#eroei

Après avoir débroussaillé un peu le concept d’énergie, j’aimerais parler des énergies fossiles. Aujourd’hui, on entend beaucoup parler de la transition énergétique que nos sociétés doivent réaliser. Mais pour bien comprendre les enjeux derrière ce terme, je pense qu’il est important d’exposer pourquoi nous avons utilisé des énergies fossiles en premier lieu, et quels sont les problèmes qui nous pendent au nez avec ces dernières à court terme.

Il y a trois grands types d’énergies fossiles : le pétrole, le charbon et le gaz. Dans mes exemples, je vais surtout parler du pétrole, mais le propos est généralisable.

D’un monde 100% renouvelable à un monde 80% fossile

Je vais commencer par un petit retournement rhétorique : aujourd’hui on veut sortir des énergies fossiles pour faire un monde 100% renouvelable. La bonne nouvelle, c’est que 100% renouvelable, c’est possible ! L’humanité a d’ailleurs vécu de cette façon pendant des dizaines de milliers d’années ! Mais à l’époque, la population était basse (moins de 500 millions jusqu’à la révolution industrielle) et travail de la terre était très majoritaire dans la population. D’un point de vue énergétique, l’intégralité de la production était réalisée à partir de travail humain ou animal. Aujourd’hui, le constat est complètement différent : quasiment toute la production humaine est issue du travail des machines. Ainsi donc, si l’on devait parler de “crise” ou de “rupture énergétique”, on pourrait dire que celle-ci a commencé au moment où l’humanité s’est mise à dompter l’énergie fossile.

Je préfère le mot “crise” à “rupture” car une crise, c’est une rupture provisoire de l’état d’équilibre. Autrement dit, une fois que la crise est passée on retourne à l’état antérieur. La rupture montre juste une cassure dans une courbe, sans nécessité de revenir en arrière. Je vais préciser dans ce billet pourquoi je pense qu’on est bien dans une situation de crise.

Humain VS fossile : le fossile gagne ! (Et de loin !)

Un humain, comme tous les mammifères à sang chaud, c’est principalement un radiateur sur pattes : sur toute l’énergie issue de l’alimentation, une majorité sert à créer de la chaleur. En une journée, un humain restitue à peu près 5 kilowattheure (kWh) d’énergie thermique. Mais ça, ça ne nous intéresse pas beaucoup, comme énergie : la chaleur est une énergie dégradée qu’on ne peut pas retransformer. Ce qui nous intéresse, c’est l’énergie mécanique, car c’est celle que l’on mobilise pour produire un travail. Sur ce point, un humain “produit” entre 0.05 et 0.5kWh lors d’une journée de travail intensif. En parlant de ces chiffres, Jean-Marc Jancovici donne l’exemple d’un alpiniste qui monterait et descendrait le Mont Blanc en une journée : il dégagerait 0.5kWh d’énergie mécanique, suite à un dur labeur (quand même !).

En comparaison, 1 litre de pétrole, c’est 5kWh d’énergie mécanique, c’est à dire entre 10 à 100 fois plus que ce que peut fournir un humain en une journée. À 60$ le baril (1 baril = 159 litres), on comprend que les énergies fossiles sont beaucoup plus denses énergétiquement et surtout beaucoup moins chères que l’équivalent en travail humain (une journée de 8 heures au SMIC actuel, c’est presque 80€). En résumé : dans 1 litre de pétrole à 1.50€, il y a autant d’énergie que lors de 10 à 100 jours de travail forcé d’un individu.

Cette comparaison amène à parler d’esclave énergétique : une unité factice qui permet de comparer le travail fourni par les fossiles au travail fourni par un humain. Ainsi, après quelques calculs, un français moyen dispose en permanence d’environ 400 esclaves qui travaillent pour lui au quotidien pour lui fournir son énergie.

Glass Battery Could Lead to End of Oil

C O N T E N T S:

KEY TOPICS

In the short term, there are bed rock solid reasons why the price of oil may be up or down, well above or below the actual cost of production, and likewise rock solid reasons why end users will pay the prices they do actually pay.(More…)

In waste management, recy-cling reduces the amount of waste, thereby reducing both pollution from landfills and litter from improper…

“The energy future is right around the corner!”

Did You Know?

That there is an Organic Farming for Dummies?

That no matter where you live, you can eat what you grow?

That keeping your lawn beautifully green year around kills animals?

Gardening is both therapeutic and thrilling?

Things that you might learn while reading this post:

1. Good reads that will inspire you to garden

2. Chemicals are NOT the answer

3. Start small! Easiest way to start growing your own food, now!

4. What does your Eroy (EROEI) look like?

Good Reads:

Let’s get a little personal, shall we? I have a self-designed major. I have spent almost 5 years developing and enhancing my knowledge in particular topics to earn a specific degree. The title of my major is Environmental Sustainability. It’s almost clever. This major encapsulates very diverse and interdisciplinary topics such as agriculture, wildlife management, conservation, sustainable business management and nonprofit organizations, forestry, and the study of food. 

