Not Just Throwing Money to the Wind

This shameless plug for the Renewable Energy Campaign was written by Paul Spencer, Office of Sustainability intern.

In several of her recent posts, Alycia has talked about the importance of individual responsibility and cooperative efforts in reinventing energy. Of course, conservation and reducing consumption are probably the most important things we can do at an individual level. Making our voices heard in politics is also important, but not always immediately fruitful. And, at least as far as energy is concerned, many of us wonder what more we can do, short of outfitting our homes with expensive solar panels or giant electricity-generating gerbil wheels.

However, did you know that if you're a University of Utah student, you're already contributing to one of the biggest green energy purchases in the country, automatically? Every time a U of U student pays tuition, a dollar from that goes to the Renewable Energy Campaign, which uses the money to buy Green-E certified renewable energy credits that help develop wind energy. A dollar may not sound like much, but the collective effort has placed the U in 7th on the EPA's rankings of colleges and universities for green power purchases. Now imagine if every student gave two dollars? Or more?

It's not just up to students to do their part, though. U Faculty and staff have been challenged to step up to the plate as well, with many departments already donating yearly (which also allows for interdepartmental bragging rights, like when UMNH beat Undergraduate Studies in 2009). You don't even have to be associated with the U in order to donate, and it's a great way to help offset your personal electricity use at home. Of course, it also doesn't hurt that it's a tax deductible contribution.

So, if you're a starving student, we thank you for your contribution, and encourage you to challenge your professors, friends, relatives, neighbors, employers, Facebook friends (even the ones you don't like very much), etc., to go to windpower.utah.edu and match or better your own tuition-imposed generosity.

Lastly, we are looking for feedback on options for how the money is spent. Currently the money goes toward cost effective Green-E certified RECs that put power on and develop wind energy in the western US grid in general. Would you be more eager to donate if we invested directly in a more local renewable energy company, even if it pays for less energy? What about buying solar panels for campus buildings? Let us know in the comments!

Things Sprawl Apart

Jonathan Hoekstra’s lecture on Wednesday was both highly informative and empowering. He presented quite a bit of data that proved energy sprawl to be a formidable challenge, accompanied by a number of reasonable actions that we can take right now to prevent it.

As stated in a previous post, I noticed a lack of individual accountability in the first two lectures of the series. Jeff Muhs and Fred Krupp described some great progress in the effort to reinvent energy, but they didn’t spend too much time on encouraging people to conserve energy in the first place. In contrast, Hoekstra stressed energy conservation as the main strategy in preventing energy sprawl and other issues. In what he dubbed the “one percent challenge,” Hoekstra discussed simple actions that we can take, such as thermostat adjustments, turning out lights, and walking instead of driving. Cutting energy consumption by just 1% could save 500,000 acres of land.

However, as much as I like to champion sustainable lifestyle changes, actions need to be taken on all levels, from personal behavior to federal legislation. Hoekstra spent a lot of time discussing the need for a coherent national energy policy. One issue with renewable energy systems, especially wind power, is that they are often established in places where demand is highest, and not necessarily the most efficient locations. This lack of central organization results in a “willy nilly” distribution of power sites, and contributes to energy sprawl.

The race to reinvent energy is an ongoing process with many hurdles along the way, but we are making progress. To go further, it's going to take effort on the part of everyone. When asked whether the public or private sector has more responsibility to fix our nation's energy problems, Hoekstra said that they have different roles to play. We need cohesive policies from the government, while local businesses and citizens seize the entrepreneurial opportunities provided by the need for change. For this local perspective on things, I am looking forward to the final event of the series, which will be a panel discussion of local energy leaders. I think they will provide insight into what we can do in our own city, and help bridge the gap between large-scale ideas and personal action.

Energy Sprawl Solutions

Few would argue that clean energy is the best tool we have to combat climate change (but if you do, speak up!). The first two speakers of The Nature of Things series have delivered messages of innovation and hope for its implementation. The remarkable research and efforts of people involved with fixing our energy problems and cleaning up the planet have proven alternative energy to be extremely beneficial. However, clean energy faces issues that go beyond the unfair market challenges outlined by Fred Krupp and the lack of transformational progress that Jeff Muhs discussed. In particular, land demands associated with energy infrastructure present another problem. Powering our nation with sustainably will require large expanses of land to devote to solar panel installation, wind turbines, biofuel crops, etc. Energy sprawl, discussed more at length in this article, presents a bit of a challenge, but is by no means insurmountable.

