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  1. Discuss the major resources and environmental problems of urban areas. 

    1. What were some of the factors leading to urban sprawl?

      1. Not enough space in cities

      2. Increased reliance on vehicles, cheap gas

      3. Expanded roads

      4. Suburban schools

      5. More space/peace

      6. Costs of city living

    2. What are some advantages of urban settlement?

      1. Mass transit (space efficient, less emissions)

      2. Compact (short travel times, more convenient)

      3. Walking and biking (healthy, less emmissions)

      4. Decreased per capita use of local resources

    3. What are the disadvantages of urban settlement?

      1. Leads to water infrastructure projects, disrupting ecosystems and the water cycle

      2. Saltwater intrusion (aquifers)

      3. Impermeable surfaces (less groundwater recharge, runoff)

      4. Impacts the carbon cycle (animal production waste, smoke/smog)

      5. Urban Sprawl

      6. Urban heat islands


  1. Describe methods used for planning and controlling urban growth.

    1. What are ways to decrease the use of cars?  What are some alternatives?

      1. Extend mass transit for commuters out to sprawl/suburban areas, remove parking areas, congestion charges (pay to enter city center)

      2. Alternatives: Mass transit (trains, buses) and zero-emissions transit (walking, biking)

    2. How can a city control the use of land in the community?

      1. Zoning:  Dividing a city into different zones with specific rules regarding building height, density, and uses

      2. Require permits

      3. Establish conservation areas

      4. Use smart growth principles

    3. What is smart growth and what are its advantages?

      1. Definition: Urban planning promoting sustainable development in compact, walkable areas to prevent urban sprawl

      2. Advantages: Decreases urban sprawl, minimizes land use, decreases air and water pollution, convenient

    4. How can smart growth be incorporated into a city plan?

      1. Subsidize mass transit

      2. Build bike paths

      3. Create tax incentives for  living in city

      4. Improve infrastructure

      5. Expanding vertically

    5. What are ways a city can reduce its heat island effect?

      1. Heat island effect: Impermeable surfaces absorb more radiant heat, so temps become higher

      2. Increase vegetation

    6. Give examples of methods used to preserve open spaces in and around cities.

      1. Community gardens

      2. Parks

      3. Redeveloping brownfields (hazardous materials lead to abandoned buildings)



  1. Discuss the limitations of nonrenewable resources, environmental concerns that will result from these limitations, and innovations to extend our resources. 

    1. Many people are concerned that oil will soon become economically depleted, what evidence supports this belief?

      1. Declining discovery rates

      2. Increasing extraction costs

      3. Growing demand  

    2. What can be done to extend the depletion time (the time until the resource runs out) of a nonrenewable resource?

      1. Improve energy efficiency

      2. Develop new extraction methods

      3. Shift to alternative energy sources

    3. What are alternatives to oil?  Why aren’t wind or nuclear power valid alternatives?

      1. Biofuels, hydrogen fuel, batteries, natural gas

      2. Wind and nuclear aren’t valid alternatives because they mainly generate electricity, while oil is mainly used for transportation

  2. Explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy and mineral resources and why some resources can fall into either category.  Give examples o each type.

    1. What factors determine if a resource is renewable or nonrenewable?

      1. Rate of replenishment vs. rate of use

      2. Source (biotic or abiotic)

      3. Overexploitation?

      4. Environmental impact

    2. Name four renewable and three nonrenewable resources.  What are some resources that can fall into either category?

      1. Renewable: Hydroelectric, waves, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy, biomass (wood, manure, corn stocks)

      2. Nonrenewable: Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear

      3. Both: Biomass, geothermal, anything water-related


  1. Describe each type of fossil fuel.  Explain how it forms, is removed, and processed.  Discuss where it is found and the supply of the fossil fuel. 

    1. What is crude oil?  Describe the geology that would trap petroleum.

      1. Crude oil: Unrefined petroleum, a mixture of hydrocarbons found deep underground.

      2. Petroleum is trapped in geological formations where impermeable layers like shale or salt prevent it from rising, while porous rock layers like sandstone or limestone store the oil beneath.

    2. What are ways of removing oil from the ground?

      1. Pumping

      2. Offshore drilling

      3. Flushing out w/ water or steam

      4. Fracking (using pressurized liquid to crack bedrock and release oil or gas)

    3. What are potential environmental impacts of oil drilling and transport?

      1. Oil spills, habitat destruction, water contamination, and air pollution.

    4. How is oil refined?  What types of materials can be produced during the refining process?  

      1. Oil is refined by heating crude oil to separate it into different components through distillation. 

      2. Products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, and asphalt, along with byproducts like sulfur and petrochemical materials.

