I attended the June 2005 ASHRAE (American Society of Heating,Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers) meeting andtechnical conference in Denver, CO. One of the things I alwayslike to do at these technical conferences is attend the sessiondevoted to an update of the current issues impacting ourindustry. This time there was a session devoted explicitly toglobal climate change. I got to the huge ballroom early so Icould get a good seat for the presentations and as the firstspeaker took the stand, frankly I was shocked to look around andcount less than 50 people in attendance. Clearly our industry isnot taking the issue of global very seriously.Now, if you are my age, you remember the scientific warnings inthe 60's about the coming ice age. So I'll admit I have beensomewhat slow to warm to the idea of global climate change(formerly called global warming, pun intended). But, as timegoes by better data and more research support the prediction ofincreasing global temperatures. This global temperature increaseas the result of greenhouse warming has a potentiallydevastating impact on global climate. Therefore, we should alltake the issue very seriously and at a minimum monitor veryclosely the private and public policies of the US and countriesaround the world. I forecast that as the science becomesclearer in "the next few years", this issue will have amajor impact on each of us personally and on each of ourbusinesses and the products we design and manufacture.
The difficulty is defining "the next few years". What isthe timeframe we should be concerned about? There is onetimeframe already defined by the Kyoto protocol. And thattimeframe is now - we are already behind. Of course, the US hasnot signed up to adhere to the Kyoto agreement, so that doesn'treally concern us. Or does it? These decisions are too oftenpolitically motivated more than scientifically motivated. We allknow that our commitment to the Kyoto agreement could changewith the next presidential election. That is in November 2008 -a little over three years away. President Bush has been veryconsistent in his position and policy relative to climatechange. But, even though many people seem unaware, we do have anofficial US policy regarding climate change. Basically it callsfor an 18% reduction in the rate of increase of greenhouse gasemissions. See the links at the end of the article for moreinformation on US policy. The policy also calls for areevaluation of our progress relative to our reduction goal in2012. Given the interest I see in our industry and otherindustries, I think it highly likely that we will come nowherenear that 18% reduction in the rate of growth, let aloneactually reduce emission levels like most of the rest of theworld is calling for. That being the case, it is notunreasonable to expect a new and much tougher policy onemissions on or before 2012, only seven years from now. So Ithink that reasonably defines "the next few years". If youaren't going to retire before 2012, then you can expect agreat deal of pressure on you, your products and your businessto reduce emissions in the next three to seven years. Giventhe life cycle of most products, three to seven years goes by ina hurry.
At the very least be an informed business leader andinformed citizen. Make up your own mind about the validity ofthe data and the likelihood, timeframe and severity of impact onyour business. Hopefully the next time you have the opportunityto hear some of the world's foremost experts speak on globalclimate change, like I had in Denver, the room won't be empty.
About the author:Bob Utter, Senior Consultant and owner of Innovative ThermalSolutions, LLC has over thirty years experience developing newmechanical and heat transfer technology including seventeenyears in progressive engineering management positions withindustry leading companies. He is an inventor with 29 patents onmechanical and heat transfer technology. www.innovativethermal.com
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Toyota Says Auto Industry’s Obligated To Help Solve Global Warming
Toyota Motors North America President Jim Press will tell a House committee this Wednesday that the auto industry has "an obligation to be part of the solution, not the problem," when it comes to Read more...
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Smoking Statistics
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Electricity from Trash
Capturing methane from rotting garbage will help reduce climate change due to greenhouse gases.
Waste Management is creating electricity from rotting garbage at 100 of its landfills, and plans more such projects. This is a double win, as the methane gas produced by the garbage has a 21 times worse greenhouse gas effect than carbon dioxide. But now it can be captured to create energy rather than being emitted into the atmosphere.
Read more: Electricity from trash
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Astrologer Fails to Predict Cyclone
It wouldn't be important that an astrologer failed to predict the Myanmar cyclone if astrology weren't important there.
Continuing on the theme of what can and cannot be predicted, the weather is the next logical topic and evidently a noted Burmese astrologer has publicly apologized for his failure to predict Cyclone Nargis. But in a country like Myanmar where they take astrology seriously, evidently the citizenry depends on their astrologers for this kind of thing:
Read more: Astrologer is sorry for failure to predict cyclone
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Climate Analysis
From a post on calculating CO2 impacts correctly.
?m using this as an example of the kind of armchair analysis I would love to see more consumers and voters do on their own when faced with any buying or voting decision that has significant energy and/or environmental implications. Does this candidate?s claim make sense? How much money can I save by adjusting my thermostat a couple of degree or car pooling? How much CO2 can I avoid by signing up for 100% green electricity?
