>2</sub> absorbing infrared readiation, you can ask anybody with a thermal camera to assist you in doing this experiment yourself. You can even start to measure the CO<sub>2</sub>-content of the atmosphere yourself - CO<sub>2</sub> sensors are available now for reasonable prices, we use them for measuring and controlling the indoor air quality (well, be aware, you do have to calibrate these sensors, the sensors age, without calibration the results are poor). It is not so, that the question ends with "Whom do I trust? Which expert do I choose?". So why is there this growing deception - with self declared "scientists" on every channel that proclaim that there is nothing to be concerned about and that the global warming process is nothing but a Hoax? It's easy: Check whose interests are involved and there the money comes from. Yes, it's a lot of money; yes, there are a lot of rich and powerful special interests affected. Here is another video giving some background information: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_eJdX6y4hM|science and distortion.]] It is interesting, that even in 2020, the distortion is still ongoing - and the price for change will rise the longer we wait.   
  
 ===== Developed countries still consume the most energy ===== ===== Developed countries still consume the most energy =====
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 ==== Illustration 1: Inefficient economy ==== ==== Illustration 1: Inefficient economy ====
  
-{{:picopen:bundesrepublik_ddr_energie.png?150 }} The primary energy consumption  per person in the former GDR (East Germany; //image: DDR//) with an annual per capita  energy consumption of **7.8 tons of coal equivalent (TCE)** was about 40 % greater than that of the former West Germany (//image: Bundesrepublik//) (**5.48 TCE**).\\ \\+{{:picopen:bundesrepublik_ddr_energie.png?216 }} The primary energy consumption  per person in the former GDR (East Germany; //image: DDR//) with an annual per capita  energy consumption of **7.8 tons of coal equivalent (TCE)** was about 40 % greater than that of the former West Germany (//image: Bundesrepublik//) (**5.48 TCE**).\\ \\
 The comparison of economic power and prospertity in both these countries is well-known: the buildings, vehicles and machines in the former East Germany were much less efficient than those in West Germany. It isn't the quantity of the consumption but rather it is the quality of the usage which matters.\\ \\ The comparison of economic power and prospertity in both these countries is well-known: the buildings, vehicles and machines in the former East Germany were much less efficient than those in West Germany. It isn't the quantity of the consumption but rather it is the quality of the usage which matters.\\ \\
-Embarassing:  in some energy management text books this example has been misrepresented due to ignorance of the names of the countries: "//The higher energy consumption //results from the visibly greater prosperity of the GDR// (this author mistook the "democratic republic" for West Germany).//"\\+Embarassing:  in some energy management text books this example has been misrepresented due to ignorance of the names of the countries: "//The higher energy consumption //results from the visibly greater prosperity of the GDR//(this author mistook the "democratic republic" for West Germany).//\\
 \\ \\
  
