Smart TECH (Renewable vs Nonrenewable Resources)

Renewable vs Nonrenewable Resources

Renewable Resources

Can regenerate if they are alive OR can be replenished by biochemical cycles if they are non-living.

Examples of Renewable resources

hydropower (water), sunlight (solar), geothermal heat, biomass (plants and animals), wind, biofuels

Nonrenewable resources

Cannot be regenerated or replenished by natural processes. Once used up, they are gone forever.

Examples of Nonrenewable resources

minerals, metals, fossil fuels (petroleum or crude oil, natural gas, coal), uranium

Can renewable resources become non-renewable?

Yes. If they are used up faster than they can be replenished.

Ex. Trees; If we cut them down faster than we grow them, trees become NONRENEWABLE.

Petroleum (crude oil)

Fossil fuel for cars, trucks and jets

Wind

Energy from moving air

Biomass

Energy from plants, wood, waste and garbage

Uranium

Energy from splitting atoms

Propane

Portable fossil fuel gas used in cooking and in grills.

Solar

Energy in rays from the sun

Geothermal

Energy from heat inside the earth

Hydropower

Energy from flowing water

Coal

Black rock burned to make electricity

Natural gas

Fossil fuel gas moved by pipeline