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15
Foundations of a Sustainable
Energy System: Conservation
and Renewable Energy
Chapter Outline
Energy Conservation: Foundation of a Sustainable Energy System
Economic and Environmental Benefits of Energy Conservation
Energy-Efficiency Options
The Potential of Energy Efficiency
Promoting Energy Efficiency
Roadblocks to Energy Conservation
Renewable Energy Sources
Solar Energy Options
Wind Energy
Biomass
Hydroelectric Power
Geothermal Energy
Hydrogen Fuel
Is a Renewable Energy Supply System Possible?
Assessing the Supplies
Is a Renewable Energy Supply System Possible?
Economic and Employment Potential of the Sustainable Energy Strategy
Key Terms
energy conservation energy efficiency gross national product
cogeneration least-cost planning renewable energy
solar energy passive solar heating active solar systems
earth-sheltered home solar collectors flat plate collectors
photovoltaics solar thermal electric copper cricket
wind energy biomass geothermal energy
hydroelectric power magma hydrogen fuel
hydrothermal convection zones geopressurized zones hot-rock zones
total resources accessible resources
Objectives
1. Discuss the economic and environmental benefits of energy conservation.
2. List some ways we can take advantage of energy efficient technologies.
3. Summarize how we can personally reduce our energy use.
4. Discuss how energy efficiency can be promoted.
5. List the types of renewable energy currently available.
6. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of renewable energy.
7. Discuss the feasibility of renewable energy replacing our dependence on fossil fuels.
8. Define the terms: “total resources” and “accessible resources.”
Lecture Outline
Energy Conservation: Foundation of a Sustainable Energy System - Energy waste is economically, environmentally, and socially irresponsible.
A. Economic and Environmental Benefits of Energy Conservation
1. Conservation requires us to avoid unnecessary and inefficient use of energy.
2. Energy efficiency contributes to a strong economy and minimizes fuel system-related pollution and resource depletion.
B. Energy-Efficiency Options
1. Conservation techniques include increasing efficiency of fuel use, better technology in buildings, appliances, and industrial processes, and lifestyle changes which reduce personal energy consumption.
C. The Potential of Energy Efficiency
1. Transportation Savings
a. Improvements in automobile fuel efficiency hold great potential for reducing energy consumption and pollution, especially in the UNITED STATES
2. Buildings
a. A reversal of current incentives that tend to impede the implementation of energy efficient building practices could substantially reduce energy consumption in the UNITED STATES
3. Industries
a. Recycling and increasingly efficient use of energy for industrial processes will boost profits and reduce environmental impacts of production in the UNITED STATES
D. Promoting Energy Efficiency
1. Incentives for implementing existing conservation techniques and developing more include taxes, government mandated efficiency standards, pricing, and least-cost planning.
E. Roadblocks to Energy Conservation
1. Government funding bias and consumption incentives, initial investment cost, misinformation regarding fossil fuel supplies, and successful lobbying by the energy industry have combined to thwart the timely transition to a sustainable energy system in the United States.
Renewable Energy Sources
A. Solar Energy Options
1. Passive Solar Heating
a. This approach is to design buildings that passively utilize the sun's energy for space heating and lighting.
2. Active Solar
a. These systems effectively and efficiently heat and cool air and/or water for residential and commercial buildings.
3. Photovoltaics
a. Solar cells can generate electricity from sunlight; these are especially useful today in situations where other fuels are expensive or impractical.
4. Solar Thermal Electric
a. The sun's energy can be captured and concentrated in a variety of ways to generate electricity directly.
5. Pros and Cons of Solar Energy
a. Solar energy is our most flexible and widely available, low-impact and nondepletable energy source.
b. Free fuel and low maintenance costs make solar economically appealing to forward-looking homeowners.
c. Limitations include solar's intermittency and resulting need for storage or back-up systems.
B. Wind Energy - The potential for wind-generated electricity, heat, and other direct applications is enormous.
1. Pros and Cons of Wind Energy
a. Wind energy has most of the same advantages and disadvantages as solar energy, with the added disadvantage of greater visual and audio impact. Some wind generators may interfere with television reception and microwave communications.
C. Biomass - Energy from organic matter of plants, biomass, is significant in many parts of the world today, and can become more so in the United States if given a push by the government.
1. Pros and Cons of Biomass
a. While abundant and widely available, drawbacks include increased competition between people for food and energy supplies if more resources are devoted to fuel rather than food farms.
D. Hydroelectric Power
1. Pros and Cons of Hydroelectric Power
a. This energy source is renewable, relatively nonpolluting, and inexpensive, yet creation and maintenance of large dams and reservoirs have severe localized ecological impacts.
E. Geothermal Energy
1. Pros and Cons of Geothermal Energy
a. Hydrothermal convection, geopressure, and hot-rock zones are geothermal resources which are renewable and fairly clean but which have limited potential for future use.
F. Hydrogen Fuel
1. Pros and Cons of Hydrogen Fuel
a. Made from splitting water molecules, hydrogen gas is renewable, low polluting, and versatile; however, its low net-energy yield must be improved in order to justify widespread development.
Is a Renewable Energy Supply System Possible
A. Assessing the Supplies
1. Renewable energy makes up the bulk of total and accessible energy resources worldwide.
B. Economics and Employment Potential of the Sustainable Energy Strategy
1. Economics and convention, both heavily influenced by government subsidies, give nonrenewable fuels the advantage today.
2. When all casts are internalized we find that conservation and renewable energy systems are economically preferable and have a net positive impact on employment.
Suggestions for Presenting the Chapter
Ÿ Instructors might arrange a class visit to a passive solar home. Many contractors are happy to show how the homes are built and what features are available for energy efficiency.
Ÿ Instructors should stress that the technologies for conversion to sustainable alternatives to our energy needs are already available and cost effective. Conservation and efficiency should be stressed as areas of immediate concern in our everyday lives.
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