Today
• Quiz• Collect papers and give back graded ones• Go over EnvironNews Topics• Planet earth – pole to pole (58 minutes)
BREAK• Resources PowerPoint
Fossil Fuels
Chapter 11
Energy Use
Energy Consumption
• Energy consumption in the US
Fossil Fuels
E4 fig. 10.3
Fossil Fuels are Non-Renewable
How Fossil Fuels Form
• formed by the effects of heat and pressure on non-decomposed organic matter over thousands of years
• Includes:– Coal– Natural gas– Petroleum
Environmental Impact of Coal
• Coal is a mixture of C, N, H, O and S
• The type of coal determines the proportions
• When coal is burned, the elements get released into the air causing pollution, global warming and acid rain
• Even the process of getting the coal can destroy the environment
Strip mining occurs on the land’s surface and causes unstable land
• Both surface and subsurface mining allows previously trapped acids in soil to escape
• Acid mixes with topsoil and drainage, runs into water table
• In 1977, Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act forced mines to correct the problem and limited areas where coal could be mined
Environmental Impacts of Oil and Natural Gas
• Production– Land disturbance
• Transport– Oil spills
• Combustion of oil– Increased CO2 emissions increases global warming
– Acid deposition (mostly N oxides)
• Combustion of natural gas– Less CO2 emissions but still not 100% clean
– No Sulfur– Low particulate matter
(cleanest burning fossil fuel)
Activity
• Watch and discuss “The Story of Stuff”
Discussion
• Use the four objectives on pages 248 through 250 and discuss the pros and cons of each strategy
• Use Worksheet Provided
The U.S. Energy Strategy1. Efficiency & conservation
- Energy highly subsidized: price at pump ≠ true cost
- Rationale: lower prices stimulate economic growth
- Eliminate subsidies to force conservation
2. Secure future fossil fuel energy supplies
- Domestic production as short-term solution
- World supply will run out
3. Alternative energy sources - R&D for renewable sources: solar, wind
- Funded by 50 cent tax per gasoline?
4. No further damage to the environment - Reclaim damage done by domestic production - Funded by tax on domestic oil?
Nuclear Energy
Chapter 12
Different Types of Nuclear Energy: Fusion
• Combining of the nuclei of atoms• This fuels the sun• Alternative energy source
Different Types of Nuclear Energy: Fission
• Most power plants use this
How it works
Discussion
• What are the pros and cons of nuclear energy?
Environmental Impact of Nuclear Energy
• Possibility of meltdown
• Radioactive waste– Yucca Mountain and transport to it
Renewable Energy and
Conservation
Chapter 13
Solar Energy
• Passive – heat builds up naturally
• Active– Solar thermal electric generation (uses mirrors
to heat oil, then uses steam for power)– Photovoltaic cells (sun’s energy makes
electricity directly – cannot be stored)– Solar generated hydrogen (can be stored)
Wind Energy
• Wind is caused by uneven heating of the earth’s surface
• Wind turns turbines which then generates electricity
Hydropower
• Most efficient
• Potential energy of water behind dams is converted to kinetic energy when water is released
• Water turns turbines which creates electricity
• Most common is dams but there is also wave energy
Geothermal Energy
• Energy from within the earth that is trapped in hydrothermal reservoirs
• Research is being done on how to extract energy from hot dry rocks
Biomass Energy
• Burned to release the energy within
ex. Wood, plants, corn, animal waste
Activity
• Watch John Stossal “Ethanol”
Costs
Answer the following on a separate piece of paper
•List 3 renewable resources and give a pro and con of each
• List 3 non-renewable resources and give a pro and con of each
• Do you think that there will be a move to renewable resources sometime within this century – why or why not
• Why do you think we have not gone to renewable resources yet?
Due Next Week
IndividualRead Chapters 17, 20, 21, 22, and 25
Value of Maintaining Natural Ecosystems: Preservation vs. Conservation Paper
(instructions on page 11 of syllabus)
TeamLifestyle and Sustainability Project Rough Draft
Critical Essay Discussions (environNews)
Resources pros and cons