Week 8 March 23-29

This week was a continuation of Life Cycle Assessments with Dr. Sergio Pacca from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. When discussing renewable energy options for the near term future, it is important to think about the economic side of the project as well. This is important in comparing technology options and how feasible they are on a large scale. This week we looked at cost-benefit assessments for various technologies and compared them to various energy scenarios. The last topic we looked at were 'No Regret' investment options, which are those with a long term cost savings. These investments are thought to have a negative cost, meaning that the benefits, whether implicit or explicit, are greater than the expected costs. Such examples with a negative cost range from the switch from incandescent lighting to LEDs, to full hybridization of automobiles, to converting landfill gas to electricity.

A group presenting their findings:

While turning in some paperwork at the Sheriff's Office (not pertaining to any crimes, I assure you) we came across this snowman being constructed during our lunch break in the Radhustorg, the main square in town. It appears to be a solution to both the morale problem of gloomy weather and the quandry of trying to remove vast amounts of snow from the middle of town.

Apparently the appearance of the huge snowman is an annual tradition in town and signals that Easter is not far away. This was becoming clear to RES students as well, who were looking forward to some free time away from the classroom. We were looking forward to the 1 week break just as much as the grade school children in town (and maybe a few of the younger RES students also) were looking forward to their Easter baskets. Signs of Gleðilega Páska (Happy Easter) were appearing everywhere from bilboards to junk adverts in our mailboxes.

It seems like the weather in Iceland is unpredictable at best. Our trips to the environs around town have shown how drastically the weather can turn from sunny to snowing to sideways rain, all over the course of a few kilometers. However, this week seemed to be snow, and lots of it. The above picture shows a rare clear afternoon. The view is of the Kjalarsida apartments in the foreground and the ski resort, Hliðarfjall, in the background. If you look closely on the second floor, you can almost make out how clean my place is.