Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy
G. Tyler Millers
Living in the Environment
14th Edition

Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Key Concepts

Improving energy efficiency
Types and uses of solar energy
Types and uses of flowing water
Uses of wind energy
Types and uses of biomass
Use of geothermal energy
Use of hydrogen as a fuel
Decentralized power systems

Section 1: The Importance of

Improving Energy Efficiency
What is energy efficiency? How
much energy do we waste?
What is life cycle cost?
What is net energy efficiency?

What is energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency is the
measure of the useful
energy produced
compared to the energy
converted to low
quality--- usually heat.
Using energy to do work,
not produce heat.

What is energy conservation?

Implementing new
technology to do same
work using less energy.
Heating homes more
efficiently
Driving more efficient cars
Lightning spaces more
efficiently

SAVES $$$, produces

less pollution, reduces
CO2

Energy Conservation
84% of commercial
electricity is wasted in
U.S.
41% of energy is
automatically wasted
due to 2nd Law Of
Thermodynamics

43% is wasted
unnecessarily

Advantages of Reducing Energy

Waste

The Importance of Improving Energy

Efficiency
Energy efficiency
Net energy efficiency
Least Efficient
Incandescent lights
Nuclear power plants
Internal combustion
engine
Fig. 18-3 p. 381

Energy Efficiencies (Fig. 18-5 p. 381)

Life Cycle Costs

Initial Cost plus the
lifetime cost.
Some energy efficient
models may cost more
up front, but save
money in the long run.

Civic Hybrid vs.

Conventional Gas

Net Energy Efficiency

Measure of how much
useful energy we get
from energy resource
after subtracting the
energy wasted.
How much energy you
get out given ALL the
wasted energy.

Comparing Efficiency of 2 Types

of Space Heating

Section 2: Ways to Improve

Energy Efficiency Key Concepts
How can we save energy in industry?
How can we save energy in transportation?
How can we design buildings to save
energy?
How can we save energy in existing
buildings?
Why are we still wasting so much energy?

Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency

Cogeneration
Efficient electric motors
High-efficiency lighting
Increasing fuel economy
Alternative vehicles
Insulation
Plug leaks

How can industry save energy?

Cogeneration
combining heat and
power systems
Improving electric
motor efficiency
(consumes 1/4th of
energy)
Improving light fixtures

How can we save energy in

transportation?
CAF Standards need to
be increased.
Increase to 40 mpg in
10yrs would cut
consumption in half
(could eliminate
imports from Middle
East)

Average Fuel Economy of New

Vehicles Sold In U.S.

Price of Gas in 1993 Dollars

Hybrid and Fuel Cell Cars

Hybrid electric-internal combustion engine
Hybrid-electric
cars are powered
by a battery and
a small ICE that
recharges the
battery.
Fig. 18-9 p. 385

Toyota Prius

Ford Escape Hybrid

Fuel Cell Cars

Fuel cell cars run on
hydrogen and produce
little pollution.
Combine hydrogen and
oxygen to produce
electricity and water
vapor.

Ford Focus Fuel

Cell Car

Fuel Cells

GMs prototype future fuel cell car. No engine noise, no

pollution, no greenhouse gasses.

How can we Design More

Efficient Buildings?
Chicagos Sears Tower
uses more energy in a
day than a city of
150,000
Atlantas Georgia Power
Company uses 60% less
energy than other
buildings it size.

How can we Design More

Efficient Buildings?
We can save energy in
buildings by
Getting heat from the
sun
Insulating well
Using plants for shade
and wind blockage

How can we Design More

Efficient Buildings?
Super insulated house:
Costs 5% more to build
Can use 90% less
energy for heating and
cooling
Green Roofs:
Plants or gardens on
roof help insulate from
heat in summer and
cold in winter

An infrared photo showing heat loss (red,

white and orange) around windows, doors,
roofs.

How can we save energy in

existing buildings?
We can save energy in
existing buildings by:
insulating them
plugging leaks
using heating,
electricity, cooling,
appliances and lighting
more efficiently

Insulate and plug leaks

1/3rd of heated air in U.S.
homes is lost through
windows, holes and
cracks.
Insulating and plugging
holes is the easiest and
cheapest ways to save
energy.

Use Efficient Windows

Double pained,
insulating windows
cost more, but can
save money in the
long run.