Throughout all these strange variations of the environment and society, I have been able to enjoy a large selection of books. And I would like to share a list of a few of them with you. I found myself and reevaluated my purpose through many of these pages. I hope that if you even read one of them, you too will find some serenity. 

During the creation of this major and choosing the classes to go in it, I have received some really good information. By the end of each semester I did not want to do with my books what I did in my last major--Music Theory--which was to immediately sell or burn them alive. Yes, I set flames to a book or two when I was theory major. It was invigorating though irrational. 

I took a few classes on Women and Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management. Some of the books that I was assigned rocked my world:

The Town Food Saved by: Ben Hewitt

The Omnivores Dilemma by: Michael Pollan

The Botany of Desire by: Michael Pollan

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by: Barbara Kingsolver

One class I took called Organic Farming, assigned these books:

Organic Farming for Dummies (The professor really thought highly of us)

Start with the Soil by: Grace Gershuny

Some other really great books to read up on gardening skills are:

Gaia's Garden by: Toby Hemenway

Permaculture: A Designers' Manual by: Bill Mollison

Creating a Forest Garden: Working with Nature to Grow Edible Crops by: Martin Crawford

Mycelium Running by: Paul Stamets (My personal favorite!)

(N)or(m)ganic Gardening:

Why is the idea of organic gardening so trendy and yet unused in the world of gardening and farming? Our ancestors, who fully lived off the land, did not spray mass amounts of chemicals on the plants for them to flourish. There are other methods such as inter-cropping, using entomology to attract beneficial insects to fight off the less beneficial ones, and even natural additives that help prevent certain problems in the garden from occurring. That is organic gardening! That should just be normal gardening. 

Round up, other chemical pesticides, and yard enhancers have vast environmental impacts that lead to larger consequences. Everything we apply to the land eventually enter storm drains, river basins, and watersheds. These applications can cause algal blooms, polluted habitats, and even death to living organisms. This is just not the answer to me, though I do lead an more eco-centric minded lifestyle versus anthropocentric. 

If you google “organic farming” this is the definition you will find:

“A basic definition of organic gardening is gardening without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. But organic gardening is much more than simply replacing man-made chemicals with those derived from natural sources. It is a philosophy of gardening that supports the health of the whole system.” -North Carolina Cooperative Extension 

https://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2012/03/what-is-organic-gardening/

I would personally agree, through the study of environmental ethics, a whole system or holistic approach is the best way for most things to thrive. 

Perspective, perspective, perspective:

I am reading a book called “Environment and Society” the second edition by: Paul Robbins for an upper level geography course. The book is a really good guide and could honestly be added to the list of awesome reads. A recent chapter addresses lawns. I know that lawns are a strange thing to add in with organic and urban gardening, but soon it will all make sense.

My Paper on the chapter reads:

           Just like almost everything else humans do on a daily basis, beautifying our lawns is yet another social construction of nature. Paul Robbins chapter on lawns goes through the risk and chemical decision-making (or ethics), social construction of lawns determining the judgment or perception of others, and the political and economic marketplace of the global chemical exchange. No matter which direction you choose to look at lawns today, either environmental and health concerns or appreciation and adornment of them, even those opposed to the negative impacts continue fighting to keep them green.

           Thanks to the Columbian exchange, European influence, the rise of the American Dream, and the upsurge of chemicals since the early 1950s, lawns have become an increasingly important cultural aspect. As monoculturous turfgrass swept the nation, literally, so did the impact of chemical herbicides and insecticides. The risk perception of chemical use in society seemingly falls into the “ignorance is bliss” category for most who would rather dress their dogs in booties than discontinue hazardous spraying. (True story: a woman put booties on her dog every time it was time to get the lawn sprayed in order to keep it green, because her dog was allergic to the spray and it made its paws bleed profusely and have seizures). With many of ideologies of land use and aesthetically pleasing—socially constructed—curb appeal, distribution and manufacturing companies, as well as realtors, retailers, home owner’s associations, and everyone in between profits, while the environmental and public health (and animal health) continues to go bankrupt.

           Lawns have become socially constructed as what we know and love today through the expansion of agriculture or animal grazing, suburban inhabitation, and the overall integration of humans dominating many parts of the planet. What most of the public seems to lack, is the knowledge of where these petroleum-based products following the commodity chain end up. Paul Robbins reiterates on the idea of spatial fix and highlights the dangers of these chemicals flowing right into family trusted stores, household products, and then out into the creek running through your neighbor’s backyard. The pull marketing approach, an innovative public interest sparker, has not only expanded chemical use, but also boosted overaccumulation of these products, and widened the wallets of already wealthy capitalists. A banner may soon read: A green lawn today, leads to a green lawn (or a eutrophic wasteland downstream) tomorrow.

