Chapter 20: Sustainable Energy Flashcards
Conservation
The wise use of natural resources; an
attempt to save and not waste them.
What are some energy saving strategies?
use fluorescent instead of incandescent light bulbs (it produces 4 times more light), LED lights are best, use energy saving appliances, turn off
appliances you are not using.
What is the relationship between European energy uses and USA energy uses?
European countries have higher standards of living and use 30-50 percent less energy.
How are Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) better than ordinary lightbulbs?
They consume 90 percent less energy and last 100 times longer. They can produce millions of colors and are now used in everything from advertising signs to Christmas lights.
Energy Efficiency
Measure of energy produced compared to energy consumed
What is the most energy efficient source of power so far?
Hydroelectric power is the most energy efficient source of power.
Thermal conversion machines like steam turbines and nuclear power plants can only turn up to __% of the energy in their primary fuel into electricity or mechanical power. Why?
40%. These machines need to reject waste heat. However like the integrated gastrification combined cycle (IGCC) and other methods, some of the waste heat can be captured and can raise the energy efficiency up to 80 or 90 percent.
What type of buildings have a lot of insulation?
Green buildings
What are some more properties of green buildings?
Use recycled materials.
Have coated windows.
Roof overhangs are longer to produce more shade
over windows.
Surrounded by more vegetation.
Sweden can build green homes (superinsulated) that use 90% less energy than the average American home.
What are double glazed windows?
They are windows with internal reflective coatings and are filled with inert gases like argon and xenon.
What is the insulation factor of a double glazed window?
R11. The same as a standard 4 inch thick insulated wall or ten times as efficient as a single pane of window.
For every 3 mile per gallon we improve on vehicle performance, what benefits do we get?
25 billion dollars in fuel costs saved
140 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions are reduced
saves a lot of oil
Does the USA have more licensed drivers or vehicles?
Vehicles
Automobiles and light trucks account for what percent of the US oil consumption and and carbon dioxide emissions?
40%, 20%
Why are many people using vehicles as transportation for short trips and/or errands than walking or riding bikes?
The structure of the city
Why did the average mile per gallon for vehicles drop from 25.9 in 1988 to 20.7 in 2004?
People love SUVs and trucks
President Obama called for a minimum of what by 2016?
Minimum standard of 39 mpg for cars and 30 mpg for trucks
What are SMART cars?
Great for short, local trips. Get up to 60 mpg and 87 for electric form.
What is the cheapest, least environmentally damaging, and healthiest alternative for short trips?
Walking
What are hybrid gasoline-electric engines?
Best combination of fuel efficiency and low emissions. Uses electricity first, then gasoline engine kicks in when extra acceleration is needed.
What is an example of a hybrid gasoline-electric engine?
Toyota Prius
What are “mild hybrids”?
They uses electrical generators and battery packs to run accessories, like video players, not to enhance mileage
What are “plug in hybrids”?
Use charge stations. Electricity costs about 50 cents per gallon of gas. They can travel up to 100 km or 60 miles.
What are “diesels”?
Some get up to 150 mpg, 50% of Euro cars sold. make up half of autos sold in Europe.
