Energy conservation

Energy ConservationEnergy Conservation

• ““We do not inherit the We do not inherit the earth from our earth from our parents, we borrow it parents, we borrow it from our children” –from our children” – Chief SeattleChief Seattle

• Energy use has Energy use has changed a great deal changed a great deal since people relied since people relied solely on the sun, solely on the sun, their own strong their own strong bodies or beasts of bodies or beasts of burden as energy burden as energy resources.resources.

• Long ago, people Long ago, people learned how to use learned how to use water power to turn water power to turn paddle wheels and paddle wheels and wind power for wind power for transportation and transportation and irrigation.irrigation.

• People learned to use People learned to use the chemical energy the chemical energy stored in materials stored in materials like wood to cook and like wood to cook and heat their homes.heat their homes.

• But machines and But machines and technologies introduced technologies introduced during the Industrial during the Industrial Revolution of the late Revolution of the late 1818thth century required century required the use of other energy the use of other energy resources, especially resources, especially fossil fuels.fossil fuels.

• Fossil fuels like coal, Fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas oil and natural gas are considered to be are considered to be nonrenewable energy nonrenewable energy resources. resources.

• Our fossil fuel reserves Our fossil fuel reserves formed over millions of formed over millions of years from decaying years from decaying plants and animals.plants and animals.

• As we use them up, As we use them up, they will not be they will not be replenished in our replenished in our lifetimes.lifetimes.

• With the modern world With the modern world depending upon coal, oil depending upon coal, oil and gas for a majority of and gas for a majority of its energy needs and the its energy needs and the prediction that the world prediction that the world will nearly double its need will nearly double its need for energy resources in for energy resources in several decades, it is several decades, it is important to conserve important to conserve energy and to investigate energy and to investigate alternate energy alternate energy resourcesresources

• There are many There are many renewable energy renewable energy sources that are sources that are alternatives to fossil fuels, alternatives to fossil fuels, but some are not without but some are not without controversy.controversy.

• For instance, nuclear For instance, nuclear power is used to generate power is used to generate about 25 percent of the about 25 percent of the world’s electricity, but it world’s electricity, but it has inherent risks, has inherent risks, especially in the disposal especially in the disposal of radioactive waste.of radioactive waste.

• Hydroelectric plants use running water to generate Hydroelectric plants use running water to generate electricity, however they may flood nearby lands and can electricity, however they may flood nearby lands and can disrupt the normal flow of water, both of which negatively disrupt the normal flow of water, both of which negatively affect the environment.affect the environment.

• Wind power is Wind power is increasingly being increasingly being used as a clean used as a clean source of renewable source of renewable energy.energy.

• Turbines harvest wind Turbines harvest wind on wind farms and on wind farms and generate electricity. generate electricity.

• Solar power is a promising, renewable energy Solar power is a promising, renewable energy resource than can be turned into electricity, and resource than can be turned into electricity, and it is used in many toys and even home heating.it is used in many toys and even home heating.

• Many other alternative Many other alternative energy sources like energy sources like geothermal power, which geothermal power, which draws upon the earth’s draws upon the earth’s natural heat, and natural heat, and biomass, which produces biomass, which produces an alternative to gasoline, an alternative to gasoline, are being considered in are being considered in the movement away from the movement away from fossil fuel dependence.fossil fuel dependence.

• In our everyday lives, we can also work to conserve energy.In our everyday lives, we can also work to conserve energy.– Insulating, turning off lights and only using appliances like dishwashers Insulating, turning off lights and only using appliances like dishwashers

when they are full are just some of the ways people can limit energy use when they are full are just some of the ways people can limit energy use in their homes.in their homes.

– Also, carpooling, bicycling, and taking public transportation are effective Also, carpooling, bicycling, and taking public transportation are effective energy-saving ideas.energy-saving ideas.

• The earth’s The earth’s inhabitants must take inhabitants must take a serious look at a serious look at energy resources, energy resources, use and conservation.use and conservation.