Energy Resources

Objectives:
- Why is energy efficiency an important energy

resource?
- How can we cut energy waste?
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of using;
A. solar energy
B. geothermal energy
C. wind power
D. hydropower
E. Biomass
• Energy
- power supply or source: a supply or source of
electrical, mechanical, or other form of power.
Energy efficiency
- Is the best way to reduce our unnecessary waste
of energy.
- Is the measure of how much work we can get
from each unit of energy we use.
As Amory Lovins, puts it, improving energy efficiency
means “doing more and better with less energy and
money, but with more brains and technology.
Uses of Energy;
a. For generating electricity
b. For residential and commercial lighting
c. For cooling and heating
d. For industrial purposes like mining and smelting
e. For use as raw material (coal, petroleum, and
natural gas are used in making chemicals,
plastics, etc.
Sources of Energy;
A. Primary energy source – is created directly from
the actual energy source.
Classifications;
1. Non-renewable energy source – energy from
the ground that has limited supply, either in the
form of gas, liquid or solid.
- They cannot be replenished or made again in a
short period of time.
Example: oil, natural gas, coal called “fossil fuels”
formed from organic remains of pre-historic plants
and animals.
2. Renewable energy source – energy that comes
from a source that’s constantly renewed, such as
the sun and wind.
- Can be replenished naturally in a short period of
time (we don’t have to worry about them
running out).
- Less than 2% of the world’s electricity comes
from renewable resources.
Example: solar, wind, biomass and hydropower
B. Secondary energy source – refers to energy that

is converted from primary sources.
• We waste large amounts of energy and money by
relying heavily on four widely used devices.
1. Incandescent light bulb – only uses 5-10% of the
electricity. While other 90-95% is wasted as heat.
(LED light emitting diodes – more efficient compact
fluorescent bulbs).
2. Internal combustion engines – wastes about 80%
of the energy fuels. (Biomass, rechargeable cars)
3. Nuclear power plant – wastes about 75% energy in
its nuclear fuel.
4. Coal-fired power plant – wastes about 66% of the
energy that is released by burning coal to produce
electricity. 75-80% including the energy used to dig
up and transport the coal to the plant and to
transport and store the toxic ash byproduct.
(Hydroelectric plant, solar and wind)
• Reducing Energy Waste
- Prolong fossil use
- Reduces oil imports and improves energy yield
- Low cost
- Reduces pollution and environmental
degradation
- Buy time to phase in renewable energy
- Creates local jobs
Ways for Industries to cut energy waste;
1. Save energy and money by using
“cogeneration” (using combines heat and power
CHP system).
Example: Steam and electricity
Steam produced in generating electricity can be used to
heat power plant or other nearby buildings rather than
released into the environment and waster. The energy
efficiency of these systems is 75-90% compared to 30-40%
for coal-powered boilers and nuclear power plants.
2. Replace energy-wasting electric motors
Most of these motors are inefficient because
they run only at full speed with lesser output.
3. Recycling materials
Example: Steel and other metals
Producing steel from recycled scrap iron uses 75% less
energy than producing steel from virgin iron ore.
4. Switch from low-efficiency incandescent lighting
to higher-efficiency fluorescent lighting and light
emitting diodes (LED).
LED use about 1/7 of the electricity required by an
incandescent bulb and can last about 100x longer
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
- A hybrid with a second and more powerful battery
that can be plugged into an electrical outlet and
recharged.
Green architecture
- Based on energy-efficient and money-saving
designs, makes use of natural lighting, passive
solar heating, solar cells, solar hot water heaters,
recycled wastewater, and energy-efficient
appliances and lighting,
- Also use living roofs, or green roofs covered with
soil and vegetation.
• Energy crisis
- When we are unable to extract sufficient fuel
from the earth to satisfy our needs.
- We are not producing enough electricity using
various fuels.
• Energy conservation
- Refers to reducing energy through using less
of energy service.
Example: driving less, walking/biking instead of
riding a car.
Energy reduction techniques.
• Alternative Sources of Energy:
1. Solar energy is the generation of electricity
from the sun.
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Moderate environmental Low net energy and high

impact cost
No direct emissions of Needs backup or storage

CO₂ and other air system on cloudy days
pollutants.
Lower costs with natural High water use for

gas turbine backup. cooling.
2. Wind energy is the generation of electricity
from the wind.
Moderate to high net energy Needs backup or storage system

yield. when winds die down.
Widely available Visual pollution for some

people.
Low electricity cost. Low-level noise bother some
people
Little or no direct emissions of Can kill birds if not properly
CO₂ and other air pollutants. designed and located
Easy to build and expand.

• 3. Geothermal energy is using hot water or
steam from the Earth’s interior for heating
buildings or generate electricity.
Moderate net energy and High cost and low
high efficiency at efficiency except at
accessible sites. concentrated and
accessible sites.
Lower CO₂ emissions than Scarcity of suitable sites.
fossil fuels.
Low cost at favorable sites. Noise and some CO₂
emissions
4. Hydropower
- Uses the kinetic energy of flowing and falling
water to produce electricity.
Moderate to high net yield Large land disturbance and
displacement of people
Large untapped potential High methane emissions from
rapid biomass decay in shallow
tropical reservoirs
Low-cost electricity Disrupts down-stream aquatic
ecosystem
Low emissions of carbon dioxide
and other air pollutants.
5. Biomass and Ethanol are plant-derived
substitutes of gasoline for powering vehicles
Widely available in some area. Moderate to high

environmental impact.
Moderate costs. Increases CO₂ emissions if

harvested and burned
unsustainably.
No net CO₂ increase if Clear cutting can cause soil

harvested , burned, and erosion, water pollution, and
replanted sustainably. loss of wildlife habitat.
Plantations can help restore Often burned in inefficient and

degraded lands. polluting open fires and stoves.
• Hydrogen powered batteries - are used as clean
fuel for spaceships, and some cars.
Can be produced by plentiful Negative net energy yield.
water at some sites
No direct carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide emissions if
emissions if produced from produced from carbon-
water. containing compounds.
Good substitute for oil. High costs require subsidies.
High efficiency (45-65%) in fuel Needs hydrogen storage and
cells. distribution system.
Making the Transition to a More Sustainable
Energy Future:
Improve energy efficiency
- Increase fuel-efficiency standards for vehicle,
buildings and appliances
- Provide large tax credits or free bates for buying
efficient cars, houses and appliances.
- Reward utilities for reducing demand for
electricity
- Greatly increase energy efficiency research and
development
More Renewable energy
- Greatly increase use of renewable energy
- Provide large subsidies and tax credits for use of
renewable energy
- Greatly increase renewable energy research and
development.
Reduce Pollution and Health Risk
- Phase out coal subsidies and tax breaks
- Levy taxes on coals and oil use
- Phase-out nuclear power subsidies, tax breaks,
and loan guarantees.

Energy Resources

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Objectives:

- Why is energy efficiency an important energy

B. Secondary energy source – refers to energy that

Moderate environmental Low net energy and high

No direct emissions of Needs backup or storage

Lower costs with natural High water use for

Moderate to high net energy Needs backup or storage system

Widely available Visual pollution for some

Easy to build and expand.

Widely available in some area. Moderate to high

Moderate costs. Increases CO₂ emissions if

No net CO₂ increase if Clear cutting can cause soil

Plantations can help restore Often burned in inefficient and

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