Contents:

• Introduction on Natural Resources
• Introduction on Alternate Natural Resources
• Glossary
• Links to Other Sites
• Scientists' Predictions
• People's Predictions
• Our Predictions
• Quiz
• Game

What Is A Natural Resource?

• Substance formed naturally that is known to be useful
• Essential for heating, lighting and driving machinery
• Cities, industries and transport networks cannot function without it

Renewable | Non-Renewable

1. Renewable (Infinite):

Can be replaced after use.

Critical; Sustainable

Eg: Forests

Non-critical; Everlasting

Eg: Water

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Regarded as irreplaceable once used. Take millions of years to form. Can and Will be depleted.

Eg: Fossil fuels formed from animals and plant remains millions of years ago, like Coal and Oil, which produce power by burning.

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Biomass Energy | Geothermal Energy | Hydroelectric Energy | Nuclear Energy | Solar Energy | Tidal Energy | Wind Energy

1. Biomass Energy Biomass is stuff you'd normally send to the dump. This stuff that nobody seems to want can be used to produce energy. Eg: Animal waste or crop waste Advantages : Makes gas like methane. Does not add to global warming. Plants store carbon dioxide which is released when the plant is burned. Using biomass closes this cycle. Because biomass is reduced, reused and recycled, less garbage is sent to the dump. Less land is needed to hold garbage. Environmentally friendly. Can be made into other products such as paper. Back to top

2. Geothermal Energy It is heat derived from the rock and fluid in the earth’s crust. Rainwater gets trapped in porous rock. If the water-filled rock is hot (heated by magma), it becomes a reservoir of hot water. Steam and hot water come out when a well is drilled into it. Advantages: Not affected by weather Continuous supply Soft on the environment -- Geothermal power plants provide electricity without pollution: Air: Clean because they do not burn fossil fuels, generate no nitrogen oxides, little sulfur, and very litle carbon dioxide. "Binary" geothermal plants have no emissions. Water: Never mixes with groundwater as cooled water is returned through an "injection" well into the reservoir below. Land: Area for plants is small. Land around a plant can be used for other purposes. Drilling for geothermal water is easy on the environment -- no mine shafts, tunnels, etc. Fuel does not have to be transported: plant sits on top of its source.   Many uses: Electricity: Hot water and steam are brought to the surface through a well and piped into the power plant to spin the turbine. Direct Use: Bathes and soothes humans, helps grow plants in greenhouses during winter, helps animals grow faster, dries objects, washes wool, and provides space heating. Geothermal water is run through a heat exchanger to heat city water, then returned to the reservoir where it is heated again. Heat Pumps: Geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) are used to warm or cool buildings. GHPs circulate fluids warmed or cooled by the constant temperature of the earth's crust, through closed-loop piping buried underground. Using a heat exchanger, the fluid transfers earth's heat into a building during cold weather; by reverse, removes heat from a building during hot weather. They use very little electricity. Back to top

3. Hydroelectrical Energy Hydroelectrical energy is moving water. Dams are built to hold river water, forming a reservoir behind the dam. This reservoir water flows through a pipe into a turbine where it turns the turbine’s blades. Back to top

4. Nuclear Energy This is energy "trapped" inside each atom. Atoms can be split apart and in doing so, release tremendous energy. This is called nuclear fission. This energy makes heat which can boil water to make steam and turn the turbines to generate electricity. Advantages: Once built, a nuclear plant is cheaper to operate than a fossil-fuel plant because a nuclear plant uses lesser fuel. Uranium releases no chemical or solid pollutants into the air. Disadvantages: Nuclear plants cost more to build than fossil-fuel plants. Because of the need to assure that hazardous amounts of radioactive materials are not released, nuclear plants must meet certain government regulations. Eg: A nuclear plant must satisfy the government that it can quickly and automatically deal with any kind of emergency. Used nuclear fuel produces dangerous radiation long after it has been removed from the reactor. Back to top

5. Solar Energy Solar energy is energy from the sun. We use it to dry clothes, heat water and cook food; plants need sunlight to make food. Eg: Solar cells, solar roof panels Advantages: Clean and free Direct heating Disadvantages: Costly Unreliable due to weather and seasons Back to top

