Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation

NUCLEAR

Nuclear Energy – Our Misunderstood Friend??? How does a nuclear powerplant work? Nuclear Power - as Explained on the Simpsons Three Mile Island - What happened? The fallout at Chernobyl Energy for the Future? Is nuclear the solution?

The Good, Bad and Ugly on Nuclear Pro Technology is readily available and relatively efficient Cheap Clean (both pollutants and greenhouse gases) Con Risk of Nuclear Accidents that expose people to high levels of radiation What do we do with the radioactive waste once it has been used? Non-renewable

Biomass (wood, wood pellets, ethanol, vegetable oil)

Wood Burning

Pellet Stoves No need for chimney – just a small vent hole in wall Need to re-fueled less frequently than woodstoves Need regular maintenance and cleaning Require Electricity Low emissions, low CO2 and low odor Pellets are made from “left-over” wood – sawdust, scraps etc.

Biofuels EthanolBiodiesel (from vegetable oil)

Are you a good witch or a bad witch? Pro Somewhat renewable – as long as we aren’t using them faster than we can replace them Cleaner than burning fossil fuels Wood can easilly provide heat for the home and for cooking Growing plants increases our ability to absorb CO2 Con Does produce some air pollution and greenhouse gasses (combustion and/or machinery used for growing) Competition for land used to grow the fuels Burning wood does not provide as much energy as fossil fuels

Hydroelectric

How does it work?

Hoover Dam

Grand Coulee Dam

To be or not to be…. Pro Clean energy – no emissions or air pollution Cheap Con Large Amounts of Habitat Destruction and ecological interference Only available where there are rivers and/or running water

Solar

Solar Panels

The bottom line… Pro Solar is a perpetual resource Once installed – solar power is free Clean – no emissions, no pollution, no greenhouse gases Con Panels are expensive Installation can be expensive Works better in areas with more sun Efficiency of Panels (currently)

Wind

How do wind turbines work? Windfarm in Southern California - built after the 70's energy Crisis Windfarm in Southern California - built after the 70's energy Crisis Do wind turbine make noise? A new kind of wind turbine for urban areas?

What’s one or two birds? Pro Completely renewable Completely clean Con Not able to provide the entire world’s energy Complaints of noise and bird killing Space needed to build them (they’re REALLY big)

Geothermal

How does it work?

Heating and cooling Your HOME!

The dirt on geothermal… PRO Once installed – cheap No emissions, pollution or greenhouse gases Con Expensive installation Not able to provide enough energy to meet world demands Must be able to access groundwater

What can you do to reduce energy demands?

Why should reduction in energy demands be an essential component to ANY energy plan?