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Engineers for the Environment
I am only a HS student, but concerning the freak weather we have had this summer, I think it is a good time to start pinpointing problems and, most importantly, solutions.
I think that global warming and greenhouse gases have something to do with it. One bad hurricane every few years or so is normal, but four bad ones in a single year is just insane. Global warming not only causes hurricanes, but also bad sea storms, snow and ice storms, flooding, drought, famine, coral bleachings, etc... I recently listened to a lecture at Purdue, given by Prof. Richard E. Smalley, a Nobel Laureate who is currently at Rice University in Houston. He talked about the energy problem, and how MOST (over 60 percent) of our energy used today comes from fossil fuels. He mentioned that fossil fuels create pollution, but he focused more on the energy and sustainability aspect of fossil fuels. Indeed, it DOES affect the environment in disastrous ways. Fossil Fuels produce Carbon Dioxide, a greenhouse gas that warms the planet and the seas. It also alters the flow of the seas so the warm seas can't "vent" their heat through warm currents. The only other way to "vent" heat from the oceans is for water to evaporate (ie the first stage of forming a hurricane). Besides adding heat, it alters natural wind cycles that bring drought to some regions, and flood to others. But we are (or will be) engineers. We have the ability to stop the problem. We have the brain power to invent new sources of energy without the environmental and political costs of fossil fuels. We have the ability to develop microorganisms that will clean up polluted sites. It is time to think about the environment, how to save it, and how to use energy without harming it. Because if we harm it, it will destroy us. |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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![]() Last edited by Adam Y. : 17-09-2004 at 16:51. |
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#3
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
[quote=suneel112
It also alters the flow of the seas so the warm seas can't "vent" their heat through warm currents. The only other way to "vent" heat from the oceans is for water to evaporate (ie the first stage of forming a hurricane). Besides adding heat, it alters natural wind cycles that bring drought to some regions, and flood to others. [/QUOTE] That's why I think OTEC is such a good idea. Basically, it uses the oceans heat to fuel a Stirling-Type engine. Here's Hawaii's OTEC page I realize it's a realtively short-term solution, but it's still cool |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
...And yet Michigan has had one of their coolest summers ever....
I am not worried about it. Not at all. (Now I don't agree with GROSS POLLUTION [eg - untuned vehicles, no scrubbers on smoke stacks, ect...]) but with the strict pollution policies in effect I don't see any problems. I am quite fine with things the way they are... |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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The real problem is that the people with great ideas on how to solve problems using technology are distrusted by the people who believe that technology has caused more problems than it has solved. This is probably a symptom of the present poor state of public education. |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
I've heard stories that some large oil companies buy-up inventors' patents for more environmentally friendly technologies (auto engines for example). They tend to squash the idea before it puts them out of business.
I agree that many of us aspiring engineers do have the ability to improve and promote more environmentally friendly methods of producing power. It's a hot topic here at NU. I have a friend who loves to hike (he's president of the outdoors club), he's majoring in MechE for the sole reason to do work on fuel cells and other alternative energies. He's writing a 5500 word proposal (for a class) to NU trying to persuade them to use solar panels to defray energy costs. Alternative energies won't really be a hot seller until engineers make it "faster, better, cheaper." That's why invention is so important. Eventually, the USA will have to adopt these policies, the fuel will run out. Let's just hope it's not too late. I think for right now, us as consumers could help by either purchasing hybrid vehicals or producing a little of our on power for our homes. Dean has a wind generator at his house ![]() |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
The energy source of the future is brain power.
Solve the problem not the solution. The problem is generating power at little or no cost, in massive quantities, and to easily distribute it. Discussing fuel cells, wind power, solar power, etc... are all but solutions to the current problems of nuclear, oil, coal, and natural gas... which we thought and some think are the solution to the main problem. While it is easy to say and define what the problem is, the solution is in our minds and imaginations that are dreams that have yet to take a given form. The power to implement these ideas and dreams yes fall to the people but it is the engineers who hold the true power. We have to convey and sell our ideas to the masses where the public must accept and trust it. It is not a result of a system of poor education, rather it is the lack of people who have the '"correct" knowledge and sharing it. The educating of the masses properly is up to us in order to create a better future. To say it is the system is to blame yourself, you are a part of the system. You are a part of humanity. It is not just the United States, Canada, Britain, Australia, Mexico, Cuba, France, or any single member of the nations of this world. It is not up to the UN, the EU, or any other global organization. It is every nation of this planet whose peoples need to be properly educated and given the proper tools and technologies to wage the battle for a cleaner, more healthy Earth. Remember…. “Ad Astra Per Aspera” (A Rough Road Leads to the Stars) Last edited by Michael R. Lee : 17-09-2004 at 18:59. |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
[quote=Michael R. Lee]The energy source of the future is brain power.
QUOTE] isnt' that at epcot w/ ellen and bill nye the science guy????--the jeopordy final question--lol but yeah brain power will get us tons of places--just think and great ways to help our lovely planet-- we have a few more decades i know we all would love to way and ppl recycle too and save as much as u canLast edited by tiffany34990 : 17-09-2004 at 19:42. |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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I think rumors like these just come from people who hate big companies, and like to pretend that they are conspiring against people every day. If oil companies are really doing this, then why is Toyota selling so many hybrid cars that it can't even make them fast enough? Last edited by catlin101 : 17-09-2004 at 21:56. |
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#10
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
There has been a breakthrough in Cold Fushion, take a look!
http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY.../0904nfus.html |
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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#12
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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I agree with basically everything you had to say about the car companies--and I think that more and more people will buy fuel efficient cars because they want to. If GM and Ford want to remain profitable, they'll have to put more research into it. Its just another good example of how transitions to better technologies will take place on their own, very efficiently and without government mandates. |
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#13
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Oil companies are buying components for hybrid, fuel cell, etc.... vehicles, except not for what Erin said or Greenpeace or others would like us to think. Yes we call them oil companies but really they are fuel companies, providing us with oil to heat our homes and offices, generate electricity, etc... The next generation cars are going to be fuel cells, hybrid and the like. If they are going to survive they need to change their products. Also some of these companies make things like plastic which itself has parts that are from refining crude. To pay Toyota to not make hybrids is stupid on their part. Even a little amount of gasoline sold is better than none at all. Also it gives them a chance to still make money while developing better fuels tailored for the cars of the future, whatever that fuel maybe. Cars and oil companies may not agree on things but they need one another to survive. Oil companies know that one day we will run out of fossil fuels thus they are turning to brain power to engineer the "fuel(s)" to power the world of tomorrow today. |
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#14
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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You're like what, less than 200 years old? You don't know jack about weather. ![]() |
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#15
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Re: Engineers for the Environment
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Last edited by Adam Y. : 17-09-2004 at 21:26. |
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