CIS Unit
Ecology:
Cost and Benefits of Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
(APES, Biology, Earth Space, Ecology, Physical Science)
NGSS Performance Expectations
· HS-LS2-7: Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
· HS-LS4-6: Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity.
· HS-ESS3-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
· HS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
· HS-ESS3-3: Create a computational simulation to illustrate the relationships among management of natural resources, the sustainability of human populations, and biodiversity.
· HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
NGSSS Benchmarks
· SC.912.L.17.11: Evaluate the costs and benefits of renewable and nonrenewable resources, such as water, energy, fossil fuels, wildlife, and forests.
· SC.912.L.17.20: Predict the impact of individuals on environmental systems and examine how human lifestyles affect sustainability.
o What is the relationship between resource use and sustainable development?
o What are examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources?
o What are the pros and cons of various renewable and nonrenewable resources including environmental impacts?
o What are the most significant threats to biodiversity?
English Language Arts Standards » Science & Technical Subjects » Grade 9-10
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.7 Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.9-10.10 By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9–10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
English Language Arts Standards » Writing » Grade 9-10
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
· CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CIS Lesson
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
(Ancillary materials and student exemplar developed by Karen Fullam and Troy Suarez.)
1. Hook Engage: 300 Years of FOSSIL FUELS in 300 Seconds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-J91SwP8w
2. Question #1 How are natural resources related to energy production?
3. Distribute article.
4. Pre-teach vocabulary:
a. Compromising
b. Replenishing
c. Inorganic
d. Seams
e. Radioactive
f. fissionable
g. Implementation
h. Redundant
i. Organic
j. Felling
5. Text-marking:
A = Energy comes or came from an abiotic source
B = Energy comes or came from an biotic source
6. Question #2 Explain why Earth’s resources are limited and will not last forever.
7. Note-taking: What are the advantages and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable resources?
8. What is the most critical factoring affecting the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources?
Individual / Group / Recount IndividualSupply
Pollution/Greenhouse Gas
Dependence on Foreign Countries
Efficiency
9. Task #3
The government of Gondwanaland, a large, wealthy island nation similar in size and climate to Australia, is having an energy crisis and is seeking the input of experts. They are quickly running out of nonrenewable resources and have not yet heavily invested in renewable energy sources. You have been commissioned to submit your position on the production of energy and resource consumption for Gondwanaland. Propose a plan for the sustainable use of energy that satisfies current and future energy needs while protecting the environment. Consult the exemplar for the proper way to use and cite sources.
Unit 1 Ecology CIS: Sustainable Energy
Simply stated, energy is the capacity for doing work. It can have many forms: kinetic, potential, light, and nuclear among others. According to the law of conservation of energy, any form of energy can be converted into another form and the total energy will remain the same. When you charge your mobile phone, the electrical energy is converted into the chemical energy which gets stored in the battery. Energy can be classified into two main groups: Nonrenewable and Renewable.
Over the last 200 years an ever-increasing proportion of our energy has come from non-renewable sources such as oil and coal. While demand for energy rises, these resources are running out and scientists are exploring the potential of renewable sources of energy for the future.
All life on earth is sustained by energy from the sun. Plants, directly through photosynthesis, and animals, indirectly through heterotrophy, can store energy; some of this energy remains with them when they die. It is the remains of these ancient animals and plants that make up fossil fuels: fuels such as coal, gas and oil which are mined from the earth and burned to produce energy.
Fossil fuels are non-renewable; that is, the rate at which they are consumed far outpaces the rate at which they are created. Moreover, burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gases (naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere such carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, and nitrous oxide N2O) which may contribute to climate change. Therefore, the use of fossil fuels is unsustainable and we need to find renewable, sustainable ways of generating energy. Sustainable energy is defined as the production of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Renewable or infinite energy resources are sources of power that quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again. The advantages and disadvantages of both renewable and nonrenewable energy resources are discussed below.
Non-renewable Energy Resources
There are reasons for both using nonrenewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels, and for making a timely change in energy infrastructure to phase out their use. The reliability of energy derived from nonrenewable resources has provided an abundance of electricity and transportation for modern industrial nations, but concerns over the safety and sustainability of these power systems have also arisen.
Table 1: Advantages and Disadvantages of Nonrenewable Sources of Energy
Type of fuel / Where it is from / Advantages / Disadvantages /Coal
(fossil fuel) / · Formed from fossilized plants and consisting of carbon with various organic and some inorganic compounds.
· Mined from seams of coal, found sandwiched between layers of rock in the earth.
· Burnt to provide heat or electricity. / · Ready-made fuel.
· It is relatively cheap to mine and to convert into energy.
· Coal supplies will last longer than oil or gas.
· Well-developed technology.
· Efficient distribution system. / · When burned coal gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
· Limited and decreasing supply.
Oil
(fossil fuel) / · A carbon-based liquid formed from fossilized animals.
· Lakes of oil are sandwiched between seams of rock in the earth.
· Pipes are sunk down to the reservoirs to pump the oil out.
· Widely used in industry and transport. / · Oil is a ready-made fuel.
· Relatively cheap to extract and to convert into energy.
· Well-developed technology.
· Efficient distribution system. / · When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
· Increases dependency on foreign countries.
· Limited and decreasing supply.
Natural gas
(fossil fuel) / · Methane and some other gases trapped between seams of rock under the earth's surface.
· Pipes are sunk into the ground to release the gas.
· Often used in houses for heating and cooking. / · Gas is a ready-made fuel.
