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17 TH MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT Chapter 16 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

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Presentation on theme: "17 TH MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT Chapter 16 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy."— Presentation transcript:

1 17 TH MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT Chapter 16 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

2 Sustainable Energy: Rocky Mountain Institute in Colorado, U.S. Fig. 16-1, p. 397

3 We Waste Huge Amounts of Energy Energy efficiency:Advantages of reducing energy waste: Quick and clean Usually the cheapest to provide more energy Reduce pollution and degradation Slow global warming Increase economic and national security Four widely used devices that waste energy 1.Incandescent light bulb 2.Motor vehicle with internal combustion engine 3.Nuclear power plant 4.Coal-fired power plant

4 Flow of Commercial Energy through the U.S. Economy Fig. 16-2, p. 399

5 Advantages of Reducing Energy Waste Fig. 16-3, p. 399

6 We Can Save Energy and Money in Industry and Utilities (1) Cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) Two forms of energy from same fuel source Replace energy-wasting electric motors Recycling materials Switch from low-efficiency incandescent lighting to higher-efficiency fluorescent and LED lighting

7 We Can Save Energy and Money in Industry and Utilities (2) Electrical grid system: outdated and wasteful Utility companies switching from promote use of energy to promoting energy efficiency Spurred by state utility commissions

8 Case Study: Saving Energy and Money with a Smarter Electrical Grid Smart grid Ultra-high-voltage Super-efficient transmission lines Digitally controlled Responds to local changes in demand and supply Two-way flow of energy and information Smart meters show consumers how much energy each appliance uses U.S cost -- $200-$800 billion; save $100 billion/year

9 Proposed U.S. Smart Grid Figure 20, Supplement 8

10 We Can Save Energy and Money in Transportation Corporate average fuel standards (CAFE) standards Fuel economy standards lower in the U.S. countries Fuel-efficient cars are on the market Hidden prices in gasoline: $12/gallon Car manufacturers and oil companies lobby to prevent laws to raise fuel taxes

11 Average Fuel Economy of New Vehicles Sold in the U.S. and Other Countries Fig. 16-5, p. 402

12 More Energy-Efficient Vehicles Are on the Way Superefficient and ultralight cars Gasoline-electric hybrid car Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Energy-efficient diesel car Electric vehicle with a fuel cell

13 Solutions: A Hybrid-Gasoline-Electric Engine Car and a Plug-in Hybrid Car Fig. 16-6, p. 403

14 Light-Weight Carbon Composite Concept Car Fig. 16-7, p. 405

15 Science Focus: The Search for Better Batteries Current obstacles Storage capacity Overheating Flammability Cost In the future Lithium-ion battery Viral battery Ultracapacitor

16 We Can Design Buildings That Save Energy and Money Green architecture Living or green roofs Superinsulation U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

17 A Green Roof in Chicago Fig. 16-8, p. 405

18 We Can Save Money and Energy in Existing Buildings Conduct an energy survey Insulate and plug leaks Use energy-efficient windows Stop other heating and cooling losses Heat houses more efficiently Heat water more efficiently Use energy-efficient appliances Use energy-efficient lighting

19 A Thermogram Shows Heat Loss Fig. 16-9, p. 406

20 Individuals Matter: Ways in Which You Can Save Money Where You Live Fig. 16-10, p. 407

21 Why Are We Still Wasting So Much Energy? Energy remains artificially cheap Government subsidies Tax breaks Prices don’t include true cost Few large and long-lasting incentives Tax breaks Rebates Low-interest loans

22 We Can Use Renewable Energy to Provide Heat and Electricity Renewable energy Solar energy: direct or indirect Geothermal energy Benefits of shifting toward renewable energy Renewable energy cheaper if we eliminate Inequitable subsidies Inaccurate prices Artificially low pricing of nonrenewable energy

23 Solutions: Passive and Active Solar Heating for a Home Fig. 16-11, p. 409

24 Passive Solar Home in Colorado Fig. 16-12, p. 410

25 Rooftop Solar Hot Water on Apartment Buildings in Kunming, China Fig. 16-13, p. 410

26 Trade-Offs: Passive or Active Solar Heating Fig. 16-14, p. 411

27 World Availability of Direct Solar Energy Figure 22, Supplement 8

28 U.S. Availability of Direct Solar Energy Figure 23, Supplement 8

29 We Can Cool Buildings Naturally Technologies available Open windows when cooler outside Use fans Superinsulation and high-efficiency windows Overhangs or awnings on windows Light-colored roof Geothermal pumps

