Wild Card Blog Part Two - Wildfires Ravaging Texas

   Amidst an onslaught of headlines pertaining to the national budget and debt ceiling debate, it is important to observe the other happenings across the country (as well as the world).  Recent weeks have seen Texas battling dozens of wildfires across the state.

Wildfire threatening a home in Strawn, Texas, earlier this week.

Thus far, the wildfires have burned over 1.8 million acres, destroying hundreds of homes in their wake.  It has been reported that the state forest service is fighting fires all the way from the Louisiana border to the mountains of West Texas, a distance of more than 500 miles.

A herd of cattle runs from a wildfire near Marfa, Texas.

Last Monday, Governor Rick Perry asked for federal aid in containing the fires that have claimed two lives. In addition, Gov. Perry issued a proclamation on Thursday declaring this holiday weekend as "Days of Prayer for Rain".

The proclamation reads:

WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;

I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal and robust way of life.

Although this may not prove to be as effective as a fire retardant slurry dropped from an emergency plane, it is the best that the Gov. Perry can offer, and I can appreciate his attempt at unifying those in his state and around the country in the face of this crisis.

Emergency crews drop fire retardant on a wildfire as it approaches a home near Stawn, Texas.

It is also important to understand this event from an ecological standpoint. With wildfires on this scale, food sources for many species of animals are destroyed. In addition, the availability of water and moisture needed for wildlife can be severely reduced as a result of a widespread fire. The loss of shelter to wildlife is also of critical concern.

A prairie racer snake finds little food in an area consumed by the on-going wildfires in Texas.

The Big Dig

  The Big Dig in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized as the "largest, most complex, and technologically challenging highway project in the United States" (1). Officially named the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, this enormous endeavor, costing around $14 billion, "replaced Boston's deteriorating six-lane elevated Central Artery (I-93) with an eight-to-ten lane state-of-the-art underground highway, two new bridges over the Charles River, extended I-90 to Boston's Logan International Airport, and Route 1A, created more than 300 acres of open land and reconnected downtown Boston to the waterfront" (1). The plan for this project was conceived in 1970, but official planning did not begin until 1982.  Substantial completion was reached January 13, 2006. 

   It can definitely be said that the Big Dig project cost an extremely high amount of money, yet its impact so far shows its value, writes financial analyst Nicole Gelanis.  She relates, "Travel time through downtown at afternoon rush hour is down from nearly 20 minutes to less than three, consistent with pre-construction estimates. Elsewhere on the underground highways, travel times are between one-quarter and two-thirds shorter; average speeds in some sections have shot from ten miles per hour to 43 (speed, rather than drivers’ veering toward too many exits in slow traffic, is the tunnels’ biggest safety problem)" (2). In addition, "airport trips are between one-half and three-quarters shorter. A 62 percent drop in hours spent on the new roads saves nearly $200 million annually in time and fuel" (2).  

   The Big Dig has proven to bring other benefits, as well. Gelanis writes, "Investors and residents are reacting positively to the infrastructure improvement" (2). She states, "commercial properties along the old Artery increased in value by 79 percent in 15 years, nearly double the citywide increase of 41 percent. Owners have reconfigured buildings to open views where they once bricked up windows, and are renovating property in other newly accessible parts of Boston" (2).  Commercial and residential prices are also predicted to rise as "tourists and well-heeled potential residents once put off by the physical and psychological barrier now happily wander over from other parts of the city" (2).

Sources: 1.  http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Highway/bigdig/bigdigmain.aspx
                   2. http://www.city-journal.org/html/17_4_big_dig.html

Modern U.S. Cities - The Present and Future

   To start off this blog post, I would like to focus on the specific policy framework my ideal city would utilize in achieving sustainable growth and economic viability.  I am a very avid supporter of smart growth policies that would enhance the sustainability and efficiency of an urban center.  In addition, these policies would combat the inexorable, often-harmful force of urban sprawl.

