...experiment was to determine if the emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from electric vehicles (EV) is significantly less than that of internal combustion vehicles (ICE). Our rational for this experiment is due to the increasing number of electric vehicles that are being manufactured and purchased and to answer the question: Is there really a significant positive impact on the environment or more of a psychological impact for society? To answer this question we began research on how the U.S. is getting its electricity. There are several sources of electricity in the U.S., with coal at 48.9%, natural gas at 20%, nuclear at 19.3%, and hydro at 7.1% rounding out the top four (U.S. Energy, 2012). We then studied these sources of electricity to ascertain if there is a connection between the sources of electricity and various regions of the U.S. One of the results revealed that the northwest region of the U.S., consisting of California, Oregon, and Washington, gets on average 71% of their electricity from hydropower....
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...calculated by factoring in the amount of people living in a home, the type of home environment, habits done that do not waste energy, and the green technologies already in use in ones home. The energy usage in my home is 36% less than the average 3-person home in the United States. My total usage of energy is about 14,978 kilowatt hours per year. For the carbon emissions of my family’s home, it is, in comparison to the average 3-person home in the United States, 27% less. My total emissions is around 15.92 tons of carbon dioxide per year (BP p.l.c, 2013). Although my energy usage and carbon emissions level are below the average American home, the impact my large carbon footprint has on the environment is still a great amount. A carbon footprint can be reduced through the usage of renewable energy sources, such as the most commonly used “green”...
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...Jack 9/27/15 Persuasive essay Renewable Energy for America Did you know that renewable energy is more efficient not only for Americas ecosystem but for its economy to? One of the ways it is more efficient for Americas ecosystem is by not releasing harmful gases or materials to produce electricity. One way renewable energy is better for America’s economy is that it produces hundreds of thousands of jobs all across the country. One of the renewable energy sources that would be used is hydropower or hydroelectricity. Hydropower uses the force of the energy of moving water to generate electricity or power. There are three different types of Hydropower; the main type used in America is using a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir. Then...
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...the flow rate, size of the motor, and type of blade? Introduction There are many types of energy used today: Fossil fuels, coal, nuclear energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydrogen energy, hydroelectric energy, wind energy, and biofuels and biomass. Non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels and coal are diminishing since it cannot be recycled, unlike wind energy (renewable). Also, use of non-renewable energy like coal causes environmental issues. It can be dangerous to retrieve and also heavily pollutes the environment from use of it. The more we use non-renewable energy, the less there is, meaning the prices go up. Oil spills from off shore drilling such as the BP oil spill the Gulf of Mexico polluted sea water. Although nuclear energy is a renewable energy, it could cause a disaster to human beings if the nuclear energy plant is damaged, such as the Japan nuclear power plant disaster. It is desirable to use and develop renewable, clean and safe energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and hydrogen energy to decrease and prevent any risk of casualties or complications. Washington State produces the energy in the nation, and producing for itself 70 percent of electricity that is consumed. On a slightly bigger scale, 75 percent of America relies on water energy to power our homes and other facilities. Globally, hydroelectric power provides one fifth of the world’s energy. How Dams Produce Electricity Hydro energy has been used for a long...
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...There are two main types of solar energy. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels directly convert solar energy into a usable form of energy using a PV cell containing a semiconductor material. CSP (concentrating solar power) on the other hand, concentrate energy from sunlight to a heat receiver which transforms energy from heat into mechanical energy, and in turn, solar thermal electricity. Converting Sunlight into Electricity Light striking a silicon semiconductor causes electrons to flow, creating electricity. Solar power generating systems take advantage of this property to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy. Solar panels (also called “solar modulesE produce direct current (DC), which goes through a power inverter to become alternating current (AC) — electricity that we can use in the home or office, like that supplied by a utility power company. There are two types of solar power generating systems: grid-connected systems, which are connected to the commercial power infrastructure; and stand-alone systems, which feed electricity to a facility for immediate use, or to a battery for storage. Grid-connected systems are used for homes, public facilities such as schools and hospitals, and commercial facilities such as offices and shopping centers. Electricity generated during the daytime can be used right away, and in some cases surplus electricity can be sold to the utility power company. If the system doesn’t generate enough electricity, or generates none...
