...Kacie Cardenas Mr. Tall Chief Composition 1 31 October 2012 Oil vs. Ethanol In today’s society most people get from point A to point B with a car. That car that society drives, however, doesn’t run all by itself. All cars need some form of energy to operate. The world’s primary use of energy for cars is oil. As we know, our global amount of fossil fuels, especially oil, gets a little more scarce everyday. Researchers have developed different kinds of alternative energy to help slow down the use of fossil fuels. Ethanol has turned into a top source of an alternative for oil. So why not use those alternative forms of energy like ethanol for every car? Through studies and research, scientists continue to evaluate the downside of fossil fuels, possible harm of alternative energy, the benefits of fossil fuels, and successes of alternative energy. Earth’s primary energy supplier has always been fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are made from animals and plants that lived many millions of years ago. Those plants and animals became buried underneath the surface of the Earth where they transformed into what we use today for oil. We have depended on those fuels to meet our most basic energy needs, to our most complex. Society runs into the problem that fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource. Once they have been depleted, the fossil fuels are gone forever. The problem comes up when miners, oil companies, and oil consumers destroy different ecosystems. The mining and...
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...Alternative energy – Why is it a game changer? * Compare the difference between old days and now. * How alternative energy influence nowadays life? Introduction (background) http://renewable-solarenergy.com/non-renewable-energy-sources.html What was used before to generate energy? * Fossil fuels(The term ‘fossil fuel’ refers to fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. ) * Where do it come from? How can it be used? It can be used to produce electricity, heating, cooking, transportation and manufacturing. 85% of the energy used in the industrial processes is form the non-renewable type of energy. * Transportation?... http://renewablegreen.net/?p=124 What limitations or disadvantages does non-renewable energy have? * However, after never-ending mining and ‘drill baby drill,’ we realized that there is was limitation to how much we can use them. Because one day, the mines will be empty and drilling pipes would dry out. Over the years, their demand has been far outstripping their availability. * Pollution created (air, water) => Global warming and greenhouse effect * Increasing oil price (because of limited resources) And with demand overpowering supply, prices will continue to rise dramatically. Combustion of fossil fuels emits harmful gases like sulfur dioxide (causing acid rain) and carbon monoxide (contributing to greenhouse effect). Due to the adverse affects, the globe is heating up and the polar ice caps are melting faster. A need...
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...Abstract Abstract Solar Energy: The Eco-Friendly alternative energy source for The world? Solar Energy: The Eco-Friendly alternative energy source for The world? Solar energy is energy provided by the sun, it is in the form of solar radiation, it can be converted into electrical or thermal energy. Around the world a movement has begun, one started by environmentalist, this movement is known as the Go Green Movement. The goal of this movement is to make people aware of the damages that we are causing and effective measures to reverse them. The Go Green Movement focuses on creating alternative energy sources so that non-renewable energy resources such as: coal, petroleum and fossil fuel are not exhausted. Most fossil fuels are obtained through mining processes, which can damage the environment. They damage the environment by releasing acid, mercury and sulfates into the atmosphere. Christina Nunez, in her article for National Geographic states that fossil fuels such as coal should, “be left untouched in order to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2°C.” (Nunez, 1) This indicates that the burning of fossil fuels such as: coal, oil and gas are factors which contribute to global warming. They contribute to global warming by releasing carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere. In recent years the quandary of having alternate sources of energy has arisen. Solar energy is energy provided by the sun, it is in the form of solar...
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...critical anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG). The predicted growth of global economy and world population in the near future will lead to an increased demand for energy [1], resulting in an even further increase in the atmospheric CO2 concentration [2]. In recent years, the amount of CO2 liberated by the utilization of fossil fuels has been over 30 gigatonnes. Global GHG emissions have doubled since the early 1970s, and the emissions would double again by 2050 without appropriate and effective emission abatement. Although international attempts have been made to reduce CO2 generation by promoting...
