Consuming Energy Resources

• types of energy resources are renewable, non-renewable, and recyclable
• impacts of energy resources: deforestation and landscape scarring from mining, carbon emissions from extraction and use of fossil fuels, hydroelectric power dams flood valleys, wind turbines and solar panels aren't aesthetically pleasing to some people
• access to energy resources can depend on physical resources - iceland has access to geothermal energy sources because it is on a plate boundary
• global demand for oil - world population increase (expected 9.5 billion by 2050), countrues get richer so buy more expensive things that require energy (e.g. air conditioning), as technology develops people want to buy new things
• rising global temperatures have reduced the economic cost of drilling for oil and gas in the arctic.
• peak oil is the point at which the maximum rate of extraction of oil from a given reservoir is reached
• Canada has the world's largest deposits of tar sand. toxic chemicals have to be used in the extraction process, which is worrying people are these chemicals could be damaging peoples' health and threatening ecosystems (these are also at risk from oil spills)
• fracking involves injecting water into rocks under high pressure to release natural gas or oil. this causes earthquakes and contaminates groundwater with methane.
• since 2011, the USA has increasingly used fracking to supply natural gas, which means it has used less coal for electricity generation. but some people are worried that fracking damages groundwater and destroys natural habitats.
• energy conservation in new buildings - 75mm wall cavity filled with mineral wool, insulating concrete blocks, full draught proofing, thick carpets, argon-filled double glazing.
• energy conservation in the home - condensing boiler, switching off appliances, solar panels, energy-saving light bulbs, double glazing, loft, wall, and floor insulation, hot water tank jacket.
• reducing amount of energy used in transport - changing transport use (public transport), improving engine efficiency (new car engine designs), improving energy conservation (aeroplane design focused on less drag which reduces energy use)
• benefits of renewable energy sources - low or no carbon emissions, inexhaustible, clean, widely available, reduce globalisation costs, can meet small-scale needs
• costs of alternatives to fossil fuels - cost of energy (renewable is expensive), geography (best places are usually far away from cities), extensive land use (take up a lot of space - solar farms etc.), impact on landscape (very visible), impact on local ecosystems (birds being killed by wind turbines)
• contrasting views: sustainable energy vs business as usual
• carbon footprint - measurement of all the greenhouse gases individuals contribute to the environment
• changes to consumers' attitudes - education (government info on energy choices), environmental concerns (impact of protests), rising affluence (people can afford more energy efficient options)
• renewable energy: wind power in the USA. 16000 large wind turbines in California (7.1% of total energy requirements)