Envi Sci Test #5-Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Flashcards

765605602	What % of all energy used in the US is wasted?	84%	1
765605603	How much of that waste is unnecessary?	43%	2
765605604	What is the life-cycle cost of an energy using devise?	Initial costs + lifetime operating costs	3
765605605	What three devices are perhaps the least efficient devices in widespread use?	1. Incandescent light bulb 2. Internal combustion engine 3. Nuclear power plant	4
765605606	How much energy do the following waste: Incandescent light bulb, Internal combustion motor vehicles, Nuclear power plants when energy is used for heating??	Incandescent light bulb--95% Internal combustion motor vehicles-86-90% Nuclear power plants--86-92%	5
765605607	What is cogeneration?	Using steam to generate electricity and then to warm/cool buildings	6
765605608	Why are most of the electric motors used today inefficient?	Run at full speed-could use adjustable speed drives.	7
765605609	What is "the best way" to save energy and money in transportation? Other ways?	Increase fuel efficiency Other: Mass transit, bike, barges, etc.	8
765605610	From 1973-1985 average fuel efficiency of cars rose by 37%. Why have they fallen since them?	Popularity of SUVs	9
765605611	What is CAFE? Why is the auto industry trying to eliminate them?	Corporate average fuel economy--gov't mandated -they have strict standards which limit auto diversity	10
765605612	What mpg can the new hybrid cars obtain?	up to 150 mpg -VW small car get 235 mpg	11
765605613	Why is there little public interest in fuel efficient vehicles?	Cheap gas in US (but there are hidden costs)	12
765605614	Who is the largest energy user in the US?	Military	13
765605615	How much extra does it cost to super-insulate a house?	5% more	14
765605616	How long does it take to pay back that cost at today's energy prices?	within 5 years	15
765605617	How much does super-insulation save a homeowner over a 40-yr period?	$50,000-100,000	16
765605618	How can the energy efficiency of an existing house be improved?	Plug leak, add insulation, energy saving windows and lighting	17
765605619	What is a strawbale house?	House made from straw bales-straw has a very high insulation value	18
765605620	What is the most energy efficient way commonly used to heat water for washing and bathing?	Tankless water heaters	19
765605621	What is the Energy Star program?	Major household appliance ranked according to their energy efficiency. Only those that are the most efficient can carry the ES label.	20
765605622	How much does a fluorescent bulb save over an incandescent over a 10-yr period?	$48-70	21
765605623	What are the energy savings of the use of a microwave for cooking?	25-50%	22
765605624	Why isn't the average person in the US doing more to reduce energy waste? Or any other waste for that matter!	Cheap energy, lack of incentives, lack of information especially of life cycle costs.	23
765605625	What is the difference between a passive and an active solar heating system?	Active requires energy input to operate fans and pumps	24
765605626	What is the typical pay-back time for a passive solar system?	3-7 years	25
765605627	What are some energy efficient ways to cool a house?	earth tubes, appropriate design, evaporative colors in arid regions	26
765605628	An acre of lawn is equivalent to how much air-conditioning?	1 ton	27
765605629	What is a photovoltaic cell? What are they commonly called?	Solar cells--of semiconductor material where light causes electrons to flow.	28
765605630	What are the advantages of solar cells?	Fairly high net energy Work on cloudy days Quick installation Easily expanded or moved No CO2 emissions Low environmental impact Last 20-40 yrs Low land use(if on roof)	29
765605631	What are the disadvantages of solar cells?	1. Light not 24 hrs/day--need some sort of back up 2. Other buildings/structures may block light 3. Expensive, but costs are coming down with new technologies	30
765605632	What different types of hydropower are there?	small, large scale, pumped	31
765605633	What country gets 99% of its electricity from hydropower?	Norway	32
765605634	What are the pros of hydropower?	-moderate to high net energy -high efficiency (80%) -low-cost electricity -long life span -No CO2 emissions during operation -may provide flood ctrl below dam -provides water for yr-round irrigation	33
765605635	What are the cons of hydropower?	-High construction costs -High environmental impact -High CO2 emissions from biomass decay in shallow tropical reservoirs -Floods natural areas -Converts land habitat to lake habitat -Danger of collapse -Uproots people -Decreases fish harvest below dam -Decreases flow of natural fertilizer (silt) to land below dam	34
765605636	Where are two large tidal energy facilities?	Rance estuary in France, Bay of Fundy in Canada	35
765605637	What are the pros and cons of tidal energy?	Works well but good sites are limited	36
765605638	What is the world's fastest growing energy resource?	Wind power	37
765605639	What has the Bush administration done RE wind power?	Cut funds for research and development	38
765605640	What country is the world's largest producer of wind power and manufacturer of wind turbines?	Denmark	39
765605641	What are the advantages of wind power?	-moderate to high net E -High efficiency -Moderate capital cost -Low electric cost (and falling) -Very low envi impact -No CO2 emissions -Quick construction -Easily expanded	40
765605642	What are the disadvantages of wind power?	>Steady winds needed >Backup systems when needed winds are low >High land use for wind farm >Visual pollution >Noise when located near populated areas >May interfere in flights of migratory birds and kill birds of prey	41
765605643	What % of people in developing countries heat and cook with wood or charcoal?	70%	42
765605644	What is biogas?	60% methane, 40% CO2 produce from biomass by bacteria	43
765605645	How much does it cost to make a biogas generator?	ab $50 including labor	44
765605646	What is ethanol made from?	sugar and grain crops	45
765605647	What is methanol made from?	natural gas, organic waste	46
765605648	What are the pros of using biofuels?	-Large potential supply -Moderate costs -No net CO2 increase if harvested and burned sustainably -Plantation can help restore degraded lands -Can reduce water pollution -Recycles waste products	47
765605649	What are the cons of using biofuels?	-Nonrenewable if harvested unsustainably -Moderate to high envi impact -CO2 emissions if harvested and burned unsustainably -Soil erosion, water pollution, and loss of wildlife habitat -Plantation could compete with cropland -Often burned in inefficient and polluting open-fires and stoves	48
765605650	What is considered the "fuel of the future"?	Hydrogen	49
765605651	What is geothermal energy?	using high temperatures from the earths interior	50
765605652	Where is it currently being used?	22 countries--Iceland, Japan, California, Chile	51
765605653	What are the pros of geothermal energy use?	very high efficiency moderate net E at accessible sites lower CO2 emissionthan fossil fuels low cost at favorable sites low land use low land disturbance moderate envi impact	52
765605654	What are the cons of geothermal energy use?	-scarcity of suitable sites -depleted if used too rapidly -CO2 emissions -Moderate to high local air pollution -Noise and odor (H2S)	53
765605655	What is micro power?	Small generating facilities	54
765605656	What are the advantage of decentralization?	more local control, less problems with terrorism	55
765605657	We have the technology why aren't we using more energy alternative to nonrenewable fuels?	economics and politics	56