Week+10

** 10th November 2011 **
 * Week 10 **

**TRANSITION TOWNS AS A DESIGN MODEL**

** 1. ** ** List the twelve principles of Transition Towns. ** - Observe and interact. - Catch and store energy. - Obtain a yield - Apply self regulation and accept feedback. - Use and value renewable resources and services. - Produce no waste. - Design from patterns to details. - Integrate rather than segregate. - Use small and slow solutions. - Use and value diversity. - Use edges and value the marginal. - Creative use and respond to change.

** 2. ** ** Describe why Rob Hopkins calls Transition Towns ‘a design concept’. ** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Hopkins calls this endeavour a design concept because it involves coming up with a solution for a problem of energy source. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">It includes the community and systems design that works in consultation and agreement with them. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">It also includes a comprehensive look at the whole system from start to finish in order to come up with a viable alternative that could be supported in the concerned area.

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 3. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** What is ‘peak oil’ and how was Transition Towns created to correct it? ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Peak Oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">After this point, the energy used to extract oil and produce energy amounts to more than is actually obtained after the series of processes. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Transition towns is a brand for environmental and social movements founded in part upon the principles of permaculture. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">It is meant as a way to combat peak oil, by utilizing alternative sources of energy.

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Rob Hopkins believes that we are a society that is addicted to petroleum and fossil fuels and that this is the century that needs to see a change in sources of energy. He helps come up with solutions, with a community, and encouraging a 20 year plan to promote foresight.

<span style="color: #000080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**HARVESTING THE WIND**

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 4. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** What is a community wind farm? How is it different than any other wind farm? ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Community wind farms are those farms that are locally owned by the community that they are situated in. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">They are invested in the development, the functioning, maintenance and yields of the wind turbines. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">They receive a cut of the energy produced as well as the profit of its sale. They are also paid a management fee to take charge of the equipment, and they are taught skills to develop more equipment for future installations. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Their personal involvement as well as their benefits obtained keep them in charge and well provided for. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">They also participate in the future of environmentally friendly energy solutions.

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 5. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** Dan Juhl says that community wind is a “trifecta,” what are the three reasons he thinks this is true? ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** Do you agree? Why or why not? ** <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">The three reasons are: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- Clean sustainable energy <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- Economic development and viability for communitites <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">- Long term low cost energy

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">He overstates the benefits I believe but they are substantial benefits that the community would not be around to experience had it not invested in wind energy and locally owned wind farms. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">It keeps them in business and preserves their farms as well as supports their energy needs.


 * <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 10pt;">6. **
 * <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 10pt;">If we used all of the wind energy available what percentage of our energy needs could it power? **


 * <span style="color: #000080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">ENERGY FOR A DEVELOPING WORLD **

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 7. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** What is micro-credit? What are the benefits and challenges? **

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 8. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** The United Nations stated that sustainable development “implies meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** Given this definition do you think the programs of Grameen Bank and Grameen Shakti (the non-profit organization) are promoting sustainable development? ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** Why or why not? Use specific examples. **

<span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** 9. ** <span style="color: #008bff; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">** How did access to renewable energy help the economic growth of the poorer communities of Bangladesh? **