Urban sprawl in Florida

Smart growth can be defined as a "policy framework that promotes an urban development pattern characterized by high population density, walkable and bikeable neighborhoods, preserved green spaces, available mass transit, and limited road construction" (1853).

Besides the positive implications for conservation of natural areas, smart growth has many potential health benefits, such as "diminished air pollution, fewer motor vehicle accidents, lower pedestrian mortality, and increased physical exercise" (1853).  In being confronted with the "considerable evidence that urban sprawl has adverse environmental impacts and contributes to a variety of health problems - including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease" - one must understand that smart growth is a viable policy framework that will sustainably provide a city the services and needs that a growing urban population demands.
Source: Dr. David B. Resnik: "Urban Sprawl, Smart Growth, and Deliberative Democracy" 

Addison Circle, Dallas, Texas - Example of Smart Growth

"Good" City - Seattle

Seattle's newest public light rail system in action

Seattle seems to be one of the most, if not the top, environmentally minded big cities in America.  It has very recently begun a light rail system within the city that will further be expanded in the coming years. This light rail system may also serve as an example to other cities around the country.  However, this is just one of many smart growth aspects that places Seattle into my "good" city distinction.

"Bad" City - Atlanta (pertaining to urban sprawl)

West Atlanta metropolitan area - Douglas County

In relation to urban sprawl, Atlanta has experienced an unimaginable growth of its surrounding metropolitan area.  Its sprawl has nearly connected the city with the sprawl of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It is important to note that while around 500,000 Atlantans live in the city proper, there are almost 5.5 million people sprawled into the eight-county metropolitan area.  

Wild Card Blog - Energy of the Future to Combat the Global Poverty of Today

    In keeping with this past week's LEAP Conference themes, I wanted to devote this Wild Card Blog to energy technology that is aimed at alleviating (and, in the long term, eliminating) poverty in peripheral regions and nations.


First, however, I think a visual is necessary to demonstrate the inequality of access to electricity around the world:

Territory size shows the proportion of all people with some electrical power in their homes.

One is able to to observe that electricity access is highly concentrated in the Global North, whereas it is almost nonexistent in regions such as Central Africa.


Another interesting perspective, in terms of electricity use, is found in satellite imagery of the Earth:

Map of the location of permanent lights on the Earth's surface.  It is an image that was compiled using data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.

In particular, the following image exemplifies the stark contrast between the developed world and the developing world:

It is important to note, however, that these images do not suffice in completely illustrating the vastness, or the intricacy, of the inequality of the availability and use of electricity globally.

Yet, these images are able to provide a foundation in understanding why millions of children live in unimaginable conditions, such as these children in the slums of Angola.






Within the past few years, there has emerged promising technology that may present a viable solution to combating poverty in regions of the world like Ethiopia and India.  Inventor Shawn Frayne presents his exploitation of aeroelastic flutter phenomena as a renewable, small-scale energy resource with large-scale implications:


http://video.popularmechanics.com/services/player/bcpid1214137061?bctid=1233395616






To the left is a collage of images displaying the capabilities of such technology.










For more information about this technology, you can visit the Humdinger Wind Energy (founded by Frayne) website here.


As we are all aware, technology is dynamic; it is constantly progressing.  Thus, it is exciting to imagine where technology such as Frayne's Windbelt is headed, and what this could possibly mean for those who lack access to electricity. 


This article gives an update on Shawn Frayne, and the status of Windbelt innovation.  I believe that one line from the article illustrates the future of this technology: "[In twelve months time] the current generation of Windbelt technology is 100 times more efficient than the original".  Bear in mind that the article was posted on December 18, 2009; imagine the improvements since that post date.


Consider the implications for the Global South.

Like many children in the Mathare Valley slum of Nairobi, Kenya, this boy is doing his school homework by candle-light due to a lack of electricity.

