Ecolibrium
In the time that we were investigating resources for Ecolibrium we had to do an extensive amount of research. Though we had a very generic idea of where our energy resources came from, we had no idea the impact that using fossil fuels and burning coals had on the environment. We now realize that there are more sustainable ways to produce energy than using gas, coal, and fossil fuels. During our research we discovered that our knowledge of how to distribute energy in the most inexpensive and eco-friendly way was limited. We certainly did not expect to be using four different types of renewable energy sources to power our city. We now feel comfortable and confident that the resources we have chosen will create a sustainable city.
Biomass is a widespread resource that is used all over the world. It has a low cost to install and run compared to other energy resources, as told to us by a local farmer (personal communication, 7/11/12). Biomass could consist of cow manure, wood chips, dead grass, or human waste. It is essentially any biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. This source of energy has been chosen for its endless renewability and for its low cost. Biomass helps prevent landfills and water pollution by consuming it in high temperature burning systems. Though this does emit some particles into the air, the particles will have little to no effect on the environment. The city of Council, Idaho is one model of how biomass can be used. There, they burn woodchips for energy to heat the buildings within the school district. Biomass will be used by anyone and, hopefully, everyone. In cooperation with our waste department, which has given every house an option for a curbside composting bin, our hope is that citizens will see how they can also use biomass. Our farmers and agricultural fields are expected to be using biomass as one of their main energy sources. The cows or animals that they own produce a waste that can be burned as methane. This gas would be considerably cheaper compared to importing it from other areas.
Geothermal is an important factor within our city of Ecolibrium. It is going to be used for heating the streets, homes, and big buildings. We have seen that with the amount of hot springs available in the areas surrounding Ecolibrium geothermal is readily available and accessible. We intend to capture the geothermal energy through pumps and wells that will be small and compact. These pumps will be almost unnoticeable to the common citizen because most of the action will go on underground. We will have the hot water go to the heating systems throughout the city. Since there are no emissions associated with geothermal, the goal of limiting greenhouse gas production in Ecolibrium is maintained.
In Ecolibrium, there is a river flowing through the middle of town. In order to tap into this source of energy we have decided to put in a hydroelectric dam. Hydroelectric dams are among the most affordable electricity resources in the world (http://politicalaffairs.net/pros-and-cons-of-hydroelectric-dams/). It is also among the most used renewable resources as well. For these reasons, we have decided to use it as an extra resource during the night and on cloudy days when the solar panels won’t be producing enough energy. We have put a large amount of consideration into the changing climate and the inconsistent flow of water that could result. We have put into our dam a control that only allows the needed amount of water to flow through the dam so that we can get the needed energy throughout the year. We wanted to ensure that during the time of year when there may not be as much run-off and rainfall we still have the water flowing to supply energy. In order to conserve natural resources, we have decided to only put in one dam to keep the impact on our environment minimal. On both sides of the dam we will have large fish canals to keep the flow of their migratory patterns undisturbed.
Energy
Robert, William, Britni, Sam
Our goal was to create a sustainable city in which all of our electricity is self-produced and used within Ecolibrium. The reasoning being that we do not want to add to the pollutants that are already put into the ecosystem from outside electricity production. As efficient energy producers and distributors, we guarantee that the city we build can hold up to the energy demand coming from the people of Ecolibrium. Our main focus is to produce a city that is as eco-friendly as possible. In order to do that we had to select the most efficient and renewable sources currently available. We selected geothermal, solar, hydroelectric, and biomass systems because they were easily accessible and emit little to no pollutants into the environment. By focusing on renewable resources we are helping stop the depletion of the resources such as coal and fossil fuels that are taken from the ground.
We chose solar energy for numerous reasons. Solar energy is highly efficient for large areas and it takes up very little space. Since the sun is the source of solar energy, it does not require amounts of natural gas, fossil fuels, or coal to produce energy. Solar panels also take in energy and the extra energy that solar panels are producing goes straight into the grid if it is not being used. Even the most inexpensive solar panel can last up to 30 years so their benefits can be long lasting. The solar panels that we select will be used for the electrical demands of the entire city.
