Primary Source Ranking
Rank the top 9 primary sources of energy using the following parameters (each parameter is a different list). Your energy sources are: Wind, Coal, Hydroelectric, Biomass, Natural Gas, Solar, Geothermal, Oil, and Nuclear
List #1: Rank the sources in order of MOST environmentally friendly to LEAST environmentally friendly based on what you have learned in class. Next to each source, give an example of the type of pollution produced by that source.
Geothermal - Hazardous gases or steam
Wind - Kills birds and bats
Biomass - Air pollution (carbon monoxide)
Hydroelectric- Methane from flooded vegetation
Solar - High input of metals and water in manufacturing
Nuclear - radioactive waste
Natural Gas - chemically contaminated water from fracking
Oil - carbon emissions
Coal - carbon emissions
List #2: Rank the sources based on the MOST used to LEAST used source in the US.
Oil
Natural Gas
Coal
Nuclear
Biomass
Hydroelectric
Wind
Geothermal
Solar
List #3: Rank the sources based on the MOST used to LEAST used source WORLDWIDE.
Oil
Coal
Natural Gas
Biomass
Nuclear
Hydroelectric
Solar
Wind
Geothermal
List #4: Rank the sources based on the MOST amount of useful energy generated versus LEAST amount of useful energy generated by the source.
Coal
Wind
Hydroelectric
Geothermal (Tie-8)
Solar (Tie-8)
Biomass (Tie-8)
Natural Gas (Tie-8)
Nuclear (Tie-8)
Oil
Biofuels VS Fossil Fuels
Although the product of the combustion of each of these energy sources is carbon dioxide, which is considered to be a green house gas, biofuels are being sold as an alternative to fossil fuels. If they both release the same "pollutant" how can one be better than the other?? Compare and contrast these two energy sources in terms of their availability and environmental impact, give examples of each, and explain the difference between the carbon dioxide released by fossil fuels and biofuels in terms of their impact on the carbon cycle.
Although the product of the combustion of each of these energy sources is carbon dioxide, which is considered to be a green house gas, biofuels are being sold as an alternative to fossil fuels. If they both release the same "pollutant" how can one be better than the other?? Compare and contrast these two energy sources in terms of their availability and environmental impact, give examples of each, and explain the difference between the carbon dioxide released by fossil fuels and biofuels in terms of their impact on the carbon cycle.
Fossil fuels take millions of years to form from compressed organic matter but are used at a much quicker rate which means they will soon run out. Biomass, on the other hand, is more readily sustainable in terms of availability because it does not require millions of years to form and because it is abundant in the form of current organic matter wood, charcoal, manure, and many other things. While both involve burning organic matter, time and pressure make the difference. The burning of both, however, results in air pollution and carbon emissions. Biomass is especially harmful in terms of indoor air pollution because it is generally unrefined when burned unlike fossil fuels. An example of biomass would be burning wood or charcoal while an example of fossil fuel usage would be a coal-powered electricity generation plant. While both methods emit carbon, biomass emits "modern carbon" which was recently in the atmosphere. Fossil fuels, however, release "fossil carbon" which reintroduces carbon that has been out of the atmosphere for millions of years which upsets the short term carbon cycle.
Nuclear Disasters
Chernobyl was the first major Nuclear disaster in the world, the effects of which can still be seen almost 30 years later. Take a minute to watch the 60 minutes clip provided (about 10 minutes) 60 Minutes- Chernobyl. Discuss the environmental, economic and human health impact (specifically the effect of ionizing radiation) of this disaster. Give another example of a similar nuclear disaster at a different location. Give an example of how nuclear waste is currently being disposed of, note the characteristics that make the location of the sites ideal.
The harmful radiation could bioaccumulate up the food chain and biomagnify within organisms which would adversely affect them and their environment. Many businesses, some of them small and unable to rebuild, would be displaced as evacuation occurs which would cause job loss and loss of assets. Ionizing radiation negatively affects the DNA which leads to increased risks of cancer, including thyroid cancer and leukemia. A similar disaster occurred in Fukushima in Japan.
Currently, spent nuclear rods may be placed in lead-lined dry containers on land. They are then stored on sites not prone to natural disaster so that they aren't breached and relatively far away from humans so that society isn't harmed should they breach. It must also be far enough from groundwater that it won't leach into it and must be able to be safely transported so that it can't be hijacked by terrorists.
ANWR
Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge has been a hot topic of debate for 1977. Recently in the news because Obama proposed new wilderness protections that would further inhibit the prospect of drilling (Washington Post ANWR Article). Take a minute to watch this 5 minute National Geographic clip provided National Geographic- ANWR. What type of biome is this classified as and why is it considered to be fragile and susceptible to damage? Discuss the environmental and economic impacts of drilling in this area. Make an argument for and against doing so.
The majority of ANWR is classified as tundra though a Southern portion is also recognized as taiga. It is considered especially fragile in light of how key it is to many endangered species, climate change, and the currently low level of human involvement. Drilling could cause serious environmental damage by irreparably changing natural habitats and risking an oil spill that could kill many organisms. Economically, drilling would depreciate the natural aesthetic value of the environment which would hurt a possible tourism industry. While drilling would provide the US with a considerable amount of oil, an extremely valuable commodity, it would also cause irreparable damage to an as yet relatively untouched beautiful natural habitat full of biodiversity and endangered creatures.
