https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj - Grace, Sahil and Navya en-us 2016-08-19 06:44:04 UTC 2023-02-25 08:52:51 UTC hello@padlet.com grace_mathew2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119048690  U.S. electricity from nuclear energy in 2015: 19.5 percent, with 797.2 billion kilowatt-hours generated. Number of states with operating reactors: 30.
Factors influencing/being influenced by its use-
Political: U.S. energy policies and environmental protection efforts at all levels of government have done at least as much to sustain as to hinder the viability of these facilities along with their fuel suppliers, waste management requirements, and other supporting industries. Since nuclear energy and nuclear weapons technologies are closely related, military aspirations can act as a factor in energy policy decisions.
Environmental: The disposal and storage of high-level nuclear waste remains a major unresolved issue. (Following the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan, China, Germany, the US and some other countries are reviewing their nuclear policies.)
Social: Over the last 30 years public opinion has steadily grown more positive towards nuclear energy.

Energy strategies- The commitment to nuclear power as part of the USA's long-term energy strategy continues, but there has been a reduction in some nuclear programs as a result of greater emphasis on alternative sources of energy.
Energy securities- Beginning in the late 1990's, US government policy and funding decisions have encouraged the development of greater civilian nuclear capacity. The discussion of a future for nuclear energy is intertwined with a discussion of energy security and the use of energy mix, including renewable energy development.
Nuclear power has been relatively unaffected by embargoes, and uranium is mined in "reliable" countries, including Australia and Canada.]]> 2016-08-21 15:22:58 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119048690 grace_mathew2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119128667 In 2012, the United States led the world in geothermal electricity production with 3,386 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity; the largest group of geothermal power plants in the world is located at The Geysers, a geothermal field in California.
The most widely developed type of geothermal power plant (known as hydrothermal plants) are located near geologic “hot spots” where hot molten rock is close to the earth’s crust and produces hot water. In other regions enhanced geothermal systems (or hot dry rock geothermal), which involve drilling into Earth’s surface to reach deeper geothermal resources, can allow broader access to geothermal energy.
Factors affecting/being affected by its use-
Environmental: Geothermal power plants can have impacts on both water quality and consumption. Hot water pumped from underground reservoirs often contains high levels of sulfur, salt, and other minerals. There have been no reported cases of water contamination from geothermal sites in the United States. (The distinction between open- and closed-loop systems is important with respect to air emissions. In closed-loop systems, gases removed from the well are not exposed to the atmosphere and are injected back into the ground after giving up their heat, so air emissions are minimal. In contrast, open-loop systems emit hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane, and boron.)
Social: Because of its hazardous capabilities, when a geothermal system is sited near a heavily populated area, constant monitoring and transparent communication with local communities is necessary.]]> 2016-08-22 11:56:59 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119128667 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119141997 - Navya
U.S account for about 25% of the world's petroleum consumption while producing only 6% of the world's annual petroleum supply. A very minimal amount of crude oil is used directly by USA most of is refined in to petroleum.
Factors that influence the usage of it:
Environmental: It distrubs the land and marine ecosystem. Artificially producing vibrations to explore oil under the ocean floor may harm fish and marine mammals. Drilling an oil well on land often requires clearing an area of vegetation.
Technological : the use of technology has reduced the impacts of oil drilling satellites, global positioning systems, remote sensing devices, and 3-D and 4-D seismic technologies make it possible to discover oil reserves while drilling fewer exploratory wells. Mobile and smaller drilling rigs reduce the size of the area disturbed by drilling activities. The use of horizontal and directional drilling makes it possible for a single well to produce oil from a much larger area, which reduces the number of wells required to develop an oil field.
Social: oil has been the fuel for the economy for a long time and it is used in heavy manufacturing due to which the producer are very hesitant to shift to alternative energy sources. along with that the price of alternative energy sources are expensive compared to the price of crude oil due to many suppliers. 
They are dependant on oil as they have coastal line which enables them to trade oil as well as gives them the access to the oil reserves of the sea

]]> 2016-08-22 13:14:30 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119141997 grace_mathew2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119145150 Coal power in the United States accounted for 39% of the country's electricity production in 2014.
Factors which have impacted/are being impacted by its use:
Environmental- Byproducts of coal use have been known to cause acid rain. There have been CO2, and Sulphur Dioxide emissions, along with mercury pollution arising from coal plants.
Social- In the face of increasing electricity demand through the 2000's, the US has seen a "Growing Trend Against Coal-Fired Power Plants". In January 2009, the creation of a presidential task force (to look at ways to alter the energy direction of the United States energy providers) is in favour of the growing trend away from coal-fired power plants. ]]> 2016-08-22 13:27:22 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119145150 grace_mathew2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119149121 2016-08-22 13:42:02 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119149121 grace_mathew2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119150087 2016-08-22 13:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119150087 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119171547 - Navya
Natural gas is made up mostly of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas.Natural gas has many qualities that make it an efficient, relatively clean burning, and economical energy source.United States consumed about 27.47 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas. factors influencing the less usage of the energy source are:
Environmental: Natural gas is made up mostly of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Some natural gas leaks into the atmosphere from oil and natural gas wells, storage tanks, pipelines, and processing plants. However it results in fewer emissions of nearly all types of air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2) per unit of heat produced than coal or refined petroleum products.
Technological: the technique used is fracking which has negative impacts on the environment.Hydraulic fracturing also produces large amounts of wastewater, which may contain dissolved chemicals and other contaminants that require treatment before disposal or reuse.
Political: natural gas leak can cause an explosion, there are strict government regulations and industry standards in place to ensure the safe transportation, storing, distribution, and use of natural gas.
However they still use this source of energy as due to the coastal line they which provides them the water source.