Heat House More Efficiently

Using the most efficient
heating system
available.
Some natural gas furnaces
can reach 85-98%
efficiency

Heat Water More Efficiently

There are several new
technologies to heat
water more efficiently:
Tankless, instant heaters
Well insulated tank

Use Energy Efficient Lighting and

Appliances
Microwaves,
refrigerators, washers,
driers, lights all come
with energy star labels
of electricity bill is
lighting

Cut Off Electrical Devises Not In

Use
When not using lights,
computers, TVs and
other electrical
devises they should
be turned off.

Review Section 2
How can we save energy in industry?
How can we save energy in
transportation?
How can we design buildings to save
energy?
How can we save energy in existing
buildings?
Why are we still wasting so much
energy?

Section 3: Producing Energy

With Solar Power: Key Ideas
What are the main types of renewable energy?
How can we use direct solar energy to heat
and cool homes?
How can we use solar energy to produce
electricity?
What are solar cells?
What are advantages and disadvantages of
solar cells?

What are the main types of

renewable energy?
The next several sections
we will go through:
Solar Energy
Flowing Water
Wind
Biomass
Geothermal
Hydrogen
Other possible renewable
energy sources.

What are the main types of

renewable energy?
EU by 2020: 22%
renewable
CA gets 12% from
renewable (20% by
2020)
Union of Concerned
Scientists study said
20% by 2020 is
possible

Using Solar Energy to Provide Heat

Passive solar heating: absorbs and stores
heat from the sun directly within the structure
Has been used for thousands of years.

Using Solar Energy to Provide Heat

Active Solar: absorbs heat
energy from sun by
pumping heat absorbent
fluid through collectors.
Great for hot water
heaters in warmer
climates

Using Solar Energy for Electricity

Solar energy can be
converted directly into
electricity using
PHOTOVOLTAIC
CELLS (PV) or Solar
Cells
Sunlight energizes electron
to flow in a semi conductor
producing an electrical
current

Using Solar Energy for Electricity

Solar Cells can be
incorporated into
roofing and windows.
High costs are
expected to fall
Currently only supply
0.05% of world
electricity

Using Solar Energy for Electricity

Great for rural locations

BP in 2004 began to mass

produce cells

With increased R&D and

government help --- 25%
by 2040???

Using Solar Energy for Electricity

Solar Thermal Systems:
large solar arrays in
sunny areas can
produce hightemperature heat for:
Electricity
Hot water
Heating
Wash Machines

Using Solar Energy for Electricity

Solar thermal systems
Photovoltaic (PV) cells

Producing Electricity From the

Water Cycle: Section 4 Key
Concepts
How can we produce electricity from
flowing water?
What are advantages and disadvantages
of hydropower?
What is tidal and wave power?

Producing Electricity from Moving Water

Large-scale hydropower
Small-scale hydropower
Pumped-storage hydropower
Tidal power plant
Wave power plant

Renewable Hydropower
Water flowing in rivers
and streams can be
trapped in reservoirs
behind a dam and
released to spin turbines
to produce electricity.
In 2002, hyrdro accounted
for 20% of world
electricity (Norway
99%, U.S. 7% -- 50% in
west)

Renewable Hydropower
According to UN only
13% of potential
hydropower has been
developed
Large Scale Hydro Power
has been curtailed
recently by
environmental concerns

Largescale
Hydroelec
tric
Power:
Trade-offs

Reviewing the Trade-offs of

Hydropower Dams

Fig. 15-9 p. 313

Hoover Dam

Tidal Power
Using the twice daily
natural rise and fall of
tidal waters to produce
power.
Newer concept
Lot of potential in certain
tidal regions.
Problems???

Tidal Power

Wave Power
Using the constant wave
action along shorelines
to produce power.
Another form of wind
power.
Problems???

Producing Electricity from Wind

Section 5 Key Concepts

Producing Electricity from Wind

Fig. 18-23 p. 396

Fig. 18-24 p. 397

Altamont Pass California

Atlantic City

http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/where_is_wind_
new_jersey.asp

Producing Energy from Biomass

Biomass and biofuels
Biomass plantations
Crop residues
Animal manure
Biogas
Ethanol
Methanol

Fig. 18-25 p. 398

Geothermal Energy
Geothermal heat pumps
Geothermal exchange
Dry and wet steam
Hot water
Molten rock (magma)
Hot dry-rock zones

The Hydrogen Revolution

Environmentally friendly hydrogen
Extracting hydrogen efficiently
Storing hydrogen
Fuel cells

The Hydrogen Revolution

Fig. 18-31 p. 403

Entering the Age of Decentralized

Micropower
Decentralized power systems
Micropower systems

Fig. 18-32 p. 405

Solutions: A Sustainable Energy

Strategy

Fig. 18-35 p. 407