Location Location Location by Sean

Optimal Wind Turbine Locations

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 01:09:31 UTC

This map of the United States shows the best places for wind turbines. It is relatively flat along the middle of the continental United States, making those areas the best places to capture wind. Areas that are away from the middle of the country can be optimal for wind power as well, as long as there are corridors in between mountains, so that the wind is channeled through.

image url:

http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/80m_wind/USwind300dpe4-11.jpg

Optimal Solar Power Locations

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 01:13:53 UTC

This map of the United States shows the best places for solar panels. The SouthWest region of the continental U.S. is the most optimal location for solar panels, due to the high amount of clear, sunny days year around. Although the rest of the country does not receive as much annual sunshine, solar panels can still be placed in these areas.

image url: http://www.americanthinker.com/legacy_assets/articles/assets/Bell%20-%20Solar%203.png

Rationale

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 02:46:13 UTC

Discussing renewable energy resources is extremely important at the middle school age, because we need to look towards the future and the well being of our planet. Fossil fuels have played an important and valuable role in the progression of our society and our technology, but it is time to look ahead instead of the past. Because I want to do a video for this topic, New Energy seemed to be the one that works the most. I will be specifically focusing on solar and wind energy for this assignment. Wave and geothermal energy are limited in more ways than solar and wind, and this is why I will refrain from those types of renewable energy resources. This is a sustainability topic because wind and solar are both renewable energy resources that do not contribute CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, further harming the environment. Solar and wind really stood out to me because of where I have lived. I have been a resident of Arizona on and off for 17 years and understand the benefit of living in the Valley of the Sun, so I know how easy it is to capture the energy of the Sun. I was also stationed near Palm Springs when I was in the Marines. I often saw the hundreds and possibly thousands of wind turbines while driving through. I experienced the benefit of living in places that can capture natural energy resources. I believe it is important for me to consider this topic as a citizen, because I can take action in the future to either invest in renewable energy resources or have them power my own home. It is also important for students to have a basic understanding of wind and solar power, in order for them to know how each technology works, and where they work best. They can also take this information and apply it towards a possible future career in the renewable energy industry, or even become an investor. Students also need to know that renewable energy is not always a suitable alternative in certain areas. There is a push for more wind turbines and solar panels, in order to alleviate the need for fossil fuels, but it is not always practical. By using wind maps and solar maps, students will be able to determine where in the country it is most ideal for either solar or wind energy, or even both if possible.

Relevance for Future Classrooms

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 02:47:26 UTC

This topic will be introduced to my students so that I can show them the harm caused by fossil fuels and how renewable energy resources will not only contribute zero CO2 emission, but will also never run out. The generation that is growing up now will be more exposed to the harm caused by CO2 emissions than my generation ever was. I was in high school when global warming was first brought to most of the public’s attention. Carl Sagan discussed the harm of CO2 emissions in the original Cosmos, but it took a while before it became a popular topic. The upcoming generation will be exposed to the negative impact of CO2 emissions and, over time, it will not be as widely disputed as it is today. It is less disputed now than it was 10 years ago, because more and more of us are conducting our own research, rather than listening to people on the news who do not know what they are talking about. This topic is not only related to science class, but also to social studies. Students will be able to use wind and solar maps, and use their geographical knowledge in order to identify which technologies are suitable in a specific state.

"How Stuff Works: Solar Panels" with Bill Nye

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 02:51:38 UTC

In this video, science communicator and engineer Bill Nye discusses the benefits of solar panels.

"How We Turn Solar Energy Into Electricity"

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 02:54:41 UTC

This brief YouTube video tells us of the history of solar panels, and how panels capture sunlight and turn it into energy.

"Renewable vs Non Renewable Energy Resources"

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 02:56:24 UTC

This video compares renewable and non-renewable energy resources and their impacts on the climate.

"Fantastic Wind Turbine Locations!"

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 03:00:06 UTC

This video discusses the best locations to place wind turbines

Week of Content

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 03:07:05 UTC

Content Overview:

The content covered throughout the week will introduce students to the negative impact fossil fuel have on our planet, and introduce renewable energy resources to them. Wind and solar power will be the primary renewable energy technologies discussed throughout the week. Students will not only learn about the benefit of these technologies, but they will be able to identify the most suitable places to implement these technologies. Students will learn how to use wind and solar maps in order to identify if certain states should implement wind powder, solar power, or both.

