EnergyLabAssignment (3)
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Florida International University *
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Course
1001
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Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Uploaded by UltraQuail3029
Vanessa Pena
EVR1001L
November 16, 2023
Energy and Environment Lab Assignment
Part A | Understanding power plants
Watch (or re-watch) the three videos in this week’s module about renewable energy and how energy
is produced in a coal and nuclear power plants. Then, answer the following questions.
1.
What are the similarities and differences between nuclear and coal power plants? Make sure
you address how the power plants work to create energy as well as the effects on the
environment that they have. (4 pts)
While coal power stations burn the fossil fuel coal to produce heat, nuclear power plants employ
radioactive elements like uranium. Each sort of power plant has advantages and disadvantages of its
own. Although nuclear power facilities are well-known for being abundant and non-polluting, they
do have a problem with waste storage. Because the tubes are kept below ground or on the ocean
floor, they corrode and leak. Although coal power plants are incredibly inexpensive, they are very
polluting and nasty. Both power plants make use of abundant and nonrenewable resources.
2.
Which of the two power plants would you rather have close to your home? Why? (3 pts)
Considering how unclean and inconvenient coal power plants would be in a home, I would
rather have nuclear electricity in my house than coal power. Particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrogen oxides are only a few of the air pollutants that are released into the atmosphere by coal
power. These pollutants contribute to air pollution and climate change, as well as having potentially
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negative effects on human health. Nuclear power facilities, on the other hand, are a cleaner
alternative because they release no pollutants into the atmosphere.
Furthermore, coal power plants might be a hassle in a home environment. To produce energy,
they need a steady supply of coal, which necessitates regular coal delivery and storage. In a
residential environment, this can be dangerous and messy. Conversely, nuclear power plants use
nuclear fission to produce energy, which eliminates the need for a steady supply and storage of fuel.
As a result, nuclear power facilities are less disruptive and more convenient to live near.
In general, I prefer nuclear power facilities near my house to coal power plants since nuclear
power generation is more convenient and cleaner.
3.
Briefly describe efforts in China and India towards renewable energy production. (2 pts)
To solve environmental issues, lessen their reliance on fossil fuels, and satisfy their expanding
energy needs, China and India have been actively exploring renewable energy schemes. China has
set high goals for the capacity of renewable energy. By 2030, they want to see a rise in the
proportion of non-fossil fuels in both peak carbon emissions and primary energy consumption.
Furthermore, this potential country is a global leader in solar power production, invested heavily in
solar photovoltaic technology and has become the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer. Not to
mention that significant investments in wind energy have also been made by China. The nation has
a long history of developing hydropower and has one of the largest installed capacities for both
onshore and offshore wind generation. One of the biggest hydropower projects in the world is the
Three Gorges Dam.
On the other hand, to boost solar capacity and promote solar energy, India started the National
Solar Mission. The nation intends to reach 175 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022, with a
major emphasis on solar energy. Also, India has a sizable installed wind energy capability. The
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national government has put laws and subsidies in place to support wind energy installations. And
India has long used hydropower to generate electricity. Projects to increase hydropower capacity are
under underway, and the country has also put in place a few energy efficiency initiatives to lower
overall energy consumption and increase the sustainability of its energy sector.
China and India agree that switching to greener energy sources is critical to addressing
environmental issues and guaranteeing long-term energy security. However, several variables, such
as the adoption of new policies, funding, and technology developments, may affect how successful
these initiatives are. To stay up to date with their advancements in renewable energy, it's a good idea
to look for the most recent updates and innovations.
4.
In your opinion, what is the best way to transition to cleaner energy production? (2 pts)
In my opinion, transitioning to cleaner energy production is crucial for addressing
climate change and reducing the environmental impact of energy generation. Some effective
ways to facilitate is making renewable energy technology a global public good to improve
global access to components and raw material.
Also, by eliminating fossil fuel subsides put
a price on carbon to create the conditions of phasing out coal an improve access to
electricity and clean cooking. Utilizing technological advancement and societal push
towards sustainability to transition from nonrenewable energy sources like oil, natural gas,
and coal to renewable energy. By putting these methods into practice, nations and
corporations may help create a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, thereby reducing the
risk associated with climate change and fostering a better environment for present and future
generations.
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Part B | Calculating your carbon footprint
This CO
2
audit is designed to provide a rough estimation on one’s individual impact from energy
use in terms of carbon dioxide emissions produced by one’s lifestyle. Follow the instructions in
the tasks below to calculate your annual CO
2
emissions. Calculate only your personal
production
(ex. your portion of the garbage/electric bill). (7 pts)
Summarize your results
IN A TABLE
and calculate the total CO
2
emissions in tons (1 lb =
0.000453592 tons).
1.
Automobile: 1/ (70) mpg x 24 lbs. CO
2
/gal x 1122 miles/year =2023 lbs. CO
2
/year
2.
Airplane travel: 0.9 lbs./mile x 1122 miles/year = 1010 lbs. CO
2
/year
3.
Bus: 0.7 lbs./mile x 570 miles/year = 399 lbs.
CO
2
/year
4.
