Unit D Lesson 16: Electrical Production and the Environment
Completion requirements
Unit D Lesson 16: Electrical Production and the Environment
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Learning Targets |
Big Question: How does electrical production affect the environment?
There are many issues associated with the amount and type of resources that we use to obtain the electricity we feel we need.
There are many issues associated with the amount and type of resources that we use to obtain the electricity we feel we need.
At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What makes a resource sustainable?
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How can energy be conserved?
Pages 350 to 353 in your textbook will help you answer these electrical production questions.
Introduction
Electricity production comes with a cost to the environment. However, individuals can do many things to help conserve energy to protect our environment. Watch the video "Energy, Letβs Save It!"
and look at areas where a family was able to conserve energy use.
Fossil fuel reserves in the world are predicted to be depleted in about two hundred years. Fossil fuels have been the primary resource used to produce electricity for over one hundred years. A resource is considered non-renewable when it cannot be replaced
as the supplies have been used. Coal, oil, and gas are considered non-renewable resources.
Contrary to fossil fuels, alternate forms of energy are renewable resources. The technology supporting these renewable resources is improving constantly. Resources such as wind, tidal, solar, geothermal, and biomass are sustainable. How will the use of these forms of energy affect our environment?
Contrary to fossil fuels, alternate forms of energy are renewable resources. The technology supporting these renewable resources is improving constantly. Resources such as wind, tidal, solar, geothermal, and biomass are sustainable. How will the use of these forms of energy affect our environment?
Watch
Renewable energy resources are important to keep our world sustainable. Sustainability means using resources at rates that can be maintained indefinitely. If we do not achieve sustainable energy resources, we will be leaving our future generations with
an energy shortage. Watch the following videos to learn more about renewable energy and sustainability.
What Effect Does the Burning of Fossil Fuels Have on the Environment?
The burning of fossil fuels results in pollutants being released into the environment. Fly ash that contains the poisonous element mercury is produced. Many other chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, causing acid rain and contributing to global climate change.
Strip mines are used to harvest coal. Plant and animal habitat is destroyed to obtain the coal from open-pit mines. In the past, sites that were strip-mined were not reclaimed. Due to the controversy over climate change, heightened public awareness, and public outcry over many environmental studies, all levels of government are working to write and enforce policies to reduce greenhouse emissions and to increase the reclamation of land in their province and country.
Oil and gas wells can release toxins into the air and ground, also. Generating stations burning fossil fuels result in large amounts of thermal wastes (cooling ponds) that are distributed into the nearby lakes and streams affecting the delicate aquatic ecosystems.
The burning of fossil fuels results in pollutants being released into the environment. Fly ash that contains the poisonous element mercury is produced. Many other chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere, causing acid rain and contributing to global climate change.
Strip mines are used to harvest coal. Plant and animal habitat is destroyed to obtain the coal from open-pit mines. In the past, sites that were strip-mined were not reclaimed. Due to the controversy over climate change, heightened public awareness, and public outcry over many environmental studies, all levels of government are working to write and enforce policies to reduce greenhouse emissions and to increase the reclamation of land in their province and country.
Oil and gas wells can release toxins into the air and ground, also. Generating stations burning fossil fuels result in large amounts of thermal wastes (cooling ponds) that are distributed into the nearby lakes and streams affecting the delicate aquatic ecosystems.
Watch
What issues might arise from the overuse of fossil fuels? Learn about acid rain, global warming, and air pollution in this video: "Coal
Combustion and Acid Rain".
For more information about the environmental effects of fossil fuels, watch the following videos.
What Have We Done to Protect Our Environment?
Co-generation is one way humans can help eliminate wastes and waste heat. Electricity is produced as usual in fuel-burning generating stations, but the excess heat can be used for industrial or commercial purposes. Instead of letting the heat energy escape
or putting it into nearby lakes or streams, it is used for energy in other buildings and systems. This can also work in reverse β many factories have old boilers to produce heat, but often it is produced in excess. Advanced boilers use the excess
heat to generate electricity that the factory can use.
In addition to reducing waste, scrubbers are used in the stacks (chimneys) of factory buildings to help remove toxic pollutants before they enter the atmosphere. Global treaties and government officials have raised awareness and developed programs to
decrease energy wastes, but each of us must do our share to reduce and even eliminate wasted energy.
Figure 1 β Some agricultural and factory waste products are burned just to get rid of them. This power station in Denmark uses straw that would normally go to waste to produce heat and electricity that are both used by local buildings.
Watch
Cogeneration is also known as CHP β Combined Heat and Power. Innovative new CHP boilers make the most out of fuel, getting the maximum amount of heat and electricity, while reducing waste. Learn more about CHP and cogeneration from the following video.
1. Describe some examples of renewable and non-renewable resources for energy production that you learned in this section.
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Renewable Resources
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Non-Renewable Resources
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Solar Power
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Fossil fuels
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| Hydroelectricity |
Nuclear energy
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Wind energy
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Biomass burning
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Geothermal energy
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2. Describe some ways that you could reduce the negative effects of energy production in our world.
- Do not waste water
- Use public transport or car pool
- Turn out lights when not in use
- Turn heat down at night
- Use solar panels when building your home
- What other ideas do you have for reducing energy consumption and reducing the negative effects of energy production?
Interactive
Humans and the Environment
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The BrainPOP video, reviews the concept of Humans and the Environment.
Click here
to watch "Humans and the Environment".
You will need a username and password to access the video.
- Username: 0099
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Password: students
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Click here
to complete the quiz on Humans and the Environment. Remember to check your answers at the end!