    5. Where is most of the world’s oil?

      1. Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq

    6. How many people are in the USA?  How much oil does the USA use?  

      1. 335 million people, but use 26% of oil

    7. Discuss the benefits and concerns of drilling for oil in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge).

      1. Adv: Less reliance on foreign imports, lower prices

      2. Dis: Affects migration paths, displaces native fauna, potential spills

    8. Describe oil sand deposits.

      1. A mixture of sand, water, clay, and bitumen, a heavy form of crude oil.

    9. Where are the largest deposits of oil sand and what are the problems with extracting oil from these deposits?

      1. Canada (Alberta) and Venezuela

      2. Extraction problems include environmental impact, large water and energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

    10. How does natural gas form and in what type of geologic structures can it be found?

      1. Natural gas forms from the decay of organic matter over millions of years, primarily in sedimentary rock formations like shale, sandstone, and limestone.

    11. What is natural gas used for?

      1. Electricity

      2. Industrial processes (metal processing, refrigeration)

      3. Residential uses (heating, cooking)

    12. What is LPG and how is it used?

      1. LPG = Liquified petroleum gas (propane and butane)

      2. Primarily used for kitchen appliances and engine fuel

    13. What are ways of transporting natural gas?

      1. Pipelines

      2. Cooling it and turning it into LNG for overseas transportation

    14. What are the advantages of natural gas over oil as a fuel source? (there are several)

      1. Produces less CO2

      2. More pure 

    15. What are disadvantages of using natural gas?

      1. Unconventional sources (trapped in permafrost = global warming?)

      2. MAJOR greenhouse effect (because releases methane, which accelerates the effect more than CO2)

      3. Requires pipelines (which go underground or underwater)

    16. What are environmental impacts of mining coal?

      1. Surface destruction, mine tailings, air pollution, habitat destructions (roads being built), water contamination

    17. Where are the largest coal deposits located?

      1. US, Russia, China

    18. What are environmental impacts of burning coal?

      1. CO2 emissions = Greenhouse effect

      2. Sulfur emissions = Acid rain

      3. Smog and particles lead to health issues for humans and animals

    19. What is CTL and how is it useful?  What are the drawbacks?

      1. CTL: Coal to liquid

      2. Adv: Versatile, creates cleaner-burning fuels (diesel), energy security

      3. Dis: Same environmental issues as others, high production cost, less efficient


  1. Explain how the nuclear fuel cycle relates to the true cost of nuclear energy and the disposal of nuclear waste.

    1. Describe the parts of a nuclear reactor and explain how each part functions.

      1. Fuel rods: Contain nuclear fuel that undergoes fission, releasing heat.

      2. Moderator: Slows down neutrons to sustain the fission chain reaction.

      3. Control rods: Absorb neutrons to regulate or stop the chain reaction.

      4. Coolant: Carries away the heat produced by fission to prevent overheating.

      5. Heat exchanger: Transfers heat from the coolant to produce steam.

      6. Turbine: Uses steam to spin and generate electricity.

      7. Containment structure: Protects the reactor and prevents radiation leaks.

    2. What are the methods and safety features used to control the reactor.

      1. Control rods 

      2. Cooling systems

      3. Pressure relief valves

      4. Containment structure

      5. Backup systems like automatic shutdown mechanisms

    3. What element is usually used as fuel at nuclear power plants?

      1. Uranium oxide

    4. How is nuclear waste currently managed?

      1. LL: Specialty facilities above ground storer it, or buried in shallow area

      2. ML: Specially designed containerss stored undeerground

      3. HL: Dry casks in plant sites or deep geological areas

    5. Besides nuclear power plants, what are sources of radioactive waste?

      1. Medical facilities

      2. Research buildings

      3. Nuclear weapons

    6. Nuclear power is the slowest growing energy source in the world, what issues have inhibited the growth of this energy type?

      1. High initial cost

      2. Public safety concerns

      3. Waste storage

      4. Regulatory issues

      5. Proliferation concerns

    7. What is the difference between low-level and high-level radioactive waste?  How is each type created?

      1. Low level: Has small amounts of radiation and comes from materials like contaminated tools, clothing, and medical or research waste

      2. High level: mainly comes from spent nuclear fuel and byproducts of nuclear reactors

    8. What are different options for disposing of high-level waste?  What are some of the issues with putting the waste in Yucca Mountain, NV?

