Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e Chapter 18 Alternative Energy and the Environment.

Botkin and KellerEnvironmental Science 5e

Chapter 18

Alternative Energy and the Environment


Introduction to Alternative Energy Sources

• Alternative Energy– Renewable and nonrenewable energy resources that are

alternatives to the fossil fuels

• Renewable Energy– Alternative energy sources, such as solar, water, wind and

biomass, that are more or less continuously made available in a time framework useful to people

• Nonrenewable Energy– Alternative energy sources, including nuclear and

geothermal, that are dependent on fuels or a resource that may be used up much faster than it is replenished by natural processes


Solar Energy

• Passive Solar Energy Systems– Direct use of solar energy through architectural design

to enhance or take advantage of natural changes in solar energy that occur throughout the year without requiring mechanical power

• Active Solar Energy Systems– Direct use of solar energy that requires mechanical

power; usually consists of pumps and other machinery to circulate air, water or other fluids from solar collectors to heat sink where the heat may be stored


• Solar Collectors: provide space heating or hot water

• Photovoltaic: converts sunlight directly into electricity

• Power Towers: type of solar energy system

• Solar Ponds: generate low-temperature water

• Ocean Thermal Conversion: involves using the ocean as a giant solar collector


Hydrogen

• Fuel generated by the sun

• Fuel cells: uses and stores hydrogen


Water Power

• A form of stored solar energy

• One of the world’s oldest and most common energy sources

• Sources vary in size


Tidal Power

• Form of water utilizing ocean tides in places where favorable topography allows for construction of a power plant


Wind Power

• Alternative energy source that has been used for centuries

• More recently thousands of windmills have been installed to produce electric energy


Biomass Energy

• Energy that is recovered from biomass, which is organic material such as plant and animal waste

• Sources of Biomass

• Biomass Energy and the Environment

• Future of Biomass


Geothermal Energy

• Natural heat from the interior of the Earth that is converted to heat buildings and generate electricity

Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e Chapter 18 Alternative Energy and the Environment.

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Transcript of Botkin and Keller Environmental Science 5e Chapter 18 Alternative Energy and the Environment.