HSC 156 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Energy Returned On Energy Invested, Active Solar, Precautionary Principle
HSC 156 – Study Guide for Exam #5
1. What is the most used source of energy in the US?
• Crude Oil
2. Between 1850 and 1950, what was the most used source of energy in the US?
• Coal
3. What is the most abundant fossil fuel in the U.S.?
• Coal
4. What is the primary energy source for the production of electricity?
• Coal
5. What is fracking and what are the concerns?
• Trapped natural gas in Earth (in rocks)
i. Drill well to extract sand water and chemicals that is so intense that it breaks up the
rocks and can cause earthquakes
6. Be able to describe the case study on Greening Gotham City.
• Finance incentives for building owners and efficient transportation means NY should reduce
greenhouse gasses by 80% by 2050
7. Name the 3 most commonly used fossil fuels (about 85% of the total energy use)
• Crude Oil (~36%)
• Coal (~16%)
• Natural Gas (~29%)
8. Describe the occupational & environmental effects of coal extraction
• Both methods damage the environment
• Deep mining is more dangerous for the worker
i. In the US in 2010, 48 coal miners died. In china 2000-7000 deaths
1. Black lung disease is scarring of lung tissue to inhaling coal dust
9. Be able to match energy sources with primary uses
• Crude oil: Refining into gas and deiseal, industrial processes
• Natural gas: Heating, cooking, NOW replaces coal
• Coal: Electricity (decreasing)
• Others (nuclear & alternatives): Wind, solar for electricity
10. What is the net energy yield of coal?
• Refers to the gross energy produced by the biomass minus the fossil fuels used in the
production of coal.
11. Describe US oil production & consumption over time
• Trying to go down. Getting it from fracking
12. What is ANWR?
• Proponents believe there are huge quantities of oil located in this protected area.
• Opponents estimates there is no more than six month’s supplies of oil at current consumption
rates and that will take 7-10 years to develop the fields.
• Biggest concern that development of these fields will destroy a fragile habitat
13. What was the Future Gen project about
• carbon sequestration
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o Coal plants are pushing CO2 directed into the group and keep it there to make coal okay for
the environment
14. What are issues with other fossil fuel sources like shale oil & tar sands?
• Pollutes Air water, climate and wildlife
15. What are some examples of ways we can increase energy efficiency?
• Buy more efficient cars
• Mass transit
16. What is life cycle cost?
• Cost more to be more efficient
• The cost of operating over life time will save you money and reduce costs overtime
17. What are some ways the energy efficiency could be increased in industry?
• Replacing energy-wasting electric motor
• Switch to high efficiency lights
• Recycle ad reuse
• Run high energy consuming tasks during low customer demand hours
18. What are some examples of energy efficiency improvements in buildings?
• Straw-bale houses
• Double panel windows
• Better insulation
• Plugging leaks and repairing cracks
19. What is demand management?
• Gives customers cash rebates for buying energy efficient lights and appliances
• Provide savings to a customer who reduce the use of energy utilities
• Offer reduced rates
20. What is co-generation?
• Large complexes are built with their own power generation equipment to make electricity
21. Which source of human-made radiation typically contributes more exposure
• Medical and Dental X-rays.
22. Why is radiation used in medicine?
• Offer effective way to treat cancer. Weakens and destroys cancer cells-but can destroy other
cells as well.
23. What are some health effects of ionizing radiation?
• Radiation-induced mutations
• Can rip up your lungs and everything inside of you if inhaled
• Radiation and birth defects
• Radiation-induced cancer
24. What happened at Chernobyl, Fukushima, and 3-Mile Island Power Plants?
• Chernobyl: Most serious nuclear power accident causing massive explosions. 3.576-30.000
deaths. 40,000 evacuated
• Fukushima: Massive Earthquake followed by Tsunami cause radiation to be leaked
everywhere. Still leaking radiation today.
• 3-Mile Island Power Plants: Suffered a partial melt-down of its core when coolant was lost
(due to mechanical failures and human errors). Amount of radiation leaked was unknown.
100,000 were temporarily evacuated.
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