 ==== Illustration 2: Locomotives ==== ==== Illustration 2: Locomotives ====
  
-{{:picopen:dampf-lok_e-lok.png?150 }} Railway companies didn't switch from steam engines to electric locomotives without reason. Even the electrification of all the track system, which was an expensive  investment, was worth it:\\ \\ The best steam engines had an efficiency of around 10%. The primary energy efficiency of the electrical traction is around 30% and can still be increased quite considerably.\\ \\ The power stations in operation today were built in times when energy sources were much cheaper and modern technologies like combined cycle plants hadn't yet been developed. An energetic recovery system for braking energy is rarely practiced today - and the weight of vehicles can be reduced even further.\\+{{:picopen:dampf-lok_e-lok.png?216 }} Railway companies didn't switch from steam engines ("Dampflok"to electric locomotives without reason. Even the electrification of all the track system, which was an expensive  investment, was worth it:\\ \\ The best steam engines had an efficiency of around 10%. The primary energy efficiency of the electrical traction is around 30% and can still be increased quite considerably.\\ \\ The power stations in operation today were built in times when energy sources were much cheaper and modern technologies like combined cycle plants hadn't yet been developed. An energetic recovery system for braking energy is rarely practiced today - and the weight of vehicles can be reduced even further.\\
 \\ \\
 The future energy system will have to be based on renewable sources mainly. Look at Germany as an example: The amount of electricity produced by renewable sources like wind power and photovoltaics has been growing significantly during the last decades. This also includes much improved efficieny. The "primary energy renewable" or PER, a measure introduced by the Passive Hosue Institute in 2014, counts the renewable primary source energy for a given final energy carrier. If used for electric traction (like a railway train), this [[certification:passive_house_categories:per|PER-Factor]] is in the range of PER<sub>el,traff</sub> = 1.3; much better than the former fossil fuel factor for a coal fired power plant, which was in the range of 2.7.  The future energy system will have to be based on renewable sources mainly. Look at Germany as an example: The amount of electricity produced by renewable sources like wind power and photovoltaics has been growing significantly during the last decades. This also includes much improved efficieny. The "primary energy renewable" or PER, a measure introduced by the Passive Hosue Institute in 2014, counts the renewable primary source energy for a given final energy carrier. If used for electric traction (like a railway train), this [[certification:passive_house_categories:per|PER-Factor]] is in the range of PER<sub>el,traff</sub> = 1.3; much better than the former fossil fuel factor for a coal fired power plant, which was in the range of 2.7. 
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 > ** A high per capita energy consumption is a sign of inefficiency and backwardness, not prosperity.**\\ > ** A high per capita energy consumption is a sign of inefficiency and backwardness, not prosperity.**\\
 \\ \\
-This also applies to road transport.  The efficiency of vehicles can also be increased considerably without sacrificing comfort and speed.  If we, as citicens in countries with the highest per capita consumption in the world, want to maintain and improve our prosperity and our economic strength in the future, we must above all do one thing:\\+This also applies to road transport.  The efficiency of vehicles can be increased considerably without sacrificing comfort and speed.  If we, as citicens in countries with the highest per capita consumption in the world, want to maintain and improve our prosperity and our economic strength in the future, we must above all do one thing:\\
 \\ \\
  
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     * //Either// by creating a dynamic flux balance – i.e. by actively counteracting through energy the effort for equilibrium;     * //Either// by creating a dynamic flux balance – i.e. by actively counteracting through energy the effort for equilibrium;
 +
     * //or// by creating stationary barriers which passively counteract the change of state and thereby establish the desired state as the new equilibrium.     * //or// by creating stationary barriers which passively counteract the change of state and thereby establish the desired state as the new equilibrium.
  
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 |Transport|   25%     Average car \\ (6 l/100 km)     Low Resistance Motorcar\\ (Best practise: \\ 1 l-car)     Factor 4\\ (1.5 l/100 km)   |\\ |Transport|   25%     Average car \\ (6 l/100 km)     Low Resistance Motorcar\\ (Best practise: \\ 1 l-car)     Factor 4\\ (1.5 l/100 km)   |\\
 \\ \\
-There are many more examples - **the efficiency of electronical and electrical devices and also production processes can be significantly improved too **. Of course, each process must be separately analysed - and the analysis must encompass the system limits sufficiently.+There are many more examples - **the efficiency of electronical and electrical devices and also production processes can be significantly improved too**. Of course, each process must be separately analysed - and the analysis must encompass the system limits sufficiently.
  
