alternative energy and energy conservation. nuclear
TRANSCRIPT
Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation
NUCLEAR
Nuclear Energy – Our Misunderstood Friend???
• How does a nuclear powerplant work?• Nuclear Power - as Explained on the Simpsons• Three Mile Island - What happened?• The fallout at Chernobyl• Energy for the Future?• Is nuclear the solution?
The Good, Bad and Ugly on Nuclear
Pro• Technology is readily
available and relatively efficient
• Cheap• Clean (both pollutants and
greenhouse gases)
Con• Risk of Nuclear Accidents
that expose people to high levels of radiation
• What do we do with the radioactive waste once it has been used?
• Non-renewable
Biomass
(wood, wood pellets, ethanol, vegetable oil)
Wood Burning
Pellet Stoves• No need for chimney – just a small vent
hole in wall• Need to re-fueled less frequently than
woodstoves• Need regular maintenance and cleaning• Require Electricity• Low emissions, low CO2 and low odor• Pellets are made from “left-over” wood
– sawdust, scraps etc.
Biofuels
Ethanol Biodiesel (from vegetable oil)
Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
Pro• Somewhat renewable – as
long as we aren’t using them faster than we can replace them
• Cleaner than burning fossil fuels
• Wood can easilly provide heat for the home and for cooking
• Growing plants increases our ability to absorb CO2
Con• Does produce some air
pollution and greenhouse gasses (combustion and/or machinery used for growing)
• Competition for land used to grow the fuels
• Burning wood does not provide as much energy as fossil fuels
Hydroelectric
How does it work?
Hoover Dam
Grand Coulee Dam
To be or not to be….
Pro• Clean energy – no emissions
or air pollution• Cheap
Con• Large Amounts of Habitat
Destruction and ecological interference
• Only available where there are rivers and/or running water
Solar
Solar Panels
The bottom line…
Pro• Solar is a perpetual
resource• Once installed – solar power
is free• Clean – no emissions, no
pollution, no greenhouse gases
Con• Panels are expensive• Installation can be
expensive• Works better in areas with
more sun• Efficiency of Panels
(currently)
Wind
How do wind turbines work?
• Windfarm in Southern California - built after the 70's energy Crisis
• Do wind turbine make noise?• A new kind of wind turbine for urban areas?
What’s one or two birds?
Pro• Completely renewable• Completely clean
Con• Not able to provide the
entire world’s energy• Complaints of noise and
bird killing• Space needed to build them
(they’re REALLY big)
Geothermal
How does it work?
Heating and cooling Your HOME!
The dirt on geothermal…
PRO• Once installed – cheap• No emissions, pollution or
greenhouse gases
Con• Expensive installation• Not able to provide enough
energy to meet world demands
• Must be able to access groundwater
What can you do to reduce energy demands?
Why should reduction in energy demands be an essential component to ANY energy plan?