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Environmental Science > Test 5_E efficiency and Renewable E > Flashcards

Test 5_E efficiency and Renewable E Flashcards

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1
Q

___% of all energy used in the US is wasted.

A

84%

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2
Q

How much of that waste is unnecessary?

A

43%

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3
Q

What is the life-cycle cost of an energy using devise?

A

Initial costs + lifetime operating costs.

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4
Q

What three devices are perhaps the least efficient devices in widespread use?

A
  1. Incandescent light bulb
  2. Internal combustion engine
  3. Nuclear power plant
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5
Q

How much energy do the following waste: Incandescent light bulb
Internal combustion motor vehicles
Nuclear power plants when energy is used for heating

A

95%; 86-90%; 86-92%

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6
Q

What is cogeneration?

A

Using steam to generate electricity and then to warm/cool buildings.

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7
Q

Why are most of the electric motors used today inefficient?

A

Run at full speed – could use adjustable speed drives

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8
Q

What is “the best way” to save energy and money in transportation?

A

Increase fuel efficiency

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9
Q

What are other ways to save energy and money in transportation?

A

Mass transit, bike, barges etc.

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10
Q

From 1973 to 1985 average fuel efficiency of cars rose by 37%. Why have they fallen since then?

A

Popularity of SUVs

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11
Q

What is CAFÉ?

A

Corporate average fuel economy – government mandated

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12
Q

Why is the auto industry trying to eliminate CAFÉ?

A

–

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13
Q

What mpg can the new hybrid cars obtain?

A

up to 150 MPG VW small car gets 235.

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14
Q

Why is there little public interest in fuel efficient vehicles

A

Cheap gas in US (but there are hidden costs)

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15
Q

Who is the largest energy user in the US?

A

Military

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16
Q

How much extra does it cost to super-insulate a house?

A

5% more

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17
Q

How long does it take to pay back that cost at today’s energy prices?

A

within 5 years

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18
Q

How much does super-insulation save a homeowner over a 40 year period?

A

$50,000-100,000

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19
Q

How can the energy efficiency of an existing house be improved?

A

Plug leaks, add insulation, energy saving windows and lighting.

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20
Q

What is a strawbale house?

A

House made from strawbales – straw has a very high insulation value

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21
Q

What is the most energy efficient way commonly used to heat water for washing and bathing?

A

Tankless water heaters.

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22
Q

What is the Energy Star program?

A

Major household appliance ranked according to their energy efficiency. Only those that are the most efficient can carry the ES label.

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23
Q

How much does a fluorescent bulb save over an incandescent over a 10 year time period?

A

$48-70

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24
Q

What are the energy savings of the use of a microwave for cooking?

A

25-50%

25
Q

Why doesn’t the average person in the US not doing more to reduce energy waste? Or any other waste for that matter!!

A

Cheap energy, lack of incentives, lack of information especially on life cycle costs.

26
Q

What is the difference between a passive and an active solar heating system?

A

Active requires energy input to operate fans and pumps

27
Q

What is the typical pay-back time for a passive solar system?

A

3-7 years

28
Q

What are some energy efficient ways to cool a house?

A

Earth tubes, appropriate design, evaporative colors in arid regions.

29
Q

An acre of lawn is equivalent to how much air-conditioning?

A

1 ton

30
Q

What is a photovoltaic cell? What are they commonly called?

A

Solar cells— of semiconductor material where light causes electrons to flow.

31
Q

What are the advantages of solar cells?

A 
Fairly high net energy
Work on cloudy days
Quick installation
Easily expanded or moved
No CO2 emissions
Low environmental impact
Last 20–40 years 
Low land use (if on roof)
32
Q

What are the disadvantages of solar cells?

A

Light not 24 hours/day – need some sort of back up.
Other buildings/ structures may block light.
Expensive – but costs are coming down with new technologies.

33
Q

What different types of hydropower are there?

A

small, large scale, pumped.

34
Q

What country gets 99% of its electricity from hydropower?

A

Norway

35
Q

What are the pros of hydropower?

A 
Moderate to high net energy
 High efficiency (80%)
Low-cost electricity
Long life span
No CO2 emissions during operation
May provide flood control below dam
Provides water for year-round irrigation
36
Q

What are the cons of hydropower?

A 
High construction
costs
High environmental impact
High CO2 Emissions from Biomass decay in Shallow tropical reservoirs
Floods natural areas
Converts land habitat to lake habitat
Danger of collapse
Uproots people
Decreases fish harvest below dam
Decreases flow of natural fertilizer (silt) to land below dam
37
Q

Where are two large tidal energy facilities?

A

Rance estuary in France, Bay of Fundy in Canada

38
Q

What are the pros and cons of tidal energy?

A

Works well but good sites are limited.

39
Q

What is the world’s fastest growing energy resource?

A

Wind power.

40
Q

What has the Bush administation done re wind power?

A

Cut funds for research and development.

41
Q

What country is the world’s largest producer of wind power and manufacturer of wind turbines?

A

Denmark

42
Q

What are the advantages of wind power?

A 
Moderate to high net energy
High efficiency
Moderate capital cost
Low electricity cost (and falling)
Very low environmental impact
No CO2 emissions
Quick construction
Easily expanded
43
Q

What are the disadvantages of wind power?

A 
Steady winds needed
Backup systems when needed winds are low
High land use for wind farm
Visual pollution
Noise when located near populated areas
May interfere in flights of migratory birds and kill birds of prey
44
Q

What % of people in developing countries heat and cook with wood or charcoal?

A

70%

45
Q

What is biogas?

A

60% methane, 40% CO2 produce from biomass by bacteria

46
Q

How much does it cost to make a biogas generator?

A

@$50 including labor

47
Q

What is ethanol made form?

A

sugar and grain crops

48
Q

What is methanol made form?

A

natural gas, oraganic wasted

49
Q

What are the pros of using biofuels?

A

Large potential supply
Moderate costs
No net CO2 increase if harvested and burned sustainably
Plantation can be located on semiarid land not needed for crops
Plantation can help restore degraded lands
Can reduce water pollution
Recycles waste products

50
Q

What are the cons of using biofuels?

A

Nonrenewable if harvested unsustainably
Moderate to high environmental impact
CO2 emissions if harvested and burned unsustainably
Soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of wildlife habitat
Plantations could compete with cropland
Often burned in inefficient and polluting open-fires and stoves

51
Q

What is considered the “fuel of the future”?

A

hydrogen

52
Q

What is geothermal energy?

A

using high temperatures from the earths interior

53
Q

Where is it currently being used?

A

22 countries – Iceland, Japan, California, Chile

54
Q

What are the pros of the use of geothermal energy?

A 
Very high efficiency
Moderate net energy at accessible sites
Lower CO2  emissions than fossil fuels
Low cost at favorable sites
Low land use
Low land disturbance
Moderate environmental impact
55
Q

What are the cons of the use of geothermal energy?

A 
Scarcity of suitable sites
Depleted if used too rapidly
CO2 emissions
Moderate to high local air pollution
Noise and odor
(H2S)
56
Q

What is micropower?

A

Small generating facilities

57
Q

What are the advantages of decentralization?

A

more local control, less problems with terrorism.

58
Q

We have the technology why aren’t we using more energy alternatives to nonrenewable fuels?

A

Economics and politics.

Environmental Science (5 decks)

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