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65 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the most used source of energy in the U.S?
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oil
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Prior to the 1950's what was the most used energy source in the U.S?
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coal
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What is the most abundant fossil fuel in the U.S?
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coal
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What is the primary energy source for the production of electricity?
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coal
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Name the 3 most commonly used fossil fuels (over 80% of the total energy use)
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Coal, natural gas, oil
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Describe the occupational & environmental effects of coal extraction.
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both methods damage the environment
deep mining is more dangerous for the worker |
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What are two ways that coal is extracted?
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strip mining or underground mining
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What is black lung disease?
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caused by coal inhalation, coal dust.
7. Black lung disease is the common name for coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) or anthracnose, a lung disease of older workers in the coal industry |
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What are some ways the energy efficiency could be increased in industry?
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replacing old motors, recycle, and reuse.
*replacing energy- wasting electric motors *switch to high efficiency lighting (florescent lights) *recycling &reuse *run high energy consuming tasks during low customer demand hours |
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Be able to match energy sources with primary uses.
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Oil: transportation, industrial
Natural gas: industrial, residential (space&hot water heating, lighting) Coal: electric power Others(nuclear & renewables): electric power generation |
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What is the net energy yield of coal?
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30% efficient energy
the other 70% goes to waste, heat, and pollution |
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What are pollution credits? What are there advantages and limitations?
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An industry is allowed to pollute a certain amount based on past performance.
If they produce less than the stated amount of pollution, they get a credit that can be sold to another company. |
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Describe U.S. oil production & consumption over time.
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it is increasing
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What is ANWR?
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Artic National Wildlife Refuge
-Proponents believe there are huge quantities of oil located in this protected area -Opponents estimate there is no more than six month's supply of oil at current consumption rates and that it will take 7-10 years to develop the fields. Their biggest concern that development of these fields will destroy a fragile habitat. |
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What are issues with other fossil fuel sources like shale oil and tar sands?
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-Abundant supplies
-Require massive land disruptions -Potential for water pollution pollution -require much energy input to get a usable product |
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How much energy in the U.S. is wasted?
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-84% of all commercial energy in the U.S. is wasted
-People in the U.S. waste as much energy as 2/3 of the world's population -The answer: energy efficiency |
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Describe shale oil & tar sands.
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shale oil: fine grained sedimentary rock rich in solid organize material called kerogen which can be heated, liquefied, and pumped out like liquid crude oil
tar sands: composed of sand and shale particles coated with bitumen, a viscous mixture of long chain hydrocarbons.- shallow ones are excavated and mixed with hot water and stem to extract bitumen then fractionated to make usual products. Deeper ones can be used for liquid crude. |
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What are some examples of ways we can increase energy efficiency?
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energy efficient homes, water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, & heating systems
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What is meant by energy efficiency?
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Percentage of total energy input that does useful work in an energy conservation system
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What is life cycle cost?
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the initial cost plus the life-time operating costs of an item or appliance
*important to consider- using less electricity, power companies don’t need to generate as much – less to burn |
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Are high levels of energy use necessary to maintain a high standard of living?
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no
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What are some examples of energy efficiency improvements in buildings?
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*straw-bale houses
*double pane windows *better insulation *plugging leaks & repairing cracks |
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What are ways of balancing energy uses and demand?
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-conservation
-efficiency -Demand management |
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What is demand management?
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-give customers cash rebates for buying energy efficient lights & appliances
-provide savings to customers who reduce the use of energy utilities -offer reduced rates for allowing the power to be turned off for a specific length of time |
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What is co-generation?
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Large complexes are built with their own power generation equipment to make electricity. This is more efficient in two ways:
1) There is no need to transmit the energy over great distances 2) The waste heat created from making the electricity may be captured for use in heating the buildings when needed. Also, these plants burn natural gas that is less polluting than coal. |
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Which source of human-made radiation typically contributes more exposure, nuclear power, nuclear waste, or medical/dental x-rays?
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medical procedures and dental x-rays
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Why is radiation used in medicine?
