APES Ch. 16 Reading Guide -- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
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16-1 Why Is Energy Efficiency an Important Energy Resource?
Question 1
1.
What does it mean to improve energy efficiency?
Question 2
2.
How much and in what ways is commercial energy wasted (i.e., it does not produce useful work)?
Question 3
3.
We rely heavily on five energy-inefficient devices. What are they?
Question 4
4.
To most energy analysts, what are the benefits of improving energy efficiency?
Question 5
5.
Industry accounts for about 30% of the world’s energy consumption (33% in the US). List 4 ways industry can improve its energy efficiency.
Question 6
6.
In the US, transportation accounts for about 28% of energy consumption. Why do consumers buy large and energy-inefficient vehicles? What are some of the hidden costs?
Question 7
7.
Energy expert Amory Lovins has proposed a fee-bate program. How would such a program work?
Question 8
8.
How does a hybrid car work? How efficient are they in terms of energy and pollution reduction?
Question 9
9.
How does a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle work? How efficient are they in terms of energy?
Question 10
10.
True or False. Fully electric cars do not contribute any CO2 to the atmosphere. Explain the reason for your answer.
Question 11
11.
If hybrid cars are so great, why don’t more people have them?
Question 12
12.
If a building is oriented to face the sun, how much can it cut its heating costs?
Question 13
13.
What is green architecture?
Question 14
14.
What is the LEED program?
Question 15
15.
List some ways we can make existing buildings more energy efficient.
Question 16
16.
List 3 reasons why so little emphasis is placed on improving energy efficiency.
16-2 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Solar Energy?
Question 17
17.
Explain how passive solar heating systems work.
Question 18
18.
Explain how active solar heating systems work.
Question 19
19.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of passive and active solar heating?
Question 20
20.
Explain how solar thermal systems (concentrated solar power – CSP) work. Where are they mainly located and why?
Question 21
21.
What are advantages and disadvantages of solar thermal systems?
Question 22
22.
What are photovoltaic (PV) cells (a.k.a solar cells) and how do they work?
Question 23
23.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar cells?
16-3 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Hydropower?
Question 24
24.
Hydropower is the leading renewable energy resource. How much of the world’s electricity does it produce?
Question 25
25.
What countries are the world’s top 4 producers of hydropower?
Question 26
26.
Explain the concern regarding methane gas (CH4) and hydropower dams.
Question 27
27.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of hydropower?
16-4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Wind Power?
Question 28
28.
Where have most of the world’s wind farm been built? Where is the frontier of winding energy?
Question 29
29.
Wind is abundant, widely distributed, and inexhaustible. Wind farms can be built quickly, can be expanded as needed and have a small land footprint. Wind power also has a high net energy yield. So, what are the drawbacks?
16-5 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Biomass as an Energy Source?
Question 30
30.
What is meant by the fuel-wood crisis in less developed countries?
Question 31
31.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of burning solid biomass?
Question 32
32.
What are liquid biofuels?
Question 33
33.
Which countries are the biggest producers of biofuels?
Question 34
34.
Read the case studies, “Is Biodiesel the Answer?” and “Is Ethanol the Answer?” What are the advantages and disadvantages of these biofuels? Do you think they are the answer? Why or why not?
16-6 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Geothermal Energy?
Question 35
35.
Explain how geothermal energy can be utilized to heat or cool a home.
Question 36
36.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of geothermal energy?
16-7 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Hydrogen as an Energy Source?
Question 37
37.
Why is hydrogen so intriguing as a possible energy source?
Question 38
38.
Currently, there are major drawbacks to using hydrogen. What are they?
16-8 How Can We Make the Transition to a More Sustainable Energy Future?
Question 39
39.
What are the three general conclusions that scientists and energy experts have come to with regard to possible energy futures?
