The military is going green: Part 1 - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

THE United States military is one of the world’s largest oil guzzlers.

Planes, ships, vehicles, helicopters, and even shore-based operations must have electricity to keep the military operational. Many presidents have realized that our military is “addicted” to foreign oil. Within the past 10 years or so, the military has set goals of reducing its fossil fuel dependency and its “boot-print” on Earth. Going green is not new to the military, but with the lofty goal set by former President George W. Bush that 25 percent of the military’s energy must come from renewable resources by 2025, the U.S. military is now becoming one of the largest investors in green energy.

There are many reasons the military is going greener. There is a direct relationship between energy consumption and the military – the more energy consumed the more vulnerable it becomes to the enemy. Our military deploy to all corners of the world, to areas with many different climates. Most areas that they deploy to require fuel to be flown, shipped, or driven to make shift bases; this is a weakness as the supplies can be ambushed causing the loss of life of those that protect it. It is also pricey to have fuel delivered in this manner – it can cost as much as $400 per gallon to be delivered to a remote forward operating base.

According to an article I found on greentechmedia.com, “Seventy-five percent of the renewable energy procured or produced in FY 2012 actually came from the department’s 679 renewable energy products (15 percent was purchased and 10 percent came from renewable energy credits).” The same article broke down the types of renewable energy produced by the Department of Defense: over half comes from geothermal sources, municipal solid waste accounts for 16 percent; 9 percent comes from ground-source heat pumps; 8 percent from biomass and biogas; and another 8 percent from solar photovoltaic systems. 

Each DOD branch is doing its part to reach the lofty goals set before them. Their dependency on petroleum degrades the strategic position of the country and its tactical forces. The global supply of oil is finite and is becoming harder to find and retrieve which is causing the cost of fuel to continue soaring. Here are a few goals each branch has set:

• The Navy and the Marine Corps will reduce petroleum usage by 50 percent for their commercial fleet making it a greener fleet by 2016. They will produce at least 50 percent of the energy used by ashore bases using alternative sources by 2020. Also by 2020, they would like 50 percent of their shore-based commands to be net-zero, which means producing as much energy as it uses. Lastly 50 percent of all energy consumed will come from alternative sources. (http://www.navy.mil/features/Navy_EnergySecurity.pdf)
• The Army is pressed to generate 25 percent of its energy requirements by 2025 using renewable energy. They also have set five major incentives – eliminate energy waste, increase energy-efficiency in all new and renovated buildings, reduce their dependency of fossil fuels, conserve water, and improve energy security – the ability to obtain affordable uninterrupted energy sources. (http://army-energy.hqda.pentagon.mil/docs/strategy.pdf)
• The Air Force’s priorities are to improve resiliency, reduce demand, assure supply and foster an energy aware culture. They plan to by improve energy-efficiency by 10 percent and reduce total facility energy consumption by 2020. Another goal is to increase use of aviation fuel blends by 2025. (http://www.safie.hq.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130325-132.pdf)

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

Energy-saving tips: Part II - www.micronesiarewableenergy.com

WE ARE all feeling the crunch of power rates.

Let’s face it – rates are not ever going to be what they were five years ago. This month is Energy Action Month on Guam and here are a few actions you may want to consider to get that dreadful power bill under control.

Standby power or phantom loads is power that is used by an appliance or device when it is turned off. Some phantom users include VCRs, televisions, clock radios, stereos, computers, battery charges, cell phone chargers and coffee makers. To avoid phantom usage, plug these items into a power strip and turn off the power strips between uses. Phantom loads can account for about 10 percent of your energy bill.

Curtains or blinds can cover windows to keep you cooler on hot days.

• Tinting windows reduce the radiant heat while allowing you to see through them.
• Use weather stripping and caulk around windows and doors to keep the cool air from escaping.

Replace your major appliances or air-conditioners that are more than 10 years old with modern appliances that conform to the Energy Star standards. Energy Star appliances are more efficient and are 10 to 20 percent cheaper to operate. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a new air-conditioner that has an energy efficiency rating, or EER, of 10 can cut a room’s cooling costs to 50 percent, compared to a unit that has an EER of 5.

Refrigerators, freezers

• Keep them full. Food acts as insulation and lessens the amount of work to stay cool.
• Dirty condenser coils adds up to more expensive power bills. Because the appliance works harder, it will shorten its life expectancy. Vacuum the coils to remove dust.
• Most refrigerators have a drain hole and drip pan to remove condensation. Keep these clean of any food particles to ensure the appliance running efficiently.
• A gasket on the door seals in cool air and keeps warm air out and is imperative to the efficiency of your appliance. Ensure the seal is tight and check the gaskets for cracks or other damages. Replace them if necessary.
• Is your appliance is on level ground? If the ground is not level, the doors may not close or seal tightly.
• Electric water heaters are the second most expensive item reflected in your energy usage.
• Use a timer on your hot water heater and set it to come on for the times you need it most, and to go off when you need it the least. Most heaters are big enough and have sufficient insulation to maintain adequate hot water throughout the day without being switched on.
• Heating water accounts for approximately 15 percent of a home’s energy use. High-efficiency water heaters use 10 to 50 percent less energy than standard models.
• How much you actually save with high-efficiency water heaters depends on family size, heater location, and the size and placement of water pipes.

