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mission:log:2012:02:03:is-burning-wood-bad [2013/06/05 14:34] – external edit 127.0.0.1mission:log:2012:02:03:is-burning-wood-bad [2023/04/19 13:58] (current) – [How much is that in area] chrono
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 ===== Domestic fuelwood consumption worldwide ===== ===== Domestic fuelwood consumption worldwide =====
  
-Wood used to be the traditional primary energy source of all people for Millenia until the industry nations started to rely heavily on coal, followed by the electrification of households. On the other hand, many developing nations still rely on fuelwood as primary energy source. Therefore, the first step is to find multiple sources to assess, how much wood was, is and is going to be used as primary energy source in households worldwide.+Wood used to be the traditional primary energy source of all people for Millenia until the industry nations started to rely heavily on coal, followed by the electrification of households. On the other hand, many "developing" nations still rely on fuelwood as primary energy source. Therefore, the first step is to find multiple sources to assess, how much wood was, is and is going to be used as primary energy source in households worldwide.
  
 **Estimations of world fuelwood consumption made during the 1990s (million m³ p.a.)** **Estimations of world fuelwood consumption made during the 1990s (million m³ p.a.)**
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 <newcolumn> <newcolumn>
  
-<x 12>+<m 12>
 v = ( {dwh^{2}}/{1000}+{dwh^{2}}/{1000} ) * (h-nh) * vcp v = ( {dwh^{2}}/{1000}+{dwh^{2}}/{1000} ) * (h-nh) * vcp
-</x>+</m>
  
 </columns> </columns>
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 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-<x 15>+<m 15>
 ( {25^{2}}/{1000}+{25^{2}}/{1000} ) * (25-25) * 3% \approx 0.63 ( {25^{2}}/{1000}+{25^{2}}/{1000} ) * (25-25) * 3% \approx 0.63
-</x>+</m>
  
 <newcolumn> <newcolumn>
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 \\ \\
 \\ \\
-<x 17>+<m 17>
 {1605000000}/{({1+0.63}/2)} \approx 1969325153 {1605000000}/{({1+0.63}/2)} \approx 1969325153
-</x>+</m>
  
 </columns> </columns>
  
-<note important>According to these statistics, at least **1.97 billion trees** worldwide were cut down in 2005 to be **used as fuelwood**.</note>+<WRAP round important>According to these statistics, at least **1.97 billion trees** worldwide were cut down in 2005 to be **used as fuelwood**.</WRAP>
 ==== How much is that in area ==== ==== How much is that in area ====
  
-Assuming 1 tree occupies an average area of 20m²: +Assuming 1 average tree occupies an area of 20m²:
- +
-1.97 bill * 0.000020 km² = 39400 km² = Size of Switzerland +
  
 +<m 17>
 +1969325153 * 0.000020 km^2 \approx 39386 km^2
 +</m>
  
 +This is equivalent to the size of Switzerland.
  
 ==== How much is that in people? ==== ==== How much is that in people? ====
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 ==== Analysis ==== ==== Analysis ====
  
-Although newer data indicates, that the consumption levels are lower than the 1990 projections, all projections have one thing in common: Unless humankind develops alternative, sustainable & clean energy sources, available to //everyone// worldwide, fuelwood will continue to be the only available energy source for more than a quarter of the population on the face of the earth. These people rely on it to survive and have no alternative to seize, in order to minimize the impact their actions may have on their environment for at least another 20 years. +Although newer data indicates, that the consumption levels are lower than the 1990 projections, all projections have one thing in common: Unless humankind develops alternative, sustainable & clean energy sources, available to //everyone// worldwide, fuelwood will continue to be the only available energy source for more than a quarter of the population on the face of the earth. These people rely on it to survive and have no alternative to seize, in order to minimize the impact their actions may have on their environment and their own health for at least another 20 years. 
  
