PresentacióN1 Energy For Kids For Example

Energy is special.

There's lots of it about and it's very useful.

Why? What's so special?

Here's just a few reasons:

it lets me swim fast and catch my fish

it gets you out of bed in the morning

it means that birds can fly, tigers can roar, wind can blow

it makes the sun, the moon and stars shine

it makes plants grow - food (= stored plant energy) for animals

it makes cars move, factories produce things, light bulbs glow, planes fly and your computer work. I'll bet you can think of many more!

Without energy, there would be nothing: no life, no movement, no light, no heat, no you, no me… nothing.

But there is a problem with energy. Some people have got used to using far too much of it. This means that there's not enough for everyone. And using some kinds of energy

causes terrible pollution and makes the Earth's climate get hotter.

Confused? No worries. Welcome to my new Energy Guide in which I take you on

a journey through energy and, I hope, help you understand it.

Finding your way around my Energy Guide

What is energy? Energy is the ability to do work. It's what you get when you burn fuel (= stored energy) to move something like a car or kick a ball (= do work). That fuel can be stuff like coal or gas or the hydrogen which powers the sun. What you get is heat and light energy. You can feel the heat from a fire or from the sun on your skin. And sunlight makes our daytime.

Energy can be changed Energy can be changed from one form to from one form to

another but it can't be another but it can't be created or destroyed. created or destroyed.

Where do we animals get energy Where do we animals get energy from? from?

Almost all energy comes from the sun which warms our

planet and makes plants grow.

Plants are smart because they can use the sun’s energy not only to make them grow, but also to make energy stores.

Most plants make seeds, some of which grow into new plants. And animals like you humans eat them - you

know, wheat seeds make into bread; maize into popcorn or cornflakes and so on. This means you get

your energy from eating plants, or by eating other animals like cows which have fed off plants.

I get my energy from I get my energy from

eating fish...eating fish...

...which ate smaller ...which ate smaller fish which ate fish which ate shrimpy things...shrimpy things...

...which ate (you ...which ate (you got it!) tiny got it!) tiny plants called plants called plankton. plankton.

This is called a food This is called a food chain.chain.Our Our waste products eventually all go back to eventually all go back to

plants where they start the cycle again, plants where they start the cycle again, fuelled by energy from the sun. fuelled by energy from the sun.

What are fuels? How do you get energy What are fuels? How do you get energy from them?from them?

Now this is where humans are different from all other life. You have learned

how you can use fuels to make energy to power machines like cars, planes and computers. This way, you don’t have to work so much and you can stay warm without the fat, fur or feathers that

other animals have. You get the fuel to make all this extra energy mostly by

digging it out of the ground and burning it. This releases ancient energy stores -

fossil fuels - made by billions of tiny plants and animals which lived millions of years ago. This stuff has been locked away underground ever since, covered up by younger rocks that got laid down

on top.

I'm sure you know what these fuels are: I'm sure you know what these fuels are:

These fossil fuels all come from underground; inside the Earth's crust. And that is where These fossil fuels all come from underground; inside the Earth's crust. And that is where they should stay because burning them does a lot of damage to the air we all breathe, they should stay because burning them does a lot of damage to the air we all breathe,

the oceans and living things on the land. the oceans and living things on the land. You can burn any of these fuels, coal, oil or gas, to make electricity in power stations. You can burn any of these fuels, coal, oil or gas, to make electricity in power stations. How? But electricity is only one form of energy used by people. How? But electricity is only one form of energy used by people. The biggest guzzlers of The biggest guzzlers of

energy from burning fossil fuels are energy from burning fossil fuels are keeping homes and offices warm in winter and cool in summer keeping homes and offices warm in winter and cool in summer

transport: you know... cars, buses, some trains, ships and aircraft transport: you know... cars, buses, some trains, ships and aircraft Fuels for heating can be any fossil fuel though people mostly use oil or gas because Fuels for heating can be any fossil fuel though people mostly use oil or gas because

they're easier and less dirty.they're easier and less dirty.Machines for transport almost all use the liquid fossil fuel, oil. Why? But the oil has to Machines for transport almost all use the liquid fossil fuel, oil. Why? But the oil has to

be refined to make gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Different types of engine need be refined to make gasoline, diesel and kerosene. Different types of engine need different types of liquid fuel.different types of liquid fuel.

coalcoaloiloil gasgas

What’s the problem? What’s the problem? What you don’t see so easily is the effects of burning all these fossil fuels. You can't see carbon dioxide and most of you don’t live near huge power station chimneys belching smoke, but no one can escape the noise and stink made by cars, trucks, boats, ships and aeroplanes.