6. Tidal Energy Tidal energy refers to the energy produced by the up and down motion of the ocean waves. Eg: Use of floats Advantage(s): Clean and free Disadvantages: Unreliable in calm seas Large floats needed, possible hazard to ships Expensive Back to top

7. Wind Energy Wind energy is the energy produced by strong winds. Eg: Aerogenerators Advantage(s): Clean and free Disadvantages: Large Unreliable in calm weather Back to top

Biomass

Living materials (wood, vegetation, etc.) grown or produced expressly for use as fuel.

Biomass fuels

Wood and forest residues, animal manure and waste, grains, crops and aquatic plants are some common biomass fuels.

Energy

The capacity to do work.

Energy sources

Energy sources are [1] fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas); [2] nuclear (fission and fusion); [3] renewables (solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydro).

Fossil fuels

Fuels formed eons ago from decayed plants and animals. Oil, coal and natural gas are such fuels.

Fuel

A material which is consumed, giving up its molecularly stored energy which is then used for other purposes. e.g. to do work (run a machine).

Geothermal

Pertaining to heat energy extracted from reservoirs in the earth's interior, as is the use of geysers, molten rock and steam spouts.

Geothermal energy

Heat generated by natural processes within the earth. Chief energy resources are hot dry rock, magma (molten rock), hydrothermal (water/steam from geysers and fissures) and geopressure (water satured with methane under tremendous pressure at great depths).

Greenhouse effect

The trapping of the sun's radiant energy, so that it cannot be reradiated. In cars and buildings the radiant energy is trapped by glass; in the earth's atmosphere the radiant energy is trapped by gasses such as CFCs and carbon dioxide.

Hydro

A prefix meaning produced by or derived from water or the movement of water, as in hydroelectricity.

Hydro power

Power obtained from the natural movement of masses of water.

Nuclear fission

Atomic nuclear processes which involve the splitting of nuclei with the accompanying release of energy.

Nuclear fuel

Energy derived from atomic nuclear processes during fission or fusion.

Nuclear fusion

Atomic nuclear processes which involve the fusing of nuclei with an accompanying release of energy.

Ocean energy

The vast amount of potential energy within the oceans.

Renewable energy

Energy from sources that cannot be used up: sunshine, water flow, wind and vegetation.

Renewable energy devices

Solar collectors, woodburning stoves, wind machines, hydroelectric turbines, etc. are typical examples.

Solar cell

Device made of semiconductor materials which produces a voltage when exposed to light.

Solar electricity

Electricity produced directly by action of sunlight.

Solar heating

Processes, active or passive, which derive and control heat directly from the sun.

Renewable Energy
Features daily news stories, a Who's Who database, facts on renewable energy, a Renewable Energy Bookstore and Search Engines and more!

ARAL Energy Links - Renewable Energy
Many renewable energy links.

Center for Energy Efficient and Renewable Technologies (CEERT)
CEERT brings businesses together with non-profit public interest organizations to create broad support for regulatory and market reforms. These participants have common interests in minimizing the life-cycle cost of reliable energy services, and ensuring market access for suppliers of renewable energy and energy efficiency services.

Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology (CREST)
CREST operates an on-line clearinghouse of renewable energy and energy efficiency information called SOLISTICE, which provides free electronic access to documents, images, directories, and other databases around the world.

E-Link:Public Backs Renewable Energy
Results of a nationwide poll showing strong public support for renewable energy.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
A US Department of Energy World Wide Web site that provides access to information about renewable energy and energy efficient technologies.

Grass Roots Support For Renewable Energy
Mission: Bringing people together to promote renewable energy from biomass, wind, solar, and geothermal.

Introduction to Renewable Energy - Basic Module
This module introduces major components of various renewable energy systems and their interactions.

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES)
Established in 1978, MRES today is a locally-based, non-profit organization committed to developoing awareness and use of renewable energy sources across Minnesota and beyond. MRES is affiliated with the American Solar Energy Society (ARES), the leading national non-profit organization working to promote alternative energy sources.

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