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To find and fight diseases (mammograms, x-rays, use to kill cancer)
*radiation-induced cancer- associated with low level exposure *leukemia is an example for radiation induced malignancy |
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What is ionizing radiation?
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-energetic forms of radiation
-forms of ionizing radiation: alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays(photons) |
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What are some health effects of ionizing radiation?
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-radiation induced mutations
-radiation & birth defects -radiation induced cancer |
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What happened at Chernobyl and 3-mile Island power plants?
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3 Mile Island Power Plant:
-located near harrisburg, PA. In 1979 suffered a partial melt-down of its core when coolant was lost (due to mechanical failures and human errors) -amount of radiation released is unknown -100,000 people evacuated Chernobyl Power Plant: -located in Chernobyl, Ukraine. In 1986, had a complete melt down resulting in a series of massive explosions -estimates of deaths vary from 3576(from the former Soviet gov't) to about 32,000 -400,000 were permanently evacuated |
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Explain the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
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-Nuclear fission occurs when an unstable element such as U235 splits apart, releasing free neutrons & byproducts
-nuclear fusion occurs when elements such as hydrogen are forced to join together and form a new element such as helium. This process also generates free neutrons & heat but no other byproducts |
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Which one is used to make nuclear power (fission or fusion)?
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Nuclear FISSION
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Describe what happens in a chain reaction.
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-when a U235 atom disintegrates, it releases free neutrons.
-these free neutrons may strike other U235 atoms, causing them to disintegrate |
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Compare the environmental & health effects of nuclear energy compared to coal.
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-both sources must be mined, processed, and transported
-nuclear power plants do not emit air pollutants so long as they are operating properly -more attractive than fossil fuels for reducing the threat of global warming(nuclear) -disruption of land & water are concerns from uranium mining damage & tailings and thermal pollution of water systems |
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What is nuclear reprocessing?
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-waste fission products accumulate in rods
-these "spent" rods are removed & replaced with fresh rods -spent fuel rods are highly radioactive & are initially stored in swimming pool-like cooling tanks before reprocessing of the spent rod occurs -France & the United Kingdom reprocess spent fuel from commercial nuclear reactors |
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How do we deal with nuclear waste in the U.S.?
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33. US Department of Energy governs the disposal of high level radioactive wastes
Nuclear Waste Policy Act determined the above *no nuclear reprocessing facilities in the US- dangerous- highly radioactive (put it in the mountains, Yucca Nevada... nuclear reprocessing, but not in U.S.) |
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How is solar energy created in the sun?
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thermonuclear fusion reactions occuring in the sun.
(Two types of atoms fuse together, make atom)- In the form of light |
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What are some solar energy uses?
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-hot water heating
-solar space heating -space & hot water heating -producing electrical power |
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Explain the difference between active solar collection and passive solar heating.
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Active solar uses electrical or mechanical equipment, such as pumps and fans, to increase the usable heat in a system
Passive solar refers to means of using sunlight for energy without active mechanical systems |
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Describe the role of solar power in the U.S. energy picture.
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Solar space heating- the roof should have an overhang on the south side that blocks the summer sun but lets in the light from the winter sun
*types of trees should be planted on the north side of the house: pines and greens (no leaves in the winter) *trees that should be planted on the south side of the house: deciduous trees (want full leaf shade in the summer) *Why is placement of the house on the lot important: it should face the south *What about windows: don’t put one in the north corner expensive still |
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If backup is required, how might this be done?
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stay connected to the grid
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What are solar cells (also called photovoltaic cells) & are they cost effective?
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-they are cells with a thin wafer of material with wires on top and on the bottom.
-as the sunlight strikes the cells, electrical current is created -if you have enough of these cells linked together you can use it to power calculators, watches, pumps, traffic signals, lighthouses, and even your home. |
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What are some other forms of power?
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-hydropower
-wind power -fuel cells -ocean thermal energy converter -geothermal energy tidal power - |
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What are two ways of using geothermal energy?