Jonathan Hoekstra, senior scientist at The Nature Conservancy, will discuss energy sprawl solutions at this week’s Nature of Things lecture. I’ll admit that this issue was news to me before getting involved with The Nature of Things, and I was rather dismayed that alternative energy isn’t entirely perfect (especially since I’ve been heralding its joys to the world for years). However, I appreciate the realistic approach that will be acknowledged in Wednesday’s lecture, and I look forward to the encouraging solutions that Hoekstra will surely present. Addressing these issues now will produce even better options to help the effort to reinvent energy.

Giving Clean Energy a Chance

Fred Krupp's keynote lecture on March 2 provided a balance of practical solutions, willingness to compromise, and hope that is not entirely common in the world of lectures regarding environmental crises. I often find that lectures like this focus on the dire straits in which we have hurled the environment, and then maybe the cool technology that might haul us out, but not so much about implementation. Thankfully, Fred Krupp was full of ideas.

Mainly, Krupp stressed the unequaled power of the marketplace in determining the success of any product. If given the opportunity, he is confident that consumers will drive the demand for clean energy. However, it will take some work to level out the playing field and give clean energy technology a fair chance. There will have to be compromises. Another aspect of Krupp's lecture that I appreciated was the acknowledgment that I order to make improvements, we have to listen to each other and come up a solution that will serve both sides. In the end, cooperation will yield the greatest results while still generating incredible wealth and environmental benefits.

However, Krupp didn't cover a few things that I find important in dialogue about energy and other environmental issues. In both Krupp's and Jeff Muhs' lectures, I noticed that there was little mention of holding individuals accountable for their energy demands. There was some talk about leaving lights on unnecessarily, but there wasn't a lot about reducing the amount of energy we use in the first place, not to mention other lifestyle changes necessary to live in a truly sustainable manner. But that's another blog post. I just don't think technology will solve all of our problems; a lot of the responsibility lies in our own hands as well.

As The Nature of Things gets ready to welcome Jonathan Hoekstra, some of the deeper issues associated with energy use and production will hopefully be addressed. In his discussion about the potential sprawl of energy infrastructure, I hope to hear something about how much energy is reasonable to produce in the first place. We can wait for solutions to appear, but we can also take action ourselves and adjust our own behaviors. It's going to take a huge amount of change from different sources. Keep up with the Nature of Things series to hear about many of them, and generate your own ideas about how to reinvent energy!

Jeff Muhs' Energy Predictions

The Nature of Things 2011 lecture series kicked off
last week with Jeff Muhs, (left) director of the
Energy Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University.

During the lecture, Jeff shared his predictions for the "energy future", and we thought you would appreciate reading them!

Jeff Muhs' Energy Predictions
Presented at The Nature of Things Lecture on 2/16/11

#1 Liquid fuels derived from renewable and unconventional sources will be the bridge to electricity in surface transportation over the next few decades.

#2 Surface transportation will be transformed by electricity when its value propositions as an energy carrier are fully realized.

#3 Wireless technology will enable significant improvements in the mobility of people and goods just as it did the mobility of information in recent decades.

#4 Because of inherent advantages, algae energy systems will gain a foothold over the next decade.

#5 In buildings, “manual, binary and reactive” energy systems will give way to those that are “automated, continually-adjustable, and intuitive”.

#6 Though hidden behind the quest for better solar cells, use of sunlight in buildings will continue as our most valuable and cost-effective use of solar energy.

#7 Increasingly, outsiders to the federal system – universities and small businesses – will be the providers of game-changing energy innovation.

These predictions are based upon the type of innovative work that the Jeff, as a USTAR professor, oversees at the Energy Dynamics Laboratory. To learn more about the focus of the EDL's work, and why Jeff's predictions are what they are, listen to the podcast of his Nature of Things lecture!

Listen to Jeff Muhs' Nature of Things Lecture

What do you think??

From Kindergarten to Carbon Clouds: Time to Reinvent Energy

Some people call me a hippie. It might be the fact that I’m an Environmental Studies major, or that I never leave the apartment without my reusable coffee mug, or that I haven’t trimmed my hair since 2009. Or that I get internships like this one, where I write blog posts about things like alternative energy and being a hippie.

But I think the heart of my identity is just the fact that I've figured out that as I get older, the world isn't getting quite as awesome as I thought it would. In 1996, my kindergarten teacher told us how to reduce, reuse and recycle, and to turn out the lights when we left a room. I did as I was told and trusted that the adults would take care of the rest.

