2018 Past Paper Questions Flashcards
List four priority waste streams identified in the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy
Any four from: • Packaging waste [1] • Waste electrical and electronic equipment [1] • Batteries and accumulators [1] • End of life vehicles [1] • Tyres [1]
Northern Ireland currently sends 40% of all municipal waste to landfill. The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy aims to reduce the quantity of waste going to landfill.
Explain two reasons why the Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy seeks to end the over-reliance on landfill.
Any two from:
• Decomposing waste can produce methane and carbon dioxide [1] which contribute to global warming. [1]
• There is the potential for pollutants to leach into nearby soil [1] and contaminate it and waterways. [1]
• Valuable materials such as metals and plastics [1] are not being recycled and cannot be reused. [1]
• Landfills can release smells/attract vermin [1] which affects people
living nearby. [1]
Explain what is meant by the term embodied energy.
Embodied energy is the name given to the collective sum of all the energy required to produce any material, product or service. [2]
Discuss one advantage and one disadvantage of waste incineration
One advantage:
• Electricity and heat can be generated from sources other than fossil fuels which may contribute to their conservation. [2]
One disadvantage:
• Local communities are generally opposed to the location of incinerators due to perceived health risks and impact on house prices. [2]
A family wants to reduce its home heating bills. Outline two different measures which could be taken to improve the energy efficiency of the family home.
Any two measures from:
• Providing high levels of insulation [1] to floors, wall and roofs [1];
• Improving air-tightness [1]; by making sure that they seal around window and door openings or where heating pipes/waste pipes go through external walls [1]
• Installing double/triple/low emissivity glazing and insulated window frames [1] to reduce heat loss through windows [1]
At present the family cannot afford to finance any physical measures to improve energy efficiency. Describe one behavioural change which the family members might make, in the meantime, in order to minimise their energy consumption for home heating.
Any one description from the following:
• Turning down their heating controls/thermostat [1] could reduce boiler running time [1]
• Closing windows and doors when heating is on [1] could reduce heat loss through openings [1]
List two different strategies used by policy makers to reduce transport demand.
Any two from: • Develop public transport networks. [1] • Promote walking. [1] • Promote cycling. [1] • Fuel and vehicle taxation. [1] • Congestion charging. [1] • Air traffic levies. [1] • Encouraging videoconferencing/e-meetings. [1]
Explain what occurs in each step.
Pre-treatment
The biomass is crushed/treated with steam to release starch/cellulose/complex sugars/polysaccharides. [2]
Hydrolysis
Enzymes/an acidic solution is added to the treated plant material to break the starch/cellulose/complex sugars into glucose/fructose/simple sugars. [2]
Fermentation
Yeast is added to the glucose/fructose/simple sugars in a warm environment in the absence of air to produce ethanol and carbon dioxide. [2]
Purification
The ethanol formed contains significant amounts of water which is removed by distillation. [2]
Outline two of the principles of One Planet Living.
• Zero carbon [1]; making buildings more energy efficient and delivering all required energy with renewable technologies [1]
• Zero Waste [1]; Reducing waste, reusing resources where possible and sending zero waste to landfill [1]
• Sustainable Transport [1]; Reducing the need for travel, and encouraging low and zero carbon means of
transport to reduce emissions [1]
• Sustainable materials [1]; Using sustainable and healthy products, such as those with low embodied energy, sourced locally, made from renewable or waste resources [1]
A common way of comparing environmental impacts is by using the Ehrlich Equation I=PAT (where I = impact;
P = population; A = affluence; T = damage caused by technology).
For each of the following terms from this equation, outline two environmental impacts of the growing global need for resources.
Population – any two points from:
• More population means greater demand for natural resources [1];
• More demand for clothing, shelter, goods and energy to produce these [1];
• Fewer resources available for other species (wildlife, habitat etc.) [1];
Affluence – any two points from:
• Greater affluence = greater consumption and more waste generated [1];
• It is unsustainable to continue living a high consumption western lifestyle [1];
• Developing countries wish to have a similar affluent lifestyle to developed countries [1];
Damage caused by technology – any two points from:
• Industrially-driven societies are energy intensive by nature [1];
• Less advanced technology used in developing countries is likely to cause more environmental impact
[1];
• Renewable resources still require non-renewable resources during manufacture and are expensive to harness [1].
Outline two environmental impacts which can occur when wave or tidal energy devices are installed at a particular marine location.
Any two impacts from the following: • Impact on marine life/marine habitat • Risk of toxic pollution • Visual • Noise pollution • Conflict with other sea users.
Fig. 2 below shows a type of wave energy converter. With reference to Fig. 2 name the type of wave energy converter shown and describe the processes involved in its operation.
Wave Attenuator
Attenuators are oriented parallel to the direction of travel of the waves.
They typically consist of a series of long cylindrical floating devices connected with hinges and anchored to the seabed (e.g. Pelamis).
The relative movement of the cylindrical parts drives rams in the connecting sections.
The rams in turn drive an electrical generator.
The attenuators send electricity to shore via cables laid on the seabed.
Below shows a schematic diagram which has been labelled to indicate the three phases of a typical Carbon Capture and Storage installation.
Describe the three phases of the carbon
capture and storage process.
> Phase 1: Trapping and separating [1]; entails taking the gas emitted from the process and separating the CO2 from the other gases present [1];
Phase 2: Transporting [1] involves moving the isolated CO2 to a storage location normally through a system of pipes [1];
Phase 3: Storage [1] refers to long term storage of the gas in an underground (or under seabed) location [1].
