MILLER/SPOOLMAN, SUSTAINING THE ENVIRONMENT, 12E
CHAPTER SUMMARY
CHAPTER 10
10-1Why is energy efficiency an important energy source?
Reducing energy waste is the quickest, cleanest, and usually the cheapest way to provide more energy, reduce pollution and environmental degradation, slow global warming, and increase economic and national security. CONCEPT 10-1 We could save up to 40% of all the energy we use by encouraging energy efficiency through higher government efficiency standards, economic incentives, and education about the benefits of energy efficiency.
- Explain the significance of learning to evaluate technologies based on their life-cycle costs.
- Define cogeneration and describe its potential for saving energy.
- Describe changes that can be made in industry, transportation, buildings, lights, and appliances that would improve energy efficiency.
10-2 What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
Solar cells currently supply less than 0.2% of the world's electricity; this is expected to grow to 16% by 2040 due to increased research and development and subsidies. CONCEPT 10-2 Passive and active solar heating systems heat water and buildings effectively, and solar cells generate electricity, but solar energy technologies are most effective and have the lowest environmental impact when used on a small scale for local applications.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of using direct solar energy to heat buildings and water and to produce electricity.
- Briefly describe a photovoltaic cell. Describe its usefulness and limitations in converting sunlight to electricity.
10-3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of producing electricity from the water cycle?
Hydropower is the world's leading renewable resource used to produce electricity, providing 16% of the world's electricity. CONCEPT 10-3 Systems that capture energy from the hydrologic cycle can be used to generate electricity, but limited availability for expansion of these systems, environmental harm, and high costs restrict their use.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of using water in the forms of hydropower, tidal power, and wave power to produce electricity.
10-4 What are the advantages and disadvantages of producing electricity from wind?
Wind is an indirect form of solar energy that has the potential to supply a significant fraction of electricity used around the world. CONCEPT 10-4 When environmental costs of energy resources are included in market prices, wind energy is the least expensive and least polluting way to produce electricity.
- What are the arguments for and against installing wind farms?
- What factors have contributed to the widespread use of wind power in Europe?
10-5 What are the advantages and disadvantages of biomass as an energy source?
Biomass is widely available as an energy source, yet the potential for unsustainable use of this resource is high. CONCEPT 10-5A Solid biomass is a renewable resource, but burning it faster than it is replenished produces a net gain in atmospheric greenhouse gases, and creating biomass plantations can degrade soils and biodiversity. CONCEPT 10-5B Liquid fuels derived from biomass could largely replace those made from fossil fuels, but creating plantations for that purpose could degrade soil and biodiversity, and increase food prices.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass to heat space and water, produce electricity, and propel vehicles. Consider burning wood, agricultural wastes, and urban wastes as well as conversion of biomass to biofuels.
- What are the positive and negative impacts of Brazil's extensive use of sugar cane-derived ethanol?
10-6 What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
CONCEPT 10-6 Geothermal energy has the great potential for supplying many areas with heat and electricity, and generally has a low environmental impact, but installation costs are high and locations where it can be exploited are limited.
- Evaluate the usefulness of geothermal energy in providing space heating, high-temperature heat, and electricity.
10-7 What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen as an energy source?
Scientists are working to solve the complex problems of hydrogen production and storage that are required to make a hydrogen economy a reality. CONCEPT 10-7 Hydrogen fuel holds great promise for powering cars and generating electricity, but it is expensive to produce and would have to be generated without use of fossil fuels to be environmentally beneficial.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen gas to heat space and water, produce electricity, and propel vehicles.
- What energy sources are needed to produce hydrogen in truly sustainable manner?
- Summarize constraints to a solar-hydrogen revolution.
10-8 How can we make a transition to a more sustainable energy future?
Decisions about energy resources are influenced by companies, government, economic pressure, and political pressure from citizens. CONCEPT 10-8 We can make a transition to a more sustainable energy future by greatly improving energy efficiency, using a mix of renewable energy resources, and including environmental costs in the market prices of all energy resources.
- List the seven key questions that must be asked about each energy alternative to evaluate energy resources.
- Analyze the interactions of economic policy and energy resources. In particular, consider the results of using free-market competition, keeping energy prices low, and keeping energy prices high.