Use of Energy Resources
What happens to trash in a landfill when people recycle instead of throwing items away?
(Answer: There is less trash in landfills because materials are reused.)
Is coal renewable or nonrenewable?
(Answer: Nonrenewable.)
Name one simple way to conserve electricity at home.
(Answer: Turn off lights when no one is in the room.)
If people litter less and recycle more, what immediate effect is seen at a landfill?
(Answer: Less trash accumulates in the landfill.)
If a family switches from driving a car to riding bicycles for short trips, what effect does this have on energy resource use?
(Answer: It reduces the use of fuel, lowering consumption of nonrenewable energy.)
Name one renewable energy resource listed in the lesson content.
(Answer: Sun (solar), water, plants, or animals.)
What are two actions that conserve electricity.
(Answer: Buy products that use less electricity to run — energy-efficient products. Turn lights off when not in use. Use cold water instead of hot water to wash clothes. Dry clothes outside instead of using an electric dryer.)
Javier forgot to count energy to harvest and transport food. How does including transportation change his estimate of energy used for grocery food?
(Answer: It increases the total energy used because trucks, refrigeration, and handling require energy.)
How do energy resources impact people's lives today?
(Answer: They are important for people everywhere. We rely on energy in our daily lives.)
Why is oil considered nonrenewable?
(Answer: It forms over millions of years and cannot be replaced on a human time scale.)
How does recycling help conserve energy?
(Answer: Recycling uses less energy than making products from new raw materials.)
Xander has two pairs of shoes: one torn and one gently used. What two different actions can he take to best protect the environment?
(Answer: Throw away the torn pair if unusable; donate or recycle the gently used pair.)
A factory reduces waste by reusing packaging materials. Explain one environmental effect of this action.
(Answer: It conserves natural resources and reduces pollution and landfill use.)
Give two examples of nonrenewable resources.
(Answer: Coal and natural gas (also oil).)
What human action AND what technology item would reduce electricity use for lighting in a classroom?
(Answer: Turn off unused lights (behavior) and install LED bulbs (technology).)
Explain how conserving electricity can affect the demand for critical energy resources such as coal or oil.
(Answer: Lower electricity demand reduces the need to burn fossil fuels, decreasing extraction and pollution.)