Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Resources (Miller, Chapter 17)

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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Resources(Miller, Chapter 17)
Environmental Studies 001 with Dr. Trulio
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SolutionsWe have the answers!

• Energy Efficiency! (Miller Ch. 17)
• 43 of energy in the US is wasted unnecessarily
• Incandescent bulb5 efficient
• Fluorescent bulb20 efficient
• Auto fleet standards CAFE Standards (Corporate
  Average Fuel Economy)
• 12.9 mpg in 1974
• 27.9 mpg today
• 40 mpg CAFE standard would cut gas use by 50

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Efficiencies
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Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency

• Insulation

• Eliminate air leaks

• Air to air heat exchangers

• Efficient appliances

• Efficient electric motors

• High-efficiency lighting

• Increasing fuel economy

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SolutionsWe have the answers!

• Renewable Energy Resources!
• Biomass
• Hydroelectric power
• Geothermal
• Solarpassive and active
• Wind generation
• Hydrogen power

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Using Solar Energy to Provide Heat and Electricity

• Passive solar heating

• Active solar heating

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Using Solar Energy to Provide High-Temperature
Heat and Electricity
Solar Cell Trade-Offs

• Solar thermal systems

• Photovoltaic (PV) cells

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Producing Electricity from Moving Water

• Large-scale hydropower

• Small-scale hydropower

• 50 of West Coast electricity
• 7 of US electricity
• 20 of Worlds electricity

• Major environmental impacts
• High construction costs

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Impacts of hydropower on salmon and other
riverine spp.

• Pollution

• Disruption of water flow

• Loss of biodiversity

• Invasive species

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Impacts of hydropower on Species and
People_______________

• Dams can provide many human benefits but
• Disrupts ecological services rivers provide e.g.
  119 dams on Columbia River have caused a 94 drop
  in wild salmon removing hydroelectric dams will
  restore native spawning grounds
• Displaces millions of people worldwide as
  reservoirs flood traditional homelands
• No room for expansion in the US

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Producing Electricity from Wind
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Producing Energy from Biomass

• Biofuels

• Biomass plantations

• Crop residues

• Animal manure

• Biogas

• Ethanol

• Methanol

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The Solar-Hydrogen Revolution

• Extracting hydrogen efficiently

• Storing hydrogen

• Fuel cells

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Geothermal Energy

• Geothermal reservoirs

• Dry steam

• Wet steam

• Hot water

• Molten rock

• Hot dry-rock zones

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Geothermal Reservoirs
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Entering the Age of Decentralized Micropower

• Centralized power systems

• Decentralized power systems

• Micropower systems

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Creating a Sustainable Energy Future

• Increase fuel efficiency standards for vehicle,
  appliances, buildings
• Tax and other financial incentives for energy
  efficiency
• Subsidize renewable energy use, research and
  development
• Internalize externalities for fossil fuels
• By 2050
• Increase renewable energy to 50
• cut coal use by 50
• phase out nuclear altogether

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Solutions A Sustainable Energy Strategy