But as I grew older, I craved the 'great outdoors' and fresh air that I'd read about, I helped preserve with every milk carton my little hands recycled, and yet I was greeted with expanses of red pine, and smog reminiscent of something that would seep out of a Stephen King novel. I felt let down, and asked a question: "What on Earth have we been doing for fifteen years?" My research on that one has produced little beyond evidence of increased dependency on carbon-based fuel, so, instead, I pose another question: "What can we do now?"

Which brings me to the aforementioned job description. As the intern for The Nature of Things 2011 lecture series, the theme of which is Reinventing Energy, I am going beyond personal usage of stainless steel mugs and dealing with UTA to getting all of you involved. Because it can't just be me that's noticed that things can change. For years now, we've been hearing about emerging renewable energy technologies, seeing windmill prototypes, and puzzling over diagrams of how photovoltaic cells work. The solutions are out there, and to use a hippie term, that's pretty rad! Now we need to quickly make the transition from talk to reality. Fifteen years is enough for me.

This year’s speakers have some answers. The series will open up with Jeff Muhs, director of USU’s Energy Dynamics Lab, who will discuss how to transform our energy system without delay. Fred Krupp, our keynote speaker, will talk about the unfair market challenges faced by clean energy, and how to fix that. Jonathan Hoekstra acknowledges the challenges of establishing clean energy infrastructure, and will teach us how to deal with it. And finally, a community panel of energy leaders will bring a local perspective to it all.

The way our energy is produced affects every single one of us. We breathe carbon emissions. We fall in love with landscapes that succumb to drills. And now we know that things can change. Join me over the next several weeks as the Utah Museum of Natural History presents some people who are making “reinventing energy” a reality. Bring your questions, tell your friends, and talk about it, because learning is the first step. Come to the lectures as a way to commit to creating a future that will not disappoint kindergarteners sitting in classrooms right now. You don’t need to be a hippie, just someone who's sick of waiting.

You can view the complete schedule for The Nature of Things 2011 on the Museum’s website and Facebook page. I invite you to follow this blog to join the conversation.

Helen Thayer at Nature of Things 2010

This week, UMNH kicks-off the Nature of Things 2010 lecture series.

This year's theme is "Report from the Frontlines" and presents six speakers in five events, each with a unique perspective on their efforts toward building a more sustainable future. The speakers are all controversial in one way or another , and will not all necessarily agree with one another! The Museum is honored, through support from our sponsors and partners, to facilitate complex discussion and community dialogue around some of the most critical issues facing our society.

The series kicks-off tonight with global trekker, Helen Thayer. We asked Helen a few questions as she prepared for her trip to Salt Lake City.

JF: How much time have you spent in Utah and what are your impressions of our land?
HT: As a spokesperson for the CORDURA® brand, I have traveled to Utah several times to speak to community organizations and attend the Outdoor Retailer show. Though I have never had the opportunity to trek Utah, I find it to be a beautiful state and look forward to spending more time here.

JF: Ah, you need to spend some time in Utah wilderness! How did you end up as a ‘global trekker’?
HT: I began climbing mountains when I was nine years old and my global trekking evolved as a natural way to satisfy my desire to learn more about remote people and places.

JF: Your lecture kicks-off of the Nature of Things lecture series, which, this year, has the theme of “Report from the Frontlines". How do your adventures contribute to the series?
HT: My job is to make people aware of the remote corners of the world, the indigenous cultures that inhabit them and how it all fits into the big picture environmental awareness and the need for greater intercultural respect. It is only when we can respect each other and the world around us that we can all come together to make a better world for all the citizens across the globe.

JF: Polar Dream is the story of your first trek. Have you returned to the North Pole? Have you noticed any changes?
HT: I returned four years after my solo walk to the magnetic North Pole, this time with my husband to celebrate our 30th year of marriage. During my second trek I discovered changes in the ice thickness. Since then we have explored the Arctic regions extensively, and every year we have noticed changes not only to the ice and permafrost but also to the flora in general.

JF: What will people expect at this lecture?
HT: Attendees can expect to hear stories from my many journeys and expeditions across the world. I also hope to inspire individuals to set goals, plan for success and always use persistence in reaching those goals.

JF: You will be presenting at the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, a newly-formed charter school that focuses on science education, with an emphasis on outdoor experiences. What does science education represent to you?
HT: Speaking to a targeted group of students is a wonderful opportunity to reach an audience who can understand the importance of taking care of the environment, each other and most importantly giving back to the world around them.

