Environmental Science Unit 7 by Allie Peebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z Energy en-us 2018-03-12 12:47:38 UTC 2025-12-02 00:42:59 UTC hello@padlet.com Fossil Fuels allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240823758
  • Non-renewable energy source 
  • Origin - Fossil fuel is a general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years.
  • Consumption - The United States gets 81% of its total energy from oil, coal, and natural gas, all of which are fossil fuels. We depend on those fuels to heat our homes, run our vehicles, power industry and manufacturing, and provide us with electricity.
  • Concerns - Finite resource, Large greenhouse gas emitter including CO2, Progressively harder to find oil and gas deposits, Global movement toward limiting oil and gas and using renewable energy sources, Environmentally damaging, with potential catastrophic damage from large oil spills, Produces smog which harms human health
  • Benefits - Systems are set up to process and utilize oil and gas, they're widely available around the globe, a low cost per unit energy, Refineries, transportation, and plastics all rely heavily on oil and gas, High energy output, Employs millions of people globally
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:54:13 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240823758     Nuclear Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240824279
  • Non-renewable energy source 
  • Origin - Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy must be released.
  • Consumption - It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are combined or fused together to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces energy. In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms, releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce electricity.
  • Benefits -  Reliability (A nuclear power plant when in the mode of producing energy can run uninterrupted for even a year), More Proficient Than Fossil Fuels
  • Concerns - One of the biggest issues is environmental concerns in relation to uranium. The process of mining and refining uranium hasn’t been a clean process. Actually transporting nuclear fuel to and from plants represents a pollution hazard. Also, once the fuel is used, you can’t simply take it to the landfill – it’s radioactive and dangerous.
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:55:11 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240824279     Tidal Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240824922
  • Renewable form of energy
  • Origin - Hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power – mainly electricity
  • Consumption - Tidal stream generators are very similar to wind turbines except their below the water surface instead of above or on land. The turbine and generator converts the movement of water coming from change in tide, the kinetic energy, into electricity.
  • Concerns - There are high upfront costs associated with construction, they change the movement of water into and out of estuaries, which can disrupt the life cycles of certain marine life
  • Benefits - Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:56:12 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240824922     Biofuel Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825230
  • Renewable form of energy
  • Origin - Biofuels are produced from living organisms or from metabolic by-products (organic or food waste products). In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80 percent renewable materials. It is originally derived from the photosynthesis process and can therefore often be referred to as a solar energy source. 
  • Consumption -  Ethanol: primarily used in cars, ethanol is a type of alcohol and is most commonly made from corn or sugarcane. Based on sugars.
    Biodiesel: a substitute for diesel fuel, which is used mostly in trucks in the US but also in an increasing number of diesel cars. Most commonly made from soybeans. Based on oils.                         Other biomass: mostly used for generation of electricity or heat. Examples: burning wood chips to boil water and create steam, which spins turbines and creates electricity; collecting methane from manure piles to generate heat or electricity
  • Concerns - Ethanol is currently made from corn, and the way corn is grown in the US is not sustainable. Corn is often genetically modified, and grown using fossil fuels, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which have environmental ramifications. So much energy is used to grow and harvest the corn that ethanol is only marginally efficient.
  • Benefits - It can be used in our existing car fleet, added to gasoline at up to 10% of a tank, & New cars can run on a 20% mix of ethanol with gas, and only minor changes are required for new cars to run on any mix of ethanol and gasoline, up to 85% ethanol, known as E85, & It can be transported easily and use the same gas stations, & this is a good use for surplus corn production.
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:56:45 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825230     Geothermal Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825414
  • Renewable form of energy
  • Origin - The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is heat within the earth. People can use this heat as steam or as hot water to heat buildings or to generate electricity. Geothermal energy finds its way to the earth's surface in three ways: 1. Volcanoes and fumaroles 2. Hot springs 3. Geysers
  • Consumption - Some applications of geothermal energy use the earth's temperatures near the surface, while others require drilling miles into the earth. There are three main types of geothermal energy systems: 1. Direct use and district heating systems 2. Electricity generation power plants    3. Geothermal heat pumps
  • Concerns -  1.Geographical Limitations ... Geothermal energy is arguably the most location specific energy source known to man. Geothermal activity is at its greatest along tectonic fault lines within the earth’s crust and it is in these areas where geothermal power plants are considered to be most effective. 2. Large Investment Needed ... The upfront investment that is needed for a geothermal power plant is considerably high when compared with the investment required for power plants that produce electricity from other resources such as coal and oil.
  • Benefits - Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because heat is continuously produced inside the earth.
    Geothermal energy is an environmentally friendly energy source when compared with fossil fuel alternatives such as coal, oil and gas. 
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:57:05 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825414     Solar Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825564
  • Renewable form of energy
  • Origin - Solar power is energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. The sun has produced energy for billions of years and is the ultimate source for all of the energy and fuel that we use today. People have used the sun's rays for warmth and to dry meat, fruit, and grains. Over time, people developed devices to collect solar energy for heat and to convert it into electricity.