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...Do you agree with these two hypotheses? Why or why not? Energy and Food Supplies. The underlying theme of this course is energy. As a whole, the global society needs to find ways to reduce our energy consumption. The food pyramid is a prime example of energy transfer within individual ecosystems and the biosphere. As you increase the trophic levels, a greater amount of energy is lost. Some environmentalists argue that humans should eat a vegetarian diet in order to conserve energy. What are some of the pros and cons of this action? Consider the impact to the agricultural industry? How low on the food chain do you eat? Would you consider eating lower? Model Ecosystems. Review the virtual lab in Model Ecosystems. Within this laboratory exercise you will categorize various organisms into the correct trophic level for five different ecosystems. Once completed, you will calculate the amount of energy transferred between levels. Record your observations. Answer the journal questions and upload it as a Word document into the online course. Energy Policy. The U.S. Energy Policy is currently being reviewed and six main recommendations are listed, by Botkin and Keller (2011, p. 298). Discuss whether or not each recommendation will lead us to a sustainable society. Defend your position by discussing the benefits and drawbacks. Provide substantive evidence from outside sources if necessary. Fossil Fuel Reserves. Fossil fuels reserves are rapidly depleting in the United States. The...
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...commercial oil well in the United States was drilled in 1859. (Yergin, 7) These two fossil fuels were the power behind the American Industrial Revolution, and wealth behind Edward Berwind and John Rockefeller(Brinkley, 435), respectively, that continue to provide power and fuel in present day society. Natural gas is another fossil fuel that helps to provide for the needs of today. Oil, coal, and gas companies tout new technologies that make their products cleaner and safer for the environment. Opponents of fossil fuels say there is no way to burn them cleanly. Proponents for fossil fuels believe there are plenty of reserves to keep America running on fossil fuels for years to come. Advocates for newer technologies, “green” technologies, such as solar power, geothermal energy, and biofuels claim that the time to move on from these fossil fuels has arrived. The new energy sources claim to be renewable so as to never run out. (E.g., the sun would have to supernova for solar power to run out.) They believe the point of “Peak Oil”- the point at which worldwide oil production begins to decline, has already passed and the country will need their new technologies to keep pace during the changing of the energy guard. There are many lenses through which to look at the use of all these energy sources. The end of the debate as to which ones are best has no end in sight. A main focus of the fossil fuel debate is how safe they are for the environment. Coal mining is not easy on the land...
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... “Energyconservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energyconservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, inconjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption fromconventional energy sources” ("Energy conservation," 2011). The twotypes of energy are renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable energy sources areconstantly renewed or restored and include wind (wind power), water(hydropower), sun (solar), vegetation (biomass), and internal heat of the earth(geothermal). On the other hand, nonrenewable energy sources are naturalresources that cannot be replenished. Fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coalare the most commonly used types of non-renewable energy. However,non-renewable energy sources are being depleted at a rapid rate. In fact, (dueto this depletion) there may not be enough non-renewable energy sources forfuture generations. Additionally, (in this paper) I will discuss methods toconserve energy, save money, and help the environment as well. Because fossil fuels (such as oil,gas, and coal) are the most commonly used types of non-renewable energy, I willfocus on these types of non-renewable energy sources. “World energy consumptionhas increased every year since 1982, with most of the increase occurring indeveloping countries” (Berg, & Hager, 2007). “Additional energy demands inhighly developed nations may be met by increasing the energy efficiency ofthings like appliances, automobiles, and home insulation”...
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...ASHFORD ENV 322 Entire Course For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 1 DQ 1 Gaia Hypothesis ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 1 DQ 2 Energy and Food Supplies ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 1 Assignment Model Ecosystems ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 2 DQ 1 Energy Policy ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 2 DQ 2 Fossil Fuel Reserves ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 2 Outline for Final Paper ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 3 DQ 1 Nuclear Energy ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 3 DQ 2 Nuclear Waste Disposal ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 3 Assignment Non-renewable Energy Sources ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 4 DQ 1 Alternative Energy Sources and Your Local Ecosystem ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 4 DQ 2 Unorthodox Energy Sources ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 4 Assignments How Big Is Your Footprint ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 5 DQ 1 Energy Consumption ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 5 DQ 2 Voluntary vs. Regulatory Involvement ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 5 Final Paper. __________________________________________________________ ASHFORD ENV 322 Week 1 Assignment Model Ecosystems For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com Model Ecosystems. Review the virtual lab in Model Ecosystems. Within this laboratory exercise you will categorize various organisms into the correct tropic level for five different ecosystems. Once completed, you will calculate the amount of energy transferred between levels. Record your observations. Answer the journal questions and upload it as a Word document into the online course. __________________________________________________________ ...