Did you know that there are over 500,000,000 cars and trucks in the world, all belching fumes? Then there’s the planes, ships

and factories, all gushing smoke and poisonous gases into the air we all breathe.

What is pollution? What is pollution?

Mostly it's smoke and gases which come from burning fuels to make energy. But it isn’t always Mostly it's smoke and gases which come from burning fuels to make energy. But it isn’t always obvious. obvious.

Some of the polluting gases stink - yuk! That's obvious! Some of the polluting gases stink - yuk! That's obvious! Some pollution is clouds of black soot particles. Some pollution is clouds of black soot particles.

Some pollutants are deadly poisonous and can kill people. Some pollutants are deadly poisonous and can kill people. But the main pollution is that colourless heavy gas which just about everyone has heard of: But the main pollution is that colourless heavy gas which just about everyone has heard of:

carbon dioxide (often shortened to COcarbon dioxide (often shortened to CO22). This gas has no smell and people use it to put the fizz in ). This gas has no smell and people use it to put the fizz in fizzy drinks. It is also a 'greenhouse' gas... and that spells trouble for the planet's climate. Most fizzy drinks. It is also a 'greenhouse' gas... and that spells trouble for the planet's climate. Most

COCO2 2 comes from people burning fossil fuels and destroying forests.comes from people burning fossil fuels and destroying forests.

Greenhouse EarthGreenhouse Earth

The Earth is warmer than it should be The Earth is warmer than it should be so the seas and oceans take up more so the seas and oceans take up more space because warmer water expands. space because warmer water expands. The warming is also making icy places The warming is also making icy places like the Arctic and my home, the like the Arctic and my home, the Antarctic, melt away. Lots of my Antarctic, melt away. Lots of my penguin friends are dying because of penguin friends are dying because of this and because of pollution. The this and because of pollution. The melted ice drains into the oceans, melted ice drains into the oceans, making sea levels rise even more.making sea levels rise even more.

You’ve probably heard You’ve probably heard about the the ‘greenhouse effect’. If you walk into a ‘greenhouse effect’. If you walk into a greenhouse on a sunny day, it’s greenhouse on a sunny day, it’s very warm inside because the Sun’s heat is very warm inside because the Sun’s heat is trapped by the glass. Carbon dioxide gas trapped by the glass. Carbon dioxide gas pumped into the air by burning fuels has just pumped into the air by burning fuels has just the same effect: it traps the Sun’s heat the same effect: it traps the Sun’s heat energy near the surface of the Earth making energy near the surface of the Earth making the air and oceans warmer. This is what the air and oceans warmer. This is what scientists call scientists call climate changeclimate change or global or global warming. warming.

Warming also means more Warming also means more unpleasant weather with unpleasant weather with

more and bigger hurricanes, more and bigger hurricanes, typhoons, tornadoes and typhoons, tornadoes and

cyclones.cyclones.

That means lots of people will That means lots of people will get killed - or go hungry get killed - or go hungry

because their land is flooded, because their land is flooded, washed away or their crops washed away or their crops

spoiled. Other places will get spoiled. Other places will get hot and dry as people cut hot and dry as people cut

down more and more forestsdown more and more forests

I don’t want to see these things happening and I don’t suppose I don’t want to see these things happening and I don’t suppose you do either. So what can we do? Don’t worry! There are many you do either. So what can we do? Don’t worry! There are many

ways to slow climate change without having to go without ways to slow climate change without having to go without energy.energy.

Nuclear power Nuclear power — Help at hand? — Help at hand? Possibly. Nuclear power doesn't Possibly. Nuclear power doesn't add much to global warming — but it does create other types of add much to global warming — but it does create other types of wastes which are particularly nasty because they are radioactive. wastes which are particularly nasty because they are radioactive.

