Renewable Energy

Question 1

Renewable Energy (%) in the US Now?

Answer 1

12%

Question 2

Renewable energy percentage in California

Answer 2

36%

Question 3

Renewable energy in the US throughout the years

Answer 3

USA 2006 2016
Wind 4% 20%
Solar 1% 6%

Question 4

Hydropower Benefits and Trade Offs

Answer 4

-easy to maintain a dam
-cheap to operate, expensive to build
-sediment runoff gets stuck behind the dam until the dam can no longer be used
-warms water which impacts ecology and biodiversity

Question 5

Geothermal Benefits and Trade Offs

Answer 5

-reliable source of energy
-small land foot print
-usable for large and small-scale installations
-only a few places around the world where geothermal can actually be practiced (by volcanoes)
-high initial costs
-surface instability

Question 6

Solar Benefits and Trade Offs

Question 7

Wind Energy Benefits and Trade Offs

Answer 7

-no greenhouse gas emissions
-complaints that wind farms are ugly
-hard to store energy, too much wind generates more energy that can be stored
-0.25 million birds killed

Question 8

Ethanol Benefits and Trade Offs

Answer 8

-little waste, fewer landfills
-burns clean, less toxic, can blend ethanol with gasoline to make gas cleaner
-wood is renewable
-biodiesel: cleaner than gas and better mileage
-burning wood releases CO2
-to make ethanol you use 1 gallon of gas to make ¾ gallon of ethanol
-monoculture for corn

Question 9

Hydrogen fuel cells: What are they? How do they work?

Answer 9

take hydrogen and mix it with oxygen and get energy

Question 10

LEED buildings, what are they?

Answer 10

certifies buildings based on how sustainable they are

Question 11

NRDC (Nation Resource Defense Council) Address

Answer 11

1314 2nd Street, Santa Monica

Question 12

NRDC Characteristics (4)

Answer 12

1. 98 % of its materials were recycled from the previous building. 100 % recycled or recyclable materials.
2. 70 % less water than a standard building of its size.
3. cut consumption of electricity nearly 60% by maximizing natural light and using efficient fixtures and appliances, task lighting, dimmable electronic ballasts and
   occupancy sensors.
4. In addition, the building generates 20 percent of its electricity needs via rooftop photovoltaic cells.

Question 13

What is smurf in Santa Monica?

Answer 13

a recycling facility that creates clean water from runoff
Santa Monica Urban Runoff Facility