Reducing Consumption
The need for energy will never go away, our supply for most of our energy sources will eventually run out, so our options are to lower the amount of energy we require and look for alternative sources of energy if we would like to continue to consume it! Give at least two suggestions for how we can reduce overall consumption of the oil needed for transportation and the fuels needed to provide electricity.
Emphasis on carpooling and public transport is a great way to reduce overall consumption of oil in transportation because statistics show that a considerable proportion of oil is used by single-driver cars. Carpooling and public transport promote efficiency by decreasing the amount of oil used per person. More efficient technology could be used to more efficiently consume the fuels needed to provide electricity. For example, newer lightbulbs use 6x less energy than those previously and new Energy Star appliances are also more efficient than their older counterparts. Embracing continuing innovation of current appliances is an effective way to be more fuel-efficient and reduce overall use of our energy sources.
The need for energy will never go away, our supply for most of our energy sources will eventually run out, so our options are to lower the amount of energy we require and look for alternative sources of energy if we would like to continue to consume it! Give at least two suggestions for how we can reduce overall consumption of the oil needed for transportation and the fuels needed to provide electricity.
Emphasis on carpooling and public transport is a great way to reduce overall consumption of oil in transportation because statistics show that a considerable proportion of oil is used by single-driver cars. Carpooling and public transport promote efficiency by decreasing the amount of oil used per person. More efficient technology could be used to more efficiently consume the fuels needed to provide electricity. For example, newer lightbulbs use 6x less energy than those previously and new Energy Star appliances are also more efficient than their older counterparts. Embracing continuing innovation of current appliances is an effective way to be more fuel-efficient and reduce overall use of our energy sources.
BIG Picture Discussion
This is where you will make the four BIG PICTURE connections to the ENTIRE UNIT. Please tie in information you learned in your reading (chapters 12 and 13), from the notes in class, the clips we watched and from your Switch Energy Project There is not an exact length that I am expecting other than it should definitely be at least a paragraph for each section, should be thorough and show understanding of the topic. Remember to be specific in your examples. Do not just say "there are laws that govern this" or "people destroy the Earth." Give me the names of the laws, what they regulate and who enforces them. Tell me what humans are doing to destroy the earth.
Human Impact- The biggest human impact of energy is arguably carbon emissions. Our increased reliance on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) has reintroduced fossil carbon into the atmosphere which, according to the general consensus of scientists worldwide, is causing climate change and global warming as a result of the greenhouse effect. Only time will tell how climate change will in turn affect humans. Nuclear radioactive waste is another human impact of energy consumption that has harmed the environment and society, especially in terms of increased rates of cancer. Lastly, mining and extraction of these resources destroys natural habitats and in some cases causes earthquakes.
Environmental Impact- Radioactive waste makes it difficult for anything really to grow and causes cancer in organisms. This is harmful to natural habitats and biodiversity, thereby further negatively affecting the resilience of the ecosystem. Mining and extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas leaves giant scars in the Earth's landscape and often completely destroys natural habitats and displaces organisms. Oil spills, especially, are notorious for being difficult to clean up and very harmful to creatures that come into contact with it. Environments will likely undergo serious change as global warming increases as with climate change, some organisms will no longer be able to tolerate the new conditions and become extinct while others will flourish.
Economic Impact- Because much of the US is based on fossil fuels, the economy is incredibly dependent upon those same fossil fuels. Huge industries are built around acquiring coal, oil, and natural gas, trading those worldwide, and also turning them into marketable electricity. The automobile industry is very related to the price of oil because most cars run on gas. As it becomes more desirable to be eco-friendly and technologies develop, however, new industries are developing for more renewable sources. Wind farms, solar panels, and geothermal plants are just some of the new players arising to meet demand for energy. There is also a new market for environmentally sustainable farming and tax cuts for implementing eco-friendly measures.
Government Legislation-
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) advocated fuel economic standards (especially for automobiles) to conserve petroleum while the National Energy Act 3 years later made these policies mandatory. The Energy Tax Act of 1980 increased the tax on oils to try to shift away from fossil fuels. Recently, a possible piece of legislation being hotly debated is the Keystone Pipeline which would be an international pipeline to transport oil directly from Alaska to the continental US. While theoretically economically beneficial, it would also require the uprooting of many habitats along its length and would not cause a shift away from oil.
Environmental Impact- Radioactive waste makes it difficult for anything really to grow and causes cancer in organisms. This is harmful to natural habitats and biodiversity, thereby further negatively affecting the resilience of the ecosystem. Mining and extraction of coal, oil, and natural gas leaves giant scars in the Earth's landscape and often completely destroys natural habitats and displaces organisms. Oil spills, especially, are notorious for being difficult to clean up and very harmful to creatures that come into contact with it. Environments will likely undergo serious change as global warming increases as with climate change, some organisms will no longer be able to tolerate the new conditions and become extinct while others will flourish.
Economic Impact- Because much of the US is based on fossil fuels, the economy is incredibly dependent upon those same fossil fuels. Huge industries are built around acquiring coal, oil, and natural gas, trading those worldwide, and also turning them into marketable electricity. The automobile industry is very related to the price of oil because most cars run on gas. As it becomes more desirable to be eco-friendly and technologies develop, however, new industries are developing for more renewable sources. Wind farms, solar panels, and geothermal plants are just some of the new players arising to meet demand for energy. There is also a new market for environmentally sustainable farming and tax cuts for implementing eco-friendly measures.
Government Legislation-
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