Energ

What is it ?
The capacity to generate work. Can not be created or destroyed.
It flows within, through and outside the earth

How much energy do we need?

Early humans → 2,000 kilocalories of energy in form of food. Energy source = muscle power
Modern human → 2,000 kilocalories of energy for basic human needs
+ 60,000 kilocalories of energy per day used by machines and systems
300 fold increases (huge energy footprints)

NON RENEWABLE ENERGY

OIL
Fossil fuel (formed from the decaying remains of organisms that lived millions of years ago)
Largest source of commercial energy. USA, China and Japan are the largest oil users

Ample supply
Low cost Government subsidies
High energy yield Environmental cost
Easily transported Discourages use of alternatives
Low land use Air and water pollution
Developed technology CO2 emissions
Efficient distribution

NATURAL GAS
Fossil fuel that is a mixture of gases ( 50% - 90% is methane)
Natural gas field is tapped→propane and butane gases are liquified→removed as Liquified
petroleum gas (LP)

Ample supply CO2 emissions

High energy yield Government subsidies
Less air pollution than other fossil fuels Environmental costs
Less CO2 emissions than other fossil fuels Leaks
Pipes transportation Explosive
Low land use Difficult to transport to other countries
NUCLEAR ENERGY
For every 2 to 3 neutrons released, only one must strike another uranium nucleus to maintain
a controlled reaction. Less = reaction will die out & more = grow uncontrolled→ explosion
Reactors are controlled with control rods of strong neutron absorbent- boron or cadmium

Large fuel supply Needs government subsidies

Low environmental impact* Low energy yield
⅙ of CO2 as much as coal High environmental impact
Moderate water pollution* Catastrophic accidents
Moderate land disruption* Radioactive wastes
Safety systems developed Nuclear weapons knowledge
*without accidents

RENEWABLE ENERGY

SOLAR ENERGY

Active or Passive Solar Heating

Free energy Access to sun
Quick installation Blocked sun
No CO2 emissions Environmental costs
Moderate cost Needs storage
Low air & water pollution High cost
Low land disturbance Maintenance & repair

For High Temperature Heat and Electricity

Moderate environmental impact Low efficiency
No C02 emissions High costs
Fast construction Storage needed
Sun access
Desert areas disrupted
Solar cells
Works on cloudy days
Quick installation Sun access
No CO2 emissions Low efficiency
Can be expanded/moved Storage needed
Low land use High costs
Low environmental impact Disrupt desert areas
WIND POWER

High efficiency
No CO2 emissions Steady winds needed
Quick construction Backup systems needed
Easily expanded Plastic components use
Low environmental impact Visual pollution
Low electricity cost Noise
Can be located at sea Affects birds
Allows to grow crops

HYDROPOWER

High efficiency
Low electricity cost High construction costs
No CO2 emissions High environmental impact
Long life span C02 emissions from biomass decay
Flood control Danger to collapse
Useful for fishing Decreases fish harvest

BIODIESEL

Reduced CO2 emissions More smog

Better gas mileage More NO emissions
Higher cost
Degradation of biodiversity

BIOMASS

Large supply Unsustainably harvest

Moderate costs Increases CO2 if unsustainable
Use of agricultural waste Soil erosion
No CO2 increase Water pollution
Can restore degraded lands Loss of habitat
Moderate to high environmental impact

Inefficient energy & Energy savings

Energy conservation→ a decrease in energy use based primarily on reducing unnecessary
waste of energy.
Best way = improve energy efficiency→ the measure of how much work we can we get from
each unit of energy we use
Reducing energy waste for energy savings