Natural+Resource+Sustainability

__Important Concepts __
 * Sustainability** is the ability to ensure availability for future generations. It is the concept that every generation should meet its energy needs without compromising the energy needs of future generations. Energy sustainability focuses on long-term energy strategies and policies that ensure adequate energy to meet today’s needs, as well as tomorrow’s.


 * Energy Efficiency** is the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function.

Examples = Fluorescent vs. Incandescent Energy Star, sponsored by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, claims that if everyone American home would replace one of their incandescent bulbs with a compact fluorescent bulb, the United States would have saved enough energy to light more than 300 million homes for a year. Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) use 75% less energy than that of an incandescent. (Energy Star)

One way to increase a natural resource's sustainability is by decreasing your use of its natural resource. Humans have either found an alternative to the natural resources or try to create more of it.

In the case of paper, scientists have found a way to create rock paper - 80% calcium carbonate and 20% polymer (Laumer, 2006)

__ When technology is combined with the goal of sustainability __ In recent decades, scientists have tried to extract their energy beyond that of fossil fuels, since the amount of fossil fuels are planet has is diminishing, and the by-products of fossil fuels are carbon dioxide and sulfur emissions. Some other fields were hydroelectric, biomass, nuclear, solar, etc. Each one of the following diversify our energy supply.

__**Hydroelectric**__ A hydroelectric dam's fuel is technically, the flow of water. It is driven by the principle of the hydrologic cycle. Therefore, it is a renewable and unlimited resource. It can convert 90% of the potential and kinetic energy into electricity, one of the highest ratios. It can fluctuate how much energy it can harness and output. The reservoir built by the dam provides a new habitat and a huge fresh water supply, which ecosystems and farmers can depend on. Its resources can be drawn from easily for irrigation and other purposes. The dam prevents flooding, and regulates water flow. The reservoirs provide recreational opportunities such as kayaking, water-skiing, fishing, etc. It does not air pollute, nor does it have any toxic by-products.

R&D - Wave Energy, Hydrokinetic Energy, Constructed Waterways, Tidal Energy Cons - Disrupts nature's process, ruin original habitats, kill off animal and plant populations

In the case of fuel, scientists have tried to use vegetable oil, corn oil and even algae to fuel cars and automobiles Vegetable oil, corn oil and other types of agricultural based products that is made into a fuel source is called biodiesel. Biodiesel was created, like any other renewable source, as a way to assuage our use of other resources. Petroleum is a nonrenewable resource, therefore it is limited. __** Biomass **__ In the case of fuel, scientists have tried to use vegetable oil, corn oil and even algae to fuel cars and automobiles. Vegetable oil, corn oil and other types of agricultural based products that is made into a fuel source is called biodiesel. Biodiesel was created, like any other renewable source, as a way to assuage our use of other resources. Petroleum is a nonrenewable resource, therefore it is limited. __** Nuclear**__ The power of nuclear energy is vast. One kilogram of uranium is equivalent to 100,000 kilograms of oil. And unlike oil and other fossil fuels, nuclear energy does not emit any carbon dioxide or sulfur emissions - main ingredients for greenhouse effect and acid rain. "According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, U.S. nuclear power plants prevent 5.1 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 2.4 million tons of nitrogen oxide, and 164 million metric tons of carbon from entering the earth's atmosphere each year" (American Nuclear Society). The amount of radiation emitted, however, is very small compared to normal ambient radiation. Most workers of nuclear power plants are exposed to similar amounts of radiation to other workers in other profession. No evidence, small amount, effects. Also, nuclear power plants can be situated anywhere unlike other methods of energy. Cohen wrote in the American Journal of Physics that there is enough uranium to last 5 billion years given that 6500 tons are used annually. (American Nuclear Society)

Cons - the waste from the nuclear power plant is a big issue. The waste can go through containment, treatment, reduction and reprocessing (recycling). Technology has developed a way to separate reusable fuel from highly radioactive elements. (American Nuclear Society) Heating has always been here since the beginning of time. The United States Department of Energy has focused its R&D into solar thermal technology, and one branch specifically known as concentrated solar power (CSP). Concentrated Solar Power is the idea of using configurated mirrors to reflect the suns rays and transfer the solar energy into high-temperature heat. The heat will generate electricty in a steam generator. The three types of CSP are trough systems, dish/engine systems, and power towers. (Solar Energy Technologies Program)
 * __Solar[[image:AB.jpg width="330" height="363" align="right" caption="(Solar Energy Technology Program, 2007)"]]__**

Another branch of solar thermal technology is photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cells are what most people think as solar cells and solar panels. It has very little environmental impact to our world (Solar Energy Technologies Program, 2007). It is made from crystalline silicon and derives its energy from the flow of electrons (current) which produces electricity. It is based on the idea of electrons filling and leaving holes in the solar cell. Solar thermal energy has proved to be an unreliable and insufficient resource at the moment. Many factors affect the distribution of sunlight such as time of day, time of year, and weather, etc. (Solar Energy Technologies Program, 2007)



__Future:__ Electricity will always be in our life and for future generations. Where we gain our electricity might change in future generations. Fossil fuels will not stay forever and the supply is diminishing everyday. Scientists have focused on this problem and turned their efforts to build technology where we can harness our energy and electricty from other places such as uranium, water flow, and the sun.

As people grow more aware of their surroundings and the happenings in their surroundings, the news that our resources will be completely depleted scares the human population. Since the early nineteenth century, humans have been trying to conserve and moderate their use of natural resources. This attitude later develops into an ideal that humans need to protect their world because we only have one Earth. We try to conserve:
 * Plastic
 * Aluminum
 * Paper
 * Scrap Metal
 * Glass
 * Oil
 * Organic Matter

[[image:G.gif width="351" height="265" align="left" caption="("Solid Waste Recycling", 2006)"]]One method of conservation we have used is recycling
Waste Management is a key recycle supporter. Waste Management says that it recycles 5.5 million tons of recyclable material each year.

Recycling is not only beneficial in that it conserves our resources but it also helps us limit our waste. Without recycling, our garbage and waste would end up in landfills, which are expensive and controversial. By recycling, we limit our waste and allow us to keep our beautiful land. Recycling material also saves us energy. Nearly all the time, it is easier for to make a product from recycled material than raw materials ("Solid Waste Recycling", 2006).

Recycling is stressed more and more each day through education and also media such as the news and public announcements. The trend for recycling has been catching on.

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