Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015 - (Page 24)

FuTurE oFEn There is no question that fossil fuels made our modern lifestyle possible. There is also no question that our increasing consumption of fossil fuels is changing Earth's climate. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 84 percent of energy consumed in the U.S. comes from burning fossil fuels. Fortunately, many bright, motivated people are working today on ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. We spoke to five of them, and they agree that reducing our use of gas, coal, and oil will require a combination of solutions. Here, they share how they are contributing to the effort-and to a greener energy future. Cleaner Cars Every day, the U.S. consumes 19 million barrels of oil, most of which is burned for transportation. Collectively, our cars and trucks are a huge source of both health-damaging air pollution and emissions that directly contribute to global warming. Yet the problem suggests the solution: If we want to reduce these emissions, we need to burn less oil. As Research and Deputy Director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), Don Anair spends his days thinking about the many facets of that solution. UCS has devised a plan to cut U.S. oil consumption in half in the next 20 years. "There is no single solution to get us there," Anair explains. "But there are a lot of strategies that will, in combination, cut our projected oil use in half." These include making gasoline- and diesel-powered cars more efficient and developing the market for electric vehicles-whether plug-in cars that run on clean electricity, or fuel cell vehicles running on clean hydrogen. We can also reduce our oil consumption by increasing our use of low-carbon alternatives, such as biofuels. "Converting crop waste or energy crops into by Melissa Hartman low-carbon ethanol is one possible solution," says Anair. "Instead of just having 100 percent oil, we can have an increasing percentage of low-carbon fuels come into the transportation fuel mix." Other solutions could include reducing the amount of travel through "smart growth and better development patterns that make it easy for people to live closer to where they work. We need strategic urban planning and development." Such diverse solutions will require people with correspondingly diverse expertise to develop and implement them. "We'll need chemists, for example, who understand battery technology as it relates to electric transportation," Anair explains. "To advance low-carbon biofuels, we'll need biologists and chemical engineers who understand how to convert agricultural waste or even urban waste into fuels and energy sources." Noting that internal combustion engines will continue to be around for quite some time, he says we'll also need mechanical engineers to make gasoline and diesel engines more efficient-"a key strategy to reducing our emissions." Anair, an electrical engineer by training, explains that while his engineering background helps him understand what's possible and the technology that will be required to bring it to fruition, communication skills are equally important: "That's mainly what drew me to UCS-not just the science, but my interest in communicating the science to the public and to policymakers in order to effect change." Learn more at www.ucsusa.org/our-work/clean-vehicles. 24 imagine May/June 2015 http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/clean-vehicles

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015

Big Picture
In My Own Words Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy, UC Berkeley
A Solar-Powered Solution to the Water Crisis Using the sun to purify water
The PolluCell Generating electricity using waste and pollution
More than a Race The Solar Car Challenge
Energy Agenda The power of teen research
Energized! A crash course in fuels of the future
Grease Is Good Helping the environment and the community with biofuel
Fueled by Algae Sara Volz and the powerful potential of pond scum
The Future of Energy Five careers in green power
My Sanskrit Yaatra Connecting with my culture through language
Devoted Awareness My internship with Until There’s a Cure
Selected Opportunities and Resources
Off the Shelf Review of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options Interview with green architect Andrew Thompson
One Step Ahead Six things incoming college students should know
Planning Ahead for College Developing your passions
Students Review: University of Pennsylvania
Creative Minds Imagine
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - May/June 2015