9. Consuming Energy Resources: Sustainable Energy Use

Question 1

How can the demand for energy be reduced?

Answer 1

Conserving energy and making energy use more efficient

Question 2

What is Energy Conservation?

Answer 2

Changing consumer behaviour - dry cloths on washing line, driving less

Question 3

What is Energy Efficiency?

Answer 3

Does same job but uses less energy e.g. low energy lightbult

Question 4

Which 2 environments have most room to reduce energy?

Answer 4

Home

Transport

Question 5

How can we reduce energy in the Home?

Answer 5

Insulation

Modern Boilers - more efficient and use less energy

Solar Panels - renewable, low carbon energy

Question 6

How do we reduce Transport energy?

Answer 6

Hybrid Cars, Vans, Trains etc - Diesel and electric power to inc efficiency - recharge batteries using diesel power

Regenerative braking in cars and vehicles - store energy lost when braking - used

Engine manufacturers - more efficient - response to laws and rising fuel costs

Improved public transport and encourage walking or cycling

Question 7

What are the advantages to reducing the use of fossil fuels

Answer 7

Reducing carbon footprint

Improving energy security

Diversifying the energy mix

Question 8

How is reducing the carbon footprint an advantage of reducing fossil fuels

Answer 8

Burning fossil fuels - releases greenhouse gases - contributes to global warming
Carbon footprint includes direct and indirect emissions
By reducing their use of energy via fossil fuels - reduces carbon footprint

Question 9

How is improving energy security an advantage of reducing fossil fuels

Answer 9

Having a reliable and uninterrupted and affordable supply available

Switch to renewable - ensure energy available when fossil fuel runs out

Question 10

How is Diversifying the energy mix and advantage of reducing fossil fuels?

Answer 10

Reduce reliance on finite fossil fuels - increasing amount of alternative methods -> diversify the energy mix

Reduces country reliance on single source of energy

Increases energy security - less impacted by shortage of one source of energy - reduced risk of energy deficit

Using renewable instead of fossil fuels - make non-renewable sources last longer

Question 11

What are the costs and benefits of alternatives to fossil fuels?

Answer 11

Renewable and Recyclable

Reduce carbon footprint

Improve Energy security

Diversify energy mix

Question 12

What are the costs and benefits of Biofuels?

Answer 12

Costs
- Biomass sources need to be managed sustainably - so dont run out
- Reduces amount of food crops - need lots of water
- Deforesestation

Benefits:
- Less pollution vs FF when burned
- Made from waste products so reduces waste produced

Question 13

What are the costs and benefits of Wind Energy?

Answer 13

Costs:
- Unpredictable so energy produced varies
- Turbines cause environmental issues
- Expensive to transport elec from offshore to where needed

Benefits:
- After transported and installed don’t emit greenhouse gases
- Cheap renewable energy

Question 14

What are the costs and benefits of Solar Energy?

Answer 14

Costs:
- Sunny climates needed
- Toxic metals in solar panels
- Affect habitats and ecosystems

Benefits:
- No emissions after have been made / fitted
- Low maintenance
- Technology widely available
- Cost are reducing

Question 15

What are the costs and benefits of HEP?

Answer 15

Cost:
- Expensive to build plants
- Lots of water and land
- Methane released from rotting organic matter deposited in reservoirs behind dams

Benefits:
- No emissions
- Control water flow through turbines - energy reliable

Question 16

What are the costs and benefits of Hydrogen Fuel?

Answer 16

Costs:
- Rarely exists by itself on earth - energy needed to extract - energy from fossil fuels - greenhouse gases
- Technology expensive and scares - not likely to increase energy security
- Storing is dangerous - flammable

Benefits;
- Burning doesn’t release harmful emissions - only byproduct is water
- Extracted from water so not limited to particular areas