-Please note that these examples only represent the current state of technology.  It is very likely that ** efficiency will be imporved even further in future **.  The potential of improved efficiency is (almost) limitless.\\+Please note that these examples only represent the current state of technology. It is very likely that ** efficiency will be improved even further in future**. The potential of improved efficiency is (almost) limitless.\\
 \\ \\
  
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 ** For the warm rooms example ** we have already shown that in a practical way on the page about [[basics:energy_efficiency_-_the_key_to_future_energy_supply|basic examples for energy efficiency]]: it is only necessary to use established components for any modernisation of building elements in existing houses which are required anyway.  Specifically:  if a window has to be renewed, triple low-e glazing  should be used for the new window – it pays back very fast, improves comfort and reduces heat losses through the window by a factor of 4.  That is optimal climate protection which is also microeconomically beneficial and creates jobs.\\ ** For the warm rooms example ** we have already shown that in a practical way on the page about [[basics:energy_efficiency_-_the_key_to_future_energy_supply|basic examples for energy efficiency]]: it is only necessary to use established components for any modernisation of building elements in existing houses which are required anyway.  Specifically:  if a window has to be renewed, triple low-e glazing  should be used for the new window – it pays back very fast, improves comfort and reduces heat losses through the window by a factor of 4.  That is optimal climate protection which is also microeconomically beneficial and creates jobs.\\
 \\ \\
-{{:picopen:energiesparlampen.jpg?100 }} ** For the lighting example ** it's even easier: high quality energy-saving lamps for all types of bulb sockets are available in all relevant stores, in all desired shapes and colour temperatures.  These highly efficient lights cost about 5 euros each, but save between 16 and 70 euros in electricity costs in comparison with ordinary light bulbs.  The return on capital is over 100 %/a!\\   Besides, even halogen lamps, which are just as energy-wasting, can now be replaced by dazzlingly bright LED lights which are efficient by a factor of 5.  Laboratory values of over 200 lumen per watt have been achieved for LED lights, which means a factor of 16 when compared with ordinary light bulbs. The advantage for the national economy lies in the cost savings for the consumers.  The money thus saved can be used for other purposes, e.g. for a bicycle tour in one of our beautiful valleys...\\+{{:picopen:energiesparlampen.jpg?100 }} ** For the lighting example ** it's even easier: high quality energy-saving lamps for all types of bulb sockets are available in all relevant stores, in all desired shapes and colour temperatures.  These highly efficient lights cost about 5 euros each (now, that was years ago; 2020 it is 2,5 to 3 €), but save between 16 and 70 euros in electricity costs in comparison with ordinary light bulbs. The return on capital is more than 100 % each year!\\ Besides, even halogen lamps, which are just as energy-wasting, can now be replaced by dazzlingly bright LED lights which are efficient by a factor of 5. Laboratory values of over 200 lumen per watt have been achieved for LED lights, which means a factor of 16 when compared with ordinary light bulbs. The advantage for the national economy lies in the cost savings for the consumers. The money thus saved can be used for other purposes, e.g. for a bicycle tour in one of our beautiful valleys...\\
 \\ \\
-{{:picopen:1-l-auto.jpg?100 }} **And with automobiles ** it can be just as simple, but first manufacturers will have to speed up their model policy.  Germany is about to lose its international leading position in the automobile sector.  Who wants to drive cumbersome petrol-consuming, cost-intensive and environment-polluting vehicles for which one cannot even find any parking spaces? It won't be possible to sell this to people as the ultimate means of self-projection for much longer. The Japanese and other new companies appearing on the market have shown that it is possible to build car models today which are lighter, more efficient, streamlined, quieter and more environmentally friendly.  Within a decade the automobile fleet can be replaced completely with much more efficient vehicles.  Consumers will be sure to pay attention to that with every new purchase, even if it's only to avoid the meaningless depletion of their disposable income.\\+{{:picopen:1-l-auto.jpg?100 }} **And with automobiles** it can be just as simple, but first manufacturers will have to speed up their model policy. Germany is about to lose its international leading position in the automobile sector((This was written in 2010 and I am not proud to have been correct in this assessment. The big German car companies acted too late and even engaged in dubious activities to avoid paradigm change. Now we can only hope that the change for more sustainable cars will be fast enough to save the future of these companies.)).  Who wants to drive cumbersome petrol-consuming, cost-intensive and environment-polluting vehicles for which one cannot even find any parking spaces? It won't be possible to sell this to people as the ultimate means of self-projection for much longer. The Japanese and other new companies appearing on the market have shown that it is possible to build car models today which are lighter, more efficient, streamlined, quieter and more environmentally friendly.  Within a decade the automobile fleet can be replaced completely with much more efficient vehicles.  Consumers will be sure to pay attention to that with every new purchase, even if it's only to avoid the meaningless depletion of their disposable income.\\
 \\ \\
 ** All this sounds so simple – and it is simple too! **  What is necessary is the serious desire to solve the problem and separate oneself from old, long since refuted and superstitious views: ** All this sounds so simple – and it is simple too! **  What is necessary is the serious desire to solve the problem and separate oneself from old, long since refuted and superstitious views:
  
