# data[].attributes.body
CW 10, NoS 6, NoS 8, Nos 10

justification below

# data[].attributes.headline
1.   PW8: Students should be able to research and discuss the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from our generation and consumption of electricity.   

# data[].attributes.subject
1.   PW8: Students should be able to research and discuss the ethical and sustainability issues that arise from our generation and consumption of electricity.   

# data[].attributes.body
This paper focuses on solutions to over consumption of electricity in many countries of the world. It focuses on a campaign made by Norway to remarket the way their electricity is priced, in which the more sustainable electricity practices the person uses the less they would have to pay for electricity.

I think this would be a useful resource in the classroom as it could open a class discussion on if this is a good solution to over consumption of electricity and if they could come up with similar or different ways to deal with this issue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Problem With Renewable Energy (and how we're fixing it)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The terms alternative energy, clean energy, green energy, and sustainable energy are not uncommon to hear these days. You may even note a sense of urgency around them. But do you know why? These are all common phrases used in reference to renewable energy resources.
So why has renewable energy become increasingly relevant?
Read on to get the answer to that question and more. We'll cover what renewable sources of energy are available today, the pros and cons of renewable power generation, and how practicing sustainability affects you financially.

What Makes Energy Renewable?

source

is the energy we derive from many of Earth's naturally occurring resources, including wind, water, and sun. We call these resources Renewable energy renewable or sustainable (as in sustainable energy) since they are inexhaustible.

Currently, the primary sources of energy in the United States are fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas . Unfortunately, fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources created over the course of millions of years, far beneath the Earth's surface. When these finite resources are gone, they're gone.

The rate at which we're using fossil fuels is too fast. If we don't make a drastic and immediate change in how we're using them, they could be potentially depleted within our children's lifetime. On the other hand, . Using these natural resources allows us to conserve and extend the lifespan of our renewable energy comes from virtually inexhaustible sources nonrenewables.

Even worse than depletion might be that fossil fuels have an extremely negative impact on the environment . The top cause of carbon emissions in the U.S. comes from electricity generation produced by burning fossil fuels in nonrenewable power plants.

Renewable energy has a much lower carbon footprint than coal and other fossil fuels. Switching to renewable energy sources can positively impact the environment by slowing climate change. This positive environmental impact is where the terms green energy and clean energy come from.

6 Simple Steps Towards Energy Conservation:

1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

2. Unplug unused chargers, electronics, and appliances.

3. Change to energy-efficient light bulbs.

4. Repair plumbing issues like leaky faucets and running toilets.

5. Do all of your hot water tasks simultaneously.

6. Use cold water when possible.

The more energy we can conserve, the longer we will have nonrenewable resources available to assist us with our energy needs. Just as importantly, energy conservation helps to slow global warming .
These Critical Achievements Can Be Accomplished Through Simple Acts of Energy Conservation:
In its early stages, t he costs and limitations of alternative energy didn't make it as practical for widespread commercial use as it is now. Fortunately, renewable energy source options are steadily growing and improving. Plus, as the demand for improved energy efficiency and clean sources of energy grows, it's becoming easier and more beneficial for consumers to .

Let's take a look at some of the sustainable energy resources that we're using today to fulfill our energy needs:

We now know that we use the Earth's naturally occurring resources like the sun, wind, and water to source our energy needs. But how does that work? Here, we'll look at some of the ways we use alternative energy to generate renewable power.

There are two main solar power system types. The first type is through photovoltaics (PV) , which is the technology used in solar panels. Here, direct sunlight is converted by the PV system into electricity with solar cells. The other type is called a concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) system, which converts sunlight to heat first using mirrors and receivers, then using that heat to produce or store electricity.

Dams are the most common association with hydroelectric power . As water flows through a dam's turbines, it produces electricity or pumped-storage hydropower. Run-of-river hydropower is another form that uses a channel to funnel the water through instead of a dam.

How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?

Geothermal heat is trapped heat that lies beneath the Earth's crust since the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago. Occasionally, heat will naturally escape in large quantities, resulting in volcanic eruptions or geysers. We capture this heat and then use it to produce geothermal energy by harnessing the steam generated by the heated water that's pumping below the surface. The steam then rises to the top, where it operates a turbine.