Vampire Power - Plug the Leak

    

     Vampire Power, synonymous with standby power, is the loss of energy that is caused by leaving appliances and other electrical products plugged in when not is use.  Effectively, these appliances and other power sources "suck" money from your wallet, and electricity from the power grid. Vampire power provides an example of inefficient energy usage in the home (or any location that has access to an outlet, for that matter).  

Although the data depicted in this figure is a bit dated (2005), it provides a good visual.

    It is reported that the typical American home has 40 products that are constantly drawing power and 10% of all electricity is wasted on Vampire Power. Vampire Power sucks away between 3 and 10 billion dollars annually in the U.S. alone.  In thinking of these figures on a national level (or globally, if you dare), one is able to realize that a vast amount of energy is being lost annually.  Pertaining to the monetary side of this issue, this website provides a running count of the amount of money that is being lost this year in the United States due to Vampire Power.  


This video (which is also featured on the above linked website) provides a good run down on Vampire Power and some intriguing facts:

What, then, can be done to plug the leak caused by Vampire Power?
Here is a list of tips provided by http://vampirepowersucks.com that you can take in home and in your dorm to reduce the energy lost by your electronic products:

• Unplug your devices when not in use. It's as simple as that. Pull TV/computer/stereo/etc power cords out of the outlet. If they're not in use or if they're totally unneccesary (are you really going to ever use that VCR player again?), unplug.
• Use the other off switch. Many devices also have an 'off' switch in the back. For example, most computers come with one 'soft' power switch on the front, which takes it from standby to on. Separately, there is usually a real 'on/off' switch located in the back on the power supply (near where the power cord goes in). Standby switches aren't really power switches, so the device still sucks power.
• Buy “smart” power strips or unplug chargers when not in use. Your cell phone charger, iPod charger, laptop charger, etc. keeps drawing electricity even if your phone, iPod, laptop, etc isn't charging.  If you are going to use regular power strips, make sure to unplug them, or pull out the charger.
• If you're in the market for new electronics, buy Energy Star qualified. Energy Star takes standby power into account and their qualified devices draw less than the average when in their "off" mode. Some of their best electronic items include cordless phones and audio equipment.
• To learn about the power consumption of your electronics, look into devices that measure your power usage. These devices will tell you about the efficiency of your electronics, whether turned on or "off." It can actually be kind of fun (and definitely enlightening) to see how much juice each piece of equipment takes, in both active and standby mode. You'll likely be surprised.
• If you're up for a whole house project, check out one of the many wireless home energy control systems that let you cut off power to your various electronics quite easily, sometimes automatically, if they aren't in use.

In sum, the ability to combat the waste incurred by Vampire Power lies in the hands of the individual.  Having the initiative to unplug our various electronics before we head out for the day or climb into bed at night can prove to make a beneficial difference in a big way.  Again, the choice is our own.  

"Pet" Compounds - PS and HDPE

Polystyrene (PS):

     Second only to polyethylene, polystyrene is one of the most common inexpensive, rigid plastics in everyday life.  It is a polymer with "thermoplastic properties, and it is created from the petroleum-derived monomer, styrene". It is important to note that several different types of this compound are produced:

Extruded polystyrene:  This form of polystyrene is purported to have as much "tensile strength as unalloyed aluminum, but it is lighter and more elastic".  This variation of polystyrene is used in manufacturing an array of molded products such as plastic tableware, yogurt cups, CD cases, and model cars.  

Extruded polystyrene foam: Also known as Styrofoam, this form of polystyrene has numerous applications in many facets of urban life and manufacturing.  It may also be used in building materials or in roadway construction.  For example, "it may serve as a layer of insulation under pavement to prevent freezing and thawing of the soil below from cracking the surface".  

Expanded polystyrene foam:  In this form, polystyrene is essentially comprised of expanded polystyrene beads.  It is this type of material that is used to create "peanuts" for packaging, disposable coolers, and takeout boxes.






