SUSTAINABLE ENERGY!!!! 
Asking the big energy questions:
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How do we live sustainably on
our planet?
What tradeoffs must be
considered if our society gets
serious about making the
transition from a consumptive
society to a sustainable society?
A proposition:
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We NEED energy. The FORM of
energy and the FUELS we use to
create convenient energy are a
matter of choice.
(Electricity for buildings/Vehicles)
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So what will
take the place of
fossil fuels?
Every power system has pros and cons
Solar power must be stored for nights
and cloudy days
Are we asking the wrong
question?
Should we be looking for a one-toone substitution solution?
Distributed power vs
centralized power
Creating a paradigm shift
Current electricity grid
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One major
regional power
plant, usually coal,
natural gas or
nuclear supplies
area’s needs
Same plan
throughout US
Our electric “grid” = power plants
connected to consumers
Our electric “grid” = power plants
connected to consumers
A new energy concept
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Distributed Power = dispersed,
small-scale power systems
customized to geographic region
combine to meet a region’s needs
The mix that works for Houston
would be different than the mix for
Detroit.
A Smarter grid –
(how is it smarter? Compare to centralized)
Solar Leasing Program announced
2/10/15! (San Antonio)
Installation
companies own and
install solar panels
on homes; rent the
roof space from
homeowners
grid
Get electricity;
surplus sold to
CPS; rent check
from installation
companies
CPS receives
surplus kW to
distribute on
grid to other
customers
CPS avoiding another centralized
power plant!
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“CPS Energy is our utility, it’s owned by us,
the people of San Antonio. And the idea of
our utility putting solar on our people’s
rooftops, instead of building another
centralized power plant – it’s a very
exciting thing, and Solar San Antonio (SSA)
is very supportive,” stated SSA Interim
Executive Director Anita Ledbetter in a
news release. Ledbetter is also executive
director of Build Green San Antonio, the
nonprofit sustainable building resource and
third-party green building certification
program.
Smart grid and smart meters
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Information
allows for smart
decision making
Expected
connectivity with
major appliances
Decentralized power
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Advantages
Greater reliance on
renewables
Decreased climate
change
Protection from
centralized power
outages (storms,
malfunction, terrorism)
New jobs/new
industries
Promote more
community
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Disadvantages
Change is difficult
Need for new
infrastructure which
may be costly
Requires more
cooperation
Some jobs will be lost
Shift in local economies
Process it!
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Describe centralized power
Describe decentralized power
Explain how geography would
impact decentralized power
ENERGY
EFFICIENCY!!
!
Energy Efficiency
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The easiest “alternative” energy
“source” is the energy we don’t use
$ Savings drives innovation
Starting with increased efficiency
makes meeting demand with
sustainables much easier.
Name the city . . . .
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Switched 2,450 incandescent traffic
signals to LED to save $3.6
million/yr
Has the third biggest fleet of hybrid
vehicles in the nation
Has reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by 26% since 2007
Ranks first in the nation for
purchasing green electricity
Hometown H-town!
250+ Charging stations in Houston
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2009: Reliant Energy
sponsored the conversion of
ten City of Houston Prius
vehicles to plug-in-hybrid
electric vehicles (PHEV).
2011: the City received its
first two all electric
passenger vehicles. The all
electric Nissan Leafs have
zero tailpipe emissions, and
it is estimated that each
vehicle will save $7-$8 K in
fuel and maintenance costs
over a three year period. In
2011 the City will continue to
grow the electric vehicle fleet
by adding an additional 23
electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles – Chevy Volt, Nissan
leaf, BMW i3
Tesla – 3.7 sec to 60mph; 245
mi/charge; 0 tailpipe emissions
3 most inefficient devices
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Incandescent
lights
Internal
combustion
engine
Nuclear
electrical
generation
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5% efficient “heat
bulb”
Less than 5% of fuel moves
the driver! Energy lost in
propulsion system, idling,
running AC, conversion to
heat, moving vehicle. Vehicle
weight is responsible for more
than 2/3 of energy needed to
move it.
Consider entire life cycle of
production: mining, refining,
transportation of fuel, waste
heat of steam
3 most inefficient devices – solutions!
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Incandescent
lights
Internal
combustion
engine
Nuclear
electrical
generation
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Transition to LEDs
CAFÉ standard
currently 27mpg;
New law – 54.5
mpg by 2025
(changes start in
2017 models)
Consider entire life
cycle of production
Efficiency of a device

Energy in –
energy out as a
percentage
Net energy of a fuel or energy source
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Total power provided by source –
total energy required to produce
power
Extraction transportation
processing  transportation to
power plant  electrical generation
 transmission  end use
Compare net energy of our options
(trade off!)
What’s the difference?
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Energy efficiency
Net energy
25% OF ENERGY IS USED IN
BUILDINGS, SO. . . . .
Field trip!
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Green Resource Building Center
Last Organic Outpost
Kendall Library
Home Energy Audit 
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Create a plan to reduce your
electrical use at home.
What if you changed all your light
bulbs to LEDs?
How much power do your
computers use?
How might turning off your game
system when you’re done change
your electric bill?