Exploring Alternative Energy Sources – 09-10
“..the only thing that is constant in this world is change .”
The Scenario: You are a team of experts presenting before a Senate Energy Committee. Your job is to educate and convince. You will educate them on your energy technology, how it works, current uses, projected future uses, etc. Your audience loves statistics – so, you will include them. Then, your job is to convince them that this energy source/technology is a big piece of the future “energy pie” and they should support funding for R and D for it.
Research Guide
? Your teacher has assigned you a research project on alternative/renewable energy or new “alternative energy technology”
? Projects need to be high quality with attention to detail, accurate spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
ü Accuracy counts, so be sure to thoroughly research the facts and practice what you will say in your
presentation ahead of time.
Databases: EHS Library
tpennsd.org/common/welcome.jsp;jsessionid=DA6BE9B1BE4231568CECA45B3A248E8F?site=101
password is: emma47058
USE: Opposing Viewpoints, Science Research Center Gold, Science Resource Center
Proquest
Account Name BPTG6JN7D3
Password: Welcome
Power Library
Access this through your public library website
Emmaus Library is auspl.org/
Lower Macungie library is ermaclib.org/
You need the bar code from your or your parents library (do not use last number if it does not work with entire barcode)
Search under: Newspapers / Magazines / Websites
Then select Science Full Text if looking for a current article. This will give you a variety of sources at different levels, including scholarly journals.
On the search page click the box for full text and click the box for peer reviewed (these limiter will reduce the results list to full text articles that are scholarly)
Research
? For the most part, use only recent references, since 2003
? EACH person must use a database to locate least one of their references, and correctly format that database.
? Wikipedia is OK only if you include the reference from which Wikipedia got the information that you use.
? Each person must state exactly what information they have gathered.
ü For each question, include the resource from which the information was located.
ü If the slides are in the exact order of the questions, and if you cover the information for the question, the slides will suffice as the “answers to the questions” place extra information in the notes of the slide.
? For most questions, there should be an image or graph in the presentation to support the point your are making
Make a presentation – webpage s or i-movie (or Animoto movie), or possibly a tri-fold display , following the outline below. Include the reference for each page in the notes of the presentation. (must be correctly formatted)
? Collect photographs, diagrams, charts, graphs, flow charts, and stories (from newspapers) of people who are working with this resource/form of power so you can integrate this into your presentation
? Develop the BIG ideas (3, no more then 4), and place into your storyboard
? Complete the storyboard for each scene, continually to focus on the BIG ideas
? If you copy/paste from references, include sources
? Presentation should be 6 minutes minimum and no more than 12 minutes (points deducted after 12 minutes)
Research Questions: Content of the Presentation:
The Technology
1. What can this type of energy/technology be used for?
2. What is the science and technology behind this energy resource/technology? – Specifically, how does it work? What processes are used to produce the energy form? How is the energy gathered and/or created? (need images for this)
3. How this type of energy/resource is easily renewed? If it is not, explain.
4. How is the energy stored for later use? If it cannot be stored, explain.
Current use and future projections
5. What is the cost of using this type of energy resource/technology? (this must be spe cific – you must compare it to the current cost of a type of non-renewable energy, such as coal or gasoline; or to a comparable technology)
6. Is the energy/technology now usable by the public? If not, when is the energy resource/technology expected to be easily accessible to the general public?
Advantages
7. What are the positive aspects of using this energy resource/technology?
8. Currently, what is keeping this form of energy resource/technology from widespread use?
9. What specifically will or might cause this energy resource/technology to become more cost competitive with other energy uses?
Disadvantages
10. What are the negative aspects of using this energy resource/technology - discuss why not use this type of energy resource/technology, or why it cannot be expanded at a rapid rate.
11. What are the waste by-products of this energy resource/technology?
Current information – in the news:
12. Include some specific information from current news articles – newspapers or magazines.
Conclusion
13. As a summary of your presentation – what role to you think this energy resource/technology will play in the near future (decade) and more distance future (to 2060) – and explain why you said this.
14. What, if anything, do you think should be done to further support the development of this energy resource/technology – and why do you propose these ideas?
Energy resources/technologies
1. hybrid cars and electric cars
2. hydrogen – as combustible fuel and hydrogen fuel cells (hydrogen)
3. solar photovoltaic s and solar photovoltaic films
4. solar power towers and other high-tech solar thermal designs
5. green home and building design – LEED ; including solar passive
6. geothermal and geothermal heat pumps (heat exchanger)
7. ethanol – from corn and from other alternatives
8. biodiesel (from primary sources and by recycling used food oils)
9. methane (biogas), including from landfills
10. wind turbines
11. solar cookers (on the small scale)
12. solar thermal - active solar for homes
Online Resources
“Statistical Review of World Energy” – BP - find the numbers here
.com / productlanding.do?categoryId=6929&contentId=7044622
For a short audio, try Living on Earth – you can use this as a reference, or even use a SHORT segment as an addition to your presentation
.org/shows/
“High Gas Prices Could Mean Cold Classrooms and Cancelled Trips”
.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/gascosts_11-21.html
“Can a New Light Bulb Save the Environment?”
.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/led_6-13.html
Power and Deregulation
.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/#
Blowin’ in the Wind: Wind Power
.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june01/blowing.html
Light Bulb Technology
.org/newshour/bb/science/july-dec05/bulb_11-10.html
The Future of Fuel
.org/newshour/science/hydrogen/index.html
Eco-Friendly Buildings
.org/newshour/bb/environment/jan-june05/building_4-15.html
The Earth Debate: Energy
.org/now/science/unenergy.html
American Energy Sources
.org/newshour/bb/infrastructure/power/#
U.S. Department of Energy
rgy.gov/engine/content.do?BT_CODE=DOEHOME
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
l.gov/
Renewable Energy
ipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy