Thursday, April 9, 2015

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Renewable Energy


Energy Sources

Renewable


Energy Ant


Renewable energy sources including biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar provide 8% of the energy used in the United States. Most renewable energy goes to producing electricity.


    File Scrub 1 ::::: EE ... renewable_home-basics

    Renewable Basics

    What is renewable energy?

    Renewable energy sources can be replenished.
    The Role of Renewable Energy Consumption in the Nation's Energy Supply, 2013
    Pie chart showing: Total=97.5 quadrillion BTU; Petroleum 36%; Natural Gas 27%; Coal 19%; Nuclear Electic power 8%; Renewable Energy 10%. Total Renewable Energy=9 .3 quadrillion BTU; Hydropower 28%; Biofuels 22%;  Wood 22%; Wind 17%; Biomass waste 5%; Geothermal 2%; Solar 3%. Note: Sum of components may not equal 100 percent due to independent rounding. Source: EIA, Monthly Energy Review, Table 1.3 and 10.1 (May 2014), preliminary 2013 data.
    There are five commonly used renewable energy sources:
    Many paper mills use wood waste to produce steam and electricity.
    logs
    Source: Stock photography (copyrighted)

    What role does renewable energy play in the United States?

    More than 150 years ago, wood supplied nearly 90% of the nation's energy needs. As the use of coal, petroleum, and natural gas expanded, the United States became less reliant on wood as an energy source. Today, renewable energy sources like wood are once again a growing source in meeting the nation's energy needs.
    In 2013, consumption of renewable energy sources in the United States totaled about 9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu)—1 quadrillion is the number 1 followed by 15 zeros—or about 10% of total U.S. energy consumption. About 13% of U.S. electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2013.
    More than half of U.S. renewable energy use is for producing electricity. Biomass (wood and waste) is the second most commonly used renewable energy source. Biomass is used to produce heat and steam for industrial purposes, and it is also used for space heating, mostly in homes. Biomass also includes biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, which are used for transportation.
    Renewable energy plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When renewable energy sources are used, the demand for fossil fuels is reduced. Unlike fossil fuels, non-biomass renewable sources of energy (hydropower, geothermal, wind, and solar) do not directly emit greenhouse gases.
    The production and use of biofuels and nonhydroelectric renewable energy sources nearly doubled from 2003 to 2013, mainly because of state and federal government mandates and incentives for renewable energy. The use of renewable fuels is expected to continue to grow over the next 25 years, but EIA still projects that the United States will use nonrenewable fuels to meet most of its energy needs through 2040.

    Why don't we use more renewable energy?

    In the past, renewable energy has generally been more expensive to produce and use than energy produced using fossil fuels. Renewable resources are often located in remote areas, and it can be expensive to build power lines to the cities where the electricity produced from renewable energy is needed. The use of renewable sources is also limited by the fact that they are not always available—cloudy days reduce electricity generated from solar installations; days without wind reduce electricity from wind farms; and droughts reduce the water available for hydropower.

    How do we measure renewable energy?

    Each energy source is measured, purchased, and sold in a different form. Many units of measurement are used to measure energy. Learn more about converting energy units in the Energy units and calculators Energy Explained section.

    Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Resources Project


    Name _________________________________ Date _________ Period ____

    Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Sources

    Research Project

     

    Your task is to select a renewable and nonrenewable resource.  Prepare a report to present your findings to your classmates.

     

    The report should consist of a description of each resource.  Provide information about the report ideas listed below. You will also need to compare and contrast the renewable and nonrenewable resources you have chosen. 

     

    Some common resources are:

    NONRENEWABLE                     RENEWABLE

    *  oil                                * hydro

    *  coal                                         * solar

    *  nuclear                                    * wind

    *  natural gas                              * biomass

    *  geothermal

     

    The following report ideas should be included in your summaries/presentations:

     

            What is the original source of your energy?

            How does this technology work? (describes the steps to create electricity) List at least 3 advantages to your resource.

            List at least 3 disadvantages to your resource.

            How can this energy source be managed so we don’t run out of the resource?

            Is this technology widely accepted/used today? Why or why not?

     

    Paragraph Topics:

    Fill in as we discuss during class.

     

    Paragraph 1

    _____________________________________________________________

    Paragraph 2

    ______________________________________________________________

    Paragraph 3

    ______________________________________________________________

    Paragraph 4

    ______________________________________________________________

    . 

    Name _________________________________ Date _________ Period ____

     

    Research Organizer

    Renewable Resource Research
    My Renewable Resource Choice: ______________________________________________
     
            Describe the process of how this technology produces electricity. (write steps)
     
     
     
     
            Advantages to this resource
    1.
     
    2.
     
    3.
     
            Disadvantages to this resource
    1.
     
    2.
     
    3.
     

     

    Nonrenewable Resource Research
    My Nonrenewable Resource Choice: __________________________________________
     
            Describe the process of how this technology produces electricity. (write steps)
     
     
     
     
            Advantages to this resource
    1.
     
    2.
     
    3.
     
            Disadvantages to this resource
    1.
     
    2.
     
    3.
      

    Friday, January 30, 2015

    CSI Experience

    January 30th:   Forensics:
    Our DO NOW:   1. How many schedules are there for controlled substances?
                                 2. What does the word Metabolism mean?
                                3. In which state is Marijuana legal to purchase?

    Go to http://forensics.rice.edu/
    Work on all 5 cases.   Please see me if you were absent.