Use and Conservation OfUse and Conservation Of

Resources and Energy Resources and Energy

• ““We do not inherit We do not inherit the earth from our the earth from our parents, we borrow parents, we borrow it from our it from our children” –children” –

Chief SeattleChief Seattle

• Energy use has Energy use has changed a great changed a great deal since people deal since people relied solely on the relied solely on the sun, their own sun, their own strong bodies or strong bodies or beasts of burden beasts of burden as energy as energy resources.resources.

• Long ago, people Long ago, people learned how to use learned how to use water power to water power to turn paddle wheels turn paddle wheels and wind power for and wind power for transportation and transportation and irrigation.irrigation.

• People learned to People learned to use the chemical use the chemical energy stored in energy stored in materials like wood materials like wood to cook and heat to cook and heat their homes.their homes.

• But machines and But machines and technologies technologies introduced during introduced during the Industrial the Industrial Revolution of the Revolution of the late 18late 18thth century century required the use of required the use of other energy other energy resources, especially resources, especially fossil fuels.fossil fuels.

• Fossil fuels like Fossil fuels like coal, oil and coal, oil and natural gas are natural gas are considered to be considered to be nonrenewable nonrenewable energy resources. energy resources.

• Our fossil fuel Our fossil fuel reserves formed reserves formed over millions of over millions of years from decaying years from decaying plants and animals.plants and animals.

• As we use them up, As we use them up, they will not be they will not be replenished in our replenished in our lifetimes.lifetimes.

• With the modern world With the modern world depending upon coal, oil depending upon coal, oil and gas for a majority of and gas for a majority of its energy needs and its energy needs and the prediction that the the prediction that the world will nearly double world will nearly double its need for energy its need for energy resources in several resources in several decades, it is important decades, it is important to conserve energy and to conserve energy and to investigate alternate to investigate alternate energy resourcesenergy resources

• There are many There are many renewable energy renewable energy sources that are sources that are alternatives to fossil alternatives to fossil fuels, but some are not fuels, but some are not without controversy.without controversy.

• For instance, nuclear For instance, nuclear power is used to power is used to generate about 25 generate about 25 percent of the world’s percent of the world’s electricity, but it has electricity, but it has inherent risks, especially inherent risks, especially in the disposal of in the disposal of radioactive waste.radioactive waste.

• Hydroelectric plants use running water to Hydroelectric plants use running water to generate electricity, however they may flood generate electricity, however they may flood nearby lands and can disrupt the normal flow of nearby lands and can disrupt the normal flow of water, both of which negatively affect the water, both of which negatively affect the environment.environment.

• Wind power is Wind power is increasingly being increasingly being used as a clean used as a clean source of source of renewable energy.renewable energy.

• Turbines harvest Turbines harvest wind on wind farms wind on wind farms and generate and generate electricity. electricity.

• Solar power is a promising, renewable energy Solar power is a promising, renewable energy resource than can be turned into electricity, and resource than can be turned into electricity, and it is used in many toys and even home heating.it is used in many toys and even home heating.

• Many other alternative Many other alternative energy sources like energy sources like geothermal power, geothermal power, which draws upon the which draws upon the earth’s natural heat, earth’s natural heat, and biomass, which and biomass, which produces an alternative produces an alternative to gasoline, are being to gasoline, are being considered in the considered in the movement away from movement away from fossil fuel dependence.fossil fuel dependence.

• In our everyday lives, we can also work to conserve energy.In our everyday lives, we can also work to conserve energy.– Insulating, turning off lights and only using appliances like Insulating, turning off lights and only using appliances like

dishwashers when they are full are just some of the ways dishwashers when they are full are just some of the ways people can limit energy use in their homes.people can limit energy use in their homes.

– Also, carpooling, bicycling, and taking public transportation are Also, carpooling, bicycling, and taking public transportation are effective energy-saving ideas.effective energy-saving ideas.

• The earth’s The earth’s inhabitants must inhabitants must take a serious look take a serious look at energy at energy resources, use and resources, use and conservation.conservation.