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...Very dangerous tumor cells (what’s detected in screenings) Causes of cancer: 1. If there’s mutation in the Proto-oncogenes (tumor suppressor genes), which code for proteins and regulates mitosis… then there will definitely be problem with normal cell division. 2. Carcinogens are substances or physical agents that lead to development of cancer when body is exposed to them. 3. General mutations due to internal/external factors can cause cancer. a. Internal factors- errors in DNA replication; Free radicals; errors in protein synthesis b. External factors- Infectious agents (bacteria/viruses); pollution and chemicals in environment; Radiation (sun); medical treatment (chemo); Lifestyle factors (diet, tobacco) Benign vs. Malignant * Benign * Tumors that stay in one place (Don’t spread to other parts of body) * Can be removed usually, with surgery * Usually encapsulated * Maintains normal cell structure/function (size and shape) * Don’t come back in most cases * Cells don’t invade other tissue * Malignant * Tumors that DON’T stay in one place * More aggressive...
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...It is said that wind generated electricity is the greenest and most sustainable natural energy source there is. It has the ability to generate large amounts of electricity without polluting the air, water, or general landscape. When several wind turbines are grouped together they are called wind farms. These wind farms offer many benefits to the environment, economy, and people whom are receiving the wind generated electricity. But without proper research and improper planning schemes wind farms are being placed in migratory paths for birds and bats killing or injuring them, attract and kill pollinator insects, and (according to some) decrease the aesthetic beauty of the landscape. The first wind farm in the United States was in Crocheted Mountains, New Hampshire in 1980. Since then they have grown to 119 wind farms in the United States. There are two basic forms of wind turbines, vertical axis and horizontal axis wind turbines. The vertical axis turbine blades have several designs but the commonality between the designs is that they have open spaces some people refer to as lattice spaced openings. Horizontal axis turbine blades look like propellers on an airplane. It is estimated that roughly 573,000 birds are injured or killed annually, roughly 600,000 bats are injured or killed annually and innumerable pollinator insects are killed annually by wind farms. The problem with vertical axis turbines is that the spaces in the blades are wonderful perching and...
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...limitless Can we grow indefinitely? (L1 S9) -Measured by: cost, time, maintenance, reuse/recycle, resource consumption (L1 S12) -Tool- Life Cycle Assessment (L1 S12) -LCA is to determine the TOTAL cost, energy, consumption, eco-impact, of a structure over its entire life cycle: Material production, transportation, construction, in service(+maintenance), end of life (disposal or reuse) (L1 S13) -Life cycle cost and societal costs are calculated using similar principles. (S13) 2. What does “Resilience” mean in the context of civil infrastructure? Infrastructure’s ability to resist effects of the environment and rebound back to its normal state. (ex. Earthquakes, etc.) 3. By giving an example, explain how a material (e.g., steel panels used in automobiles) impacts the environment and our energy consumption during its service life. Concrete production- during production CO2 is released into the environment from energy use. Service life only requires maintenance with minimal energy consumption. (ex. Personnel to wash off salts, etc.) 4. What is the embodied energy (materials production and processing) of an aluminum soda can weighing 100g? How many 32W compact fluorescent light bulbs can be lit for 1hr using the same amount of energy? Assume energy conversion efficiency...