30 We Can Use Sunlight to Produce High- Temperature Heat and Electricity Solar thermal systems Central receiver system Collect sunlight to boil water, generate electricity 1% of world deserts could supply all the world’s electricity Require large amounts of water – could limit Wet cooling Dry cooling Low net energy yields

31 Solar Thermal Power in California Desert Fig. 16-15, p. 411

32 Fig. 16-16, p. 412 Solar Energy for High-Temperature Heat and Electricity Moderate environmental impact Low net energy and high costs AdvantagesDisadvantages No direct emissions of CO 2 and other air pollutants Needs backup or storage system on cloudy days Lower costs with natural gas turbine backup High water use for cooling Trade-Offs

33 Solutions: Solar Cooker in India Fig. 16-17, p. 412

34 We Can Use Sunlight to Produce Electricity (1) Photovoltaic (PV) cells (solar cells) Convert solar energy to electric energy Design of solar cells Sunlight hits cells and releases electrons into wires Benefits of using solar cells Solar-cell power plants around the world

35 Solutions: Solar Cells on Rooftop and for Many Purposes Fig. 16-18, p. 413

36 Solar Cell Array in Niger, West Africa Fig. 16-19, p. 413

37 Solar-Cell Power Plant in Arizona Fig. 16-20, p. 414

38 We Can Use Sunlight to Produce Electricity (2) Key problems High cost of producing electricity Need to be located in sunny desert areas Fossil fuels used in production Solar cells contain toxic materials Will the cost drop with Mass production New designs Government subsidies and tax breaks

39 We Can Use Sunlight to Produce Electricity (3) 2040: could solar cells produce 16%? Nanosolar: California (U.S.) Germany: huge investment in solar cell technology General Electric: entered the solar cell market

40 Global Production of Solar Electricity Figure 11, Supplement 9

41 Trade-Offs: Solar Cells Fig. 16-21, p. 414

42 We Can Produce Electricity from Falling and Flowing Water Hydropower Uses kinetic energy of moving water Indirect form of solar energy World’s leading renewable energy source used to produce electricity Advantages and disadvantages Micro-hydropower generators

43 Tradeoffs: Dams and Reservoirs Fig. 13-13, p. 328

44 Fig. 13-13b, p. 328 Powerlines Reservoir Dam Intake Powerhouse Turbine

45 Trade-Offs: Large-Scale Hydropower, Advantages and Disadvantages Fig. 16-22, p. 415

46 Tides and Waves Can Be Used to Produce Electricity Produce electricity from flowing water Ocean tides and waves So far, power systems are limited Disadvantages Few suitable sites High costs Equipment damaged by storms and corrosion

47 Using Wind to Produce Electricity Is an Important Step toward Sustainability (1) Wind: indirect form of solar energy Captured by turbines Converted into electrical energy Second fastest-growing source of energy What is the global potential for wind energy? Wind farms: on land and offshore

48 World Electricity from Wind Energy Figure 12, Supplement 9

49 Solutions: Wind Turbine and Wind Farms on Land and Offshore Fig. 16-23, p. 417

50 Fig. 16-23a, p. 417 Gearbox Electrical generator Power cable Wind turbine

51 Using Wind to Produce Electricity Is an Important Step toward Sustainability (2) Countries with the highest total installed wind power capacity Germany United States Spain India Denmark Installation is increasing in several other countries

52 Using Wind to Produce Electricity Is an Important Step toward Sustainability (3) Advantages of wind energy Drawbacks Windy areas may be sparsely populated – need to develop grid system to transfer electricity Winds die down; need back-up energy Storage of wind energy Kills migratory birds “Not in my backyard”

53 Trade-Offs: Wind Power Fig. 16-25, p. 418

54 Case Study: The Astounding Potential of Wind Power in the United States “Saudi Arabia of wind power” North Dakota South Dakota Kansas Texas How much electricity is possible with wind farms in those states? Could create up to 500,000 jobs

55 United States Wind Power Potential Figure 24, Supplement 8

56 We Can Get Energy by Burning Solid Biomass Biomass Plant materials and animal waste we can burn or turn into biofuels Production of solid mass fuel Plant fast-growing trees Biomass plantations Collect crop residues and animal manure