-The superstition that higher energy consumption and greater physical power represent sophistication: it only displays backwardness, not  sophistication.+The superstition that higher energy consumption and greater physical power represent sophistication: it only displays backwardness, not superiority.
  
 The superstition that better thermal insulation of buildings is expensive – it isn't if it is carried out at the same time as other essential measures. The superstition that better thermal insulation of buildings is expensive – it isn't if it is carried out at the same time as other essential measures.
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   * It has been proved that climate change is happening -  today.   * It has been proved that climate change is happening -  today.
 +
   * The reasons lie in the combustion processes of coal, mineral oil and natural gas.   * The reasons lie in the combustion processes of coal, mineral oil and natural gas.
 +
   * Serious action will have to be taken if our children and grandchildren are to have a future that is worth living.   * Serious action will have to be taken if our children and grandchildren are to have a future that is worth living.
 +
   * Energy consumption is the key to the solution of the climate problem.   * Energy consumption is the key to the solution of the climate problem.
 +
   * Higher energy consumption is a sign of inefficiency, not prosperity.   * Higher energy consumption is a sign of inefficiency, not prosperity.
 +
   * More efficient energy use can start here and now.  Many better efficient technologies are already available  and can be applied cost.effectively, e.g.  the Passive House or the "Low Resistance Motorcar". Other technologies can be economically developed and applied.   * More efficient energy use can start here and now.  Many better efficient technologies are already available  and can be applied cost.effectively, e.g.  the Passive House or the "Low Resistance Motorcar". Other technologies can be economically developed and applied.
 +
   * With much more efficient energy use, the energy demand can be reduced to the extent that sustainable supply becomes possible even in the industrialised countries.  The consumption of fossil fuels will then be very low – without causing any restriction in terms of prosperity.  The Passive House is a good example of this.   * With much more efficient energy use, the energy demand can be reduced to the extent that sustainable supply becomes possible even in the industrialised countries.  The consumption of fossil fuels will then be very low – without causing any restriction in terms of prosperity.  The Passive House is a good example of this.
 +
   * In about 50 years it will be possible to reduce the CO<sub>2</sub> emission into the atmosphere to a tenth of today' levels –  whilst prosperity increases all over the world at the same time.\\   * In about 50 years it will be possible to reduce the CO<sub>2</sub> emission into the atmosphere to a tenth of today' levels –  whilst prosperity increases all over the world at the same time.\\
 \\ \\
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     * Antiquated prejudices are overcome.  There is a need for neutral information for this.     * Antiquated prejudices are overcome.  There is a need for neutral information for this.
 +
     * Existing know-how is consistently applied.   Everyone has to contribute: the product manufacturers, the retailers, the consumers.     * Existing know-how is consistently applied.   Everyone has to contribute: the product manufacturers, the retailers, the consumers.
 +
     * Research on energy efficiency is intensified - enormous potential, innovative power and future markets lie here.     * Research on energy efficiency is intensified - enormous potential, innovative power and future markets lie here.
 +
     * Further qualification of the relevant professions: architects, engineers, tradesmen, marketing specialists.     * Further qualification of the relevant professions: architects, engineers, tradesmen, marketing specialists.
  
basics/energy_and_ecology/greenhouse_effect_and_climate_protection.1442062676.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/09/12 14:57 by wfeist