Ali Mae done did her Math!
PROJECT ONE
Part One:
The first article, news.cnet.com..., is about proponents of renewable energy petitioning the President for tax credits to continue developments and projects which include solar energy, wind, biofuels, and other renewable sources.
ACORE (American Council on Renewable Energy) suggested that if these tax credits are not granted, then ""green collar" jobs will go to other countries, and American consumers may end up importing more renewable-energy products than they already do". This is a hasty generalization used to incite panic. The article is fairly emotional, using language such as "irate", "uncertainty", "pressure" and "prospects not looking very good". With language like this, I'm inclined to label the article as an appeal to emotion. Also, where no specific person is named as a proponent, the reader is led to believe that everyone is a proponent of renewable energy. "Heavy hitters in the renewable-energy business...", "well-known energy investors and business people...", and "a letter to Congress, signed by 500 industry leaders" denote that prominent proponents are all around us. This strikes me as an appeal to popularity.
This is a deductive argument because one certain outcome, unemployment, is 'sure' to stem from the failure to approve tax credits.
The next article is here: theobjectivestandard.com. This article contains unique content. Though it is about renewable energy, it is about the environmentalists against it. The article cites sources such as the BLM, the Ayn Rand Center, Arnold Schwarzenegger and the voice of Dr. Keith Lockitch. It explains how environmentalists are opposed to the destruction of public land in order to build solar power plants which has caused some conflict for the developers of 'green' energy.
Language denoting the fallacy of personal attack is used in this article, "[environmentalists'] opposition to even such ridiculous, impractical sources of energy as solar and wind reveals their basic animus against human life".
The environmentalists are made to be the scapegoat though it is obvious there are also strong feelings about "ridiculous, impractical" sources of energy.
This is an inductive argument because the overall conclusion is that environmentalists simply don't believe in using energy based on their opposition to building solar power plants.
Part Two:
Statisitics in this section are measured in BTUs, which equal 3,412 kilowatthours per BTU.
The average consumption of energy in China is 4,320,000,000,000,000,000 BTUs annually or 4.32 x 10E16.
The average consumption of energy in the United States is 9,740,000,000,000,000,000 BTUs annually or 9.74 X 10E16.
The average consumption of energy in Utah (combining residential, commercial, and industrial) is 3,450,719,376 BTUs annually or 3.45 x 10E9.
The average household consumption of energy in Utah is 31,690,656 BTUs annually or 3.17 x 10E7.
A comparison of energy consumption in percentages follows:
Utah households use .0092% of Utah state as a whole.
Utah uses .000000035% of the United States.
China uses 56% less energy than the United States.
The numbers showing average electicity use in Utah were initially cited in kilowatthours. In order to make an honest comparison, kilowatthours had to be converted to BTUs and months had to be converted to years. The equation used to convert this measurement from kwh to BTUs for annual state use is below:
Sources cited:
Part Three:
A sustainable source of renewable energy available in Utah is solar power. In order to fit the center of the Venn Diagram, this source of energy must be bearable, equitable, and viable. Assuming it fits this criteria, the source may indeed be labeled as 'sustainable'.
Let's look at the different criteria. Is solar energy bearable? Bearable means capable of being endured or tolerated. Unlike noisy windmills that create a disturbance for neighbors and eye-sores for passersby, solar panels are hardly noticable. They are built right into the roof of the home so no additional equipment is needed on the property and no noise pollution results from their use.
Is solar energy equitable? Equitable has to do with fairness and equality. Unlike deforestation that affects a large population, solar energy is publicly abundant. If your neighbor uses solar panels in their home, it will not diminish your own access to sunlight. Although the actual cost of installing solar panels isn't yet accessible to all Utah homeowners, many new developers are including solar panels in their building options. In fact, the new Daybreak development is relying heavily on solar power and has been so successful in their use of it, energy credits are actually being sold back to energy companies.
Is it viable? Utah receives a healthy dose of sunshine year round in most areas of the state. Even in winter months, we have plenty of sunny days. The potential problem lies in Utah's sometimes long winter inversions where alternative sources may need to be found. According to the World Energy Assessment, the cost of solar thermal energy is expected to decrease as advances in technology are made. Current prices per kwh are between
12-34 cents. It is anticipated that prices per kwh will drop to 4-20 cents.
According to this criteria, it appears that solar energy is a sustainable option for renewable energy in the future. It is my opinion that solar energy would reside in the center of the Venn Diagram.
For a fascinating look at some local homes using solar power, go here:
Sources cited:
Part Four:
What does it mean to be literate? Generally, it means to be fluent, to understand and comprehend, to express ideas and communicate with ease. It is interesting to apply the term 'literacy' to mathematics, but that is precisely what 1030 teaches you to do.
During the course of this class, I have learned to listen to information more critically, especially news and reports on the radio and television. I have learned to search for fallacies and pick out types of arguments as well as why those arguments are being used. This is a new and interesting way to receive information and makes for stimulating conversation!
Additionally, I have found it much easier to make conversions at work. Often I need to convert measurements to be sure accounting is correct, and I find it helpful to follow the model we learned in the units section.
Many in this class, myself included at times, may say that we "hate math", but when you see the true benefits and daily uses of quanitative reasoning vs. 'doing math', you see that there are great resources available to us if we just open our eyes and try! This is an exciting and practical alternative to simply getting through math.
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