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...Bio-fuels: a debatable topic A warm welcome to respected dignitaries and all the participants who are present here today, My name is Swaroop. I’m pursuing M.Sc (ag) extension. I remember that my grandfather used to quote “well done is better than well said” a statement given by Benjamin franklin. Biofuels are they as green as they claim to be? It is well said -yes this fuel has a component of BIO, but is biofuel well doing in meeting all its requirements? Hmm…a debatable topic. As context of my argument, I strongly argue that they are not eco-friendly-when completely relied upon. So what are Biofuels? A biofuel is a fuel that contains energy from geologically recent carbon fixation. These fuels are produced from living organisms. Examples of this carbon fixation occur in plants and microalgae. These fuels are made by a biomass conversion (biomass refers to recently living organisms, most often referring to plants or plant-derived materials). This biomass can be converted to convenient energy containing substances in three different ways: thermal, chemical and biochemical conversion. Biofuels have increased in popularity because of rising oil prices and the need for energy security. This biofuels are 1St and 2nd generation. 1st generation conatins ethanol, biodiesel, vegetable oil mostly. The second generation biofuels are mostly made from the lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste. Taking a brisk turn towards my argument, There are various...
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...Lotus and Alternative Fuels Willis Jackson Jr. Comm/215 June 25, 2014 David S. Murphy Introduction For years, environmentalists have been screaming about going green, recycling, reusing products, and so forth. Therefore, the idea of our vehicles using alternative fuel sources would be a welcomed change. With dozens of vehicles and fuel sources becoming available, it is now possible to add alternative fuel vehicles to our rental car fleet. Through this presentation, I will fully outline gasoline and alternative fuel vehicles; the history, the sources of fuel, and consumer incentives will all also be explained. Gasoline vehicles Gasoline powered vehicles are the types of vehicles that are commonly used around the world. Gasoline powered vehicles utilize an internal combustion power train. Power train refers to the group of components within the vehicle that generates power. Internal combustion engines are typically associated with gasoline even though variations of the internal combustion engine can be fueled by other sources. The mainstream alternative to gasoline is diesel fuel. History of gasoline vehicles Self-propelled vehicles have been around since 1672 but were not introduced to mainstream America until 1902. Older vehicles were powered by steam engines, which gave way to the internal combustion engines that are powered by either gasoline or diesel fuel. Diesel fuel and gasoline both cause air pollution and play a role in global warming. The ever increasing...
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...Costs Related to Rising Fuel Costs? ECO 550 Dr. Isley Mary Thomas March 19, 2011 Are the rising food costs related to rising fuel costs? Not only does the rising costs of fuel cause an increase in prices, but the use of some crops to make biofuels also drives the cost of food up. High crude oil prices have fueled interest in finding alternative energy sources and reducing dependency on import oil supplies. The emergence of biofuels has given rise to an alternative market for a number of agriculture commodities. 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. The burning of these fossil fuels is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide which is one of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Biofuels are transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that are made from biomass materials. The fuels are usually blended with petroleum fuels, but can also be used alone. Using ethanol or biodiesel means we don’t burn quite as much fossil fuel. Biofuels are usually...
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...Energy India: Towards Energy Independence 2030 January 2014 Copyright © 2014, by McKinsey & Company, Inc. India: Towards Energy Independence 2030 January 2014 4 India: Towards Energy Independence 2030 Introduction India is the world’s fourth largest economy1 as well as the fourth largest energy consumer. India imports a substantial portion of its energy — 80 per cent of its oil, 18 per cent of its gas, and now even 23 per cent of its coal. As the Indian economy continues to grow, so will its energy consumption, especially as the growth of its manufacturing sector catches up with services and agriculture. With domestic resource production facing various challenges, the general expectation has been that Indian energy imports will continue to grow, and energy security concerns will intensify. The outlook and options for Indian energy independence therefore becomes an important topic. A 2030 outlook is particularly relevant since it is difficult to significantly change energy policy in 5 or 10 years, but almost any boundary conditions can be changed over a 15-year period. Moreover, there have been few if any, in-depth perspectives on this topic for 2030. This white paper builds off the ‘2030 Global Energy Perspective’, McKinsey’s substantial body of research on energy demand and supply, and our understanding of the evolution of the global and Indian energy sectors. We have tried to address some of the basic questions that arise about Indian energy in 2030: Is India’s...
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