Garbage (
average per capita garbage is 5 lbs./day
): 5 lbs./day x 3 lbs. CO
2
/ lb. x 365
days/year
=
5475 lbs. CO
2
/year
5.
Electricity: 10715 kwh per year x 1.7 lbs./kwh = 18215.5 CO
2
/yr.
Automobile total
2023(0.000453592) = 0.91761661 lbs.
CO2/year
Airplane travel total
1010(0.000453592) = 0.45812792 lbs.
CO2/year
Bus total
399(0.000453592) = 0.1809832 lbs.
CO2/year
Garbage total
5475(0.000453592) = 2.4834162 lbs.
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CO2/year
Electricity total
18215.5(0.000453592) = 8.26240507 lbs.
CO2/year
Total Emissions
12.302549(55%) = 6.8
Item
Units
lbs. CO
2
/ Unit
Electricity
Kilowatt-hours
1.7 lbs./kwh
Gasoline
gallon
24 lbs./gal
Propane
gallon
14 lbs./gal
Natural Gas
therms
12 lbs./therms
Trash Discarded
pounds
3 lbs./lb.
Recycled Items
pounds
2 lbs./lb.
Part C | Reducing your annual CO
2
emissions.
Now that you know your carbon footprint, you can begin to figure out ways to reduce it. First, set a
target for reduction – do you want to cut back by 10%? 20%? Keep in mind that according to the
United Nations, to maintain a liveable planet, we must reduce our global carbon emissions by 55%
by 2030!
Now that you have this target in mind, use the cheat sheet below to calculate how you’ll get there.
Tally the reduction in CO
2
you are pledging to do below and then summarize them in A SECOND
TABLE giving a total in tons. Your table should include the actions you’re pledging, the number (if
applicable), and the amount of CO
2
reduction expected from that action. The amount of CO
2
reduction saved per action is in the parentheses following the description. (7 pts)
1.
Automobile
a.
Eliminate -----lbs/miles of car travel (use lbs/mile conversion from
Part B
)
b.
Maintain tire pressure (usually about 32 psi) (250 lbs CO
2
saved/year) OR Maintain
tire pressure at the maximum pressure shown on the tire (usually about 35 psi) (500
lbs. CO
2
saved/year)
c.
Tune up once a year (900 lbs. CO
2
saved/year)
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2.
Light bulbs
a.
Replace incandescent lights with compact fluorescents (typical CO
2
reduction = 180
lbs CO
2
/year per light replaced)
b.
Replace high-watt incandescent lights with lower-watt incandescents (each 10-watt
reduction typically eliminates 22 lbs of CO
2
emissions/year per light)
c.
Turn off lights when leaving a room all year (120 lbs CO
2
/room per year)
3.
Recycle
a.
Recycle aluminum cans (typical CO
2
reduction = 34 lbs CO
2
per 100 cans)
b.
Recycle glass bottles (typical CO
2
reduction = 30 lbs CO
2
per 100 bottles)
c.
Recycle paper (typical CO
2
reduction = 20 lbs CO
2
per 100 lbs of paper)
4.
Insulate
a.
Wrap a home hot-water heater in insulating material (typical CO
2
reduction = 1,200 lbs
CO
2
/year for electric heaters; 400 lbs CO
2
/year for gas heaters)
b.
Insulate the attic of a house (for a 6-room house, typical CO
2
reduction is 1,800 lbs
CO
2
/year if oil heated; 1,390 lbs CO
2
/year if gas heated; 430 lbs CO
2
/year if electricity
heated/cooled)
5.
Reduce hot water use
a.
Wash clothes in cold water (typical CO
2
reduction = 250 lbs CO
2
/person per year with
an electric hot water heater; 110 lbs CO
2
/person per year with gas)
b.
Install a low-flow showerhead (typical CO
2
reduction = 225 lbs CO
2
/person per year
with an electric hot water heater; 99 lbs CO
2
/person per year with gas)
c.
Turn hot water heater down by 10 degrees (typical CO
2
reduction = 240 lbs CO
2
/ year
with an electric hot water heater; 106 lbs CO
2
/year with gas)
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6.
Trees
a.
Plant trees (60 lbs CO
2
saved/tree)
b.
Plant shade trees on the east, south, or west side of a house to reduce air conditioning
(600 lbs/tree)
7.
Air conditioning (reduction values are based on a single-family detached home)
Use kwh conversion from
Part B
a.
Raise thermostat by 1
o
F (400 kwh/year)
b.
Shade windows with white drapes, blinds, reflective film, or awning (400 kwh)
c.
Paint roof white (1,200 kwh)
8.
Purchases
a.
Trade in your car for one with better mpg (about 700 lbs CO
2
for each extra mpg)
(adjust your car calculation from above)
b.
Buy new energy-efficient refrigerator (1,000 lbs CO
2
/year)
c.
Buy new air conditioner with SEER of 12 instead of 8 (3,700 lbs CO
2
/year)
9.
Donate money to preserve tropical rainforests
a.
$100/acre; 240,000 lbs CO
2
per acre (one-time reduction only)
This list is not exhaustive! There are many other ways to reduce your carbon footprint, including
using reusable items, consuming a more plant-rich diet, etc.
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