Day 1: This day will cover what fossil fuels are and how they negatively impact the environment. Students will learn of the process that occurred millions of years ago, which led to different forms of fossil fuels. The history of the discovery will be covered, and worldwide tensions due to oil will be discussed. Renewable energy will be partially introduced.

Learning Goal: Students will know the negative impacts that nonrenewable energy resources have.

Day 2: This day will cover the benefits of renewable energy, specifically solar and wind. We will also research how the United States is doing, compared to the rest of the world, by switching to renewable energy resources, and where we will be in 50 years time. Students will learn how wind turbines and solar panels convert natural energy into electricity. We will compare and contrast renewable to nonrenewable energy resources.

Learning Goal: Students will know why renewable energy resource are essential for the protection of the environment.

Day 3: This day will cover some of the negative impacts of switching to renewable energy i.e. loss of jobs and animals that may be harmed. The focus will be whether or not the positives outweigh the negatives, or visa versa. Animal populations that may be negatively affected due to these renewable energy technologies will also be discussed.

Learning Goal: Students will be able to form an opinion regarding renewable and nonrenewable energy resources, based off of their negative impacts.

Day 4: This day will focus on the proper geographical locations for wind turbines and solar panels, using solar maps and wind maps. Students will be shown the YouTube video that I made that points out that solar panels and wind turbines cannot be placed just anywhere. Students will learn how to read wind maps and solar maps, in order to located the best possible locations for wind turbines and solar panels.

Learning Goal: Students will be able to read wind and solar maps.

Day 5: (Full Lesson Plan) Students will be put in groups and the teacher will give each group a state to research for possible wind and solar power technology. All groups will be given different states. The students need to determine if either solar, wind, or both energy resources are the most optimal in that state. Students will be given 10 minutes to discuss their reasoning and will then present their findings to the class, using examples from the lesson. Students will also present to the class their rationale as to why switching to renewable energy is beneficial to the environment.

Learning Goal: Students will be able to identify, using wind and solar maps, the optimal technology resource in a given state.

Sustainability Message

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 04:14:09 UTC

New energies such as wind and solar power are the wave of the future. In order to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, which contributes to the unnatural heating of the planet, renewable energy resources need to become more prevalent. New Energy not only gives off zero CO2 emissions, but it is captures energy that will never run out, unlike nonrenewable energy resources. Understanding how renewable energy resources work is just as important as know where are the optimal locations for the energy to be captured. This page will ensure students, as well as teachers have a basic understanding of the technology and the importance of location.

Lesson Plan

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-11-02 04:35:12 UTC

Location Location Location: This video needs to be watched before the rest of this Padlet page

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-12-07 05:57:02 UTC

In this video I made, Jake, from State Farm, is tasked to find the best locations for wind and solar power technologies. Jake is tasked for this assignment, due to his expert problem solving skills. He goes through a trial and error process to find optimal locations, before realizing that the utilization of wind and solar maps and key to knowing where to place panels and turbines. This video does not show a practical way to find where to implement solar and wind power technology; it is a way to show that location is the most important factor, and using satellite imagining is better than trial and error.

What is Renewable Energy

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-12-07 06:15:55 UTC

Renewable energy is any form of power that naturally occurs and replenishes. Unlike nonrenewable energy such as fossil fuels, natural gas, or oil, renewable energy will never run out. The other advantage that renewable energy has over nonrenewable, other than an unlimited supply, is the are no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from renewable energy resources. The burning of nonrenewable energy resources emits harmful amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere, which heats the planet unnaturally. To avoid higher levels of CO2, and to turn the page before we start running out of natural nonrenewable resources, the time has come to look towards the future. There are many forms of renewable energy resources, but the most commonly known technologies are wind and solar power. These resources do not work just anywhere. Proper placement needs to be taken into consideration before erecting. It will take some time for us to give up our dependence on fossil fuels, natural gas, and oil, but it will be better for the environment and there will be no worry of the resources ever running out. As long as there is a planet Earth, renewable energy will keep the lights on.

Annotated Bibliography

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-12-07 23:04:36 UTC

Science Daily: This page give a detailed explanation what fossil fuels are, how they came to be, and how we use this form of nonrenewable energy

EPA: This page describes, in detail, what climate change is and how the burning of fossil fuels causes the unnatural rise in CO2 emissions. This page also has links for viewers to learn more information on how they can make a difference and change certain habits in their daily lives to combat climate change.

