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.