essay 1

Solar Energy

Energy security and climate change which are caused by population increase and massive burning of fossil fuels are serious challenges to the humanity. Nowadays, most of our energy needs are provided through fossil fuels that has a negative impact on the atmosphere and leads to global warming. Global warming which is defined as an increase in earth’s atmosphere and ocean average temperature. One of the most dangerous effects of global warming on earth is the rise in sea level.  “ This rising in sea level will results in disappearing of low laying lands like Bangladesh and Maldives. More effects of global warming are shown in”( Todorova, Vesela.2011). Away from climate change and global warming, and looking at fossil fuels from energy perspective, fossil fuels are non-renewable and therefore, a non-lasting solution for energy problems. A promising solution for future energy supply and climate change is to use renewable sources such as solar energy to provide energy for humans.

 Solar energy is the most abundant source of energy on the earth. “ About 100,000 TW of solar energy reach earth surface and converted to all forms of energy used by humans, except nuclear, geothermal and tidal energy”( Todorova, Vesela 2011). “ This value is 6,000 folds of world energy consumption in 2006 ”( Kumar S 2012) . Due to its geographic location, Abu Dhabi receives very high solar irradiance during the year. Solar energy can become the fuel of the future and supply energy for the whole country. It is a clean form of energy that can be used without affecting the Earth.

"One of the main drawbacks in solar energy systems is that the sun does not shine for the whole day". Also, high solar energy values are recorded between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm; and the peak electrical power demand (based on Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority) is at 8:00 pm in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008 .

Solar cells are used to convert solar energy to electrical energy. The solar PV cell was made from silicon in 1950s. The efficiency at that time was very low and the price was too high. After that, the efficiency of solar cells starts to increase while the cost is decreasing. Solar cells have very long life time as they have good resistance to harsh environments.

Generating electricity from solar cell is still more expensive that generating it from fossil fuels and that is why most of the world still depends on fossil fuel to meet their energy demand. Also, to depend 100% on solar energy, we have to have electricity storage systems such as batteries to store the excess energy during the day and supply it during the night and sunshade periods. However, batteries are very expensive and they have to be replaced from time to time which increase the cost of solar energy systems.

Another disadvantage of solar cell is that we need to clean them frequently, especially in UAE as we have a lot of dust that accumulate on the solar cells surfaces and reduce the power output. Also, dust particles suspended on the atmosphere reduce the amount of solar energy reaching the solar cells.

In conclusion, solar energy is a very promising solution to energy problems. Most people do not use solar energy because solar cells are expensive. But, their costs are decreasing with time and the costs of fossil fuels are increasing. In future, I think that solar cell will generate electricity cheaper that fossil fuels and that is when most of the people start using it. The main disadvantage of solar energy is that it not available throughout the day. Using batteries to store the electricity is expensive option. Therefore, cheap electricity storage systems should be invented. Finally, solar energy can be the fuel of the future.

[1] Todorova, Vesela. "UAE-funded centre revives endangered bird population - The National." Latest and breaking news | thenational.ae - The National. The National, 27 May 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2013. <http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/uae-funded-centre-revives-endangered-bird-population>.

[2] Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority. (2012, 5-10). Electricity statistics [online]. Avaliable: http://www.adwec.ae/Report2010.html

[3] Kumar S., Himanshu S.K. and Gupta K.K., “Effect of Global Warming on Mankind - A Review,” International Research Journal of Environment Sciences, Vol. 1(4), November (2012), PP. 56-59.

[4] Stanford university, Global Climate & Energy Project, “An Assessment of Solar Energy Conversion Technologies and Research Opportunities,” Issued by the Global Climate and Energy Project, 2006, PP. 4.

