online.sd43.bc.ca/della/earth_science.htm

What is Energy?

• Energy is the capacity for doing work

• Electrical energy is used for lighting, air-conditioning and heating, televisions and computers, household and power tools, and much, much more

• Energy demand increases every year as the population grows and energy producing resources diminish

• A source of energy that cannot be replenished is a non-renewable energy source

• Energy from a non-renewable source is generally inexpensive

• Non-renewable energy sources require large amounts of water and produce large amounts of pollution and poisonous/radioactive by-products that must be disposed of carefully (i.e. landfills)

CREDIT: © WWF-Canon

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Gas

Nuclear

Coal

www.naturalgas.org/overview/

www.howproductsimpact.net/exchanges/coalpowerplant.gif

Examples of Non-Renewable Energy

www.idph.state.il.us/ timeline/1980nulear.htm

• A source of energy that is constantly replaced is a renewable energy source

• Renewable energy sources are generally less polluting than non-renewable energy sources

Renewable Energy Sources

CREDIT: © WWF-Canon

www.energy.utah.gov/ solar/hydro.htm

acre.murdoch.edu.au/ refiles/hightemp/text.html

Hydro-electric

Biomass

Solar/Photo-Voltaic

Wind

www.emu-consult.dk/ middelgr_d.shtml

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/

Geothermal

www.continentalridge.com/ geothermal-demand.htm

Examples of Renewable Energy

3 % Renewables

36 % Coal 31 % Natural Gas

30 % Nuclear

Where does Austin’s Power come from Today?

Mark Kapner, P.E.

Energy Cost Comparison

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5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Photo-Voltaics

Biom ass Solar LandfillMethane

NaturalGas

Wind Coal Nuclear

Energy Forms

Co

st p

er k

Wh

(¢)

Texas has great potential for producing energy from renewable resources. As costs for producing energy from renewable resources goes down, the number of power plants that produce electricity from these resources will expand.

http://www.infinitepower.org/

The Future of Energy Production in Texas