Understanding Energy Consumption: Resources, Allocation, & Conservation

1. SEV4. Students will understand and describe availability, allocation and conservation of energy and other resources Essential Question: How do we power our lives?

2. Instructions: Using Global Science textbooks, write words & definitions for the following energy terms:

3. = ability to move matter • Law of Conservation of Energy = Energy is not created nor destroyed, just changed from one form to another • In terms of ENERGY, Earth is an OPEN system (energy FLOWS!)

4. U.S. has ~4.6% of world’s population; BUT uses 24% of world’s energy • Top Energy User in U.S.: Industry • Industrial uses: mining, smelting metals; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers

5. Nonrenewable resources= not replaced within human timescale & can be used up, includes: • Fossil fuels • Nuclear energy • Renewable resources • Solar energy • Wind energy • Water energy • Geothermal energy • Biomass

6. ~85% of energy used in U.S. comes from fossil fuels • Fossil fuels (ff)= remains of ancient organisms that have energy-rich carbon bonds & can be burned for energy(heat) • Coal- from plants • Oil & natural gas- from marine organisms • Pros: Cheap, easily transported • Cons : Nonrenewable; pollution/ climate change; unevenly distributed in world

7. Coal = solid ff containing carbon & sulfur • Used for 50% of electricity in U.S. • Pros: cheap; lots in U.S. • Cons: land damage; sulfur in coal → acid rain; climate change • Oil (petroleum)= liquid ff • Pros: used to make gas, chemicals, & plastics • Cons: air pollution & climate change, oil spills; political turmoil

8. 3. Natural Gas= gas ff - mostly methane (CH4) w/ other gases (ethane, propane, butane) • Pro: Most efficient & cleanest burning ff • Cons: found with oil; climate change

9. Nuclear energy: energy from nuclear reaction; 2 types: • Fission: splitting of heavy nucleus into 2; releases energy (heat) • Nuclear power plants use fission of Uranium isotopes • Hit with neutrons to start process • Fusion: formation of heavy nucleus from 2 lighter ones; releases energy • Not used a lot b/c takes so much energy

10. Pros: • No greenhouse gases or air pollution • Lots of energy from small source • Cons: • Nonrenewable • Expensive start-up • Radioactive waste • Meltdowns (Chernobyl & Fukushima)

11. Can be used continuously without being used up!

12. Wind is converted to electricity by wind turbines • Pros: no air pollution/CO2; efficient as coal • Cons: Depends on local weather & geography • Effects birds, bats

13. Passive solar heating: using sun to heat rooms directly Ex: In Northern hemisphere, south facing windows receive the most sunlight Photovoltaic cell or “solar cells”: silicon film that changes sunlight into electricity

14. Pros:Renewable; no pollution/ CO2 Government incentives:low-interest loans to people who build solar homes Cons:Expensive(but getting cheaper) Needs back-up system

15. Hydroelectric energy = energy produced from moving water stored behind dam in reservoir • Accounts for 20% of the world’s electricity - Big in Canada, U.S., Brazil, China, Russia • Pros: • Renewable; no air pollution • Cheap & efficient • Costs ~1 cent per kWh to produce electricity at a hydro plant; coal costs ~4 cents per kWh & nuclear plants cost ~2 cents per kWh. • Water for recreation, irrigation • Cons: habitat destruction, expensive to build

16. Geothermal energy- energy from Earth’s inner heat Hot water can be piped directly into buildings & industries for heat Power plants can use the energy to generate electricity - requires pump, turbine, & generator Pro: renewable; cleaner Con: expensive

17. Biomass= organic matter that can be used as fuel: dung, wood, sugar cane, methane, ethanol Examples Methane = gas produced when bacteria decompose organic wastes CH4 from landfills used for energy Ethanol = alcohol fuel made by fermenting sugars found in grains, such like corn Found in our gasoline

18. Pros: renewable; less toxic fumes compared to FF; uses wastes Cons: air pollution, deforestation

19. Electric generator: device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy • Coal burned or nuclear power used to heat water → steam • Steam turns blades of turbine (mechanical energy) • Or wind/water turns blades of turbine • Turbine turns electro-magnet inside wires in electric generator → causes electrons to move in wires = electricity

21. Most efficient & available option • Gasoline-electric hybrids: • Have small, gas engine & battery-powered electric motor – switch between both. • Examples: Toyota Prius, Honda Civic hybrid, etc. • Plug-in hybrids: • Use power more of the time & plug in to recharge; use gas engine as backup • Example: Chevy Volt • Government incentives! – tax breaks if drive hybrid or electric vehicle

22. Completely powered by electric motor • Examples: Nissan Leaf, Smart Car

23. Biodiesel = a vegetable oil- or animal fat-based diesel fuel

24. Use Hydrogen gas (H2) – Problem: H2 doesn’t occur in nature; have to use energy to split water → expensive & inefficient Fuel Cells = device that converts hydrogen into electricity Only waste is water Fuel cell cars: Pro: no pollutants Con: expensive; require major changes to infrastructure(where are the pumps?)

25. Drive less: walk, ride bikes, carpool • Turn thermostats down in winter (<68°F); up in summer (>78 °F) • Turn off lights, TV, computers, etc. when not in use (use power strips) • Cooler showers • Wash clothes in cold water • Compact fluorescent bulbs • Recycle • Eat locally-grown, in-season food • Buy long-lasting products • Non-disposable

26. No menu option required – just do definitions! • Biodegradable (p. 654) • Compost • Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation & Liability Act (Superfund) • Environmental impact • Hazardous waste • Municipal solid waste • Nonbiodegradable (p. 654) • Recycling • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act • Sanitary landfill – write entire definition! • Solid Waste Disposal Act NO ELECTRONICS ON TEST DAYS WHATSOVER!