Deck 13: Energy

Question 1

In 2008. the average fuel economy of new cars, light trucks, and SUVs in the United States was 11.4 kilometers per liter (kpl). or 26.6 miles per gallon (mpg), and the average motor vehicle in the United States was driven 19.300 kilometers (12.000 miles). There were about 250 million motor vehicles in the United States in 2008. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2.3 kilograms ol CO ₂ are released when 1 liter of gasoline is burned (19.4 pounds of CO ₂ are released when 1 gallon is burned). Use these data to calculate the gasoline consumption and carbon footprints of individual motor vehicles with different fuel efficiencies and for all of the motor vehicles in the United States by answering the following questions:
Suppose a car has an average fuel efficiency of 8.5 kpl (20 mpg) and is driven 19.300 kilometers (12.000 miles) a year, (a) How many liters (and gallons) of gasoline does this vehicle consume in a year (b) If gasoline costs 80 cents per liter ($3.00 per gallon), how much will the owner spend on fuel in a year (c) How many liters(and gallons) of gasoline would be consumed by a U.S. fleet of 250 million such vehicles in a year (1 liter = 0.265 gallons and 1 kilometer = 0.621 miles)

Answer 1

(a) Calculate the gasoline consumed by vehicle per year.
(b) The cost of one liter gasoline is 80 cents. Therefore, total cost of the gasoline
(c) Calculate the gasoline consumed annually by complete fleet.
The above calculation shows the various effects on gasoline consumption for the given efficiency of car.

Question 2

What is the key concept for this section Distinguish between passive solar heating and active solar heating systems and summarize the major advantages and disadvantages of such systems. What are three ways to cool houses naturally List the major advantages and disadvantages of using solar thermal systems to generate high-temperature heat and electricity. What is a solar cell (photovoltaic or PV cell) and what are the major advantages and disadvantages of using such devices to produce electricity

Answer 2

The key concept of this section is related with renewable energy resources. It discusses about the renewable energy resources such as wind power, solar power, and hydro power. The renewable energy resources can reduce the pollution and the greenhouse gases emission.
In passive solar heating structure the solar energy is used to store inside a structure after capturing the solar energy directly from sun. These structures are well insulated and store solar energy inside them. The stored heat is then released slowly with the help of other system such as water according to requirement.
In active solar heating systems solar panels are directly mounted on the roof and other higher places. These systems pump the liquid, which absorbs heat such as water. The solar heat can be used directly or can be stored inside an insulated chamber. The advantage of such systems is such that net energy output is high. There is very less emission of carbon dioxide and also the cost of system installation is very less. The main disadvantage is that these systems are directly related to sun. On a cloudy day the system does not work efficiently. Maintenance and insulation costs are also very high.
There are three ways to cool the houses naturally:
• Prevent the direct facing of the sun by using window awnings, shades and trees.
• Use light colored roof which can reflect the most of the radiations and thus reduces temperature.
• Install geothermal pump for the process of cooling.
The advantages for using the solar thermal system to produce the heat and electricity includes less impact on environment, no air pollution, and less cost if used as backup. On the other hand there are certain disadvantages of such systems and these includes low net energy, high maintenance cost, no working on cloudy day, and require moderate amount of water for cooling.
Solar cells are the cells, which use the light to produce the electricity. Usually cells are made up of thin silicon wafers. These cells produce electricity when the photovoltaic radiations fall on them. These systems has sufficient net energy yield. These cells are easy to install and there is also no effect on air pollution. The main advantages of solar system are that sun is the prime requirement. Cost is quite high and always needs backup system for the continuous supply of electricity.

Question 3

CORE CASE STUDY
Explain why wind has great potential for generating electricity (Core Case Study). Summarize the story of the potential for wind power in the United States.

Answer 3

Wind power is clean and renewable source of energy. It helps to clean the environment and reduce the dependence on the present sources of energy. Wind power energy is a great net energy. Net energy means that the wastage of energy in very less. The energy produced and the energy consumed to run gives us the net energy. In the wind power turbine the wind energy is great to use. Presently we are using the energy which is generated from coal, nuclear plants, and diesel. This energy is not lasting long because of increasing pollution because of this energy. The power plant is situated away from the cities because these cause pollution and also dangerous. Hence, wind power is great to use and safe to use. The major advantage of the wind power is that it is clean to use and have no effects on the environment.
The United States Department of Energy makes the four favorable sites for the wind energy and these sites are North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, and Texas. The wind energy plants in United States have generated enough energy that could replace the 3200 kilometers of coal train. Number of jobs in the United States has increased significantly from 2004 to 2010.

