1. Perspectives on Alternative Energy By David Bennett, Obi Nwachuku & Wei Chieh Wong

2. What we wish to learn What are the pros and cons of both renewable and nonrenewable energy? Is the implementation of renewable energy in modern society realistic? We will use coal as an example of renewable energy; solar and wind power for nonrenewable energy

3. World Energy Use

4. Coal Pollutes Coal’s combustion adds more carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere than any other resource (38.2% of ALL CO2 IN THE WORLD from coal plants in 1999) Coal plants also emit toxins such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and the list goes on… www.ecolo.org

5. Coal: Health Effects http://english.people.com.cn/200510 /04/eng20051004_212470.html

6. Coal: Health Effects Coal mining deaths are common In 2004, 6,434 Chinese miners died on the job The pollution from nearby factories often enters houses and gets trapped inside due to poor ventilation

7. Coal: Pros The only thing that keeps some countries, such as China, using coal is because it’s A) Cheap: about 4 cents for every kilowatt- hour of energy produced, or 3,600,000 J B) Efficient: when coal is burned, about 40% of its energy is converted into electricity

8. So, is coal worth it? Pros It’s cheap It’s efficient Cons It pollutes It releases lots of CO2 = lots of global warming Mining it is dangerous Strip mining destroys the environment It’s non-renewable arts.no

9. Clearly, an alternative form of energy is called for! www.juliantrubin.com

10. Wind Power? While coal is terrible for the environment, wind power is not only a renewable resource, but it also doesn’t pollute! nebardi.wordpress.com

11. Wind Power? In fact, wind is also pretty cheap: it’s only 3-4.5 cents/kilowatt-hour (kWh) BUT, that’s because it’s making it’s money back over time—that’s the bonus of renewable energy Of course, it is expensive to install in the first place, around $800,000 for a big 750 kW turbine But over time, it’ll get even more back

12. Wind Power? Wind power has about 20% conversion efficiency—only about half as much as coal power There are two factors in determining how much power you’ll get: wind speed, and wind consistency www.bpa.gov

13. Wind Power? Of course, wind power does have its drawbacks: A) Wind farms take up a lot of space B) They can dominate a landscape that might otherwise have aesthetic value C) They can kill birds or interfere with television reception www.smh.com.au www.bobnewell.net

14. So what? Overall, wind power looks good! But, it’s hard to implement in a rapidly developing country without much money (like China or India) And, wind power probably wouldn’t be able to meet such huge power demands However, implementing it little by little, and hoping that it becomes more efficient and cheaper FAST seems logical

15. How about…Solar Power? Solar power is also a renewable form of energy earthweek.berkeley.edu

16. Solar Energy? But, it’s a little more expensive than the others, at 30 cents/kWh In addition, while coal and wind power could operate all day (and night) long, solar energy is only effective during a few hours in the day profile.myspace.com

17. Solar Energy? The sun’s energy is typically harnessed through photovoltaic cells to convert the sun’s power into usable energy These cells convert the sun’s energy into electricity at 10-15% (not the best) Large, flat expanses of land are usually needed, BUT they can also be conveniently placed on rooftops www.gia.hu

18. Solar Energy? The good news is, there’s great payback over time! So don’t sell it short…

19. Solar Energy? A common use of solar energy is to heat homes www.greenenergy.org.uk

20. Solar energy, good stuff? It might be a little too expensive and not cost-effective enough to replace coal power in developing countries yet, but they’re working on it! oz.irtc.org

21. So, which is the best? For price, it’s two against one. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/ieohecon.html

22. So, which is the best? However, when we project into the future, things get closer! http://www.worldenergy.org/wec- geis/images/pubs/tech_papers/17th_congress/1_4_2203.gif www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/ACFF6pMpQ.pdf

23. BUT What’s important is that we STOP global carbon dioxide emissions, saving our lungs and stopping global warming. We made a projection as to how much the carbon dioxide levels will go down as we start using more renewable energy…

24. As we use more renewable energy, carbon dioxide concentration goes down!

25. Conclusion It’s not easy to quantify exactly which renewable resource is better—each has its pros and its cons The fact is: anything is better than coal! Renewable energy may not replace fossil fuels overnight, but a push towards them is mandatory if we are to stop global warming