Energy Resource Challenges

1.     CheckPoint: Energy Resource Challenges

 

         View the Alternative Energy VLR located under the Week Eight Materials section of your student Web page.

         Post a 200- to 300-word response to the following:

 

o    Describe all of the renewable energy alternatives presented in the video.

o    What are some challenges with using and managing these alternative, renewable energy resources?

o    Name at least one other renewable energy resource not presented in the video.

o    Include a response to the following statement: Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, oil, and natural gas.

o    Describe three common challenges with managing nonrenewable energy resources.

The video Alternative Energy VLR described several renewable energy alternatives. One source that was discussed was wind power. One challenge of using wind power is you need wind to power these turbines. Without the wind there is no power. Another source discussed in the video is solar power. There is the same challenge with solar power as wind power. If there is no sun, there is no power. The last renewable energy source discussed in the video is biomass fermentation. Farmers take the leftovers from harvesting their crops and scientists can turn that into ethanol which is added to gas, or can be used as an alternative to gas for automobiles. Ethanol is healthier for the ecosystem that petrol oil gasoline. One challenge of biomass fermentation would be the availability of the crop leftovers. Also this would rely on farmers gathering this material and recycling it to be used as fuel.

Nonrenewable energy resources include coal, oil, and natural gas. Renewable outnumber nonrenewable sources and are better for the environment. One challenge with managing these resources is the availability of the raw materials needed to produce them. Another challenge would be that they help destroy our ecosystem with every use. And a third challenge to managing these sources is the disposal of the waste products from producing these sources.

One renewable resource not mentioned in the video is the hemp plant. This renewable resource can be used to make eco-friendly clothing. A nutritional source, used in medicine, to make paper, building material, cordage and is very healthy for the soil it is grown in. Due to the stigma of being associated with marijuana, this resource has little hope of being used despite its ability to help our environment repair itself.