      1. Deep geological repositories

      2. Dry cask storage

      3. Reprocessing (into plutonium or uranium)

      4. Transmutation (experimental)

      5. Political opposition, water contamination concerns, cost, geological uncertainty (exposure to earthquakes)

    9. How long does it take for high-level radioactive waste to become safe?

      1. 10,000 - 240,000 years

    10. You have 180 grams of radioactive material.  It has a half-life of 265 years.  After 1325 years, what mass remains?

      1. Remaining mass= Initial mass×(1/2​)^(Time passed​/half life)

        1. Remaining mass = 180(½)^(1325/265) = 5.625 grams


  1. Describe the issues surrounding the use of nuclear power including advantages and disadvantages.

    1. Describe different ways of handling a nuclear power plant that is no longer useable.

      1. Immediate deconstruction/disposal

      2. Safe enclosure (sealed and monitored for decades, then dismantled)

      3. Entombment (permanently sealed w/ concrete)

    2. What are the benefits of using nuclear power?

      1. Abundant and cheap fuel, low emissions, less air pollution, high output

    3. What are the major nuclear accidents that have occurred worldwide?

      1. Chernobyl

      2. Fukushima (2011) - Due to flooding from tsunami

    4. What is the main type of pollution created by nuclear power plants besides radioactive waste?

      1. Thermal pollution - Large amounts of water needed to cool reactor, when water is released it is warmer


  1. Describe and calculate the effect of changing energy efficiency on the use of energy.

    1. Why is some energy loss unavoidable?

      1. Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy conversions always produce some waste heat

    2. Explain how purchasing expensive, energy-efficient appliances can actually be cheaper in the long run.

      1. Although energy-efficient appliances have higher upfront costs, they save money in the long run by using less electricity and lowering utility bills

    3. What are some common devices that are energy inefficient?

      1. Incandescent light bulbs, old refrigerators, space heaters, and traditional water heaters.

    4. Assume: coal mining is 95% efficient; processing and transport is 80% efficient; a coal burning plant is 35% efficient; transmission of electricity is 90% efficient and an incandescent bulb is 5% efficient.  What is the net energy efficiency of an incandescent bulb powered by coal energy?

      1. Net efficiency = Multiply all percentages , multiply them by 100

      2. Net efficiency = 1.2%

  2. Describe ways to improve energy efficiency. 

    1. What are ways to conserve energy or encourage energy conservation?

      1. Insulation

      2. Remove air leaks

      3. High-efficiency lighting

      4. Electric motors

    2. What is a tiered rate system?

      1. A billing system used by some electric companies in which customers pay higher rates as their use goes up.

    3. Describe a cogeneration power plant.

      1. When electricity and useful heat are produced at the same time from the same energy source. Instead of wasting the heat that is usually lost in power plants, cogeneration systems capture it and use it for heating buildings, water, or industrial processes.

    4. Describe a combined cycle power plant.

      1. Makes electricity more efficiently by using two cycles instead of one. First, it burns fuel (like natural gas) to spin a gas turbine and generate electricity. Then, instead of wasting the hot exhaust gases, it uses them to produce steam, which spins a second turbine to generate even more electricity. 

    5. What is a smart grid?

      1. A smart grid is an upgraded electricity system that uses modern technology to make power delivery more efficient, reliable, and flexible. It can automatically detect problems, adjust to changes in electricity demand, and integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

    6. What are the advantages of using a smart grid?

      1. Less power outages

      2. Saves energy and money

      3. Better environmental impact

      4. Tracking and managing energy use

    7. What are advantages and disadvantages of a hydrogen powered (fuel cell) car?

      1. Adv: No waste, no carbon footprint, quieter, efficient

      2. Dis: Expensive, energy output low, dangerous

    8. List 5 potential improvements (ex. Using solar panels on the roof) to help make a new building “green”.  Describe how each improvement benefits the environment.

