Burlington High School
Burlington, Kansas
Teacher:
Devra
Parker
A Scary Problem
By: Mindy Trisler
Senior, 12th grade
The
rumbling
of
the
engine
is
loud
and
the
vibrations
tremble
throughout
my
body.
The
gas
fumes
can
be
seen
through
my
rear
view
mirror
because
of
the
brisk,
cold
morning.
I
sit
and
wonder
as
my
car
warms
up
about
how
many
people
are
doing
the
same
thing
on
this
very
morning.
The
gas
fumes
are
escaping
into
the
atmosphere
and
they
are
ruining
our
environment.
Air
pollution
is
a
very
big
problem
in
the
United
States.
A
large
part
of
air
pollution
comes
from
cars.
The
Environmental
Protection
Agency
says,
"The
most
polluting
activity
an
average
person
does
everyday
is
drive
their
car."
Most
people
probably
aren't
aware
that
they
are
polluting
the
environment.
Maybe
if
everyone
knew
how
serious
this
pollution
problem
is,
they
would
find
ways
to
reduce
the
pollution.
Most
pollution
that
is
released
by
cars
comes
from
the
exhaust
mainly
in
the
form
of
hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbons
are
organic
compounds,
a
combination
of
two
or
more
elements,
which
contain
only
carbon
and
hydrogen.
Hydrocarbons
are
released
when
fuel
in
the
engine
burns
partially.
When
hydrocarbons
come
in
contact
with
sunlight,
they
form
ground-level
ozone.
Ground-level
ozone
is
a
major
ingredient
in
the
formation
of
smog.
Ground
level
ozone
is
responsible
for
irritating
eyes,
damaging
lungs,
and
it
complicating
respiratory
problems.
Hydrocarbons
aren't
the
only
pollutants
released
through
car
exhaust.
If
the
bad
problem
of
air
pollution
does
not
cease
to
exist,
then
our
air
as
we
know
it,
may
cease
to
exist.
Two
more
pollutants
released
through
car
exhaust
are
carbon
monoxide
and
nitrogen
oxide.
The
first
reduces
the
flow
of
oxygen
to
the
bloodstream,
and
could
harm
people
with
heart
disease.
Nitrogen
oxide
is
formed
when
a
car
engine
gets
hot.
It
contains
chemicals
that
aid
in
the
formation
of
ground-level
ozone
as
well
as
acid
rain.
Acid
rain
destroys
the
outsides
of
buildings,
or
statues.
Acid
rain
can
also
contaminate
drinking
water,
damage
vegetation,
and
destroy
sea
life.
The
brilliant
colors
of
the
fish
will
begin
to
fade
and
the
wondrous
ocean
life
will
die
off.
The
vegetation
of
the
rain
forest
will
cease,
and
the
dew
dripping
from
the
green
leaves
will
turn
dry
and
brown.
These
two
pollutants
are
two
of
the
most
dangerous
pollutants
released
through
car
exhaust.
If
these
two
pollutants
were
cut
down
just
a
little
bit,
our
planet
would
be
a
safer
place
to
live.
Global
warming
is
the
gradual
increase
of
temperature
due
to
human
activity.
Certain
gases,
such
as
carbon
dioxide,
methane,
and
ozone,
allow
radiation
from
the
sun
to
break
through
the
atmosphere
and
go
to
the
Earth's
surface.
Global
warming
affects
all
living
things
on
the
entire
planet.
Another
type
of
hydrocarbon
pollutant
occurs
through
fuel
evaporation.
These
hydrocarbon
pollutants
are
produced
four
different
ways.
The
first
way
is
called
diurnal.
This
is
when
the
venting
of
gasoline
vapors
occurs
due
to
the
temperature
of
the
car's
engine
rising.
The
second
way
is
running
losses.
This
is
the
venting
of
gasoline
when
the
car's
engine
is
running.
The
average
person
must
find
a
way
to
reduce
the
number
of
miles
he
or
she
drives.
There
are
many
alternatives
to
reduce
car
emissions
besides
carpooling.
One
possible
solution
is
to
use
fuels
cleaner
than
gasoline.
There
are
many
types
of
alternative
fuels
that
could
be
used,
and
the
number
of
fuels
increases
as
technology
becomes
more
advanced.
One
type
of
fuel
is
alcohol,
and
one
type
of
alcohol
is
methanol.
Methanol
is
made
from
natural
gas
and
coal.
Another
type
of
alcohol
is
ethanol.
Ethanol
is
produced
from
grains
or
sugar.
Cars
fueled
by
alcohol
could
produce
as
much
as
80
to
90
percent
fewer
emissions
than
cars
fueled
with
gasoline.
Both
methanol
and
ethanol
are
high-octane
liquid
fuels.
The
reason
why
these
two
fuels
are
possible
alternatives
is
because
they
are
efficient
and
made
from
natural
ingredients,
and
they
pollute
less.
Another alternative fuel is natural gas. Natural gas is only good for cars where driving long distances isn't important. It is possible for natural gas to produce 85 percent to 95 percent less emissions than gasoline-fueled cars. With this alternative fuel, car emissions could be reduced a great deal to benefit the entire world. Another way to reduce pollution released by gasoline-powered cars is to test them for dangerous amounts of pollutants regularly.