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...Electricity: What Powers Our Planet To Whom It May Concern: It’s dark and you are trying to sign paperwork. You want to turn on the lights so you can see better. With one flick, the whole room illuminates. But, congressman, let me ask you. Have you ever wondered how electricity works? What is it that makes electricity possible? What did it take for light to have the ability to stream out of the light bulb? We take electricity for granted, but not many of us actually look into it. People often do not know how electricity is the way it is, but instead they see electricity as something that is very accessible and plentiful. So, congressman, you have the money, and I have the brains. You want to know how to spend the 200 billion? I’ll tell you. Let’s start off with what electricity really is. You hear that word so many times in your daily life, but few have heard the scientific definition. Electricity is a type of energy produced from the existence of electrons or protons, either statically as a build-up of charge, or dynamically as a current. It is usually categorized into two different currents: alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). Alternating current is a constant flow of electric charge that reverses its course from time to time. Direct current is the opposite; it only runs in one direction. Within those two currents are things such as volts, watts, amperes (or amps), and ohms. Volts are the SI unit of electromotive force, the distinction of potential that would...
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...Lesson 01 Quiz Your response has been submitted successfully. [pic] We will record the highest score from these lesson quizzes so feel free to take it again (max 10 access attempts) to score 100%. |Points Awarded | 11 | |Points Missed | 3 | |Percentage | 79% | |1. |In the United States, which is the most popular method for heating homes? | | |A. | | |Electricity | | | | | |B. | | |Fuel Oil | | | | | |C. | | |Natural Gas | | | | | |D. | | |Coal ...
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...* Electricity is most often generated at a power station by electromechanical generators, primarily driven by heat engines fueled by chemical combustion or nuclear fission but also by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind. * Electricity has been generated at central stations since 1882. * The first power plants were run on water power or coal. * And today, rely mainly on coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, wind generators, and petroleum, with a small amount from solar energy, tidal power, and geothermal sources. * System components: Generation, transmission, and distribution. * Electromagnetic induction, where an electric generator, dynamo or alternator transforms kinetic energy (energy of motion) into electricity. * Electrochemistry, the direct transformation of chemical energy into electricity, as in a battery, fuel cell or nerve impulse * Photovoltaic effect, the transformation of light into electrical energy, as in solar cells * Thermoelectric effect, the direct conversion of temperature differences to electricity * A non-renewable resource=Coal, diesel, gas and nuclear. * Renewable resources(naturel resource)= solar, wind, water, wave, biomass and geothermal, fuel cells, tidal. * Thermal power plant * Hydraulic power - Converts high pressure water from the dam or river to electricity. -3 Types of hydraulic power plant: high, medium, low * Hydraulic power plant-dam, penstock, turbine...
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...services. Based on research, motive power is a natural agent such as water or steam, wind or electricity, used to impart motion to machinery such as an engine. Motive power make also be a locomotive or a motor, which provides motive power to a system. Nowadays, there have a multiple motive of power such as hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids fueled by gasoline, ethanol,...
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...Title: SOLAR ENERGY: “SUNLIGHT into USEFUL ELECTRICITY” >Introduction< In today's climate of growing energy needs and increasing environmental concern, alternatives to the use of non-renewable and polluting fossil fuels have to be investigated. One such alternative is solar energy. Solar energy is quite simply the energy produced directly by the sun and collected elsewhere, normally the Earth. The sun creates its energy through a thermonuclear process that converts about 650,000,000 tons of hydrogen to helium every second. The process creates heat and electromagnetic radiation. The heat remains in the sun and is instrumental in maintaining the thermonuclear reaction. The electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, infra-red light, and ultra-violet radiation) streams out into space in all directions. Only a very small fraction of the total radiation produced reaches the Earth. The radiation that does reach the Earth is the indirect source of nearly every type of energy used today. The exceptions are geothermal energy, and nuclear fission and fusion. Even fossil fuels owe their origins to the sun; they were once living plants and animals whose life was dependent upon the sun. The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy. Solar energy is radiant energy from the sun caused by nuclear fusion in the sun’s core. The sun’s radiant energy reaches the earth in rays of sunlight. Solar energy in the form of heat and light sustains life on earth. Solar energy can...
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...Options Theory Applied to Alternative Energy Industry Christina Clowdus Bus: 630 March 20, 2012 Dr. Shaw Introduction In life, you always have options. It is no different in capital investment. In today's unpredictable business world, managers recognize how risky the most valuable investment opportunities often are, and how useful a flexible strategy can be. That's why they want to know all their options. Yet many current financial assessment tools fail to identify what investors can do to capitalize on future uncertain events. “Managerial flexibility to adapt and revise future decisions in order to capitalize on favorable future opportunities or to limit losses has proven vital to long-term corporate success in an uncertain and changing marketplace” (Brennan, M.J. and E.S. Schwartz 1985, p. 15). Utilizing a real options strategy allows businesses to capture the value of managerial flexibility in adapting decisions in response to unexpected market developments. When used as a conceptual tool, real options allow management to characterize and communicate the strategic value of an investment project (Bjerksund, P. and S. Ekern 1990). Traditional methods (e.g. net present value, discounted cash flow) fail to accurately capture the economic value of investments in an environment of widespread uncertainty and rapid change. Using real options theory, managers can more effectively target crucial opportunities to redeploy, delay, modify, or even abandon capital-intensive projects...