  • Consumption - Main uses of solar energy are 1.water for use in homes, buildings, or swimming pools 2. the inside of homes, greenhouses, and other buildings 3. heat fluids to high temperatures in solar thermal power plants
  • Concerns - The amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface is not constant. The amount of sunlight varies depending on location, time of day, season of the year, and weather conditions. The amount of sunlight reaching a square foot of the earth's surface is relatively small, so a large surface area is necessary to absorb or collect a useful amount of energy. Since so much material is required, this energy source can become very expensive. 
  • Benefits  - Solar energy systems do not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide. Solar energy systems on buildings have minimal effects on the environment.
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:57:22 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825564     Wind Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825715
  • Renewable form of energy
  • Origin - Wind is a form of solar energy. Winds are caused by the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the irregularities of the earth's surface, and rotation of the earth. Wind flow patterns are modified by the earth's terrain, bodies of water, and vegetative cover. This wind flow, or motion energy, when collected by modern wind turbines, can be used to generate electricity.
  • Consumption - Large wind turbines require a large amount of energy to operate. Other electricity plants generally use their own electricity, and the difference between the amount they generate and the amount delivered to the grid is readily determined. Wind plants, however, use electricity from the grid, which does not appear to be accounted for in their output figures. 
  • Concerns - Although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to fossil fuel power plants, there is some concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic impacts, and birds and bats having been killed by flying into the rotors. Most of these problems have been resolved or greatly reduced through technological development or by properly siting wind plants. Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past 10 years, the technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators. 
  • Benefits - It's a clean fuel source. Wind energy doesn't pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels so they don't cause health problems and economic damages.
    • ]]>     2018-03-12 12:57:40 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/240825715     What is the best energy source? allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/245010569  Below are the pros and cons to each energy source. You should begin to recognize that there is no perfect solution when it comes to obtaining energy. Every system has it's ups and downs and we are still working to find a perfectly efficient cycle.

    Non-renewable energy sources
    Fossil Fuel - Coal
    Advantages - Large net supply, High net energy
    Disadvantages - Large water pollution, Can release toxins like Hg (mercury) in the air
    Fossil Fuel - Natural Gas
    Advantages - Less air pollution than other fossil fuels, Low land use
    Disadvantages - Methane can leak from pipes, Extracting causes water pollution
    Fossil Fuel - Petroleum
    Advantages - Used in a wide variety of products (plastic, medicine, paint, cosmetics, etc.), Infrastructure (set-up) to deliver liquid is in place
    Disadvantages - Air pollution, Extracting causes water pollution
    Nuclear
    Advantages - No CO2 emissions once in operation, Low risk of accidents
    Disadvantages - Need access to sun, Need electricity storage

    Renewable Energy Sources
    Solar - Photovoltaic cell
    Advantages - No CO2 emissions, Reduce use of fossil fuels (so the fossil fuels will last longer)
    Disadvantages - Need access to sun, Need electricity storage
    Hydropower
    Advantages - No CO2 emissions, Water control (flood control and water storage)
    Disadvantages - Decreased flow of nutrients behind the dam, Can only be built in specific locations
    Wind
    Advantages - No CO2 emissions, Land below turbine can be used
    Disadvantages - Steady wind needed, Backup systems needed
    Biomass- Biofuel
    Advantages - Can be added to gasoline, Potentially renewable
    Disadvantages - Needs almost as much energy to make as you get from it, Competition with cropland
    Hydrogen
    Advantages - Made from water and exhaust its water, Safe to use
    Disadvantages - Energy needed to produce it, Technology not here for widespread use ]]>     2018-03-22 14:20:23 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/245010569     Energy Plan for Milton, GA allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/247841365 On average, Milton, GA is hot between May and September so geothermal energy would be a good option during these months. It could not be a perment option though because Milton’s cool season lasts from November to February. 
    On average, Milton, GA has the most daily sunlight between May and September. Between October and April there is 2-3 hours less of sunlight. Solar energy could be an option but it may only be reliable for certain months. 
    On average, The windier part of the year lasts for 6.8 months, from October 19 to May 12, with average wind speeds of more than 5.2 miles per hour. The windiest day of the year is March 8, with an average hourly wind speed of 6.6 miles per hour. This is not a strong enough or steady enough rate to produce wind energy. 
    Biomass energy could be an option but it needs almost as much energy to make as you get from it. This is a very costly alternative. Finally, hydrogen energy would be an option but the technology for it is expensive and has not reached Milton yet. We want to move from nonrenewable energy sources to healthier renewable energy sources. 
    Consequently, there is not yet a steady renewable energy source option for Milton, GA. 
    ]]>     2018-04-02 15:41:48 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/247841365     Pictures of Tidal Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249802611 2018-04-09 13:54:47 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249802611 Picture of Fossil Fuel allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249803866 2018-04-09 13:56:38 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249803866 Pictures of Wind Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249804543 2018-04-09 13:57:42 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249804543 Pictures of Geothermal Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249805896 2018-04-09 13:59:53 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249805896 Pictures of Nuclear Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249806366 2018-04-09 14:00:41 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249806366 Pictures of Biofuel Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249807228 2018-04-09 14:01:57 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249807228 Pictures of Solar Energy allieepeebles https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249807579 2018-04-09 14:02:30 UTC https://padlet.com/allieepeebles/tfpbltm3bw6z/wish/249807579