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Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 7/e

William P. Cunningham, University of Minnesota
Mary Ann Cunningham, Vassar College
Barbara Woodworth Saigo, St. Cloud State University

Sustainable Energy

Essay Quiz


1		Explain the basis for this statement: "The cheapest source of new energy supplies for the U.S. is from energy conservation."



2		What are the main points in support of a fundamental shift away from fossil fuels to a reliance on renewable energy sources?



3		Explain why each of these actions would be energy wise in a cool climate: a. Locating an attached garage on the north side of the house. b. Planting deciduous trees but not evergreens on the south side of the house.



4		Planting lots of trees on the lawn of a house located in a place with hot summers would be energy wise. Why?



5		If gas costs $1.10 a gallon and car pooling to work and school saves you 1,000 gallons a year, carpooling would save you (a)$ over the first year and (b)$ after five years.



6		Make a separate list of the things you consciously do now to save energy in relation to each of these areas: a. home heating b. water heating c. electrical appliances d. transportation



7		The text presents a model energy future for the United States in 2050. It represents a fundamental shift in energy sources compared to current patterns. Summarize those changes.



8		Some national leaders feel that because of the importance of energy to our society, our current inefficiencies in energy use, our dependence on foreign oil, and the environmental pollution currently related to energy use, the United States needs a national energy plan. Assume that the President has assigned you the task of producing such a plan. a. What are some of the important issues you feel such a plan should address? b. Outline how you think the issues should be addressed. In other words, what kinds of changes would your plan call for? c. What kinds of people, groups, or organizations might oppose your ideas, and why?



9		A young couple, Bob and Sue, both work in the central city. They live a half-mile away from their jobs. They are disgusted to learn that their property taxes are several hundred dollars higher than those their friends pay on a similar house in the third-tier suburbs. Bob and Sue decide that, in order to save enough money to afford a baby, they need to escape the higher city taxes by moving to a house in the suburbs. Assume they sell their old house for the same price they pay for their new one, which is 20 miles away from work. Evaluate the wisdom of their move from a strictly financial perspective.



10		Summarize the arguments for moving from fossil fuel dependence to energy conservation and the alternative, renewable energy sources, as a national energy strategy.



11		Industrial societies are tremendous consumers of energy. In fact, the average energy consumption per person per day in the United States is over 250,000 calories. Only 2,000 or so are expended by the person's body for walking, thinking, seeing, and the like. How are all those extra calories used? Some you use directly, such as the gas you burn in your car. But much is due to indirect energy use. For example, a large amount of energy was used by others to make your car. Construct your personal energy budget for today. Divide a piece of paper into two columns. In the left-hand column, list the specific actions you took in sequence, starting from the moment you got out of bed. In the right-hand column, identify the energy expenditure associated directly or indirectly with that action. (Most will be indirect.) Ground Rules: (1) Skip actions and energy involving just the body itself—i.e., the calories your muscles used to walk across the bedroom floor. (2) Stop when you have 20 different examples of indirect energy expenditures on your behalf by others. Note: You may reach that limit before you have finished with the first 5 minutes of your day.



12		What is your response to this statement: "We can't afford a shift to alternative energy. It would cost too many jobs".

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