CO2 Now: This site breaks down how CO2 is emitted into the atmosphere and gives information how carbon is captured. This site also has large amounts of data to show the rise in temperature over the years and the metric tons of carbon that is emitted.

The Guardian: This site has numerous links to articles covering climate change, renewable energy resources, political impacts, global initiatives, citizen involvement, investing, etc.

Nature: This site reviews wind turbines placed offshore. These offshore wind farms are thought to harm marine and avian animals, but thorough scientific research concluded that these turbines should not significantly harm the animals.

Tree Hugger: This site, similar to The Guardian, has numerous links to articles covering climate change, renewable energy resources, political impacts, global initiatives, citizen involvement, investing, etc.

Green Tech Media: This site explains how to properly invest in renewable energy technologies.

Union of Concerned Scientist: This site breaks down each of the renewable energy resources and discusses the negative impacts they either have or may have on the environment and ecosystems.

Energy.gov: This site gives a thorough break down of what wind energy is, the history of this technology, how it works, where it is most suitable, the different types of wind turbines, and how efficient it is.

The New Yorker: This site discusses, in great detail, the rise of solar power and how it is making the utility companies nervous. Also discussed is the lifetime cost of energy in a household and how switching to solar power can save families a lot of money.

Energy.gov: This site gives a thorough break down of what solar energy is, the history of this technology, how it works, where it is most suitable, the different types of wind turbines, and how efficient it is.

Energy.gov: This site shows a solar energy potential map of the continental United States. For the most potential energy in kilowatt hours, the scale goes from red, being the greatest per sq. ft., to purple, being the lowest per sq. ft.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: This site displays the best locations for wind power in the continental United States, using high-resolution wind data.

Media Matters: This site breaks down the myths and facts of solar energy. There are many common misconceptions regarding this technology, so this site uses evidence to support their findings that are in favor of solar energy.

Solarbotics: This site explains the physics that make solar energy possible.

United States Geological Survey: This site breaks down the optimal locations to place wind turbines.

Resources

thisiswherejunkgoes — 2015-12-07 23:09:09 UTC

Websites:

(n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/fossil_fuel.htm

Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/

CO2 Now. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://co2now.org/Current-CO2/CO2-Now/global-carbon-emissions.html

Renewable Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/environment/renewableenergy Russo, G. (2014, September 24). Renewable Energy: Wind Power Tests the Waters. Retrieved November 11, 2015, from http://www.nature.com/news/renewable-energy-wind-power-tests-the-waters-1.15992

Renewable Energy : TreeHugger. (n.d.). Retrieved November 13, 2015, from http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/ Hunt, T. (2014, February 5). 5 Different Ways to Invest in Renewable Energy. Retrieved November 19, 2015, from http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/how-to-invest-in-renewables

Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2015, from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-of.html#.VmYXit-rT-Y How Do Wind Turbines Work? (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work

McKibben, B. (2015, June 29). Solar Power for Everyone. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/06/29/power-to-the-people Solar. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2015, from http://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sources/renewable-energy/solar

Solar Energy Potential. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://energy.gov/maps/solar-energy-potential Wind Maps. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from http://www.nrel.gov/gis/wind.html

Theel, S. (2013, January 24). Myths And Facts About Solar Energy. Retrieved November 1, 2015, from http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/01/24/myths-and-facts-about-solar-energy/192364

Solar cells -- the physics behind them. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from http://www.solarbotics.net/starting/200202_solar_cells/200202_solar_cell_physics.html Related:. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/mapping-the-nations-wind-turbines/

YouTube Videos:

Stop Motion Film: Renewable vs NonRenewable Energy Sources. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBTnVoEIb98

Fantastic Wind Turbine Locations! (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJo7hZq7zVA

Bill Nye - How Stuff Works - Solar Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av24fEMhDoU
How We Turn Solar Energy Into Electricity. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnYjlsGXugo
Pictures: http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/80m_wind/USwind300dpe4-11.jpg

http://greencredential.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/map_pv_national_lo-res.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9DuLMdQyfME/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAABs/6dGE9Ep_TZ8/photo.jpg

https://cfo.asu.edu/sites/default/files/fdmbldgs/cronkite2.png