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direct use-using hot springs to heat building or drive turbogenerators
ground source- using a heat pump with piping in the soil under the house to heat or cool |
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What does bioconversion mean?
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the conversion of organic materials such as plant or animal waste into usuable products or energy sources.
-burning firewood -burning municipal waste -producing methane -producing alcohol as a fuel |
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What is an environmental world-view?
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-how people think the world works
-what their role should be -what they think is right or wrong behavior regarding the environment |
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What are examples of individual-centered world views?
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No problem school: science can fix anything
Free market school: Government is bad and business/industry is all that matters Responsible planetary management: best self interest to manage resources wisely The Stewardship school: ethical responsibility to care for the world. |
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What is an earth centered world-view?
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-stresses the intrinsic value of other species
-stresses the importance of sustainability |
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What is the effect of political world-views on the enforcement of environmental laws?
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Show support for particular legislation by writing letters (most politicians pay more attention to this) or making phone calls
Let it be known that you demand clean air, water, and a safe environment for all to thrive and live (ex. raising fuel efficiency standards) Bush is not doing much |
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How does our lifestyle affect sustainability?
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-become an environmentalist
-pollution control -ecological restoration -teacher -lawyer -integrated pest management -production & marketing of organically grown foods |
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List the major environmental impacts of urban sprawl.
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-depletion of natural resources
-air pollution -water pollution & degradation of water resources -loss of landscapes & wildlife -loss of agricultural land -airport noise |
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What federal law had the greatest effect on creating the urban sprawl?
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The Highway Trust Fund:
-Gas tax pays for more roads to distant developments -people drive farther, buy more gas, & provide more taxes for new highways -the cycle continues |
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Has construction of new highways reduced the average commute time?
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The average commuting distance has doubled since 1960, but the average commuting time has remained abut the same until you reach the city. Then everything slows down.
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Explain the difference between clustered & detached housing developments.
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instead of conventional detached homes, cluster homes are higher density.
-large amounts of wild space is left intact -saves the city & county money in utilities construction, trash pickup, snow removal, etc. |
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What are Green Buildings?
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-they are energy efficient
-built with nonhazardous materials -they do not release harmful emissions. |
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Why is pollution prevention more cost effective that pollution clean up?
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the cost of cleanup follows a "j" shaped curve (for each additional unit cleaned, the price goes up exponentially.)
pollution prevention is cheaper |
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Describe the shape of the curve of the cost for removal of pollutants.
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a "j" shaped curve, as pollution increases it costs more for clean up.
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What is environmental justice?
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justice has to do with the distribution of good and bad things:
good things: jobs, education, goods & services bad things: toxic & hazardous wastes it is important for people to believe that they are being treated justly |
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What is environmental racism?
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people of color & other ethnic groups are more likely to suffer negative effects from environmental hazards
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What is the precautionary principle?
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Assume the chemical is dangerous until proven otherwise
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What is risk analysis?
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risk analysis is an evaluation of the short term and long term risks associated with a particular activity or hazard, usually compared with benefits in a cost benefit analysis
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What are some ways that an individual can affect society?
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individual lifestyle change
Political involvement Membership and participation in non governmental organizations Career choices (while the number of jobs are increasing, the number of students entering environmental majors is decreasing) |
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What are some individual lifestyle changes that can improve the environment?
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switch to a more fuel efficient car
Recycling paper, cans and bottles Backyard garden composting- recycling Recycling food and garden wastes into your soil Live closer to your workplace- live in a cluster development |
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What are examples of nonprofit environmental organizations?
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Organizations that work for the environment like the Audubon Society, local activist groups, (ex Ecology Action Center or Greenways projects (projects that they to restore urban environments, ex. The constitution trail)
*These organizations rely on volunteers to be effective |
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Define the terms sustainable society and environmental stewardship.
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sustainable society: a society that functions in a way so as not to deplete energy or material resources on which it depends
environmental stewardship: active care & concern for nature & the environment through ecosystem sustainability, pollution prevention, wise stewardship. |