Solar water heaters are more expensive than standard models, but certainly offer more cost-saving features. Harnessing the sun’s energy can reduce operating costs by a whopping 90 percent. Even on Guam the sun takes a break, so I advise to keep a conventional water heater as a backup.

We are all working to achieve the goal of lowering our energy bills and protecting the environment. By changing to more energy-efficient practices and products, we are one step closer to achieving that goal.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

Energy-saving tips - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

GUAM’S Energy Action Month is the perfect time to focus on energy-savings ideas and tips that a homeowner can use daily.

Lighting is the fastest and easiest way to save on your energy bills. If you're the last person to leave the room, make sure you turn the lights off. Install dimmer switches to monitor the amount of light needed. Install timers or motion sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights remain on.

Replace your light bulbs with LED bulbs. Studies show that changing one light bulb to a LED bulb will save you about $35 a year and provide you with 60,000 hours of usage.

Installing ceiling fans keep air circulating which means your air-conditioner does not work as hard.

Hanging clothes outside to dry as an alternative to running the dryer.

Insulating your home

Insulation acts as a barrier to heat loss or heat gain. It is cost-effective and makes your home more energy-efficient, saving up to 40 percent in cooling bills. In addition, insulation reduces condensation and provides health benefits by reducing mold and dampness.

Air-conditioners

Air-conditioners can account for more than half your energy bill. Make sure your systems are running at their highest efficiency by having regular cleanings and maintenance performed.

Changing the filters in your air conditioner keeps the air flowing and clean, which is good for the lungs and will help maintain peak performance.

Consider raising the temperature on your air-conditioner when you are at work. This will reduce the amount of times your air conditioner’s compressor comes on. Programmable house thermostats or timers for your window units allow you to control the air conditioners when you are not home. Raising the temperature on your air-conditioner can save you about $100 a year.

Size matters. If the unit is too small, it will not cool a room. If a unit is too large you may experience uncomfortable temperature fluctuations. Either way will result in reduced efficiency and higher electric bills. You also run the risk of excessive wear and tear on your air-conditioner, causing you to replace the unit much sooner than expected.

Roof coating

Reflective roof coating can help reflect more sunlight from the surface of your roof, thus reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the structure.

Coating your roof can make a huge difference, saving you money on your energy costs and usage. It will make your indoor temperature more comfortable. Coating your roof also protects your roof from the elements therefore prolonging the life of the roof and roofing material.

The benefits will vary depending on the shape and size of your home, the coating you choose, how energy-efficient your home is, and how often you use your air-conditioners. Living in the tropics like we do where we experience warm temperatures and sunny days almost all year round can save you up to 70 percent in energy savings.

Landscaping

Landscaping with shade trees and shrubs can help reduce the direct heat on your house lowering your air-conditioning costs.

There are many ways to cut your energy usage, some more expensive than others. No matter how big or inexpensive your actions are, in the end, your wallet will be grateful and so will the Earth. So go ahead, Guam. Start taking action.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at inf[at]@micronesiarenewableenergy.com

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

What is peak oil? - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

THE world’s population is expected to increase by another 2 billion in less than 17 years. Most of the undeveloped countries moving into the 21st century are experiencing rapid growth especially in the transportation sector. If peak oil occurs, this will be a major dilemma for countries using fossil fuel for energy. What is peak oil?

Peak oil as defined by Investopedia as “a hypothetical date referring to the world's peak crude oil production, whereby following this day, production rates will begin to diminish.” Geophysicist Marion King Hubbert created the peak theory, which states that oil production follows a bell-shaped curve. In simple words, because oil does not renew or replenish itself, there is a limit to how much that can be pumped out of the ground. Peak oil will be the day that oil production reaches its maximum production, and from then on, production will decline until we deplete all the crude oil.

Peak oil is a little more complicated than just drying out oil wells. Most oil fields have three layers, the primary of which is on top, the secondary which is the middle layer, and the last layer is the tertiary. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the primary level accounts for about 10 percent of the reservoir, the secondary level accounts for 20 to 40 percent, and lastly the tertiary level account for about 50 percent. It is relatively easy to pump out the primary level, since at times this is sitting right at ground level. The secondary level is a bit more difficult.