[5] Nature Publishing Group : science journals, jobs, and information. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nature.com/nmiddleeast/2011

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yaser hussain ahmed alhosani                     

H00252266

1103 CDG

essay 2

Story of stuff

People are fed with information in their lives from different outside influences, and this is the manner by which they structure values, views and opinions. From this they shape their perspectives depending upon what they accept or have been taught to accept. In “The Story of Stuff” documentary there are many convincing points that I strongly agree with. We live in an infinite planet that is led by a linear system; “The material economy” which is in crisis. What this documentary emphasizes about is the importance of how our planet ought to be a more resourceful spot, and if it did not happen the planet we live in will keep feeding our greedy needs neglecting the circumstances and, in time, will crumble to just about nothing. This system is basically informing us about what things are made of, how they work, and how people actually help in destroying the environment without knowing.

Most of the stuff and things we own go through a specific procedure in the material economy; it starts with extraction then, production, distribution, consumption, and ends with disposal. Extracting means taking out and digging all the raw materials from the environment, for example soil, wood, coal, water, plants and animals and then using them in order to create new stuff. The issue stands where we over use these raw materials as we are wasting them since we are not using them equitably. Actually, we trash and consume more than what the earth can renew. For instance, we cut off the trees in the forests in order to extract wood and as a result the process of extracting can raise further damages in the ecosystem. Frankly, the facts that we hear nowadays about out natural resources are shocking, as you'd be quite surprised that almost 80% of the planet’s original forests are gone, and we are losing nearly 2000 trees in Amazon Forest each minute!

Next, the materials move to production where these natural materials are literally being converted to more toxic forms. This has an adverse effect on all organisms, our health and our biological system as these chemicals are actually untested. For example, most of the stuff that we use in our daily lives are doused in BFR (Brominated flame retardants), which are supertoxic neurotoxins. That means that they harm our nervous system which basically consist of our brain and nerves, and can cause brain damage and serious neurological diseases.  Moreover, the process of production may also lead to variety of health problems such as liver failure and asthma that are result of all kind of pollution.

 The final products are then ready to move into the distribution part, where It is all about externalizing the cost. Keeping the prices down has many hidden coasts, that are most often borne by the environment and factory workers rather than by corporation and industries. Then comes the consumption, or in other words, “The heart of the system". People tend to be greedy, specially people with powers that own the industries and companies. In order to gain profit, they have to create and produce stuff that are attractive to the consumers. Advertisements or media in general also play a major role in this, as they tend to make us unhappy about what we have. Two of the most effective strategies are Planned obsolesces and Perceived obsolesces. It means that they actually design products to be useless as quickly as possible. Even if an object may still be functional, they make you think that it is no longer appropriate or it is just out-of-style.

Nevertheless, most of these products eventually end up in the garbage, which either gets dumped in a landfill or burned. This causes air, land, water pollution, not to mention the climate changes and the effect of toxics released by the burning process.All of this is a serious threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.

Recycling cannot be the solution because most of the garbage contains way too many toxics, or it simply designed not to be recyclable. Unfortunately, it is a system of crisis, and actions needed to be taken. We should start thinking about ways to transform this linear system to a system that does not waste resources or people. That is by reducing consumption, achieving social equity, closed loop production, using green chemistry and renewable energy.

Sources

13, Stephen DownesMay, and 2009. "The Story of Stuff - a Summary ~ Stephen's Web." Stephen's Web ~ Stephen's Web. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013. <http://www.downes.ca/post/53388>.
 
 
 
way, the. "Story of Stuff (Summary & Review)." Journey to Become Financially Independent. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013. <http://financialindependent.blogspot.ae/2008/08/story-of-stuff-summary-review.html>.
 
 
The Story of Stuff - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Stuff
 
 
 
 
The Story of Stuff | Watch Free Documentary Online. (n.d.). Top Documentary Films - Watch Free Documentaries Online. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-story-of-stuff/
 
 
The Story of Stuff | Watch Free Documentary Online. (n.d.). Top Documentary Films - Watch Free Documentaries Online. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-story-of-stuff/
 
 
 
The Story of Stuff | Watch Free Documentary Online. (n.d.). Top Documentary Films - Watch Free Documentaries Online. Retrieved May 27, 2013, from http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-story-of-stuff/