Radioactivity gets made inside nuclear power plants as the fuel Radioactivity gets made inside nuclear power plants as the fuel - uranium metal - splits into other elements which give off - uranium metal - splits into other elements which give off

radiation. So far, no one has worked out a way to safely dispose radiation. So far, no one has worked out a way to safely dispose of the waste this makes, so at present it's all stored - huge of the waste this makes, so at present it's all stored - huge

quantities of it. And if the power plant goes wrong, quantities of it. And if the power plant goes wrong, terrible disasters can happen. .

Let's now look at the Let's now look at the energy alternativesenergy alternatives, , called renewables, so you can decide for called renewables, so you can decide for

yourself which energy source is best.yourself which energy source is best.

Sun power (solar power) Sun power (solar power) can make electricity by using things called can make electricity by using things called photovoltaic cells (often just called PV - easier to say) which fit on the photovoltaic cells (often just called PV - easier to say) which fit on the roofs or walls of your houses or apartment blocks. Some special cars roofs or walls of your houses or apartment blocks. Some special cars can run on PV electricity and there’s even a race across Australia in can run on PV electricity and there’s even a race across Australia in

which the cars run only on solar powerwhich the cars run only on solar power

Solar power Solar power can also directly heat houses in cold countries - when they’re can also directly heat houses in cold countries - when they’re properly designed to make best use of it. properly designed to make best use of it. So far, not many areSo far, not many are

Sun power Sun power can heat water in solar panels (like radiators but instead of giving out can heat water in solar panels (like radiators but instead of giving out heat, they grab it from the Sun). This is then stored in a big tank so you can have heat, they grab it from the Sun). This is then stored in a big tank so you can have hot showers and so on. Solar collectors can pick up the sun's heat even on cloudy hot showers and so on. Solar collectors can pick up the sun's heat even on cloudy

days days

Wave power Wave power can also drive generators but this is still a very can also drive generators but this is still a very new idea. new idea. Just a few experimental machines are in use today. Just a few experimental machines are in use today.

TidesTides - you know, when the sea goes up and down twice a day - can - you know, when the sea goes up and down twice a day - can drive generators too. There's just one example of this in action at a drive generators too. There's just one example of this in action at a

place called La Rance in France. Other parts of the world with big tides place called La Rance in France. Other parts of the world with big tides could be useful too, but a big dam has to be built to trap the moving could be useful too, but a big dam has to be built to trap the moving

seawaterseawater

BiogasBiogas (methane) for cooking and heating can (methane) for cooking and heating can be made from human sewage and farm animals' be made from human sewage and farm animals'

waste. (Phew! Yuk! … but very useful.) It's waste. (Phew! Yuk! … but very useful.) It's made in special tanks called biodigesters. made in special tanks called biodigesters.

Landfills - that's where people's garbage gets dumped Landfills - that's where people's garbage gets dumped - also produce methane gas as the rubbish rots. - also produce methane gas as the rubbish rots.

Usually this is collected and used to make electricityUsually this is collected and used to make electricity

BiofuelsBiofuels: Because plants and trees soak up CO: Because plants and trees soak up CO22 like like sponges, making the carbon into wood and putting back sponges, making the carbon into wood and putting back

oxygen into the air, people can ‘grow’ fuel without oxygen into the air, people can ‘grow’ fuel without adding COadding CO22 pollution to the air. It's called 'carbon pollution to the air. It's called 'carbon

neutral'. neutral'.

In Brazil, people pioneered growing sugar cane plants to In Brazil, people pioneered growing sugar cane plants to make alcohol which they use to power almost half the make alcohol which they use to power almost half the country’s cars. In other countries, people plant special country’s cars. In other countries, people plant special

trees (like willow) which grow fast and you can cut them trees (like willow) which grow fast and you can cut them down without killing them - so they keep on re-growing. down without killing them - so they keep on re-growing.

This is called coppicing.This is called coppicing.

Fuel cells Fuel cells make electricity directly from hydrogen, a very make electricity directly from hydrogen, a very light gas. The cells don’t burn the hydrogen. Instead it light gas. The cells don’t burn the hydrogen. Instead it

reacts with oxygen (in the air) to make electricity. reacts with oxygen (in the air) to make electricity.

