Renewable vs. Nonrenewable (Foundations)
What does the word renewable mean?
resources that can be replenished quickly
What is one way energy use can affect the environment?
it can help or negatively affect the environment depending on how you use them
Name one fossil fuel.
OIL
Why do scientists study how humans use energy?
To protect and sustain our environment for as long as possible.
Does the United States use more renewable or nonrenewable energy overall?
Nonrenewable
Why is oil considered a nonrenewable resource?
resources that take a long time to replenish
How can air pollution from burning fossil fuels affect humans?
Affect our lungs cause breathing problems
How is oil usually extracted from the Earth?
DRILLING
Why is it important to consider both benefits and drawbacks of energy sources?
Name one nonrenewable energy source that the United States relies on heavily.
OIL
Is hydropower renewable or nonrenewable? Explain why.
Renewable because water will always (hopefully) be here
How can an oil spill impact both ecosystems and communities?
It can negatively affect the environment by causing an unbalance in the water ecosystem, killing fish. This can cause our ecosystem to collapse and make us sick.
What is one environmental impact of drilling or pipelines?
How does renewable energy help reduce climate change?
They dont emit as much green house gas.
According to the article, what international climate agreement did the U.S. withdraw from?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
What is one renewable resource and one nonrenewable resource we use in the U.S.?
renewable: Solor, Wind, Hydro (water)
nonrenewable: Oil, Gas, Coal
Why do environmental impacts often lead to human health or economic problems?
Health = air and water pollution
Economy = lack of jobs, higher prices in items
Why have fossil fuels been widely used for so long, even though they cause pollution?
* cheap
* efficient
* reliable
Why might different countries choose different energy sources?
* affordability
* geography / environmental factors
Why does the U.S. continuing to use mostly nonrenewable energy affect climate change?
Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that warm the planet.
Why is time the most important factor when deciding if a resource is renewable or nonrenewable?
once nonrenewable energy is gone, we wont be able to get it back in our lifetime.
Explain how an energy choice can help some people but harm others.
Depending on what some countries can afford, they may not be able to utilize renewable resources.
Example: the USA using nonrenewable resources at an alarming just because we can negatively affects our climate. This affects everyone in every country.
If fossil fuels are harmful, why is it difficult to stop using them immediately?
* expensive
* will take a long time to make the change
If you were in charge of your town’s energy, what factors would you consider before making a decision?
Cost
Environmental impact
Reliability
Renewable vs. nonrenewable
Effects on people or ecosystems
Availability of natural resources
Long-term vs. short-term effects
Based on what we learned this week, give one reason why the U.S. has not fully switched to renewable energy yet.
Existing infrastructure is built for fossil fuels
Renewable energy depends on weather
It takes time and money to switch systems
Energy demand is very high