Read more: Analysis, done right
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Angelo's Is Back
Angelo's Restaurant in St. Marks was swept away by Hurricane Dennis.
Angelo?s was washed away by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and just recently reopened this winter. It?s a beautiful place, lovely view and great food, but not the place to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat. We had enjoyable meal, though, sitting on the deck and watching the boats and birds over the bay.
Read more: Saint Marks Lighthouse
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Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
A look at whether products can achieve carbon neutrality.
The big question is where do you draw the line and say that this company is carbon neutral/negative and this one is not when they all rely heavily on carbon positive support?
Read more: Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
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Review: The End Of Suburbia
Will climate change force us to re-think suburban development?
Of course, no one knows what?ll happen to the suburbs we have now. Will they become the slums of the future? At least one expert in the film predicts a scarier scenario where we may not even have time to build new ?hoods with new urbanist design principles; we may just need to salvage what we have left in the face of global climate change.
Read more: Film review: The End of Suburbia
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Why Do They Hate Us?
A look at climate change and politics.
Yet another hot button topic these days is climate change and the environment. On the surface, you wouldn't think that this should be a conservative vs. liberal topic. After all, climate change is either happening or it isn't. And yet this is an issue that divides conservatives from liberals as much as any other.
Read more: Why do they hate us?
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The Perfectly Timed Vacation
Hurricane Ivan and other hurricanes have changed travel economics.
The best deals on lodging aren?t necessarily found in the hotels, but the low-rise condos. Thank Hurricane Ivan for that, she says. Many hotels were damaged by the 2004 storm, and have recently been repaired and reopened. So if you don?t mind staying in a condo, low season ? at least when it comes to saving money ? may last longer than a season. It could extend months, or longer.
Read more: 4 secrets for the perfectly timed vacation
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We Interrupt This Program
Has the federal government lost all credibility in natural disaster recovery?
Excuse me, while I open a space in the political discussion to point out something beyond the primaries on Tuesday - a powerful series of thunderstorms ripped through the Mid-South with tornadoes that killed at least 54 people and injured hundreds. They have been promised help by George W. Bush, which I can tell you as someone who lives in an area struck by hurricane Ivan in 2004 and knows what the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Gulf Coast still looks like after Katrina and Rita in 2005, is not going to happen any time soon.
Read more: We Interrupt This Program
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Anatomy Of A Local Breaking News Story
A great behind-the-scenes look at coverage of Hurricane Wilma from the local point-of-view.
Back in 2005, when Hurricane Wilma was about to smack the Naples area, our news organization made a commitment that when it came to real-time coverage, we were not going to get beat on this story by CNN or The Weather Channel or any other news organizations.
Read more: Anatomy of a local breaking news story
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Hurricane Felix Making Landfall
Is the quote machine broken:
The Nicaragua coast is experiencing powerful winds and surge at this time, as the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane Felix with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph moves inland over Nicaragua very close to Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Felix is the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall this year, and before Hurricane Dean a week or so ago, there were no land falling hurricanes at category 5 status for 15 years.
Read more: Hurricane Felix Making Landfall In Nicaragua
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Save The World From Your Desktop
Seven good tips to reduce climate change from the comfort of your computer.
Use GoLoco to make carpooling a whole lot easier, and do your part to reduce CO2 emissions and lessen traffic congestion.
Read more: 7 Ways to Save the World Using Your Desktop
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Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
Waiting for Hurricane Dean.
Everybody?s talking about the hurricane and now everyone?s saying that it looks like it?s going south. We?re continuing our preparations (and so is everyone else, apparently), but we?re less worried. We?re reminded that with both Hurricane Emily and Hurricane Wilma, it barely even rained in Merida. It?s good to keep in mind that what happens on one end of the Yucatan Peninsula, doesn?t necessarily effect the whole peninsula.
Read more: Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
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600 Naked People On A Vanishing Glacier
Click through for pictures of the living sculpture atop the vanishing glacier.
Installation artist Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace Switzerland present a living sculpture: hundreds of naked people symbolise the vulnerability of the glaciers under climate change.
Read more: 600 naked people on a vanishing glacier
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Bad Climate Change News Was Too Optimistic
The news on iceberg meltdowns is bad.
However, China is preparing for climate change induced disasters and plans 24 hour response with food and water for any emergency. Too bad the US isn?t doing the same.
Read more: That bad news about climate change was too optimistic
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