U6: Energy Resources and Consumption

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources

● Renewable Resources: energy that can be replenished at or near the rate of consumption and lowers the use of fossil fuels.

○ Ex. Wind, Hydroelectric, Solar, Biomass

● Nonrenewable resources: limited supply and cannot be replenished.

○ Ex. Oil, Coal, Natural gas, Nuclear power, Petroleum

Global Energy Consumption

● Developing Nations: energy comes from biomass because of limitations on commercial energy; natural gas, coal, and petroleum.

● Fossil fuels are the world's most used source because it is inexpensive and easily accessible.

● Hydropower is also used a lot because of large dams

● Nuclear power is only used in top developed countries such as the United States and China.

● Petroleum or gasoline are one of the most used energy for transportation

Fuel Types and Uses

● Oil: made of dead organic material found in limestone and sandstone

● Biomass: comes from organic material or living organisms’ waste

● Coal: mixture of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

● Natural gas: made up of methane, CO2, and water vapor 

Distribution of Natural Energy Resources

● Global distribution: depends on part of the world’s geological history for distribution of natural resources

Fossil Fuels

● Coal, Natural Gas, Oil

● Fossil fuel combustion: process of fuel type reacting with heat and oxygen as a result of light and energy release

● Hydraulic fracturing: drilling into the ground and rock to get access to natural gas and oil; causes earthquakes, water contamination, and methane release.

● Coal: releases CO2, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.

○ Causes atmospheric pollution resulting in acidic rain.

● Oil: pollutes the environment, creating greenhouse gases.

Nuclear Power 

● Nuclear Energy: harvesting electrical energy from nuclear reactions through nuclear fission or fusion.

○ Radioactive/Uranium

● Nuclear Fission: atoms of Uranium are split after being struck by a neutron.

● Nuclear fusion: two or more small subatomic particles forming a nuclei

● Nuclear accidents: Most famous or well known accident is the Chernobyl accident in 1986 - A nuclear chain reaction led to a power surge that affected the cooling system.

Geothermal Energy Graphic:

Energy Conservation

● Daily habits can reduce energy loss like taking shorter showers or using more energy efficient appliances in our homes.