Did you know that windmills and wind turbines are not the same things? Windmills were the first method used to harness the wind's energy . They can be used for pumping water, crushing and shredding rocks, grinding grains, and for other agricultural purposes, as well as for basic electricity generation. Windmills are built to withstand severe weather. They are less expensive and are used on a smaller scale than wind turbines.

Wind turbines are massive mechanical devices used to generate electricity by harnessing the wind's kinetic energy . Most wind turbines are built with three propeller blades that rotate when the wind flows. The blades' rotation turns a rotor, which connects to a part called the main shaft. When the blades spin, an electrical generator creates electricity.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that today's offshore wind market only produces 0.3% of our global power generation. Still, it has the potential ability to generate more than 18 times the amount of electricity the global market demands today. Europe, China, Denmark, Germany, and the U.K. are the current leaders in the offshore wind market.

Wind energy is one of our best sources of clean energy since it doesn't produce any harmful emissions. Wind energy is also one of the fastest-growing energy sources globally . On top of that, the cheapest sources of electricity generation for over half of the world's population are solar photovoltaics and onshore wind energy.

Thanks to larger wind turbines, onshore wind energy now ranks number one as the cheapest source of new bulk electricity generation throughout all of North America.

source

Bioenergy is a renewable energy source derived from organic matter that comes from byproducts of recently living plants and organisms (aka biomass). One example of this is wood. We can generate energy by burning biomass or by harnessing the methane gas produced when organic material in ponds or landfills naturally decomposes.

Biomass feedstock becomes biobased products, electric power, heat, and liquid fuels, making it extremely versatile. Although burning biomass produces carbon dioxide emissions , plant regeneration consumes an equal amount of carbon dioxide, which we believe balances the atmosphere. Since animals or plants can live virtually anywhere, bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that we can incorporate worldwide.

Products that were once too costly to be practical for consumer use have been plummeting in price. This new affordability is accredited to simple things like developers gaining more experience in the field, improved renewable technologies, enhanced energy efficiency capabilities, increased demand, and competitive supply chains.

Using solar photovoltaics and onshore wind to replace coal could save up to in annual power system costs and reduce yearly carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 gigatons. Solar PV costs are now one-fifth lower than the least expensive fossil-fuel source, and onshore wind power offers even greater savings. Nuclear, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energies are making their way into the financially competitive spotlight as well, significantly based on location .

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Renewable Resources?

Each alternative energy source has its advantages and disadvantages. Here, we'll take a look at the positives and negatives of renewable resources as a whole.

We already covered many of the major pros of using renewable energy: We can never deplete these natural resources, they will prolong the lifespan of fossil fuels and create fewer environmental impacts, and will save you money on your utility bills.

While each sustainable energy option is unique, there are some prominent areas of concern.

Several renewable resources carry the concern of intermittency, which is a disruption caused by the inconsistency of the resource itself. For example, the wind blows at various speeds, and the sun doesn't always shine. However, our increased ability to store energy using batteries or even solar PV cells has improved renewable energy reliability. Some batteries have the capacity to store up to 100 megawatts , which is equal to 100,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh). The average U.S. household used around 877 kWh per month in 2019.

Wind turbines can be noisy , although most onshore wind farms are in rural, non-residential areas or offshore where the noise isn't a problem. Newer designs have proven to be much quieter, resulting in fewer noise complaints.

The large machinery necessary to capture ocean energy can disturb delicate ecosystems , a lthough the process of capturing ocean energy is very clean.

How Do You Switch To Renewable Energy?

Most will agree that the benefits of using renewable resources far outweigh the drawbacks, not to mention that improved technology is emerging to regularly address and eliminate the negatives.

You now know why making the switch to renewable energy is vital to our future. But how can you go about making the change? Ask about the green energy product and plan options available and get started on your new sustainable lifestyle today.

Brought to you by justenergy.com

All images licensed from Adobe Stock.
Featured image:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Renewable Energy vs. Nonrenewable Energy | Just the Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn all about renewable energy sources available today, the pros and cons of renewable power generation, and how practicing sustainability affects you.

# data[].attributes.body
my reflection on this module and the new specification.

# data[].attributes.headline
Graph of electricity consumption from 2015-2021

# data[].attributes.subject
Graph of electricity consumption from 2015-2021

# data[].attributes.body
This can be used in the lesson to show how electricity consumption is increasing and so over consumption can have even more effects

# data[].attributes.body
power point to help direct the class