Ron Johnson, "Sustainable Energy Systems"
Ron Johnson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
Summary: Mr. Johnson’s presentation discussed the unsustainable rate of world energy consumption. He asserts that global warming is real, that the world’s oil resources are dwindling and that much of this energy is wasted. He concluded by posing the question of how we get from where we are now to using renewable energy again.
Mr. Johnson’s presentation, “Sustainable Energy Systems” began with a discussion of what is a sustainable consciousness. Mr. Johnson defined it as “Seeing the common thread amongst all people – we are all a part of this world. Our existence depends upon our ability to extract resources without destroying natural systems.” Economic activity should account for the environmental impacts of production. Environmental resources are considered capital and must be accounted for. “Sustainability is using resources efficiently with minimum waste, in the most cost effective method over time, providing for the needs and safety for all people,” opined Mr. Johnson.
Quoting from the United Nations Division for Sustainable Development, Agenda 21 Mr. Johnson said, “The major cause of the continued deterioration of the global environment is the unsustainable pattern of consumption and production.” Agenda 21 lists fifteen themes such as global economic partnerships, consumption patterns, poverty, health, education, atmosphere, and economic development, each with several indicators. A Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) reflects future sustainability – if the indicator is stable or increasing, it means the resource stock is okay. If it is decreasing, it means that resource is not looking good for our next generations. The index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (also called the “World Database of Happiness Chart”) is an economic indicator that balances consumer expenditures with factors such as income distribution, volunteerism, costs associated with pollution as well as other economically unsustainable costs. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita is much higher than the index of Sustainable Economic Welfare per capita. This is due to environmental deterioration and failing to account for this loss of natural capital, Johnson surmised.
Mr. Johnson emphasized that global warming is real. Studies reveal an increase in temperature and carbon dioxide levels from ice core samples taken in the Antarctic. Air emissions studies reveal that even though the U.S. grew in gross domestic product and number of vehicle miles traveled, the U.S. energy consumption kept pace with the growth in population, and aggregate emissions (air pollutants CO, NOx, O3, SO2, PM and Pb) actually decreased 53%. This shows we are using less energy to accomplish more. However, reducing particulate matter (PM2.5) is important as studies show that every 10 μg/m3 increase in long-term average ambient PM2.5 concentrations increases the risk of mortality due to cardiopulmonary and lung cancer by 6% and 8% respectively. PM2.5 is tiny fine particulates that can’t be seen by the naked eye and are created through combustion. Mr. Johnson stated that most PM2.5 exposure occurs in the developing nations due to biomass burning indoors.
“To become sustainable we must “pick the low hanging fruit” and make use of wasted energy,” Mr. Johnson declared. An illustration of the energy conversion and distribution processes revealed that 36.2% of energy resources are used and 61% are wasted. Using wasted energy is especially crucial in Alaska . Statistics show that in Fairbanks , Alaska , $5,300 is spent per capita per year for heating compared to the U.S. average of $3,000 per capita per year. Fairbanks experiences 14,000 heating degree days (HDD) compared to 6,700 in Kansas City . Alaskans consume about 13 kW of oil energy per person compared to the U.S. average of 11 kW. The costs will go higher as the world oil supply dwindles. The US has only 40 billion barrels in oil reserves. The total worldwide demand for oil in 2006 was 31 billion barrels of oil. The U.S. used 7 out of 31 billion barrels of oil, over 25%. With world oil consumption increasing and reserves decreasing, Mr. Johnson calculates the world will run out of oil in approximately 64 years. Oil consumption isn’t the only issue. A typical US citizen uses 27 times the average African of electricity and 2 ½ times the average European.
Historically, the U.S used renewable energy (wood) for many years before using coal and now using primarily oil and natural gas. Mr. Johnson concluded his presentation with the following questions “How do we get from where we are back to the use of renewable energy? Should we go back to coal since the U.S. has vast coal reserves or go back to wood? Should we use nuclear to bridge the gap?”