Here is a clip from How It's Made pertaining to the manufacturing of expanded polystyrene products:

  
Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-polystyrene.htm


High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE):

     This compound, similar to polystyrene, is a type of plastic that derives from petroleum.  It is a material that can be re-molded by melting and shaping, and, in addition, it can be joined in segments when welded or machined. As understood from its name, high-density polyethylene is much denser than most other polymer plastics.  The reason for this is due to "its crystallization structure occurring in a linear fashion rather than branching out to form long chains of polyethylene".  The result of this lack of branching is increased bondage between its carbon molecules and hydrogen molecules.  This provides the final product to possess greater tensile strength, even though it is lighter than water.  This structure also makes high-density polyethylene highly resistant to acids and solvents.  


Applications of HDPE:


Due to the fact that high-density ethylene is so durable and chemically non-reactive, it is used in many aspects of industry and manufacturing.  Here are a few uses of HDPE:

1. Utilized in many different packaging containers, such as milk and laundry detergent bottles
2. Plastic grocery bags
3. Found in storage systems designed to store chemicals and fuels.
4. Used to produce materials that act as chemical barriers, such as liners that are placed under landfills to help prevent soil and groundwater contamination.

The most common utilization of HDPE, though, is in the "manufacturing of wood plastic composites to make furniture, flooring, fencing, and landscaping materials".  

Here is a quick video about HDPE:

Source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-high-density-polyethylene.htm

Federal Government Spending - Give and Take

     To begin, I would like to say that I believe the conservation of the environment and a shift to an era of sustainable living are among the most important goals of the twenty-first century.  Poverty, war, famine and countless other issues that plague humanity all have a connection to the physical environment, be it through geographical setting, the allocation of natural resources, or due to human factors influenced by space and place.  Addressing environmental problems on the global and local scale is an essential component of understanding and solving the numerous problems that face the world today. 

Favelas in Rio de Janeiro

   The United States finds itself in an interesting position on the world stage as the processes of globalization continue to rapidly grow and reach new locations and markets (as well as leave other areas and nations behind).  Its status as a world superpower is in jeopardy as other nations clamber to achieve world influence through economic dominance.  It is necessary for the United States to efficiently allocate its monetary resources so that it may remain a world power, yet in addition it is necessary that the United States pursue a course that emphasizes sustainable living and economic growth.  


Program to receive expanded funds:


United States Department of Energy


www.energy.gov/

  
Here is an overview of the aims of the DOE, as stated from their website:


"The Department of Energy's overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex."






The DOE also provides five strategic themes that are paramount in accomplishing its goals:

1. Energy Security:  Promoting America's energy security through reliable, clean, and affordable energy.
2. Nuclear Security:  Ensuring America's nuclear safety.
3. Scientific Discovery and Innovation:  Strengthening U.S. scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and improving quality of life through innovations in science and technology.
4. Environmental Responsibility:  Protecting the environment by providing a responsible resolution to the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons production
5. Management Excellence:  Enabling the mission through sound management

     Specifically, the theme of scientific discovery and innovation is one that may hold the promise of propelling the United States to sustainable energy independence through the development of previously unimagined technologies that tap into readily available resources in an efficient way.

Here's an example of recent technology that has been created by a young inventor in California that may prove to greatly benefit peripheral nations:

http://video.popularmechanics.com/services/player/bcpid1214137061?bctid=1233395616

     For the next portion of the assignment I want to take a Burkean approach (although Burke is no idol of mine) to the elimination/reduction of federal programs.  An institution that has been found to be effective over time should be looked upon as an entity that tends to a certain purpose, and it should not be eliminated or dismantled outright because the good it has done must be considered.  Rather, subtle changes are to be made so as to correct the course of the particular institution.  It is in this way that federal programs across the board should examine the efficiency of their spending.

     With a looming debt, the United States is at a crossroads.  Down one path is a nation of unsustainable existence and diminishing world influence, and down the other is a self-sustaining entity (metaphorically and physically) that is able to provide an example to all other nations.  I am very hopeful that we pursue the correct path.