· It is a relatively cheap form of energy.
· It's a slightly cleaner fuel than coal and oil. / · When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
· Limited and decreasing supply.
· Extraction side-effects.
· Highly combustible.
Nuclear / · Radioactive minerals such as uranium are mined.
· Electricity is generated from the energy that is released when the atoms of these minerals are split (by nuclear fission) in nuclear reactors. / · A small amount of radioactive material produces a lot of energy.
· Raw materials relatively cheap and can last quite a long time.
· Sufficient supplies of fissionable material exist to satisfy energy demands for a long time.
· It doesn't give off atmospheric pollutants.
· Low environmental impact when running efficiently. / · Nuclear reactors are expensive to run.
· Nuclear waste is highly toxic, and needs to be safely stored for hundreds or thousands of years (expensive storage).
· Leakage of nuclear materials can have a devastating impact on people and the environment.
Fossil fuel / Time left /
Oil / 50 years
Natural gas / 70 years
Coal / 250 years
How long will fossil fuels last?
Estimates from international organizations suggest that if the world's demand for energy from fossil fuels continues at the present rate that oil and gas reserves may run out within some of our lifetimes. Coal is expected to last longer.
Renewable Energy Sources
Renewable energy sources quickly replenish themselves and can be used again and again. For this reason they are sometimes called infinite energy resources.
Table 3: Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Sources of Energy
Type of energy / Where it is from / Advantages / Disadvantages /Solar / · Energy from sunlight is captured in solar panels and converted into electricity. / · Potentially infinite energy supply.
· Single dwellings can have own electricity supply.
· No greenhouse emissions.
· Provides electricity to rural areas.
· Reduces dependency on foreign countries. / · High startup costs.
· Low efficiency.
· Requires frequent sunshine.
· Energy must be stored in batteries.
· Can require large areas.
Wind / · Wind turbines (modern windmills) turn wind energy into electricity. / · Can be found singularly, but usually many together in wind farms.
· Potentially infinite energy supply.
· High efficiency.
· No greenhouse emissions
· Can exist as both land and ocean farms / · Manufacture and implementation of wind farms can be costly.
· Visual pollution - some local people object arguing that it spoils the countryside.
· Noisy.
· Dangerous to birds
· Requires steady wind
Tidal / · The movement of tides drives turbines.
· A tidal barrage (a kind of dam) is built across estuaries, forcing water through gaps.
· In future, underwater turbines may be possible out at sea and without dams. / · Ideal for countries with large coastlines.
· Potential to generate a lot of energy.
· Tidal barrage can double as a bridge, and help prevent flooding. / · Construction of barrage is very costly.
· Only a few estuaries are suitable.
· Opposed by some environmental groups as having a negative impact on wildlife.
· May reduce tidal flow and impede flow of sewage out to sea.
Wave / · The movement of seawater in and out of a cavity on the shore compresses trapped air, driving a turbine. / · Ideal for an island country.
· More likely to be small local operations, rather than done on a national scale. / · Construction can be costly.
· May be opposed by local or environmental groups.
Geothermal / · In volcanic regions it is possible to use the natural heat of the earth.
· Cold water is pumped underground and comes out as steam.
· Steam can be used for heating or to power turbines creating electricity. / · Potentially infinite energy supply.
· Used successfully in some countries, such as New Zealand and Iceland. / · Can be expensive to set up and only works in areas of volcanic activity.
· Geothermal and volcanic activity might calm down, leaving power stations redundant.
· Dangerous elements found underground must be disposed of carefully.
Hydrological or Hydroelectric Power (HEP) / · Energy harnessed from the movement of water through rivers, lakes and dams. / · Creates water reserves as well as energy supplies. / · Costly to build.
· Can cause the flooding of surrounding communities.
· Dams have major ecological impacts on local ecosystem.
Renewable or Nonrenewable
Some resources can be either renewable or non-renewable depending on how quickly the resources are replaced. For example, wood can be used for fuel and is renewable if trees are replanted. Biomass, which is material from living things, also can be renewable if they are replanted or regrown.
Table 4: Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Sources of Energy
Type of fuel / Where it is from / Advantages / DisadvantagesBiomass / · Biomass energy is generated from decaying plant or animal waste.
· It can also be an organic material which is burned to provide energy.
· An example of biomass energy is algae that produce biodiesel.
· After treatment with chemicals it can be used as a fuel in diesel engines. / · It is a cheap and readily available source of energy.
· If the crops are replaced, biomass can be a long-term, sustainable energy source.
· Low in sulfur, reducing effect of acid rain
· Easy to convert to portable fuel such as alcohol or gas. / · When burned, it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
· If crops are not replanted, biomass is a non-renewable resource.
· Moderate to high environmental impact.
Wood / · Obtained from felling trees, burned to generate heat and light. / · A cheap and readily available source of energy.
· If the trees are replaced, wood burning can be a long-term, sustainable energy source. / · When burned it gives off atmospheric pollutants, including greenhouse gases.
· If trees are not replanted wood is a non-renewable resource.
· Moderate to high environmental impact.
This article examined the advantages and disadvantage of renewable and nonrenewable energy, but every resource, from the abundance of wildlife in our ecosystems to the water we use, falls into these categories. For example, water is plentiful on the blue planet, but only about 1% is accessible fresh water. Although water is constantly being cleaned and recycled through the earth’s water cycle, we use it far faster than it can naturally be replenished. With the exponentially increasing human population, these issues will only become more pressing. The time is now to preserve our environment for ourselves and future generations.