[Greenbuilding] Electrical Generation

Sat Apr 26 09:28:44 CDT 2008

Dear Scott,

I was going through my e-mail by "from" and discovered I'd overlooked this
e-mail. I'd like to give you my answer.

>From the start let me say that our ability to alter the natural world is
enourmous. We also have a responsibility to evaluate the estheic and
ecological impact of that ability and balance that with the need to do it.
How much do we need to build more hydrolelectric dams?

That answer depends on your paradigms. IF you are limited by a paradigm that
includes only coal fired, oil fired, nuclear heated steam turbine generation
plants and dams as possible electrical generation systems, then we are
doomed to fill every canyon in America. 

The simplistic nature of your trade off statement seems to indicate many of
us, I believe, value the canyons more than you do. For example the Grand
Canyon and Lake Powell. I think it should never have been built. I think its
pristine and wilderness value in comparison to its social contribution was
not well thought out. Drain it now? The effect has already been done. It now
has a different eco-system and an effect on the surrounding original
eco-system. And now it has an economic participation as well. A few men have
gotten very wealthy off the lake's existence. I suspect the prospect of that
wealth was the primary driving factor and any social considerations and
common man benefits were exaggerated to achieve that wealth. Value of the
water storage? It is a clear scientific fact that will all that surface
area, more water is lost to evaporation than benefits the communities. We
need to avoid future mistakes like that.

Our paradigm is different than yours. I believe we need to teach our Civil
Engineers to think of ways to tap solar and natural geothermal energies. And
to help design construction materials and processes than significantly
improve the thermal performance of homes and buildings. As long as we
continue to build structures that hemmorrhage energy, we will need more and
more energy to support their habitation. For example, we know ICFs and SABS
and SIPs are more efficient than wood.....but there is an entrenched wood
industry that doesn't care because their wealth is in wood. They have the
wealth to develop an alternative, but keepin doing the same old ways is
comfortable. The government is supposd to control the direction for the good
of the nation, but we have represetatives who are dependant on billions of
dollars of campaign funds to get elected. So they make promises to
"constituent" special interests. We could have clean air, but it makes more
money to continue to make cars that get 20 mpg. 

We have a world wide demonstrated geothermal solar technology. It makes a
home or business building not require energy from manmade sources. It
eliminates a need for your hydro-electric dams, so some men will thereby be
motivated for their personal interest to be opposed to or at the very least
not support the proliferation of this technology....no matter what the
environmental consequences. They would rather have more flooded canyons than
geothermal solar powerd homes and buildings....even though they could make
money in that proliferation. And that is the real paradigm issue. What are
we as a people willing to mandate as regards to energy efficiency?

My strategy is simple; become a component of the "system" so I can be a
proponent of wiser paradigm selection and laws by government. Madate no more
hydroelectric dams. Mandate requirements for superior constructions systems.
Rich men are capable of getting richer in the new field of geothermal and
solar, just as well as they could get richer in hydroelectric dam
construction. They can also get much richer in retro fitting existing
structures to be "Zero Energy" or perhaps a better monicker; "Free Energy"
structures. That's a huge untapped new gold field for clever entrepreneurs.
That's the direction we need to go; Better Efficency; less dams needed.

There is more to this that first meets the eye in this discussion.
Hydroelectric power accounts for only 10% of all U.S. power usage. If we
"need" more hydroelectric, that implies we also need more coal, oil and
nuclear. That will lead to more exploitation of the natural earth. One thing
we are learning, finally, is that option is self destructive. We must find
alternatives. The best alternative is to decrease the demand with systems
that do NOT decrease our standard of living. In fact, what we need is energy
efficient systems that support a higher standard of living and more comfort
for less cost. If we achieve that Goal, then people will eagerly adopt it.
Else they will keeep the SOS they have now to the bitter end. I believe our
system supplies those three requirements. More comfort, more convenience and
less cost. We have numerous pending contracts and the first "Zero Energy
Lifestyle" subdivision Display home in the architectural drawing stage now.
You will be reading more about this as this year plays out....watch for it
if you like....or sign up for pictures and a newsletter. www.eyedestu.com
has contact information. There's huge fortunes to be made in
geothermal/solar powered structures. If you google "Zero Energy homes"
you'll find very few people are so far in this game....so there's lots of
opportunity to dig the gold out of this ground. Now the only question is,
are you grown up enough for Granny Goose? (That was an old T.V. potato chips
company commercial) Don

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Wangler [mailto:Scott at Geis-Companies.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:04 AM
To: Donald Eyermann; geoedb at idiom.com; greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: RE: [Greenbuilding] Electrical Generation

I am a Civil Engineer and I always like hydroelectric. The sun's energy
lifted the water so capturing the energy as it flows downhill is basically
extracting solar energy. I guess we have to make a decision what we want
more, beautiful canyons or clean/cheap power from hydroelectric. 

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Donald
Eyermann
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 10:55 PM
To: geoedb at idiom.com; greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Electrical Generation

Solar power, wind power, LED lights, ultra efficient structures that don't
hemmorage energy. Such as replacing bypass windows with minimum dual pane
casement. Solar concentrators for power plants.

I saw a U.S. Department of Energy calculation that 100 square miles of solar
Photo Voltaics could supply the entire electrical needs of the U.S. and in
Europe, Germany is already doing it. They are actually paying their citizens
to install solar systems onto their homes.

Add some good vertical spindle windmill or wind turbines and you can
continue to have hydro electric plants...and how about some tidal
dams/turbines that spin turbines based on the daily orbit of the moon.

We have lots of options....Maybe we are just going to have to see New York
flood (like New Orleans) before the "economics" will make sense to
Washington and other "can't be done" types..

-----Original Message-----
From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of George J.
Nesbitt
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:45 PM
To: greenbuilding at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Electrical Generation

While natural gas is a finite energy source as are most fuels, how is your
electricity produced?

50% of U.S. electricity is produced with Coal!, yes you read right.
In California 42% of electricity is produced with natural gas.

Solar & renewables are a pitence in the total energy use in the U.S. and
worldwide.
At our ever expanding rate of population and energy use it will be even less
for the for-see-able future.

How are you going to get your electricity when we run out of cheap fossil
fuels.

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