Question 4

Congratulations! You are in charge of the world. List the five most important features of your energy policy and explain why each of them is important and how they relate to each other.

Question 5

Should governments give a high priority to considering net energy yields when deciding what energy resources to support What are other factors that should be considered Which factor or factors should get the most weight in decision-making Explain your thinking.

Question 6

What are the major advantages and disadvantage of using hydropower to produce electricity Summarize the benefits and drawbacks of using wind to genetate electricity (Core Case Study). What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using (a) solid biomass, to provide heat and electricity and (b) liquid biofuels to power vehicles Summarize the arguments for and against using ethanol to power vehicles. What is geothermal energy , and what are the major advantages and disadvantages of using it What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel

Question 7

In 2008. the average fuel economy of new cars, light trucks, and SUVs in the United States was 11.4 kilometers per liter (kpl). or 26.6 miles per gallon (mpg), and the average motor vehicle in the United States was driven 19.300 kilometers (12.000 miles). There were about 250 million motor vehicles in the United States in 2008. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2.3 kilograms ol CO ₂ are released when 1 liter of gasoline is burned (19.4 pounds of CO ₂ are released when 1 gallon is burned). Use these data to calculate the gasoline consumption and carbon footprints of individual motor vehicles with different fuel efficiencies and for all of the motor vehicles in the United States by answering the following questions:
Recalculate the values in Question 1, assuming that a car has an average fuel efficiency of 19.6 kpl (46 mpg).

Question 8

What is the key concept for this section List six questions that energy policy makers try to answer when evaluating energy resource alternatives. List three general conclusions of energy experts about possible future energy paths for the world. Describe three roles that governments play in determining which energy resource we use.

Question 9

What is the key concept for this section What is net energy yield and why is it important for evaluating energy resources What is a net energy ratio and how is it used Explain why the nuclear fuel cycle has a low net energy yield and thus must be subsidized to compete in the open marketplace.

Question 10

What are this chapter's three big ideas Explain how we violate each of the three principles of sustainability in relying mostly on fossil fuels and nuclear power. Explain how we can use three principles to work toward solving the problems caused by our use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

Question 11

To continue using oil at the current rate, some analysts warn that we must discover and add to global oil reserves the equivalent of two new Saudi Arabian supplies every 10 years. Do you think this is possible If not what effects might the failure to find such supplies have on your life and on the lives of any children and grandchildren that you might have

Question 12

In 2008. the average fuel economy of new cars, light trucks, and SUVs in the United States was 11.4 kilometers per liter (kpl). or 26.6 miles per gallon (mpg), and the average motor vehicle in the United States was driven 19.300 kilometers (12.000 miles). There were about 250 million motor vehicles in the United States in 2008. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2.3 kilograms ol CO ₂ are released when 1 liter of gasoline is burned (19.4 pounds of CO ₂ are released when 1 gallon is burned). Use these data to calculate the gasoline consumption and carbon footprints of individual motor vehicles with different fuel efficiencies and for all of the motor vehicles in the United States by answering the following questions:
Determine the number of metric tons of CO ₂ emitted annually by (a) the car described in Question 1 with a low fuel efficiency, (b) a fleet of 250 million vehicles with this same fuel efficiency, (c) the car described in Question 2 with a high fuel efficiency, and (d) a fleet of 250 million vehicles with this same high fuel efficiency. These calculations provide a rough estimate of the carbon footprints for individual cars and for the entire U.S. fleet with low- and high-efficiency cars. (1 kilogram = 2.20 pounds; 1 metric ton = 1,000 kilograms = 2,200 pounds =1.1 tons; 1 ton = 2.000 pounds).

