Renewable Energy

Conserving Energy Compact fluorescent light bulbs Insulation Reducing Air infiltration (air leak) More efficient washing machines (less water) More efficient air conditioners Sod roofs Orient homes to allow sun in winter and shade in summer TURN OFF APPLIANCES

Cogeneration -Production of electricity and steam/hot water in the same plant -Net energy of primary fuel ↑ from 30-35% to 80-90%.

Solar Energy Passive heat absorption Active solar systems

Photovoltaic Cells Capture solar energy and directly convert it to electrical current Photoelectric effect- materials absorb photons and release electrons.

Biomass: Wood Wood, wood chips, bark, branches, leaves, starchy roots, and other plant/animal material. Wood burning in past=90% of energy Incomplete burning = CO and ↓air quality

*Wood-burning Stoves* PROS – Adequate wood supplies (North) CONS – Smoke= high CO levels – Decreased air quality – Ranked high on Environmental Protection Agency list for health risks. – carcinogenic Efficient combustion chambers/catalytic combustors can eliminate most of problem by recapturing heat and removing waste products.

Biomass Dung – Burn dried manure – Increases food shortage in poor countries – 90% of heat and nutrients lost when burned – Use it for methane= efficient fuel source Crop Plants – Anerobic digestion of plant sugars – Ethanol (grain) and methanol (wood) – Biofuel

Wind Energy Fastest growing renewable energy source 1/3 of land use and 5X as many jobs than coal Advantages -Short planning and construction time -Modular (more turbines can continually be added) -No fuel costs -No emmissions Drawbacks - intermittent - inconsistent wind (16-60mph) - High bird mortality - no method for transfer - high volt power lines -split water into gases

Hydropower Falling water produced 40% of world’s electric power in Enormous dams Could produce as much energy as 25 large nuclear plants Problems – failure= floods – Ecosystem destruction – Human displacement

Tidal/Wave Energy Tidal station- similar to a hydropower dam 13 hour tidal differential poses problem Problem – Flooding of seawater behind dam Destroy rich shoals Breeding grounds Food source for birds Heavy siltation Scouring of sea floor