How do we use energy in our lives? 1. Electricity 2. Heat 3. Transportation

Where does most of the energy we use come from? Burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, or oil

Where do we get fossil fuels? Coal Mined from below the surface of the earth

Natural Gas Trapped in rocks deep underground, must be drilled and then sent through pipelines Highly explosive!

OIL Drilled for mostly in oceans or areas of land that used to be oceans

How do fossil fuels produce electricity? 1.  Coal, natural gas, or oil is burned to heat water that makes steam 2. Steam turns large turbine 3. Turbine spins the generator 4. Produces electricity

So what’s the problem? 1. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable. 2. When fossil fuels are burned they produce CO2. CO2 is the gas that is highly responsible for global warming.

What is global warming? Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere

Causes Global warming is caused by an increase in “greenhouse gases” that trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere.

What are the consequences of Global Warming? 1. Temperatures will rise, disrupting fragile ecosystems 2. Glacier sea ice will melt 3. Melting ice will cause massive flooding of low lying areas (Michigan will be underwater!)  

Consequences continued 4. Sensitive habitats and species will become extinct 5. Extremes in temperatures will include droughts, excessive rain, and violent storms 6. Economies will be disrupted

So if burning fossil fuels is so harmful, what are the alternatives? Non-renewable resource Nuclear Power and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Renewable Resources Wind, Solar, Water, Geothermal, and Biomass

Nuclear Power Uses mined Uranium-235

U-235 is split to release it’s energy, this heats the water…makes the steam…turns the turbine…

Nuclear Power Pros Cons Efficient Lots of power for small amount of material No GHG emissions US has a lot of it Nobody wants it near them Accidents can/have occurred Non-renewable Waste disposal problems Expensive to build/ maintain

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Uses Hydrogen and oxygen H and O move across hydrogen fuel cells (like a film) produces energy like a battery

Hydrogen Fuel Cells Cons Fuel is Efficient Pros Cons Fuel is Efficient NO Harmful waste – water and heat are by-products Expensive No infrastructure Hard to transport – explosive Energy input > energy output

Hydropower Using the natural force of water and gravity

How hydropower works

Hydropower Pros Cons No emissions We have the technology Efficient Makes a lot of power Disrupts aquatic ecosystems Expensive to build/maintain dams Can’t be put everywhere

Solar Power Energy generated from the heat or light from the sun Uses photovoltaic cells to turn electromagnetic energy into electrical energy

Solar Energy No waste No GHG emissions Renewable Pros Cons No waste No GHG emissions Renewable Can be used by individuals High up front cost to install Need space to keep solar panels Not effective everywhere Costly to fix

Wind Power Air moves around the earth Wind is used to spin turbines that turn the generators that generate electricity

Wind Power

Wind Power Pros Cons No emissions Good for Michigan economy Takes up space Noise pollution Kills birds Accidents happen frequently Limited locations

Geothermal Energy geothermal energy is the natural heat of the earth that is conducted to the earth's surface through volcanoes and hot springs.

Geothermal In certain parts of the world, heat from the Earth can be used to produce steam to power turbines and heat homes.

Geothermal Energy Pros Cons No Emissions We have the technology to use it Can be used for heat and electricity Expensive Not available everywhere Can cause earthquakes

FlexFuel Biomass Ethanol energy produced from organic matter by converting the complex carbohydrates in organic matter into energy -Biomass Ethanol FlexFuel

Biomass Burned to create heat that is used in electrical generation

Biomass Pros Cons Renewable Cheap Readily available Multiple crops can be used Carbon Neutral? Replaces food crops for fuel crops Can cause environmental damage in farming process

So where are we now with our energy use?