So the point is that our society is more inclined to continue the use of these chemicals, despite the health and environmental impacts, just so that our lawns can stay lush and green. There is something not so normal or organic about this painted picture. 

Start Small:

Quick and Easy Guide to Gardening:

No matter where you live or what your job schedule looks like, believe it or not, you can garden. Trust me I am a college student. I hope you can pick up on my facetious tone. No but seriously, for 4 semesters straight I took 17 and 18 hours, worked 2-4 jobs at once, I was in 6 campus organizations, and the Project Manager for Design for a Council that oversees much of the events in my entire college. My life was so busy I forgot to breathe. I was working for the university’s outdoor recreation department leading outdoor trips on the weekends and also getting certified to become a Level II Firefighter. Somehow my favorite hobby remained square-foot gardening. 

I was able to sustain high yields without the use of chemical pesticides or herbicides. I produced full salads regularly that I consumed almost daily. I had a small vertical herb garden with parsley, cilantro, and basil that I plucked from for weeks (when I had time to cook). I had a regular watering schedule and I even shared with the neighbors. I think it is important to mention I live in a very small apartment with a cement patio 10 ft long by 5 ft wide. My raised bed container that I built myself one Saturday afternoon, was 4x4 foot. 

Here’s a photo:

The easiest thing to start growing is microgreens and herbs. No matter if it’s snowing outside or there’s a desert out your window, you can grow these things inside and enjoy them within a few short weeks from seed.

Types of organic and urban gardening:

raised-bed gardening

the square-foot method

rooftop gardening 

community gardening (Check out your local community gardens, I bet there is one close by if you live in the city!)

container gardening (can be done in tires and other recycled materials)

edible landscape gardening (we had this in Hawaii, almost every flower on site was edible and was added as a garnish in our salads!)

food forest (worth looking into if you have land)

no-till

double-dug

rows

Hugelkultur 

vermiculture 

The Healing Garden:

Because you know I love stories...

My main project this summer for my internship was a HUGE challenge to tackle but it was a million times worth it. I basically chose an area on the farm that was overgrown and needing to be revamped into usable fertile space. A few of the other interns joined me on this journey so that the project could reach completion. I created a layout for what I called “The Healing Garden”. I did tons of research on plants that had medicinal properties and though of how I could implement them into sections, where eventually you could walk through with a basket and take away plants to make a product as well as a positive piece of my mind. 

I have had an ungodly amount of health problems throughout my life. Something I never realized before was that institutions of all kinds and hospitals all over the world have built gardens to help heal the sick and mend broken spirits. Just being in nature helps promote happiness and well-being. In the duration of this project, my group members and I were able to turn 190 feet of overgrown space into a healing oasis.

There were 7 sections of the garden. Each were dedicated to plants that heal or help with the following ailments: 

1. native herbs and teas 

2. skin irritations (ex. SPF and burns)

3. digestion problems and PMS

4. headaches, hangovers, and other head related issues

5. the common cold and flu

6. hair care (ex. shampoos and conditioners)

7. salves

The last section was a bit larger than the rest because throughout the creation and restoration of this healing garden we also developed a product, which could be sold in the local farmers market and at the farm’s smoothie stand. We were able to combine sustainable business practices with farming and landscape design in order to produce a really cool everlasting impact on the farm even after our internship was complete. 

One of the biggest motivators for me during the project was working on my Eroy (actually spelled EROEI). This was something the instructors taught myself and my fellow interns. It was a key component in the initial creation of my project. 

EROEI stands for:

E- energy

R- return

O- over

E- energy 

I- input 

So today or tomorrow, when you leave the house and get ready to head into work or wherever your busy day is taking you, think about your EROEI. Don’t work yourself to death for a company that is paying you minimum wage and taking more from you what you are giving it. (Unless you want to). Don’t invest your life into something or someone who doesn’t also empower and inspire you. I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase, “you get what you give”. There’s always a balance to things. This is 100% true! But sometimes, like with gardening or farming, wouldn’t it be that much better to improve you EROEI so that you have more “hammock time”?

Good luck, stay inspired and stay loving the planet!

References:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/

http://permaculturenews.org/2012/01/04/hugelkultur-composting-whole-trees-with-ease/

http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/gardening-methods-zmaz86jazgoe

The Evolution of Energy Sources

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Its biggest consuming sector, electrical power, does get 53% of renewable energy?s output, but this compares favorably to the 71%-100% that the other energy sources (besides natural gas) contribute to their biggest end user.(More…)

For these reasons, we are suggesting that nuclear energy has to be the bridging technology that allows us to reduce our hydrocarbon use…