By Tommy Giljohann October 5, 2010

1. Conserve Energy Natural Resources Earth’s Resources 1. Replace old light bulbs with energy saving fluorescent bulbs. 2. Turn off all electronic devices that are not in use. Not only turn them off but try to remember to unplug them. 3. Air dry your dishes. 4. Clean or replace air filters regularly. 5. Close vents and doors in unused rooms. No need to cool or warm areas that people are not in. 6. Weather strip doors and windows! Weather stripping is an inexpensive alternative to replacing windows and will save you hundreds of dollars! 7. Wash clothes in cold water. Believe it or not cold water does clean, and many laundry soap manufacturers now offer soaps specifically made for washing clothes in cold water. 8. Repair or replace leaky faucets. A leaky faucet waste upwards of 30,000 gallons of water a year. 9. Wash clothes in the morning or evening when its cooler. Sounds silly but the heat generated by the dryer will warm the house and in the summer months your air conditioner will use more energy to cool your home. 10. When shopping for new appliances invest in Energy Star. Energy Star appliances are not by any means cheap, but the upfront cost will pay for it self ten fold in the amount of energy you will be saving over time. Renewable Resources A natural resource is a renewable resource if it is replaced by natural processes at a rate comparable or faster than its rate of consumption by humans. Non-Renewable Resources A non-renewable resource is a natural resource which cannot be produced, grown, generated, or used on a scale which can sustain its consumption rate. By Tommy Giljohann October 5, 2010 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_resources http://www.squidoo.com/10waystoconserveenergy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-renewable_resources http://www.eco-pros.com/naturalresources.htm

2. Renewable Resources Make Your Community Aware Non-Renewable Resources What kind of energy do we need as a community? Solar Energy Coal Energy derived directly from the Sun. It is the most abundant source of energy on Earth. A readily combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock normally occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds. • Petroleum is used in nearly everything we use. Take a look around your house and you will discover that everything many items are plastic from toys to plastic ware. http://www.our-energy.com/news/china_india_coal_as_main_energy_source.html http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/Courseware/Class-16110/ • Natural Gas is an extremely cheap resource. People use natural gas for their stoves, grills, fireplaces, clothes dryer, heating water for sink and shower use. Wind Power Derived from uneven heating of the Earth's surface from the Sun and the warm core. Petroleum • Coal is used primarily as an energy source, either for heat or electricity. A naturally occurring, toxic, flammable liquid, it is found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. • Uranium is mainly used to fuel nuclear power plants. Hydropower http://www.greendiary.com/entry/britain-knocks-denmark-walking-ahead-on-wind-power/ http://www.stockwatch.in/energy-sector-and-oil-futures-update-commodity-traders-nirmal-bang-22183 Energy derived from the movement of water in rivers and oceans. What kind of energy should we strive for? Natural Gas • Solar energy is the most abundant resource and its clean but only certain areas would really benefit from solar energy. Also, have you seen the price to install solar panels on your roof? A gas consisting primarily of methane. Geothermal Power • Wind Power is only useful when it is windy, however when the wind blows, the windmills have the power to produce clean energy. Directly harnesses the natural flow of heat from the ground. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy/guide/m/hydropower_large.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/todbaker/9148692/ • Hydropower is simple and clean: water pushes some kind of turbine and energy is produced. It is not really useful if our community doesn’t live by a lake or river. Uranium A silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table with atomic number 92. • Geothermal Power in the United States is primarily used for heat pumps. http://www.planethopia.info/earth/geothermal-power-as-alternative-energy/ http://blogs.knoxnews.com/munger/2009/02/surplus_uranium_and_the_doe_mo.html