Green

Energy

OverviewWhat is Green Energy?

Different Types?
What is sustainability?
German Green Energy
Cost and Efficiency
Recycling

What is
Green
Energy?
-It is energy
resources that are
renewable
-Can be naturally
replenished
-Clean, Safe and
not harmful to the
environment (aka
mother earth)

Types of Green Energy

Green Energy
going cute

Solar Power
Is produced by
using photovoltaic
cells, which
capture sunlight
and turns that into
energy.

Problems
?
-The sun has got to
shine
-The cost of solar
panels
and the systems
range
between $20k-40k
-The light from the
sun
produces a very small
amount of energy

Wind Power
-These giant pinwheels spin from strong winds which
spins a turbine of a generator to produce energy.

Giant Pin Wheels?

Any Studies done?

It is said that wind
energy is suppose to
bring down costs and
reduce the in the air.
Well Forbes found a
study on this and
wrote an article about
it.
Forbes said no

Bentek Energy did the

Study and used about
1/3 of the US
population for 2 years.
The claims of cutting
CO emissions were
actually less than half
of what was stated.
Subsidies
(government money)
to the wind sector is
more than 200 times
as great as those
given to oil and gas
sector.

Oh and the wind has to

blow.

Hydropower

Power to the Water

By using earths
water cycles and
running water used
threw mostly dams
to provide energy.
Hydropower is
about 1/3 the cost
of using fossil fuels
and about 1/6 the
cost of natural gas.

90% energy
efficient compared
to natural gas
being 50%
efficient.
The only problem
is, you need water.

Biofuels
Using natural
materials to turn
into fuel or forms
of combustible
energy.
Which is mostly
plants and plant
products

I Love you Plants

Cost Efficient?
A study done by
OSU
Going to biofuels
would be like
adding a new gas
tax. About 25
cents.
And it is not proven
to reduce green
house gases and
may even produce

So much for the love.

Geothermal Energy

-By using heat from the earths crust in forms of

hot water and steam to power generators for electricity

The Math?
Geothermal Energy
systems are
expensive to put
in.
But they are able
to pay themselves
off in 5 to 10 yrs.
Is able to cut the
energy bills by 30
to 40%.

Overall
Good
Hydropower
Geothermal

Bad (technology not

there yet)

Solar
Wind
biofuels

Germany and
Sustainability

Key Concepts
Over the last 40 years, all levels of government in Germany
have reworked policies to promote growth that is more
environmentally sustainable
Germanys policies aimed at greening the economy
provide several lessons for the United States about how to
make sustainability politically acceptable in a federal
system of government
Germany's impressive feat has been less about innovation
than about implementation
Germany has become a forerunner in promoting a greener,
more sustainable future

German Renewable Energy Act

(Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz
(EEG))

The Act came into force in the year 2000

Initial spark of a tremendous boost of renewable
energies in Germany
Proved to be the world's most effective policy
framework at accelerating the deployment of
renewable energy technologies
The Renewable Energy Act was the central
political element of one of the greatest paradigm
shifts since the start of the industrial revolution:
the shift from fossil and atomic energy supplies to
renewable energy sources.

Freiburg
Freiburg is a 900 year old city of under 250,000
people, perched in the wine growing region of
southwest Germany
Citizens have high environmental awareness
Sunniest Region in Germany, Making it the Solar
Capital
The Heliotrope (the worlds first energy selfsustaining solar building)

Germany and the Kyoto

Protocol
Sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
Between March 1998 and March 1999, 84 countries
including Germany signed the Kyoto Protocol.
In March 2002, the Bundestag unanimously ratified
Kyoto. In May 2002, the European Union submitted
the articles of ratification for all 15 of its then member
states.
Since signing and ratifying the protocol, Germany has
committed to reducing its emissions to 21% below
1990 levels between 2008 and 2012

RECYCLING: A Prime Example of German

Sustainability

How it began
The Green Movement in Germany
was ignited by damaging acid rain
that was ruining their forests
Challenging the Throwaway Society
Space was becoming limited for
landfills
NIMBY syndrome was rampant and
there was an imperative need to find
a solution