 ===== Consequences ===== ===== Consequences =====
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 ~~CL~~ ~~CL~~
  
-<blockquote>As a soil amendment, biochar significantly increases the efficiency of, and reduces the need for, traditional chemical fertilizers, while greatly enhancing crop yields.<cite>[[http://http://www.biochar-international.org/|International Biochar Initiative (IBI)+<blockquote>As a soil amendment, biochar significantly increases the efficiency of, and reduces the need for traditional chemical fertilizers, while greatly enhancing crop yields.<cite>[[http://http://www.biochar-international.org/|International Biochar Initiative (IBI)
 ]]</cite></blockquote> ]]</cite></blockquote>
  
 ===== Dangers & risks ===== ===== Dangers & risks =====
  
-Use of biomass as primary energy source for households in itself is not a cause for concern. However, when resources are harvested unsustainably and energy conversion technologies are inefficient, there are serious adverse consequences for health, the environment, and economic development. Over 1 million people — mostly women and children — die prematurely every year because of exposure to indoor air pollution (Smoke of open fires). Valuable time and effort are devoted to fuel collection instead of education or income generation. Environmental damage can also result, such as land degradation and regional air pollution.+Use of biomass as primary energy source for households in itself is not a cause for concern. However, when resources are harvested unsustainably and energy conversion technologies are inefficient, there are serious adverse consequences for health, the environment and economic development. Over 1 million people — mostly women and children — die prematurely every year because of exposure to indoor air pollution (Smoke of open fires). Valuable time and effort are devoted to fuel collection instead of education or income generation. Environmental damage can also result, such as land degradation and regional air pollution.
  
 The environmental impacts of inefficient fuelwood use are not really new. Burning wood has contributed to the deforestation of numerous regions of the world. Even at the early stages of industrialization, local pollution of air and water was a well known problem.  The environmental impacts of inefficient fuelwood use are not really new. Burning wood has contributed to the deforestation of numerous regions of the world. Even at the early stages of industrialization, local pollution of air and water was a well known problem. 
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 Burning wood is neither good nor bad. The systematic tendency of "developed" society and industry to blow things out of sustainable proportion is bad. Being controlled by blind greed or irrational belief and fear, not considering the consequences or not reacting to early warnings is worse. But the worst thing is, to simply do nothing. Burning wood is neither good nor bad. The systematic tendency of "developed" society and industry to blow things out of sustainable proportion is bad. Being controlled by blind greed or irrational belief and fear, not considering the consequences or not reacting to early warnings is worse. But the worst thing is, to simply do nothing.
  
-The goal in biomass fuel and energy conversion research should be to find ways to support households and people in developing nations, who have been traditionally relying on wood as primary energy source and currently have no means to help themselves protecting their health or environment. Simple, cheap and easy to build open-resource hardware like [[lab:helios|Helios]] address these issues.+The goal in biomass fuel and energy conversion research should be to find ways to support households and people in developing nations, who have been traditionally relying on wood as primary energy source and currently have no means to help themselves protecting their health or environment. Simple, cheap and easy to build open-resource hardware like [[lab:helios|Helios]] or any other TLUD concept can address these issues.
  
-People in industry nations, who statistically need significantly more power per person than developing nations and //choose// to burn wood in an environment, where other options are available, should consider small and efficient biomass-gasifiers in local, [[http://www.fundamentalform.com/html/biomass_gasifier_breakthrough.html|community based cogeneration systems]] to generate heat and electricity at the same time. +People in industry nations, who statistically need significantly more power per person than developing nations and //choose// to burn wood in an environment, where other options are available, should consider small and efficient biomass-gasifiers in local, community operated cogeneration systems like a [[http://www.allpowerlabs.com/oldsite/tag/open-source/|GEK]] or [[http://www.fundamentalform.com/html/biomass_gasifier_breakthrough.html|this one]] to generate heat and electricity at the same time. 
  
 Burning biomass must not become a simple and cheap way to relieve the political and industrial dependency on oil, coal and gas by firing big industry operated grid-power plants with biomass. Burning biomass must not become a simple and cheap way to relieve the political and industrial dependency on oil, coal and gas by firing big industry operated grid-power plants with biomass.
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