U6_RD1_Patterns+of+Energy+Use

Dependence on Fossil and Nuclear Fuels
- Modern society relies heavily on fossil (coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuels for energy.
- Benefits include healthcare, comfortable living, travel, and food abundance, which are contingent on accessible fossil and nuclear fuels.
- Adverse societal and environmental costs are significant.

Definition and Origins
- Fossil fuels consist of fossilized remains of plants and animals, releasing carbon that was previously sequestered underground.
- Combustion contributes additional carbon emissions to the atmosphere.
Pollution and Ecological Impact
- Air pollutants from fossil fuel combustion lead to haze, smog, adverse health effects, and alterations to ecosystems.
Extraction Effects
- Fossil fuel extraction can lead to severe ecosystem damage, property destruction, and human casualties.
- Example:
  - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010):
    - Explosion led to 11 deaths, 17 injuries, and an oil spill of 780 million liters, impacting marine life and coastal states.
  - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989):
    - 42 million liters spilled, devastating wildlife and contaminating the shoreline.
Ongoing Environmental Issues
- Oil spills are an ongoing problem, with accidents occurring during extraction, transport, and at refineries.
- Coal mining remains hazardous with past incidents causing numerous fatalities.

Characteristics
- Seen as cleaner than oil/coal, producing fewer particulates and greenhouse gases.
- Still emits carbon dioxide, contributing to greenhouse gas effects.
Production Downsides
- Extraction methods, such as seismic vibration equipment, disrupt soil and groundwater.
- Drilling can contaminate drinking water; pipeline construction can be environmentally disruptive.
- Significant natural gas leakage during extraction and transport is a concern.

Historical Accidents
- Fukushima (2011): Earthquake-induced tsunami damaged reactors, leading to radioactive gas release.
- Chernobyl (1986): Fire and radiation release caused immediate deaths and long-term evacuations; large uninhabited areas remain today.
Waste Management Challenges
- Nuclear power plants produce radioactive waste, with storage being a pressing unresolved issue.

Everyday Energy Applications
- Energy is essential for heating, cooking, lighting, and travel; continuous use averages 10,000 watts per person in the U.S.
- Understanding energy choices and their consequences is crucial for environmental assessment.

Global Energy Use Patterns
- Fossil fuels dominate globally, supplying the majority of energy to developed and developing countries alike.
- Energetic Efficiency Considerations
- Evaluating energy efficiency helps determine the best applications of different energy sources by measuring how effectively resources convert into usable energy.
Types of Energy Resources
- Commercial Energy Sources: Bought and sold (e.g., fossil fuels).
- Subsistence Energy Sources: Gathered for immediate personal needs.
Comparative Energy Consumption
- U.S. consumes nearly five times the world average per capita energy due in part to higher industrialization.
- Developed countries dominate global energy consumption despite only comprising 20% of the population.

Historical Shift in Use
- Dominance of wood shifted to coal by 1875, followed by oil and natural gas in the early 1900s.
- Nuclear energy and hydropower emerged by 1950; coal usage saw a drop in the 1970s due to political/economic factors.
Current U.S. Energy Mix
- Predominantly fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal), with a growing focus on alternatives.