APES - Renewable Energy

gasohol

A mixture of gasoline and alcohol that is used as a fuel

Biodiesel

a biofuel intended as a substitute for diesel.

hydroelectric power

Electricity generated by flowing water

fish ladder

a stair-like structure that allows migrating fish to get around a dam

passive collection

Systems that do not make use of any externally powered, moving parts, such as circulation pumps, to move heated water or air.

active collection

the use of devices, such as solar panels, to collect, focus, transport, or store solar energy.

photovoltaic cells

a solar energy cell, usually made from silicon, that collects solar rays to generate electricity

nacelle

The housing on top of a wind turbine that contains the generator and other equipment

turbine

A device with blades that can be turned by water, wind, steam, or exhaust gas from combustion that turns a generator in an electricity-producing plant

wind farm

area where many windmills use wind to generate electricity

geothermal energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.

hydrogen cell

generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen

CAFE Standards (Corporate Average Fuel Economy)

sets standards for car companies for mpg

renewable resources

Any natural resource that can replenish itself in a relatively short period of time, usually no longer than the length of a human life.

energy

The ability to do work or cause change

kinetic energy

the energy an object has due to its motion

potential energy

Energy that is stored and held in readiness

energy efficiency

The percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work

radiant /solar energy

energy carried by an electromagnetic wave

Conduction

The direct transfer of heat from one substance to another substance that it is touching.

convection

Process by which, in a fluid being heated, the warmer part of the mass will rise and the cooler portions will sink.

energy quality

the ease with which an energy source can be used for work

energy units

Joules (J)

Power units are

Watts

first and second laws of thermodynamics

The first law, also known as Law of Conservation of Energy, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of any isolated system always increases.

Net-useful energy

the total amount of useful energy available from an energy resource over its lifetime minus the amount of energy used in extracting it and delivering it to the end user.

Biomass

Any carbon-based, biologically derived fuel source such as wood, manure, charcoal, or bagasse grown for use as a biofuel