Mark Mortensen

NorCal Eco Warriors

"Let's get carbon back in its proper place!"

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Mark's actions

Electricity Generation

Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries

#48 In-Stream Hydro, #76 Micro Wind, #78 Microgrids

I will make a donation to a nonprofit that installs microgeneration in low income countries.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Micro Wind

#76 Micro Wind

I will spend at least 30 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of Micro Wind.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Mark Mortensen 4/08/2019 10:43 PM

I'm finally getting started on this project. I teach and school has been especially busy (when isn't it, it seems). In school, though, my students are working on persuasive paragraphs related to important social and environmental issues of the day. These range from helping slow climate change to protect Polar Bear (or Panda or...) habitat, to persuading truck manufacturers to place better pollution control devices on vehicles.

Anyway, best wishes in our team efforts in this challenge. Mark

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Support Microgeneration in Low Income Countries

How can micro energy solutions reduce inequities? Why is this important to you?

Mark Mortensen 4/08/2019 10:40 PM

Oftentimes inequitable circumstances are found in areas with less infrastructure. Providing a clean source of electricity through organizations such as GivePower, can offer residents an opportunity to create a small business. This is important to many because there is increasing recognition that raising the standard of living helps locals become part of the solution.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Learn More about Micro Wind

Micro turbines can be placed on large structures to take advantage of stronger, steadier breezes. The Eiffel Tower now sports vertical axis turbines that produce electricity for use on site. Where could micro turbines potentially be installed in your city?

Mark Mortensen 4/08/2019 10:33 PM

Santa Rosa is a relatively small town with few large buildings for placing micro turbines. Several hospital buildings rise to about five stories, which gets turbines above the low level "noisy" wind. There are also some water tanks that might be used for placement as well.

I think that agricultural areas around Sonoma County would be even better locations for these wind turbines. Such areas get a lot of wind and would also benefit from the local source of electrical power.

Onshore wind power can be a major player in drawing down carbon. Costs are relatively low (especially when contrasted to permitting and build costs for fossil fuel based power plants) and, with battery technology improving storage options, so wind could be a strong player in the grid in this area.

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