57 Trade-Offs: Solid Biomass Fig. 16-26, p. 420

58 We Can Convert Plants and Plant Wastes to Liquid Biofuels (1) Liquid biofuels: Biodiesel and Ethanol Biggest producers of biofuel The United States, Brazil, The European Union and China Major advantages over gasoline and diesel fuel produced from oil 1.Biofuel crops can be grown almost anywhere 2.No net increase in CO 2 emissions if managed properly 3.Available now

59 We Can Convert Plants and Plant Wastes to Liquid Biofuels (2) Studies warn of problems: Decrease biodiversity Increase soil degrading, erosion, and nutrient leaching Push farmers off their land Raise food prices Reduce water supplies, especially for corn and soy

60 Trade-Offs: Biodiesel Fig. 16-27, p. 421

61 Case Study: Is Ethanol the Answer? (1) Ethanol from plants and plant wastes Brazil produces ethanol from sugarcane Environmental consequences United States: ethanol from corn Low net energy yield Reduce the need for oil imports? Harm food supply Air pollution and climate change?

62 Case Study: Is Ethanol the Answer? (2) Cellulosic ethanol: alternative to corn ethanol Switchgrass Crop residues Municipal wastes

63 Bagasse is Sugarcane Residue Fig. 16-28, p. 421

64 Natural Capital: Rapidly Growing Switchgrass Fig. 16-29, p. 423

65 Trade-Offs: Ethanol Fuel Fig. 16-30, p. 423

66 Case Study: Getting Gasoline and Diesel Fuel from Algae and Bacteria (1) Algae remove CO 2 and convert it to oil Not compete for cropland = not affect food prices Wastewater/sewage treatment plants Could transfer CO 2 from power plants Algae challenges 1.Need to lower costs 2.Open ponds vs. bioreactors 3.Affordable ways of extracting oil 4.Scaling to large production

67 Case Study: Getting Gasoline and Diesel Fuel from Algae and Bacteria (2) Bacteria: synthetic biology Convert sugarcane juice to biodiesel Need large regions growing sugarcane Producing fuels from algae and bacteria can be done almost anywhere

68 Getting Energy from the Earth’s Internal Heat (1) Geothermal energy: heat stored in Soil Underground rocks Fluids in the earth’s mantle Geothermal heat pump system Energy efficient and reliable Environmentally clean Cost effective to heat or cool a space

69 Natural Capital: A Geothermal Heat Pump System Can Heat or Cool a House Fig. 16-31, p. 425

70 Getting Energy from the Earth’s Internal Heat (2) Hydrothermal reservoirs U.S. is the world’s largest producer Hot, dry rock Geothermal energy problems High cost of tapping hydrothermal reservoirs Dry- or wet-steam geothermal reservoirs could be depleted Could create earthquakes

71 Geothermal Sites in the United States Figure 26, Supplement 8

72 Geothermal Sites Worldwide Figure 25, Supplement 8

73 Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland Fig. 16-32, p. 425

74 Trade Offs: Geothermal Energy Fig. 16-33, p. 426

75 Will Hydrogen Save Us? (1) Hydrogen as a fuel Eliminate most of the air pollution problems Reduce threats of global warming Some challenges Chemically locked in water and organic compounds = net negative energy yield Expensive fuel cells are the best way to use hydrogen CO 2 levels dependent on method of hydrogen production

76 Will Hydrogen Save Us? (2) Net negative energy yield Production and storage of H 2 Hydrogen-powered vehicles: prototypes available Can we produce hydrogen on demand? Larger fuel cells – fuel-cell stacks

77 A Fuel Cell Separates the Hydrogen Atoms’ Electrons from Their Protons Fig. 16-34, p. 427

78 Trade-Offs: Hydrogen, Advantages and Disadvantages Fig. 16-35, p. 428

79 Choosing Energy Paths How will energy policies be created? General conclusions Gradual shift to smaller, decentralized micropower systems Transition to a diverse mix of locally available renewable energy resources Improved energy efficiency Fossil fuels will still be used in large amounts Natural gas is the best choice

80 Solutions: Decentralized Power System Fig. 16-36, p. 430

81 Solutions: Making the Transition to a More Sustainable Energy Future Fig. 16-37, p. 431

82 Economics, Politics, Education, and Sustainable Energy Resources Government strategies: Keep the prices of selected energy resources artificially low to encourage their use Keep energy prices artificially high for selected resources to discourage their use Consumer education

83 What Can you Do? Shifting to More Sustainable Energy Use Fig. 16-38, p. 432


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