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...energy resource because there is a limited amount of supply. Then there is wind and hydropower, which are considered renewable energy resources; because there is an infinite amount of supply. The city council may want to take into consideration these two renewable energy sources for the many different advantages each source has to offer. West Virginia has an abundance of natural energy resources such as coal, wind, and hydropower; all of these energy resources could generate electricity and stabilize the community’s economy in various ways, including the different types of facilities, cost, and production output. West Virginia coalmines are amongst the top in the country for coal production. A 2009 study showed that five states in America produced close to three quarters of all the coal in the entire country, and West Virginia was number two on the list. Coal is used to generate electricity, heat, and for industrial uses. In the 2009 study, over ninety percent of the coal was used to generate electricity, a little over six percent was used in the industry, and less than one percent was used to generate heat (“Coal” 18). West Virginia mines a large portion of the countries coal every year and in order to keep up the high demand, most of the state workforce is employed by the coalmines. The West Virginia coalmines are the economic backbone for the state. There are a couple of key elements that make the coal mines so prosperous. First, West Virginia is sitting on billions of...
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...Assignment 1 Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Resources for Generating Electricity Question 1 Define the following terms: a) Non-renewable resources Most developed nations are dependent on the non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels (coal and oil) and nuclear power. It means that a resources that is replaced slowly by natural earth processes in such a way that once used by people, it will not be available again within a useful time frame. Example of non-renewable resources includes oil, coal, rocks, and minerals. b) Renewable resources Renewable resources have become a focal point of the environmental movement, both politically and economically. Energy obtained from renewable resources puts much less strain on the limited supply of fossil fuels (non-renewable resources).It mean that a resource that is quickly replaced or recycled by natural processes in a time frame that makes it useful for human consumption or use. Examples are include cotton, wood, solar energy, water. Some renewable resources have essentially an endless supply, such as solar energy, wind energy and geothermal pressure, while other resources are considered renewable even though some time or effort must go into their renewal, such as wood, oxygen, leather and fish. c) Hydroelectricity It is a renewable energy source where power is derived from the energy of water moving from higher to lower elevations. Hydropower (from hydro, meaning water) is energy that comes from the force of...
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...ENERGY Renewable Energy: An Overview DOE/GO-102001-1102 FS175 March 2001 EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY What is Renewable Energy? Renewable energy uses energy sources that are continually replenished by nature—the sun, the wind, water, the Earth’s heat, and plants. Renewable energy technologies turn these fuels into usable forms of energy—most often elec- tricity, but also heat, chemicals, or mechanical power. Why Use Renewable Energy? Today we primarily use fossil fuels to heat and power our homes and fuel our cars. It’s convenient to use coal, oil, and natural gas for meeting our energy needs, but we have a limited supply of these fuels on the Earth. We’re using them much more rapidly than they are being created. Even- tually, they will run out. And because of safety concerns and waste disposal prob- lems, the United States will retire much of its nuclear capacity by 2020. In the mean- time, the nation’s energy needs are expected to grow by 33 percent during the next 20 years. Renewable energy can help fill the gap. Even if we had an unlimited supply of fos- sil fuels, using renewable energy is better for the environment. We often call renew- able energy technologies “clean” or “green” because they produce few if any pollutants. Burning fossil fuels, however, sends greenhouse gases into the atmos- phere, trapping the sun’s heat and con- tributing to global warming. Climate scientists generally agree that the Earth’s average temperature has risen in the past century...
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...home energy system. When fuels are used for producing electricity, heat or motion causes a generator to rotate, creating electricity for everyday use in homes and businesses. Energy sources can be classified into two types: nonrenewable and renewable. Nonrenewable resources, such as fossil fuels and nuclear material. Fossil fuels were formed from the fossilized remains of tiny plants and animals that lived long ago. Most electricity used in the world is generated from power plants that burn fossil fuels to heat water and make steam. The highly pressurized steam is directed at turbine blades to make them spin. Nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished. We have limited supplies of them, and when these supplies are gone we will not have any more. These resources have been the most used type of energy in the modern era. Renewable resources, such as wind, water, solar, and geothermal, come from sources that regenerate as fast as they are consumed and are continuously available. Renewable energy resources can be replenished in a short period of time, so they will never be all used up. Some, such as biofuel produced from food crops and other plants, are replenished every growing season. In the early part of the twenty-first century, renewable sources have become more popular as nonrenewable sources have begun to be depleted. Energy companies around the country are using renewable resources more and more to generate electricity. Renewable energy resources can be replenished in a...
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