The only ‘waste’ is water. Soon cars will run with fuel cells The only ‘waste’ is water. Soon cars will run with fuel cells powering electric motors so they are silent and make no powering electric motors so they are silent and make no

pollution. They can also make power for houses so there’d pollution. They can also make power for houses so there’d be no need for big polluting power stations. One way be no need for big polluting power stations. One way people can make hydrogen is by using sunlight to split people can make hydrogen is by using sunlight to split

water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Scientists are still water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Scientists are still searching for a good way to do this. searching for a good way to do this.

Geothermal energy Geothermal energy is energy tapped from inside is energy tapped from inside the Earth. It's the only renewable energy source the Earth. It's the only renewable energy source

which has nothing to do with the Sun. which has nothing to do with the Sun.

Deep down, it's very hot. Sometimes these hot rocks Deep down, it's very hot. Sometimes these hot rocks break through the surface to form volcanoes. By drilling break through the surface to form volcanoes. By drilling holes down into areas where hot rocks are close to the holes down into areas where hot rocks are close to the

surface, people can generate electricity and heat surface, people can generate electricity and heat buildings. One type of geothermal energy uses buildings. One type of geothermal energy uses

geothermal heat pumps to make hot water for home geothermal heat pumps to make hot water for home heating. heating. A heat pump is a sort of reversed refrigerator. A heat pump is a sort of reversed refrigerator.

Fair sharesFair shares

Some people are very greedy and Some people are very greedy and want more than their fair share of want more than their fair share of

everything. So they grab it, leaving everything. So they grab it, leaving little or nothing for anyone else. little or nothing for anyone else.

Many people in rich countries use Many people in rich countries use much more energy than is sensible much more energy than is sensible

or fair. Fossil fuels will run out or fair. Fossil fuels will run out completely quite soon but before completely quite soon but before they do, the damage to the they do, the damage to the Earth’

s climate will have been done. will have been done.

What you can do What you can do But wait a moment. That doesn’t mean you’ve all But wait a moment. That doesn’t mean you’ve all got to grow fur or feathers. You, your friends and got to grow fur or feathers. You, your friends and

families could do lots to make things better:families could do lots to make things better:Be more careful with energy and save as much as you can by not driving around, Be more careful with energy and save as much as you can by not driving around,

flying and having the heating or air conditioning turned up so high. People can also flying and having the heating or air conditioning turned up so high. People can also save a lot by making clever buildings which can make their own energy and don't save a lot by making clever buildings which can make their own energy and don't waste the energy they do use. Insulation isn't very exciting but it's the quickest, waste the energy they do use. Insulation isn't very exciting but it's the quickest,

cheapest and best way to save energy in homes, schools and offices. Most buildings cheapest and best way to save energy in homes, schools and offices. Most buildings don't have proper insulation but there are simple ways to add it which not only don't have proper insulation but there are simple ways to add it which not only means warmer (or cooler if you live in a hot place) buildings. Because much less means warmer (or cooler if you live in a hot place) buildings. Because much less

energy is needed, you save lots of money: energy in getting very expensive to buy energy is needed, you save lots of money: energy in getting very expensive to buy

Use your own energy Use your own energy to do things - cycling, to do things - cycling,

walking, running, walking, running, cooking (not fast-food cooking (not fast-food - junky stuff. - junky stuff. Yuk!) If Yuk!) If

you’re cold, wear you’re cold, wear more clothes!more clothes!

Find out more about Find out more about renewable energy and pester and pester

parents and friends to get parents and friends to get involved in using these or in involved in using these or in

trying to get something going trying to get something going where you live. And since where you live. And since

energy use and climate energy use and climate change are connected, take a change are connected, take a

look at my look at my Twelve Really Important Things you can do to help stop global warming to help stop global warming

What do you think about energy What do you think about energy and how it should be used? Have and how it should be used? Have

you any good ideas about what we you any good ideas about what we can do to make things better? If can do to make things better? If

you do, please write to me.you do, please write to me.

Bye!Bye!

Love from Love from