Researchers are working on a machine that can test cars for hydrocarbon pollution while the car is on the road. This system is called the remote sensing device. The device is placed on the side of the road. As a car drives, by it measures the level of hydrocarbon emissions released by the car. The system can't measure nitrogen oxide emissions yet, but researchers are working on another system to go along with this device. If the car is releasing a high level of hydrocarbon emissions, a video camera takes a picture of the car's license plate and sends the license plate number and the emissions data to a computer. Then, the owner of the car is notified about the polluting car, and he is required to have the problem fixed. If remote sensing devices are used to detect hydrocarbon emissions, polluting cars can be recognized sooner than regular testing done year by year. If the remote sensing devices are used, people don't have to worry about their car being tested. They just have to get their car repaired when the device says it's polluting the environment. Air pollution caused by cars is a serious problem that can be reduced by average everyday people. If the citizens of Earth don't act fast and reduce the amount of pollution caused worldwide, this will be a horrible place to live. If something isn't done soon, there might not be a place to live at all.
As
we
listen
to
the
rumbling
sounds
of
our
engines
in
the
morning,
think
of
the
magnificent
and
astounding
rainforest
that
is
being
depleted.
The
crystal
water
in
the
streams
and
rivers
may
not
be
clean
if
the
pollution
does
not
stop.
Alternative
fuels
are
our
best
bet
to
survive.
The
ozone
is
striving
to
survive
as
well,
and
life
as
we
know
it
will
become
more
and
more
difficult
if
we
do
not
try
to
do
something
about
it.
Works
Cited:
"Alternative
Fuels."
Fuels
and
Fuel
Additives.
7
Mar.
2006.
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. 2 Apr. 2006
<http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm>.
(Very Informative)
Alternative Fuel Vehicle Group. 2006. Alexander Communications
Group, Inc.. 2 Apr. 2006 <http://www.altfuels.com/>.
(Very Little Informative)
Brown, Lester R. The World Watch Reader: On Environmental Issues. New York: Norton, 1991. 97-105.
(Somewhat Informative)
Lashinsky, Adam, and Nelson D. Schwartz. "How to Beat the High
Cost of Gasoline. Forever!." Fortune Magazine Feb. 6 2006: 75, 76, 78, 80, 81, 87.
(Very Informative)
Noe, Garry. The Alternative- fuel Vehicle Directory. 27 Jan. 2001. 2
Apr. 2006 <http://facultystaff.vwc.edu/~gnoe/avd.htm>.
(Very Informative)
Answers To Questions Prompted By The Required Reading
Q1- Gasohol is a byproduct exclusively from gasoline and ethanol whereas cellulosic ethanol can be produced from agricultural waste such as prairie switch grass, wood chips and corn husks.
Q2- Why did auto makers produce cars that could operate using ethanol as well as gasoline before there was an adequate number of service stations that could provide ethanol?
Q3- When were the first cars produced that were capable of using ethanol?
· The cars produced by Henry Ford in 1908 : Model T
Q4- In a paragraph, describe Brazil’s experience with ethanol. What did the Fortune article claim was Brazil’s key to success?
• When Brazil underwent a sugar-cane famine in 1990, they were completely out of gas. Brazilian-made cars were 6% of the market for flex-fuel in 2003. Two years ago, this December, flex-fuel engines were in 73% of the cars sold in Brazil. Money that would have gone elsewhere has stayed in the country and is fortifying rural areas because they do not have to import oil into their country any longer. Their success has been that consumers get to choose to buy ethanol instead of being required to buy it.
Q5- What is the significance of a yellow gas cap?
· Yellow gas caps mark the cars that have flex-fuel engines and to draw attention to E85-ready vehicles.
Q6- Describe bio-diesel.
· Bio-diesel refers to renewable fuel for diesel engines derived from natural oils of ester made from oil and methanol.
Q7- Explain the term “flex-fuel engine”. What American auto manufacturer introduced the first prototype of a flex-fuel engine?
· Vehicles that can switch between ethanol and gasoline, Ford
Q8- Trace the progress of H.R. 6 for viewers to our web site. (dates introduced, amended, pass or rejected)
· Endorsed by President Bush on August 8th, 2005.
· Congressman Russ Carnahan voted against the act.
· Passed with 275 in favor, and 156 opposed in the House of Representatives
Q9- What is the purpose of the fuel hybrid vehicle commercialization initiative?
· To improve technologies for the commercialization of hybrid/flexible fuel vehicles. It is intended to reduce petroleum consumption by bringing new clean technologies to the market faster.
Q10- What is the nation's largest renewable energy resource?
· Hydroelectric power
Q11- What is the purpose of the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative?
· The purpose is to develop the technology to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel-cell vehicles.
Q12- List seven items mentioned in the 2005 energy tax bill that taxpayers can claim as credits against their tax bills.
Tax credits for the contractors of new energy efficient homes if the homes achieve an energy savings of 50 percent or more over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code.
· Tax credits for the purchase of water heaters, heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces and other equipment that achieve certain efficiency levels when purchased for residential properties.
· A new tax credit for manufacturers who produce highly energy-efficient dishwashers, clothes washers, and refrigerators.
· 30 percent tax credit for the purchase of solar, photovoltaic and fuel cell properties for use in residences.
· Offers businesses and consumers tax credits for the purchase of alternative- fuel and hybrid vehicles.
· Provides 30 percent credit for investments in alternative fuel refueling stations.
· Provides $2.7 billion in production tax credits to encourage the production of clean renewable energies for wind, closed- loop biomass, geothermal, small irrigation power, landfill gases, and trash combustion.