Question 13

What is the key concept for this section What is our main source of energy What are three forms of indirect solar energy What is commercial energy and what major types of it are used in the world and in the United States What are fossil fuels What is crude oil (petroleum) and how is it extracted from the earth and refined Define peak production. What is a petrochemical and why are such chemicals important How much oil does the United States produce, compared with what it uses What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using crude oil as an energy resource What is shale oil and how is it produced What is tar sand, or oil sand, and how is it extracted and converted to heavy oil What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using heavy oils produced from tar sand and shale oil as energy resources

Question 14

Some people in China point out that the United States and European nations fueled their economic growth since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution by burning coal, with little effort to control the resulting air pollution, and then sought cleaner energy sources later when they became more affluent. China says it is being asked to clean up before it becomes affluent enough to do so. Do you think this is a fair expectation Explain. Because China's outdoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have implications for the entire world, what role, if any, should the more-developed nations play in helping China to reduce its dependence on coal and to rely on more environmentally sustainable energy sources

Question 15

In 2008. the average fuel economy of new cars, light trucks, and SUVs in the United States was 11.4 kilometers per liter (kpl). or 26.6 miles per gallon (mpg), and the average motor vehicle in the United States was driven 19.300 kilometers (12.000 miles). There were about 250 million motor vehicles in the United States in 2008. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 2.3 kilograms ol CO ₂ are released when 1 liter of gasoline is burned (19.4 pounds of CO ₂ are released when 1 gallon is burned). Use these data to calculate the gasoline consumption and carbon footprints of individual motor vehicles with different fuel efficiencies and for all of the motor vehicles in the United States by answering the following questions:
If the average fuel efficiency of the U.S. fleet increased from 8.5 kpl (20 mpg) to 19.6 kpl (46 mpg), by what percentage would this reduce the CO ₂ emissions from the entire fleet per year You can think of this as the percentage reduction in the carbon footprint of the U.S. motor vehicle fleet.

Question 16

Define natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG). What are two sources of unconventional natural gas What are the major advantages and disadvantages of using natural gas as an energy resource What are two problems that are affecting the reputation of natural gas as a cleaner fossil fuel Describe each problem. What is coal and how is it formed What are the major advantages and disadvantages presented by using coal as an energy resource Describe the problems presented by coal ash. Explain why there is no such thing as clean coal.

Question 17

Explain why each of the following widely believed statements is not accurate: (a) coal can he a clean fuel: (b) natural gas is a low-carbon fuel: (c) nuclear power is a low-carbon energy resource.

Question 18

What is the key concept for this section How does a nuclear fission reactor work and what are its major safety features Describe the nuclear fuel cycle and summarize the advantages and disadvantages of relying on it. Explain how spent fuel rods are stored and what risks this presents. Why is dealing with high-level radioactive wastes a difficult problem and what has been done about it What can we do with worn-out nuclear power plants How has the United States dealt with the nuclear waste problem To what extent can nuclear power lessen our dependence on imported oil What would the nuclear industry have to do in order to play an effective role in slowing projected atmospheric warming Summarize the stories of the world's three worst nuclear power plant accidents. Summarize the arguments of experts who disagree over the future of nuclear power. What factors have hindered the development of nuclear power What is nuclear fusion and what is its potential as an energy resource

Question 19

Should buyers of energy-efficient motor vehicles receive large rebates funded by fees levied on gas guzzlers Explain.

Question 20

What is the key concept for this section What is energy efficiency What percentage of the energy used in the United States is unnecessarily wasted List four widely used energy-wasting technologies. What are the major benefits of reducing energy waste List three reasons why this source of energy has been neglected. Describe three ways to save energy and money in (a) industry, (b) transportation, (c) new buildings, and (d) existing buildings. How could a smarter electrical grid help us to save energy and money Explain why the true cost of gasoline is much higher than what consumers pay at the pump. What is a fee-bate Distinguish among hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and fuel-cell motor vehicles. Summarize the story of the Rocky Mountain Institute headquarters building. What are three reasons for high levels of energy waste in the world

Question 21

Suppose that a wind power developer has proposed building a wind farm near where you live (Core Case Study). Would you be in favor of the project or opposed to it Write a letter to your local newspaper or a blog for a website explaining your position and your reasoning. Include the concept of net energy in your arguments. As part of your research, determine how the electricity you use now is generated and where the power plant is located, and include this information in your arguments.

Question 22

Explain why you agree or disagree with the following proposals made by various energy analysts:
a. Government subsidies for all energy alternatives should be eliminated so that all energy choices can complete in a truly free-market system.
b. All government tax breaks and other subsidies for conventional fossil fuels, synthetic natural gas and oil, and nuclear power (fission and fusion) should be phased out. They should be replaced with subsidies and tax breaks for improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy resources.
c. Development of solar, wind, and hydrogen energy should be left to private enterprise and should receive little or no help from the federal government, but nuclear energy and fossil fuels should continue to receive large federal government subsidies and tax breaks.