Elizabeth Orozco & Karen Hagen

Figure 1. Video on the use of wind for the production of energy.

Extracted from Energy & Environmental News. 2011.

Evaluate the pros and cons of using wind as renewable energy.

Build a vertical wind turbine through the use of some recycled materials

Propose a solution to diminish the school's electrical consumption, by installing the wind turbines in the school's future greenhouse to make it self-sufficient.

Reduce the carbon footprint of Pan-American School.

o Humans destroying the cycle of life!o Extreme weather phenomena

o Floodingo Drought

o Industrial Revolution o Golden Toad is the first species to go extinct

due to climate changeo Contributors:

o Methaneo Nitrous oxideo Carbon dioxideo Deforestationo Burning fossil fuels

o Air Pollutiono Respiratory diseases, last year in Beijing

and other cities of China air reachedtoxic levels.

Figure 2. Image of air pollution during the Industrial

Revolution. Extracted from World History. n.d.

o Burning of fossil fuels (electricity)o These are a type of non renewable energy source→ materials extracted from Earth’s crust

which take millions of years to form

o Renewable resources→ never ending supply, quickly replaces itselfo Benefits of RE

o Clean air (burning fossil fuels cause air pollution)o Less CO2 is released to the atmosphere, reducing global warming

Figure 3. examples of renewable forms of energy. Extracted from Azure Education. 2016.

o ICE reported that 98.8% of Costa Rica’s electricity generation came from renewable sources (2015)

o Household uses 200-300 kilowatts per month.o December and march (windy season)o Wind farms are:

o Tejonao Parque Santa Ana

o There has been an increase in the electrical consumption from 2010 to 2015 of about 2.4%

o Best places (places where the wind is strong and reliable)o Coastal Areaso Tops of rounded hillso Open plains and gaps in mountains

Figure 4. Tejona Wind Farm. Extracted from

Periódico La Nación. 2012.

Figure 5. Parque Santa Ana Wind Farm. Extracted

from SmartGrid Costa Rica. 2012.

Figure 6. Video on Costa Rica’s exclusive use of renewable

energy for 75 days. Extracted from ODN. 2015.

o Lately average wind speed is 40km/h

o Daily energy consumption is of 699 kW/h

o Around 3 million colones are spent in electricity each month ($6000 aprox) not a big campus, electricity is not required 24/7

Figure 7. Pan-American School Logo.

Extracted from PAS Costa Rica. 2016. Figure 8. Pan-American School Campus.

Extracted from PAS Costa Rica. 2016.

Table 1.

Monthly measures of the electrical consumption at Pan-American School

Note: Measurement of the monthly energy (KWH) of last year according to the Compañía

Nacional de Fuerza de Luz (CNFL. Information taken from Pan-American School.

o Cheapo Eco-friendlyo Uses little spaceo Produces little or no noiseo Able to operate with minimal wind speedo Not usually harmful for animalso Easy to buildo Efficiento Does not need to be placed in a high location

Figure 9. Illustrative image of wind

turbines. Extracted from PAS Costa Rica.

2016.

Graph No.1. Comparison of the different renewable energy

productions according to the Instituto Costarricense de

Electricidad (ICE) during 2014.

Graph No.2. Comparison of the different renewable energy productions

according to the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) during

2015.

o Aid the school's electrical consumption and reduce the carbon footprint in our school through the use of renewable energy.

o Learn to build a wind turbine

o Make a greenhouse that is completely self-sufficient

Figure 10. Illustrative image of Carbon Foot

Print Elimination. Extracted from This

Adventure Called Life 2010.Figure 11. Wind Turbine Icon. Extracted

from IconFinder. n.d.

Figure 12. Self Sufficiency illustrative

image. Extracted from Korea It Times.

2011.

Materials:

o Tubes

o 2 Oil tanks

o Plywood

o Metal Plates

o Strong Alternator

La Gran Época/AFP. (2015, December 18). Costa Rica cierra el 2015 con récord de generación eléctrica

sustentable (oficial). In La Gran Época. Retrieved from http://www.lagranepoca.com/medio-

ambiente/35459-costa-rica-cierra-el-2015-con-record-de-generacion-electrica-sustentable-oficial.html

Lizano, L. (2015, July). RENEWABLE ENERGY IN COSTA RICA. [Power Point slides].

Retrieved from Gobierno de Costa Rica.

35 Facts About Climate Change - Conserve Energy Future. (2013). Retrieved from

http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-climate-change-facts-php

Arias, L. (2015, November/December). Costa Rica increases wind power generation. Retrieved from

https://www.ticotimes.net/2015/11/17/costa-rica-increases-wind-power-generation

Renewable Energy in Costa Rica. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_in_Costa_Rica#Wind_power

Renewable Energy Background [PDF]. (1998). Canadian Government. Wind Farms in Costa Rica. (n.d.).

Retrieved from http://www.thewindpower.net/country_windfarms_en_29_costa- rica.php