There are usually two reasons why an oil field or well is abandoned. The first reason is during the drilling of the secondary level. Water or gas is injected into the reservoir to pressurize the oil. The process to extract the water or gas from the oil is expensive and adds on to the price of the oil. There comes a point in which it costs more to produce the oil, than what the oil is worth. When that happens, the oil field is abandoned. The second reason is when the primary and secondary oil layers are depleted and drilling to the tertiary level is too difficult and very costly.

Once we abandon the easy, cost-effective fields, drillers start looking elsewhere. There is a large untapped oil reservoir in the Artic, but the weather conditions and accessibility are very extreme and will most certainly raise prices of oil. Besides, do we really want to start drilling in one of the world’s most pristine areas?

Scientists are not sure exactly when the oil will run “dry.” It took millions of years and a whole lot of pressure to create fossil fuels and we have managed to burn approximately half of the oil reserves in a brief 125 years. So now is the time to start looking at renewable resources that the Earth provides. The sun, the wind, and the ocean tides are infinite and non-polluting and will be around for a long time to come. This to me is not a debate on climate change – just plain old common sense.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

Renewable energy: The next 50 years - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

LAST week’s article took a peek at the last 50 years of wind and solar energy. Let’s see what the next 50 years may look like for these renewable energy sources.

The last 50 years have been an incredible ride in the renewable energy industry with the last 20 years making a major jump in the industry. In the last 10 years, this new and exciting industry has pushed into the renewable energy mainstream where almost everyone can now afford to decrease their energy costs with sustainable energy systems.

But the energy industry will be facing some multifaceted challenges. Some of these challenges arise from geopolitical unrests and economic downturns. Another challenge for the industry is the growth of the world’s population. Our society has become very reliant upon electricity – from cell phones to computers and even some of our smart cars. The challenge is that as the world’s population grows, it is predicted that the supplies of conventional oil are expected to decline in the not-so distant future. How do we keep up with the demand?

New technologies in the wind power industry are being developed. Engineers are creating new blade designs and more efficient turbines. Because the wind blows stronger offshore, designers are looking into large 10-megawatt turbines that are moored to the ocean’s floor. New technology is being designed for a wind power system that will work in low-wind areas. As the manufacturing and demand rise, it is expected that the cost of wind power systems will start to decrease. In the U.S., more wind farms are expected to be built to add to the current power grid. As more wind power is created, it is expected that current power transmission systems will have to be upgraded. One possible challenge the wind power industry can face may have to do with Mother Nature. As more wind farms are created, the safety of wildlife – especially birds and bats – will have to be taken into consideration.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar power could be responsible for over a third of our energy supply by the year 2060. Because the sun shines more than the wind blows in many places, solar power may become the renewable energy leader. Solar energy systems have also become more affordable that most people can afford a personal home system. The future is bright for solar technology. Some of the upcoming technology for solar energy is more efficient solar panels and clear or pliable panels that can be attached anywhere. Another advancement being researched is the ability to store the energy created to be used during the times the sun is not shining. Currently, solar panels require a large amount of land to generate a sufficient amount of energy. Designers are researching on making smaller and more efficient panels.

Other renewable energy technologies, besides wind and solar, are also expected to help reduce the world’s carbon footprint and the dependence on foreign oil. These technologies are wave and hydrogen fuel cells. Hydrogen fuel cells are expected to take the lead in transportation over the next 50 years, especially in the airline industry.

With all of the renewable energy systems becoming more affordable and more advanced in their technology, grid parity now looks reachable in most areas of the world by 2020. Grid parity, as explained by the Renewable Energy Advisors, is a term that “is meant to describe the point in time, at which a developing technology will produce electricity for the same cost to ratepayers as traditional technologies. That is, when the new technology can produce electricity as inexpensively as the electricity currently available on a utility’s transmission and distribution grid.”

In areas like Guam and the north Pacific, where energy is so expensive, parity can be a reality by 2017.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

Renewable energy: The last 50 years - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

ACCORDING to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the global consumption of commercial energy has risen more than fourfold, far beating the growth of the world’s population. In other words, our population continues to increase and our demand for power is growing faster than we can produce it. No matter the type of resource we use to create energy, it all comes from natural resources. Even nuclear power derives from the natural element uranium.

As we move closer to a point where our dependency on fossil fuel will be halted, we are looking more toward renewable resources to move us into the future. But to understand where we are going, we need to understand how our technology has evolved. Since our region is best suited for solar and wind power, I will concentrate on these two forms of renewable energy.

The wind has been harvested for power as far back as 500 A.D. The wind energy was used to grind grains. Eventually, windmills were used to mill timber or pump water. Over the last 50 years, we started to use wind to generate electricity. Since then, wind energy has made a substantial contribution to renewable energy throughout the world. Within the last 30 years, wind turbines have grown four times in size. The blades have evolved into sleek long propeller-looking blades, some of which have a diameter that are longer than a football field.

