Energy Conservation and Resources Natural Resources can be

Energy Conservation and Resources

Natural Resources can be either Renewable or Non-Renewable § § Nonrenewable: energy resources that cannot be replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years. Renewable: energy resources that can be recycled or replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years.

n Sustainable energy Examples include wood, garbage, & landfill gases n Fossil fuels Most plentiful fossil fuel in the U. S.

Nonrenewable: Fossil Fuels § § Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are being used faster than Earth is able to replace them. Fossil fuels provide much-needed energy, but certain problems are associated with their use.

Burning Fossil Fuels Contributes to the GREENHOUSE EFFECT A. Solar radiation from the Sun enters the Earth’s atmosphere. B. Most of the sunlight is reflected back into space. C. Some of the radiation is trapped as heat near the Earth’s surface.

Greenhouse Effect § The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the Sun.

Greenhouse Effect § § Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60ºF colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Effect § § § Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere behave much like the glass panes in a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse gases. As it reaches the Earth's surface, the land, water, and the biosphere absorb the sunlight’s energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up.

Greenhouse Effect § The greenhouse effect is § § important. Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes too strong, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. § Even a little extra warming may cause melting of icecaps and many other problems for humans, plants, and animals.

Renewable, Alternative Energy Sources There are several types… § Wind energy § Hydroelectric energy § Solar energy § Tidal energy § Nuclear energy § Geothermal energy § Biomass energy

Wind Power Moving wind spins turbines.

Hydroelectric Power Rushing water is used to turn turbines.

Solar Power: The Sun’s heat is used to boil water. This creates steam to turn the turbines.

Tidal Power Wave motion spins turbines.

Nuclear Power Heat from nuclear fission reactions boils water to power steam turbines. Nuclear waste disposal is a problem, but nuclear energy plants do not contribute to air pollution or greenhouse effect.

Geothermal Power Heat from Earth’s core boils water to create steam for turbines.

Biomass Power The burning of wood/plant scraps and garbage creates heat to boil water. This creates steam which spins turbines.

Alternatives to Fossil Fuels § § § As you’ve seen there are plenty of ways to create electricity that don’t involve burning fossil fuels. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels will strengthen our economy and our world political relations as we won’t have to rely on foreign countries for oil. Also burning fewer fossils fuels will lessen the consequence that burning has on the environment because of the greenhouse effect.