]]> 2016-08-22 15:03:21 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119171547 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119179175 - Navya

]]> 2016-08-22 15:28:37 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119179175 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119195784 Environmental issues in Italy 
 
 Major environmental issues currently facing Italy include air pollution from transportation and industrial sources, polluted inland waters, acid rain, and insufficient industrial waste treatment and disposal programs.
 
 A 2006 World Health Organization report found significant levels of particulate air pollution in Italian cities: from 26.3 to 61.1 milligrams per square meter. The WHO particulate matter of this nature is responsible for more than 8,200 deaths a year, on average.
 
 
 Localized incidents of water pollution have also been reported with some regularity. In 2014, the Mayor of Rome, Ignazio Marino, signed a 10-month ban on the use of public water in two neighborhoods in the Northwest part of the Italian capital after tests showed it was polluted.
 
 A large steel manufacturing plant in Taranto, Italy, is emblematic of the country’s issues concerning industrial emissions. In October 2014, the European Commission formally reprimanded theILVA steel plant and Italy’s government for not conforming to European industrial emissions regulations. Tests near the plant and Taranto showed heavy pollution of the air, soil, and ground waters.
 
 Environmental Policies of Italy
 
 
 Because Italy is a member of the European Union, its environmental policies largely fall under EU environmental legislation.
 
 With respect to air pollution and climate change, Italy is pushing initiatives designed to reduce black carbon emissions, particularly in the transportation sector. Through the Sustainable Mobility Fund, Italy has co-funded nearly 190 projects at a total cost of 195 million Euros.
 
 According to a 2013 report from theOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Italy is currently looking to push forward with a number of water conservation initiatives, including the evolution of the legal and institutional framework, reforming the water supply systems and improving water sanitation systems.
 
 
 As it recovers from the still-recent global economic collapse, Italy will be looking to incorporate green initiatives into its economic policies, according to the OECD report. These measures are expected to include: “greening” the tax code, expanding environment-related markets, green trade policies and investments in green technology.
 
 Italy is also looking to make an impact on the larger European stage with respect to environmental policies. Under the country’s six-month term as President of the European Commission, Italy pushed for higher recycling targets and progress toward the complete elimination of EU landfills, green job growth and the tighter control of emissions from medium-sized combustion plants.
 
 Clean Technology in Italy
 
 Through its recent policies and financial incentives, Italy has made a major push toward embracing solar energy technology.
 
 Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Agostino Re Rebaudengo, Chairman of the Italian renewable energy associationassoRinnovabili, said his country’s green energy incentive scheme has been highly successful and led to cost of photovoltaic systems being reduced by 72 percent from 2008 to 2013.
 
 
 The organization chairman added that the policies are beginning to bridge the gap between Italy’s import-based energy industry today and a sustainable renewable energy industry in the future.
 
 A Clean Future for Italy?
 
 While current economic factors will have a major influence on how clean technology will progress in Italy, the International Energy Agency’s most recent report on the country made three primary recommendations.
 
 First, the IEA report said Italy should develop a national energy sector consistent with the modern energy market. The IEA report also said Italy needs to continue identifying and addressing deficiencies in its energy infrastructure. Finally, the IEA report said Italy needs to make a major push in trying to fulfil its EU 2020 climate change responsibilities.
 
 ReferencesItaly Facts - National GeographicHealth Impact Assessment of Air Pollution in Italian Cities - World Health Organization (WHO)Rome Water Pollution Sparks Public 

]]> 2016-08-22 16:26:41 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119195784 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119284636 In the last decade, solar has experienced a compound annual growth rate of nearly 60%. it considered to the most eco friendly method of energy generation.
Environmental: solar energy does not produce air or water pollution and does not produce greenhouse gases.
Political: solar thermal systems use potentially hazardous fluids to transfer heat. U.S. environmental laws regulate the use and disposal of these types of materials.
Economical: The cost to install solar has dropped by more than 70% over the last 10 years, leading the industry to expand into new markets and deploy thousands of systems nationwide.
Technological: Power plants may require water for cleaning solar collectors or concentrators and may require water for cooling turbine-generators.
As the power plants require water as well as adequate sunlight the location of the country helps them use the source effectively


]]> 2016-08-23 02:15:43 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119284636 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119295687 https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/resource/gas/
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=oil_use
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_the_United_States
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/index.cfm?tg=crude%20oil
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=solar_environment
http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data


]]> 2016-08-23 04:30:28 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119295687 navya_mittal2017 https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119297423 Wind is a renewable energy source. Overall, using wind to produce energy has fewer environmental impacts than many other energy sources.
Environmental:Wind turbines do not release emissions that can pollute the air or water (with rare exceptions), and they do not require water for cooling. Wind turbines may also reduce the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels, which reduces the total amount of air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.]]> 2016-08-23 04:54:01 UTC https://padlet.com/navya_mittal2017/grc0hujqjslj/wish/119297423