Wind turbines in the 1980s could produce about 50 kilowatts of power. Today’s wind turbines can produce about 3 megawatts. A 1-megawatt wind turbine can provide power to run 350 average U.S. households for a year. In 2012, wind energy contributed to 43 percent off all new electricity added to the national power grid. The American Wind Energy Association stated that the wind turbines across the U.S. currently produce enough clean energy to meet the electrical needs of nearly 13 million homes. Utility-scale wind farms can now be found in 39 states.

Solar energy has had an amazing evolution over the last 50 years. The world is waking up to the fact that solar energy is truly God’s gift. Once installed, solar power systems require little to no maintenance. After the initial capital to purchase and install the system is repaid, it is absolutely free. Unlike wind power, the solar power that we know today came to fruition about 50 years ago. Scientists at Bell Laboratories used a semiconductor made of silicone to convert light into electricity. Since then, great strides have been made to make solar energy available to the masses at a reasonable price.

Over the last 20 years, the cost of solar energy systems has come down sevenfold. This decrease in price is due to the advancement in technology, increase in demand and manufacturing, and economical installation methods. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, solar energy was responsible for 50 percent of all newly added electricity capacity on the U.S. grid in 2012. Today, the solar power in the U.S. exceeds 8,500 megawatts. That is enough energy to power more than 1.3 million homes.

Thomas Edison envisioned a day when the world would be fueled by the sun. I do believe he was on to something.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/. 

The natural evolution of energy (Part II) - www.micronesiarenewableenergy.com

EARLY man relied heavily on the natural energy. As the circle of life continues, we are now looking back to the Earth’s renewable resources to provide us with the energy that we need.

The United States still heavily depends on fossil fuels, most of which is imported from overseas. In 2011, the United States imported $420 billion of oil – making it the largest oil importer. Many factors indicate that fossil fuels now are insufficient for the world’s needs, necessitating the discovery of new sources of energy. Rising oil prices, foreign wars, instability of the nation, and terrorist attacks have also caused a demand for alternate sources of energy.

To modify the energy supply challenges mentioned above, the U.S. is actively pushing for advances in energy technology. The U.S. is also encouraging the increased usage of sustainable energy generated from sources such as solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, geothermal, solid waste, or hydroelectric generation.

In 2012, solar energy in the U.S. reached a capacity of half the added capacity of electricity to the country’s grid. This increase is partly due to the decreased cost of solar technology. These prices have dropped about 75 percent during the past four years.

Wind energy is captured by blowing large blades that spin, turning an internal shaft in a turbine that connects to the generator. The generator creates electricity. How much electricity depends on the size and scale of the turbine. Last year’s total combined investment between solar and wind was more than $280 billion.

Geothermal energy is produced from heat within the earth. There are three primary types of geothermal systems: dry steam, flash, and binary.
*Dry steam takes steam out of cracks in the ground and uses it to directly drive a turbine.
*Flash pulls deep, high-pressure hot water into cooler, low-pressure water creating steam that is used to drive the turbine.
*Binary uses hot water that is passed by a second fluid with a lower boiling point than water, causing the second fluid to vaporize driving the turbine.
Biomass involves fuel, heat or electricity being produced from organic matter such as plants, waste and residues that can be found in nature, landfill gases, urban waste, and wastewater treatment. Biomass comes in various forms and may be heated directly, mixed with fossil fuels, or changed into liquid fuels.

The decomposition of organic waste creates a gas source that is made up of half methane and half carbon dioxide and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. This methane is collected and burned to generate thermal steam that drives the turbines and produces electricity. This technology is best used at landfills.

Hydropower uses the current of a river to move a waterwheel or flow through dams. Ocean energy uses the movement of the ocean to create mechanical energy to generate power. Mechanical energy can be derived from waves, tides, and currents. This energy can be captured and converted into electricity.

From the discovery of coal to the implementation of solar panels, inventors have led the energy industry to where it is today. Certain trends in energy will continue in the future, as we are more aware of our limits of fossil fuels. Costs for renewable energy are falling, methods of integrating renewable energy into existing structures are improving, and new technologies are emerging. Finding a compromise between our planet’s capabilities and our energy demand will be the key to long-term solutions. With the right education, technology and government policies in place, the world is moving closer to optimizing our renewable energy future.

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Tracy Voacolo is the president of Micronesia Renewable Energy. She has more than 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry. Tracy can be contacted at info[at]micronesiarenewableenergy.com.

For more information about Micronesia Renewable Energy, visit http://micronesiarenewableenergy.com/.