ENERGY The “E” of a. f.e.W.

Although only 5% of the WORLD’S POPULATION, AMERICANS USE 25% OF THE WORLD’S ENERGY WHAT IS ENERGY? ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY DEFINITIONS, OUR CLASS IS GOING TO FOCUS ON THE ONE THAT IMPACTS OUR LIVES THE MOST: “POWER DERIVED FROM THE UTILIZATION OF PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY TO PROVIDE LIGHT AND HEAT OR TO WORK MACHINES” TWO FORMS: POTENTIAL AND KINETIC GAS IN A CAR IS POTENTIAL ENERGY UNTIL IT IS COMBUSTED AND TURNS INTO KINETIC ENERGY (ENERGY OF MOTION & POWER)

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. A POINT TO REMEMBER: THERE IS A CONSTANT AMOUNT OF ENERGY IN THE UNIVERSE—ENERGY CAN’T BE CREATED NOR DESTROYED—SO REALLY, THERE IS ALWAYS ENOUGH ENERGY THE ISSUE WITH ENERGY FOR OUR PURPOSES IS THAT WHEN WE USE ENERGY IT ISN’T EFFICIENT & IS CONVERTED TO LESS USEFUL FORMS OF ENERGY EX: ONLY 14-26% OF A CAR’S GAS MOVES THE CAR, MOST OF THE REST CREATES HEAT EX: THE BEST POWER PLANTS GENERATING ELECTRICITY ARE ONLY 35% EFFICIENT ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT USING ENERGY POLLUTES OUR ENVIRONMENT

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. REMEMBER: THE SUN IS THE # SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR EARTH AFFECTING WIND, WATER, PLANTS (CREATING CHEMICAL ENERGY), & ANIMALS TWO NON-SUN ENERGY SOURCES = GEOTHERMAL & NUCLEAR RENEWABLE: REPLENISHED NATURALLY & QUICKLY NONRENEWABLE: SOURCES CAN’T BE REPLACED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. THE TWO MAIN ENERGY CHALLENGES OUR WORLD FACES: #1: A LOT OF PEOPLE WORLD-WIDE DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE FORMS OF ENERGY #2: VAST MAJORITY OF WORLD’S ENERGY IS SUPPLIED BY NONRENEWABLE FORMS OF ENERGY THAT RELEASE GREENHOUSE GASES WHEN BURNED

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. “A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in our atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. Earth’s primary greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone”.

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. S.E.E.ing ENERGY FROM ANOTHER PERSEPECTIVE S.OCIAL: ALMOST HALF (3 BILLION) OF WORLD’S POPULATION USE BIOMASS TO COOK FOOD (WOOD, ANIMAL DUNG, COAL). GATHERING IT ADDS MORE TIME TO THE 200 MILLION HOURS DAILY WOMEN ALREADY SPEND GETTING WATER (THAT’S 40 BILLION HOURS YEARLY!) E.CONOMIC: DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE DEPLETING FOSSIL FUELS AT AN ALARMING RATE (AND YET 20-25% OF HUMANS DON’T HAVE ELECTRICITY) E.NVIRONMENTAL: RELEASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE FROM FOSSIL FUELS IMPACTS GHG’S. PHYSICALLY OBTAINING ENERGY AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT. OIL SPILLS & MELTDOWNS CAUSE HUGE PROBLEMS

Energy: The “e” of a. f.e.w. Natural gas: https://youtu.be/-njmj0diWu8 Fracking: https://youtu.be/Wj2TAvMseGk https://youtu.be/z3oc0nj1aHk Biomass energy: https://youtu.be/yHWcddUZ35s Nuclear energy: https://youtu.be/44ovdxOvP_A Hydroelectricity: https://youtu.be/q8HmRLCgDAI

Use of cars? As an investment, the car is a massive waste of opportunity—“the world’s most under-utilized asset,” the investment firm Morgan Stanley calls it. That’s because the average car sits idle 92 percent of the time. Accounting for all costs, from fuel to insurance to depreciation, the average car owner in the U.S. pays $12,544 a year for a car that puts in a mere 14-hour workweek. Drive an SUV? Tack on another $1,908.14

Use of cars - pollution No part of daily life wastes more energy and, by extension, more money than the modern automobile. While burning through all that fuel, cars and trucks spew toxins and particulate waste into the atmosphere that induce cancer, lung disease, and asthma. These emissions measurably decrease longevity—not by a matter of days, but years. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculates that 53,000 Americans die prematurely every year from vehicle pollution, losing 10 years of life on average compared to their lifespans in the absence of tailpipe emissions.

Energy: The “e” of a. f.e.w. THE U.S. HAS ELECTRICITY. HERE IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU WERE THREE OR FOUR YEARS OLD AND WE LOST IT FOR A BIT. http://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/aug-15-2003-east-coast-blackout- 9115603

Energy: The “e” of a. f. e.w. Solar power: https://youtu.be/HciKU63dLtA Wind power: https://youtu.be/SQpbTTGe_gk Tidal power: https://youtu.be/sxh7JWF1aEY Wave Power: https://youtu.be/TtzQrfLW2B4 Most energy efficient countries: https://youtu.be/ytkt2YxGou4

Energy: The “e” of a. f.e.w. PATHWAYS TO ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY: 1. ENERGY CONSERVATION: CHANGING BEHAVIORS--TURN OFF LIGHTS, CONSOLIDATE WEEKLY SHOPPING, INSULATE HOMES, BIKE, ETC. 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY: BUY LED BULBS, “ENERGY STAR” APPLIANCES, HIGHER MPG CARS EX. If each U.S. household bought one LED bulb, it would save $600 million and prevent 9 million #’s of GHG’s being released. 3. CHANGE GOVERNMENT POLICIES/SUBSIDIES: CAFÉ STANDARDS INCREASE MPG, SUBSIDIES TO LOWER COST OF SOLAR PANELS TO CITIZENS, CHANGE D.O.D. PRACTICES TO AFFECT LARGEST USER OF ENERGY IN THE U.S. Ex. Insulating air-conditioned tents; use of solar panels ($95 million in 6 months)