      1. Moss walls

      2. High-efficiency appliances

      3. Wood floors

      4. LED light bulbs/ more windows for natural light

      5. Aerogel insulation

    9. What is LEED?

      1. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

  1. Describe the different types of renewable energy and give examples of how each type can be implemented.

    1. Describe the difference between passive and active solar power.

      1. Active: Have mechanisms like energy pumps that convert energy and warm liquids/gases

      2. Passive: Sun shines through windows with southern exposures

    2. Discuss different methods of using solar power to generate electricity.

      1. Active: Heat pumps, reservoirs

      2. Passive: Overhangs, insulation, superwindows

    3. What are pros and cons of using hydropower?

      1. Pros: Clean, inexpensive over time, pairs well with other forms

      2. Cons: Disrupts aquatic ecosystems, forces relocation of people/animals in the area, high initial cost

    4. What is the difference between Run of the River and Water Impoundment systems?

      1. Run of the river: Uses elevation differences to generate power via flowing water

      2. Uses a dam to store water, releasing it when needed through a turbine that generates electricity

    5. What energy source is growing the fastest in the world?

      1. Solar

    6. Where is most wind power currently being used/developed?

      1. China, US, Germany

    7. What are the problems with wind power?

      1. Visual aesthetics, can hurt birds, unpredictable

    8. Describe the different types of biomass fuels and how they are produced.

      1. Biofuels

      2. Biomass plantations - Grow fast growing crops for energy

      3. Crop residues - Leftovers from ag production

      4. Manure

      5. Biogas - Decomposed organic matter

      6. Ethanol (fermentation) -> Methanol (gasification)

    9. Why might gasoline be preferred over liquid biofuels?

      1. Availability, engine compatibility, energy density, infrastructure 

    10. Describe how thermal energy pumps can be used to heat and cool houses that are not near geological hot spots.

      1. Heating: In winter, they extract heat from the ground (which stays warmer than the air) and transfer it inside.

      2. Cooling: In summer, they remove heat from the house and release it into the cooler ground.

    11. How can hot spots be used to produce usable energy?

      1. Hot spots (volcanic areas or geysers) provide natural heat that can be harnessed in geothermal power plants, which work by

        1. Pumping water into underground hot zones, where it turns into steam.

        2. Using the steam to spin turbines and generate electricity.

        3. Recycling the cooled water back underground to continue the process.

    12. What is the main limitation of geothermal energy?

      1. Need a reservoir

      2. Must move every 30-50 yrs

    13. What are three major problems with switching to a hydrogen economy?

      1. Production Challenges – Most hydrogen is made from natural gas, which still releases carbon emissions. Producing "green hydrogen" from water using renewable energy is expensive and inefficient.

      2. Storage and Transportation – Very light gas requiring high pressure or low temperatures to store and transport, making infrastructure costly.

      3. Safety Concerns – Highly flammable and requires careful handling


What are photovoltaic cells? What are their main advantages and disadvantages?

  • Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photoelectric effect. They are typically made from semiconductor materials like silicon.

  • Advantages: Renewable Energy, Low Operating Costs, Environmentally Friendly

  • Disadvantages: Not available at night or cloudy days, high initial $, expensive battery storage


EROEI - Energy Return on Energy Investment 

  • Energy provided by a fuel / Energy required to produce a fuel 


Egypt’s Aswan Dam: What is it and what environmental issues has it had?

  • The Aswan Dam is a large dam located on the Nile River in Egypt, built to control flooding, store water for irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power.

  • Environmental Issues:

  1. Disruption of Ecosystems: Changed the natural flow of the river, affecting fish populations and the fertility of surrounding land.

  2. Sediment Build-up: Traps sediment that would normally enrich farmland downstream, leading to soil depletion.

  3. Water Quality: Water has become stagnant -> increased salinity and algae growth

Relocation of Communities: Thousands of people were displaced when builtDiscuss the major resources and environmental problems of urban areas. 

  1. What were some of the factors leading to urban sprawl?

    1. Not enough space in cities

    2. Increased reliance on vehicles, cheap gas

    3. Expanded roads

    4. Suburban schools

    5. More space/peace

    6. Costs of city living

  2. What are some advantages of urban settlement?

    1. Mass transit (space efficient, less emissions)

    2. Compact (short travel times, more convenient)

    3. Walking and biking (healthy, less emmissions)

    4. Decreased per capita use of local resources

  3. What are the disadvantages of urban settlement?

    1. Leads to water infrastructure projects, disrupting ecosystems and the water cycle

    2. Saltwater intrusion (aquifers)

    3. Impermeable surfaces (less groundwater recharge, runoff)

    4. Impacts the carbon cycle (animal production waste, smoke/smog)

    5. Urban Sprawl

    6. Urban heat islands


  1. Describe methods used for planning and controlling urban growth.

    1. What are ways to decrease the use of cars?  What are some alternatives?

      1. Extend mass transit for commuters out to sprawl/suburban areas, remove parking areas, congestion charges (pay to enter city center)

