GMOs

As a higher percentage of energy comes from biofuel, the effect of weather becomes greater.  Biofuel needs to stay competitive economically, but global warming's impact is already being seen, extreme storms and weather patterns in recent years are affecting crop production.  There is no guarantee in a given year that the crop will have a high yield.  Another source for biofuel is through second-generation technology.  It requires non-food or non-grain crops as a primary source of feedstock.  Most of the cellolosic biofuel can be made with grasses that do not require nutrients that food crops require.  The main obstacle is the high production cost incurred during the conversion process from the lignified plant cell walls which limits large-scale adoption of cellulosic ethanol production. Transgenic alterations, also known as genetically modifying an organism, are one way to reduce the high production cost.  The breakdown and yield become more efficient when the grass is altered genetically.  Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been used in food crop production. Companies such as Monsanto provide farmers with seed that has been modified to withstand the Monsanto herbicide.  

There are many benefits to using genetically modified seeds for crop and biofuel production.  There is typically a higher yield due to insecticides and herbicides applied to the fields. Plant disease and insect infestation become a nonfactor in risk of production.  Some GMOs also show promise of withstanding more extreme weather.  Future seeds may be able to withstand drought.  With the production of a higher yield in food crop, overall food prices will not increase with the use of crop for biofuel.  Genetically modified grasses can be used instead of starch crops for biofuel.  It seems like a no-brainer to turn to genetically modified organisms, but they do not come without cost either.

The debate on health risks is first of all based on theoretical considerations, and second on the knowledge derived from mammalian experiments fed on GMOs.  There is little known about the effects genetically modified organisms have on the human body.  Some studies on animals suggest that GMOs have serious health risks including immune system problems, accelerating aging, disruption of insulin and cholesterol regulation, gastrointestinal issues, and changes in organs. Not only is there a risk to humans, but also to the environment.  Massive amounts of herbicides are sprayed that have led to resistant weeds.  It is similar to the idea of a 'superbug' that has adapted and mutated itself to exposure of antibiotics.

Prior to researching biofuel production and cost, it seemed the clear-cut answer to the world's energy crisis.  Upon further review, there is no definitive answer.  Biofuel is a cleaner fuel that is renewable.  There is no question the world needs to move away from nonrenewable energy sources.  Is biofuel the complete answer?  It is probably not.  The cost to poorer communities and developing countries is too great.  Food price increases would be detrimental to all.    Genetically modified organisms could provide a solution to higher production and less weather dependent crops, but they do not come without a cost.  There are too many unknown consequences to using GMOs.  A more balanced solution is needed.  Biofuels used in combination with other energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro could be the solution the world needs.

Biofuels

Since the first cars, ethanol has been used as an automotive fuel.  Henry Ford designed his cars to run on either gasoline or ethanol.  It had once been a competitor of gasoline, but with the discovery of major amounts of oil, it could no longer compete in the consumer market.  As the volume of oil increased, its price dropped.   During World War II, ethanol made a little bit of a comeback due to fuel shortages of the war.  Not until the energy crises of the 1970s did ethanol make it to the consumer markets.  The state and federal governments used incentives such as tax breaks, loans, research, and mandates to facilitate the building of expensive distilleries and growing of the biomass.  In 1978, an exemption of motor-fuel taxes had been approved for gasoline that contained a certain portion of ethanol mixture.  There were also tariffs put into effect to protect from cheaper, sugarcane ethanol imports from Brazil.  The United States turned to alternative fuels to combat fuel shortages.  Demand for biofuel increases as the price of oil increases.  Brazil and the United States are the major consumers of biofuel, but developing countries such as China, India, and regions of Africa are projected to increase their demand as well.  Biodiesel is expected to increase from less than 5 million metric tons in 2005 to almost 65 million metric tons in 2030. In more recent years, the threat of global warming has also led to the utilization of cleaner fuel resources.  The belief that biofuel is the cleaner alternative has brought an increase in ethanol and biodiesel production.

          

There is a trend for a transition from nonrenewable fuel resources such as oil and coal to biofuel.  Biofuel is produced from biomass.  Theses organic materials have stored energies due to the process of photosynthesis and the components involve cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, extractives, lipids, proteins, simple sugars, starches, water, hydrocarbons, and ash.  The following are the various types of alcohol and biodiesel fuels: alcohol from sugar crops, alcohol from starch crops, biodiesel from edible oils, biodiesel from non-edible oils, alcohol from cellulose, higher alcohols, biodiesel, and oils from cellulose, and third-generation biofuels.   

Alcohol from sugar crops such as sugarcane is the major type of biofuel produced in developing countries like Brazil.  Alcohol from starch crops such as corn is the primary source of biofuel in developed countries, namely the United States.  Biodiesel from edible oils is the primary source of biodiesel. It consists in making vegetable oil react with methanol. It has the highest impact on poverty and food prices.