Verpackungsverordnung
The Ordinance on the Avoidance of
Packaging Waste (1991)
Making the Polluter Pay
Goal: to give private industry incentive to
consider the solid waste consequences when it
designs packages
Requires industry to take back, reuse, and/or
recycle packaging
Major Objectives
Packaging should be made from environmentally
responsible materials compatible with recycling
Weight and volume of packaging should be minimized
Packaging should be refillable, if feasible
Packaging should be recycled if it cannot be refilled

How It Works
This system requires thorough
implementation of the legislation
It could not possibly work without the
cooperation of its citizens
According to a 1998 survey, about
91% of German homeowners
separate their waste in order to
contribute to environmental
protection

The Color System

Glas
All glass bottles are
collected at
community
igloos
It is very important
that the colors are
sorted properly
A sophisticated
sorting system
processes the glass
and produces new
glass as beverage
containers

Papier
All collected paper is
processed at a sorting
plant where any mixed
paper packaging is
removed
The paper is dissolved,
pulped, pressed, and
dried
Turned into newspaper
and the beginnings of
corrugated cardboard

Various Recyclables
Envelopes
Books
Catalogues
Cartons
Writing Pads
Washing Detergent
Boxes (without plastic)
Newspapers
Paper Boxes

Der Grne Punkt

The Green Dot
Established by DSD
Manufacturers pay a fee
to become a member of
DSD and are permitted
to use the trademark on
all their packaging
Fees are determined
based on the material,
weight, and number of
items, as well as the
costs for appropriate

Verpackung
Metal/Other

Aluminum foil
Tins, Cans
Polystyrene
Composite Beverage
containers
Empty spray cans

Plastic

Plastic wrap
Liquid Refill bags
Yogurt cups
Plastic bags
Screw-top bottle tops

Die Anderen
Bio / Household
Citizens are urged to
keep a compost bin at
their home
An alternative is to
dispose of old food
and garden waste in
the gray bin to be sent
to the incinerator.
Household waste
includes: ash ,
cigarette butts,
personal hygiene

Miscellaneous
(Orange Bin)
This newly added
category has been
developed for the
collection of misc.
non-packaging items
Frying pans
Appliances
Broken plastic toys
CDs

Interesting Statistics

Germany leads European nations in recycling, with around 70%

of the waste the country generates successfully recovered and
reused each year

In 2007, the US was able to recover only about 33% of the

waste generated that year

Between 1996-2007, the country has reduced its total net

waste amount by more than 37.7 million U.S. tons

In 2004, package recycling saved about 73.2 billion mega

joules of primary energy which equals about 20 billion kilowatt
hours.

In 2004, about 5.2 million tons of packages were recycled,

which equals 63 kg per capita

Since its implementation, recycling has prevented about 1.06

million tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Works Cited

Blue, Laura, and Schwandorf. "The Environment." Time. Time, 17 Apr. 2008. Web. 25 Nov.
2012.
Bryce, Robert. "A New Study Takes The Wind Out of Energy." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 19
July 2011. Web. 2 Dec. 2012.
Fishbein, Bette K. Germany, Garbage and the Green Dot: Challenging a Throwaway Society.
N.p.: Inform, 1994. Print.
"Freiburg Green City." Freiburg Green City. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.
"Germany, Garbage, and the Green Dot: Challenging the Throwaway Society (Executive
Summary)." Informinc.org. INFORM, n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2012.
"Green Econometrics." Green Econometrics RSS. N.p., 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 30 Nov. 2012.
Hansen, Holger. "Germany Eyes Cap for Support for Wind Power, Biomass." Reuters.
Thomson Reuters, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Nov. 2012.
Hickman, Leo. "A Small Town in Germany Where Recycling Pays." The Guardian. Guardian
News and Media, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2012.
"Hydroelectric Power." Renewable Energy,. Alternative Energy, n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.
Look, Marie. "Trash Planet: Germany." Earth911com RSS. Infinity Resources, 13 July 2009.
Web. 3 Dec. 2012.
"News & Research Communications." OSU Study Questions Cost-effectiveness of Biofuels
and Their Ability to Cut Fossil Fuel Use. Oregon State University, 30 Nov. 2011. Web. 15
Dec. 2012.
"Picture Gallery." Facts about Germany: Environment, Climate, Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26
Nov. 2012.
"Recycling and Waste Separation in Germany | Germany | Country Profiles." Recycling and
Waste Separation in Germany | Germany | Country Profiles. Textronics, n.d. Web. 30 Nov.
2012.