JF: What prompted you to develop Adventure Classroom?
HT: My desire to share my expeditions with others led me to take the four corners of the world to K-12 kids though my Adventure Classroom program. Discovering nature in its untouched form, as well as ways to protect our environment, helped me make the realization that through my worldwide expeditions I could create educational programs to inspire students to find ways to help preserve a world they will inherit. Further, the program is aimed at encouraging kids to be confident and believe in themselves.

JF: You are known as an inspirational speaker, sharing adventures in which "going back is not an option". How do your audiences relate to your adventures?
HT: My experiences show that age is no barrier to our dreams and goals. It’s never too late to make this world or ourselves a better place.

JF: Can you tell us about some recent adventures?
HT: We have just returned from Africa after living for an extended period of time with the Maasai tribe. There we learned their ancient lifestyle by living amongst the people. In February we will return to Africa to live with the Bushmen - a culture even more ancient than the Maasai and threatened by extinction.
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You can read more about Helen Thayer's Nature of Things lecture at www.umnh.utah.edu/nature

You can read more about Helen and see some of her photographs at www.helenthayer.com

Summer Reading!

Hope that you have had many opportunities for good summer reading this year! Here are some updates on books, authors, and more relating to the UMNH Book Club!

1. We had a spirited conversation on July 13 about Paul Roberts' The End of Food. People, at least the ones who attend book clubs on food books, have strong opinions about what is acceptable and unacceptable in the food-supply. It was great having Christi Paulson of Slow Food Utah leading the discussion.

It struck me as we were debating organic vs. non-organic produce, and regaining the lost arts of jam and condiment making, that we are lucky to be having that conversation. Perhaps organic vs. non-organic is a bit splitting hairs as long as we agree to avoid the rows and rows of boxed and processed food that lies between the produce and the dairy section. Hmmm.

2. Due mostly to publishing release dates, we've ended up with two food-related books in a row, much to the chagrin of some members. Our next book to discuss is The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays on Culture & Agriculture by Wendell Berry. We selected this book at the recommendation of Anne Holman of The King's English Bookshop before Mr. Berry's visit to Utah in March for the Stegner Symposium. Our partner in this discussion, scheduled for Monday, September 21, is the Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources and the Environment at the S.J. Quinney College of Law, the University of Utah.

I've just talked with the booksellers at the King's English, and the new edition of The Gift of Good Land is now in! I'm on my way to pick up my copy and will strive to post a few times before the 9/21/09 discussion. Join me!

3. The authors, scientists and thought-leaders we encounter at the Museum -- through the Nature of Things lecture series and the UMNH Book Club -- are busy folk. Here are some updates on past and future authors:

• E.O. Wilson, inaugural keynote speaker in 2007, is returning to Utah this Saturday, August 15, to participate in the lovely Sundance Author Series. We've heard this morning that tickets are still available at www.sundanceresort.com/create and click on Events. Tickets are $95 and include brunch in the award-winning Tree Room, plus a signed copy of a new edition of Wilson's book, On Human Nature.
• Michael Pollan, whose Omnivore's Delimma was the UMNH Book Club's July 2006 selection, and who delivered the Nature of Things 2008 keynote lecture, has been all the buzz this summer with the release of the film Food, Inc. Last week, UMNH heard that the Salt Lake Film Society had extended screenings of the film at the Broadway Theater in Salt Lake City for a week or two, due to strong community support.
• Gary Hirshberg, president of Stonyfield Yogurt, is also featured in Food, Inc., as indication of how business can be financially successful while integrating the company’s social, environmental, and financial missions. UMNH is in the process of finalizing a date for Hirshberg to participate in the Nature of Things lecture series in March 2010. The complete series line-up will be announced this fall, and subscribers to this blog will be among the first to know!

4. We are still waiting for Richard Fortey's Dry Storeroom #1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum to be delivered in paperback. The King's English tells us September. We'll cross our fingers and hope we have time to delight in Fortey's great stories of the people, places and adventures that make up THE Natural History Museum in London. Some UMNH staff members are dying to share their stories as well at the November discussion.

5. And, it's time again to look for books to read in the coming year and for interesting people to read them with! The Utah Society of Environmental Education is interested in reading Stephen Trimble and Gary Nabhan's The Geography of Childhood with us next spring, a great way to discuss how to reconnect our children and our families with nature.

I would like to explore some of the science behind climate change and am looking for recommendations.

I'm intrigued by The Superorganism: The beauty, elegance and strangeness of insect societies by Bert Holldobler and E.O.Wilson, however it's size and cost are a bit daunting. Please send me your thoughts for natural science and environmental books to explore next year.

Enjoy the rest of your reading summer!