Energy Project

ENERGY PROJECT Introduction: The development of modern civilization has been dependent on both the availability and the advancement of energy. We have witnessed a progression from animal and steam power, to the internal combustion engine and electricity generation and to the harnessing of alternative sources of energy. Because of our reliance on energy sources, it is also important to understand the impacts of energy use on the environment. All aspects of energy – the way it is produced, distributed, and consumed – can affect local, regional, and global environments through land use and degradation, air pollution, the acidification of water and soils, and through global climate change via greenhouse gas emissions.

The majority of our current energy stems from fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. For the foreseeable future, it is very likely that fossil fuels will remain our largest source of energy. However, fossil fuels are finite resources and there is concern not only about both domestic supply and U.S. reliance on foreign supplies, but also with the increasing cost of these fuels. With the increased cost and environmental impacts related to fossil fuel use, along with the controversy over nuclear power, research and development in the area of renewable sources of energy continues to flourish. Alternative sources – such as wind, solar, geothermal, and water – have been used in one form or another for many centuries, but will require additional advancement before they can become truly cost-competitive with conventional energy sources.

Research Project: You will be completing a project that involves researching as much factual information as you can about 2 particular energy sources (1 non-renewable and 1 renewable) and creating a PowerPoint file containing a thorough and comprehensive look at these resources/types of energy sources. The Energy Project is worth 40 points and is due Monday, January 30th.

The project should be here even if you are not!! NO EXCEPTIONS.

E-mail me your presentation ([email protected]) or bring it in on a CD or flashdrive.

These projects will NOT be presented to the class.

Energy Sources:

Non-Renewable Renewable . Coal . Solar . Oil . Wind . Natural Gas . Geothermal . Nuclear Fission . Hydropower . Hydrogen . Biomass Research Questions/Requirements: You must provide the following information for EACH of your energy sources: 1. What can we use this type of energy/resource for? – Electricity, heating, transportation, all of them? 2. How can this energy source be converted into a usable form of energy? – Be specific/detailed. Diagrams help. 3. What is the energy source’s availability? – Locations, ease of access, etc. 4. What are the positive aspects of using this resource/type of energy?

5. What are the negative aspects of using this resource/type of energy?

6. What other things must be considered when choosing this energy source?

For the entire project overall, you must provide: 1. Photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, and flow charts that help to explain your energy source or any of the information above. 2. Sources!! Your project will not be graded if it doesn’t contain sources.

Possible Sources:

National Energy Education Development Project (NEED): http://www.need.org/Energy-Infobooks (secondary level)

U.S. Department of Energy: http://www.energy.gov/energysources/index.htm

National Renewable Energy Laboratory: http://www.nrel.gov

U.S. Energy Information Administration (Dept. of Energy): Facts and figures: http://www.eia.doe.gov Basic info about sources: http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/whatsenergy.html

Iowa Public Television: The Future of Energy http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/energy/profiles/profiles.cfm