Unit 6.2 - Global Energy Consumption

Question 1

Develpoed vs developing countries

Answer 1

• developed nations use more energy on a per capita basis, but developed nations use more energy in total
• the average US resident uses 5x as much energy as other nations
• Developing nations are still industrializing and population is still growing rapidly
  - it will also increase on a per/person basis as their economies industrialize andr esidents achieve higher stndards of living

Question 2

Fossil Fuels: Most used energy source

Answer 2

• fossil fuels are by far the most common fuel source globally
  - oil -> gasoline = main fuel for vehicles
  - coal = main fuel for electricty generation
  - natural gas = secondary fuel for electricity generation and main fuel for heating
• hydroelectricity energy are second largest source
  - water spins a turbine which generates electricity
• Nuclear is the third largest source
  - uranium fission releases hear to turn water into steam to turn a turbine to generate electricity

Question 3

Development Increases Fossil Fuel Consumption

Answer 3

• many residents of less developedc nations depend on subsistence fuels - biomass that they can eaisly be gathered/purchased
• economic development -> affluence (wealth) -> higher per capita GDP -> energy use
• As developing nations develop, fossil fuel consumption will increase
  - oil-> gasoline for vehicles
  - coal and naturl gas -> electricity
  - electricity demand for homes and manufacturing

Question 4

Facotrs that affect energy source use

Answer 4

• availability - fossil fuel use depends on discovered reserves and accessibility of these reserves
  - use of fossil fuels varies heavilu with availability
• Price - fossil suel prices fluctuate dramatically with discovery of new reserves or depletion of existing ones
  - frackign opens new natural gas reserves, increasing availability, decreasing price, increasing use

Question 5

Factors that affect energy source use

Answer 5

• government regulation - government can mandate certain energy source mixes
• government cannot directly raise or lower prices of energy sources
• government can use:
  - taxes increases to discourage companies from building fossil fuel power plants
  - rabtes or tax credits to ecourage companies building renewable energy power plants