Chapter 17

Test Review

Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy
 Whatis the least efficient
method of space heating?
 Electric (either through
nuclear or oil production
 Best is passive solar
 What would encourage the
Solar-Hydrogen Revolution?
 High oil prices, lack of supply
 Government subsidies,
research funds
 What percent of people in
developing countries heat
their house with wood or
charcoal?
 70 percent
 Whichway in the US should
windows face to gather solar
energy?

 South toward the Sun

 What effect does keeping energy
prices low have on the US?

 Increases waste, reduces need to

investigate alternative energy
sources
 What are the effects of burning
biomass?
 Increased CO2
 Increased air pollution (soot,
smoke)
 Increased NO, leads to acid rain
 What is cogeneration?
 Two forms of energy are
created from the same fuel
source, usually electricity and
heat
 What would the development
of renewable energy
resources do to the US?
 Eventuallyeliminate the need
of oil imports
 What is the fastest growing
energy resource?
 Windpower, but it is losing its
appeal, solar should be rising
soon
 What are the cells that
convert sunlight into
electricity called?

 Photovoltaic (solar) cells

 What does requiring high fuel
efficiency in cars do?
 Reduces CO2 emissions
 Reduces air pollution
 Conserves energy resources
 Describe a wind farm

 It is where farmers plant and

grow wind from cloud seed
 Or the large scale production of
electricity with wind turbines
 What is produced when you
burn hydrogen gas?

 Water and energy – no real

pollution
 Howcan industry reduce its
energy consumption?
 Recycling and reusing more
materials
 Using cogeneration
 Redesigning factories to be more
energy efficient
 What is magma?
 Did you picture Mike Meyers as Dr.
Evil with his little finger at the
corner of his mouth saying “mag-ma”…
or was it just me?
 Hot, liquid rock that can be used for
energy
 Describe the different types of
hydroelectric power
 Large scale- big dams, large turbines
 Small scale – little dams
 Pumped storage – costs more, but can
be used when needed
 How can we increase the energy
efficiency of buildings?
 Insulation, double paned windows,
cogeneration, changing lighting,
using passive solar heating, buying
“energy star” equipment
 How can we improve energy efficiency
for the entire country?
 Deport all the republicans
 Jokes people, come on, Jokes
 Car maintenance, better fuel
efficiency, car pooling, mass
transportation
 Describe wind power’s pros and
cons
 Not always available, kills birds,
ugly, back up needed, noisy
 No pollution, low long term cost,
high energy efficiency
 What are four examples of
renewable energy?
 Wind
 Water
 Geothermal
 Biomass
 Which energy resource improves
the quality of the environment
the most? (Not what you think)

 Increased energy efficiency

 Describe biomass fuels
 Direct burning of plants and trees
 Gaseous biofuels- SNG, wood gas
 Liquid biofuels- Ethanol,
Methanol,Gasohol
 What would be a good type of
tree to grow for a biomass
plantation?
 Fast
growing trees like poplar,
sycamore, cottonwood
 What does the government do to
manipulate which energy source is
used?
 Price control
 Subsidies
 Regulations
 Tax breaks
 What is the primary
component of solar cells?
 Transparent wafer containing
semiconductor material
usually made from silicon
 Name some disadvantages to
hydroelectric power
 High construction cost
 Flooding upstream, decreased
flow downstream
 Decreased silt downstream
 What is a micropower system?
 Many smaller power generating
systems are used and connected
via an electricity grid
 Use alternative energy sources
appropriate to the energy
 Which major country in the world
has not made a formal
commitment to rely primarily on
renewable sources for energy?

 Go US!
 The most expensive way to heat
your house is by using what?
 Electric heater

 The
best is by passive solar
combined with superinsulation
 Whattype of water heater is
the most efficient?

A tankless instant water

heater powered by natural gas
 Which countries probably will
not adopt solar cell technology
in the future and why?
 Northern Countries due to
the lack of available sunshine
 What are the pros and cons of using
geothermal energy?
 High efficiency, low CO2 emissions,
low land use, moderate environmental
disturbance
 Few available sites, moderate air
pollution, noise and odor
 What is the best (most efficient) way
to heat a house?

 A small nuclear power plant in the

corner of the main living room
 Or passive solar if you do not like to
glow at night
 Which fossil fuel has the
lowest environmental impact?

 Natural gas
 Give three examples of passive solar
design for homes
 Direct gain – south facing window
 Sunspace attached – room to capture
heat attached to house
 Earth Sheltered – keeps house cool in
high temperature climates
 According to Amory Lovins, what
is the fast, cheap, easy way to
gain more energy without
environmental damage?
 Energy conservation or
eliminating energy waste
 Name some of the disadvantages of
using biomass as an energy source

 Uses needed land

 Hard to harvest sustainably
 Desertification is typical
 Often burnt inefficiently releasing a
large amount of pollutants
 That’s all folks
 You should now know all these
concepts

 Good luck and good hunting