DO NOW

1. Name 2 benefits of nuclear power

2. Name 2 disadvantages of nuclear power
3. What is hydroelectric power?

ENERGY CONSERVATION
AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
ENERGY
LESSON 3

ENERGY CONSERVATION
The Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Department of Energy
partnered to create the Energy Star
program

The Energy Star program avoids

greenhouse emissions and saves people
money

CAFE STANDARDS
The average fuel economies of a manufacturer's fleet of
passenger cars or light trucks

The testing standards were put into effect by the EPA and
result in savings of over 55 billion gallons of fuel annually

The standards are met through better engine design,

efficiency, and weight reduction

HYBRID ELECTRIC CARS

Hybrid vehicles increase the
mileage and reduce the
emissions of gas-powered
cars while overcoming the
shortcomings of electric cars

ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
NGV (natural gas vehicle) uses
compressed natural gas

As of 2010, there were 12.7 million

NGVs around the world

ELECTRIC CARS
Benefits include a reduction
in urban air pollution, reduced
greenhouse gas emissions,
and less dependence on
foreign oil

Electric cars are very

expensive because of the cost
of the lithium-ion battery
pack

PUBLIC TRANSIT
Public transportation (rail, bus, subways,
airlines, ferries, etc.) often determines
where people live and work, as well as
how much pollution theyre exposed to

Car Sharing- people rent cars for short

periods of time (usually hourly

Bike Sharing- hugely popular in

population-dense metropolitan areas

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Solar
Wind Energy
Biofuels
Algal Fuel

SOLAR
Pros

Cons

Supply of solar energy is limitless

Inefficient where sunlight is

limited or seasonal

Reduces reliance on foreign

imports

Systems must be periodically

replaced

Only pollution is in manufacture

of solar collectors; little
environmental impact

Current efficiency is between 1025% and not expected to

increase

Stores energy in the day;

releases at night

Expensive to install and maintain

WIND
Pros

Cons

All electrical needs of the U.S.

could be met by wind in North
Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas

Steady wind is required to make

investment in wind farms
economical; few places are
suitable

Wind farms can be built quickly on

land and sea platforms

Backup systems need to be in

place when wind is not blowing

Maintenance is low and farms are

automated

Visual pollution

Moderate to high net-energy yield

May interfere with bird flight

patterns

No pollution; noise pollution is

minimal to humans

May interfere with communication

(microwaves, TV, and cell phones)

Land beneath turbines can be

used for agriculture

Noise pollution for non-human

orgnisms

BIOFUELS
Pros

Cons

Renewable energy source

Requires water & fertilizer

Can be sustainable is issue of

deforestation and soil erosion
are controlled

Inorganic pesticides, fertilizers

& herbicides would harm the
environment

Could supply half the worlds

demand for electricity

Corn being derived for ethanol

would raise food prices

Source plantations could be

located in less-populated places

Inefficient burning increases air

pollution; 70% of energy is lost
as heat

ALGAL FUEL
Fossil fuel alternative
It is biodegradable
Yields up to 100 times more fuel per unit
area compared to other biofuels

Less environmental risk if spilled

Reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%
when replacing fossil fuels

CO2 waste is used for photosynthesis

Requires fewer resource and labor to
cultivate

Waste products can be used as animal feed