Do you feel lucky?

Thirty days from now will mark the end of the 2013 sweepstakes entry period .  For the drawing of the winner, I will be glued to one of my favorite television stations, HGTV.  It is that time of year when they give away the HGTV Dream Home with some cash and a vehicle.  The network began its sweepstakes in 1997 with a home in Jackson Hole, WY and has continued every year since.  This year, the location is set in Kiawah Island, SC.  Much has changed since the inception of the sweepstakes in 1997,but most notably among those changes is the trend in the construction industry to go green.  HGTV is no exception and this is seen in the most recent giveaway home.  It has been given the LEED platinum certification.  This home sets the example of where all future residential construction needs to be. 

The exterior finish uses NuCedar shingles to resemble traditional cedar shakes.  The difference?  There is a lifetime warranty that the NuCedar shingles will not rot, separate, absorb moisture, warp, or become home to much smaller guests, insects.  Continuing with the exterior innovations, the front and back decks are made from a rot-resistant hardwood that has been certified as to having been harvested ecologically.  The aluminum roof is durable and made from recycled metal that can also be recycled again.  The reflection of sunlight reduces cooling costs and also helps with sending sunlight back into space (much needed in mitigating global warming.)  Living in Florida most of my life, I am quite aware of the impact hurricanes have on structures.  One of my homes was completely destroyed by Hurricane Andrew.  South Carolina is no stranger to hurricanes and, with this in mind, the designers incorporated hurricane-proof Gayko windows.  They are designed with dual glass panes and filled with an insulator.  A coating on the windows also blocks solar heat.  While measures have been taken to reduce solar heat from passing through the home by means of reflection, the home is still located in the marshy, hot, and humid southeast region of the country.  Maintenance of a comfortable living space is essential for such a prize to be worth anything, therefore, a coolant system must be in place.  Though the system that was installed costs substantially more, the energy savings in the long-run are expected to pay for itself.   The system uses geothermal cooling by passing water through underground pipes.  With a five-loop piping system the water is chilled to the soil temperature of 64 degrees.  

A house cooled without proper insulation won't maintain its temperature.  By using a special, fiberglass insulation that is formaldehyde free and mold- and mildew-resistant, the designers provide a chemical free product that is twice the value required by code.  Part of what defines a green building is a healthy indoor environment.  Not only is the insulation formaldehyde free, but the paint, finishes, cabinets, and sealants will release only trace amounts of unhealthy gases.  Lastly, the bamboo floors provide durability, but with less environmental impact by harvesting a farm-grown grass that regenerates more quickly than a standard wood floor.

The designers have considered every exterior and interior detail. The winner (keeping my fingers crossed!) gets a gorgeous home, aesthetically and environmentally speaking. To enter into the sweepstakes click here.

The Birth of a Conservationist

 

Having spent my youth in Florida, I have had the opportunity to appreciate the amazing and diverse ecosystems found here.  The Great Florida Reef is the third largest reef in the world and is located off of the Florida Keys.  Fourteen hundred species of plants and animals live on the reef.  It provides shelter for animals such as spiny lobster, snapper, and other commercial species.  Another spectacular natural wonder is Everglades National Park.  It is the third largest of national parks at 1.5 million acres.  It helps protect endangered species such as the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther.  During my primary school years, we took several field trips to both the Keys and Everglades National Park.  My love of nature burgeoned with each trip.

On one of those school field trips, a park ranger guided us through the trails of the Everglades. He stopped, probably to give us exhausted kids a break, but it gave him the opportunity to instill conservation methods, of which were the first I had ever heard.  I will never forget the impact of his demonstration; he held a gallon of water in which he opened and started pouring out.  As he gave us facts about the park, the water just kept pouring.  It was hot! I was tired! All I wanted was that water!  Young and confused as to why he would just pour the water on the dirt road, I started to become agitated.  As the ranger noticed the gallon nearing emptiness, he changed his discussion to the limestone aquifer and our water supply in Florida.  Florida had once been submerged under the ocean.  The skeletons of the dead fish, coral, and other sea life formed layers over millions of years.  As sea levels fell, Florida formed.  The limestone is porous and areas of trapped water became ground water. This is our supply of freshwater. As the discussion turned to our supply, the park ranger asked how many of us turn the faucet off while brushing teeth or take baths as opposed to showers.  Guilty.  I never turned the  faucet off and I loved my baths!  But we learned that by turning the faucet off we would save water. Taking showers conserved more water than taking a bath.  The gallon finally emptied and, in conclusion, he told us that once our water supply runs out, there might not be a way to replenish it.  We should do our best to conserve water, even with the simplest of methods.  To this day, I turn the faucet off while brushing teeth and take showers (also because it is more sanitary.)  I was six years old and decades later still recall this lesson.  Ultimately, my love of nature and the desire to conserve resources for the future has led to my decision to further my education in Building Sustainability at the University of Florida.