Chapter 18

Alternative Energy
and the Environment

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Introduction to Alternative Energy
Sources
• Alternative Energy
– Renewable and nonrenewable energy resources that are
alternatives to the fossil fuels
• Renewable Energy
– Alternative energy sources, such as solar, water, wind and
biomass, that are more or less continuously made available in a
time framework useful to people
• Nonrenewable Energy
– Alternative energy sources, including nuclear and geothermal,
that are dependent on fuels or a resource that may be used up
much faster than it is replenished by natural processes

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Solar Energy
• Passive Solar Energy Systems
– Direct use of solar energy through architectural design
to enhance or take advantage of natural changes in solar
energy that occur throughout the year without requiring
mechanical power
• Active Solar Energy Systems
– Direct use of solar energy that requires mechanical
power; usually consists of pumps and other machinery
to circulate air, water or other fluids from solar
collectors to heat sink where the heat may be stored
Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
• Solar Collectors: provide space heating or hot water

• Photovoltaic: converts sunlight directly into electricity

• Power Towers: type of solar energy system

• Solar Ponds: generate low-temperature water

• Ocean Thermal Conversion: involves using the ocean

as a giant solar collector

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Hydrogen
• Fuel generated by the sun
• Fuel cells: uses and stores hydrogen

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Water Power
• A form of stored solar energy
• One of the world’s oldest and most
common energy sources
• Sources vary in size

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Botkin and Keller
Environmental Science 5e
 Tidal Power
• Form of water utilizing ocean tides in
places where favorable topography allows
for construction of a power plant

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Wind Power
• Alternative energy source that has been
used for centuries
• More recently thousands of windmills have
been installed to produce electric energy

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Biomass Energy
• Energy that is recovered from biomass,
which is organic material such as plant and
animal waste
• Sources of Biomass
• Biomass Energy and the Environment
• Future of Biomass

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e
 Geothermal Energy
• Natural heat from the interior of the Earth
that is converted to heat buildings and
generate electricity

Botkin and Keller

Environmental Science 5e