      2. Alternatives: Mass transit (trains, buses) and zero-emissions transit (walking, biking)

    2. How can a city control the use of land in the community?

      1. Zoning:  Dividing a city into different zones with specific rules regarding building height, density, and uses

      2. Require permits

      3. Establish conservation areas

      4. Use smart growth principles

    3. What is smart growth and what are its advantages?

      1. Definition: Urban planning promoting sustainable development in compact, walkable areas to prevent urban sprawl

      2. Advantages: Decreases urban sprawl, minimizes land use, decreases air and water pollution, convenient

    4. How can smart growth be incorporated into a city plan?

      1. Subsidize mass transit

      2. Build bike paths

      3. Create tax incentives for  living in city

      4. Improve infrastructure

      5. Expanding vertically

    5. What are ways a city can reduce its heat island effect?

      1. Heat island effect: Impermeable surfaces absorb more radiant heat, so temps become higher

      2. Increase vegetation

    6. Give examples of methods used to preserve open spaces in and around cities.

      1. Community gardens

      2. Parks

      3. Redeveloping brownfields (hazardous materials lead to abandoned buildings)



  1. Discuss the limitations of nonrenewable resources, environmental concerns that will result from these limitations, and innovations to extend our resources. 

    1. Many people are concerned that oil will soon become economically depleted, what evidence supports this belief?

      1. Declining discovery rates

      2. Increasing extraction costs

      3. Growing demand  

    2. What can be done to extend the depletion time (the time until the resource runs out) of a nonrenewable resource?

      1. Improve energy efficiency

      2. Develop new extraction methods

      3. Shift to alternative energy sources

    3. What are alternatives to oil?  Why aren’t wind or nuclear power valid alternatives?

      1. Biofuels, hydrogen fuel, batteries, natural gas

      2. Wind and nuclear aren’t valid alternatives because they mainly generate electricity, while oil is mainly used for transportation

  2. Explain the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy and mineral resources and why some resources can fall into either category.  Give examples o each type.

    1. What factors determine if a resource is renewable or nonrenewable?

      1. Rate of replenishment vs. rate of use

      2. Source (biotic or abiotic)

      3. Overexploitation?

      4. Environmental impact

    2. Name four renewable and three nonrenewable resources.  What are some resources that can fall into either category?

      1. Renewable: Hydroelectric, waves, solar power, wind power, geothermal energy, biomass (wood, manure, corn stocks)

      2. Nonrenewable: Coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear

      3. Both: Biomass, geothermal, anything water-related


  1. Describe each type of fossil fuel.  Explain how it forms, is removed, and processed.  Discuss where it is found and the supply of the fossil fuel. 

    1. What is crude oil?  Describe the geology that would trap petroleum.

      1. Crude oil: Unrefined petroleum, a mixture of hydrocarbons found deep underground.

      2. Petroleum is trapped in geological formations where impermeable layers like shale or salt prevent it from rising, while porous rock layers like sandstone or limestone store the oil beneath.

    2. What are ways of removing oil from the ground?

      1. Pumping

      2. Offshore drilling

      3. Flushing out w/ water or steam

      4. Fracking (using pressurized liquid to crack bedrock and release oil or gas)

    3. What are potential environmental impacts of oil drilling and transport?

      1. Oil spills, habitat destruction, water contamination, and air pollution.

    4. How is oil refined?  What types of materials can be produced during the refining process?  

      1. Oil is refined by heating crude oil to separate it into different components through distillation. 

      2. Products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, and asphalt, along with byproducts like sulfur and petrochemical materials.

    5. Where is most of the world’s oil?

      1. Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq

    6. How many people are in the USA?  How much oil does the USA use?  

      1. 335 million people, but use 26% of oil

    7. Discuss the benefits and concerns of drilling for oil in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge).

      1. Adv: Less reliance on foreign imports, lower prices

      2. Dis: Affects migration paths, displaces native fauna, potential spills

    8. Describe oil sand deposits.

      1. A mixture of sand, water, clay, and bitumen, a heavy form of crude oil.

    9. Where are the largest deposits of oil sand and what are the problems with extracting oil from these deposits?

      1. Canada (Alberta) and Venezuela

      2. Extraction problems include environmental impact, large water and energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions.

    10. How does natural gas form and in what type of geologic structures can it be found?

      1. Natural gas forms from the decay of organic matter over millions of years, primarily in sedimentary rock formations like shale, sandstone, and limestone.

    11. What is natural gas used for?

      1. Electricity

      2. Industrial processes (metal processing, refrigeration)

      3. Residential uses (heating, cooking)

    12. What is LPG and how is it used?

      1. LPG = Liquified petroleum gas (propane and butane)

      2. Primarily used for kitchen appliances and engine fuel

    13. What are ways of transporting natural gas?

      1. Pipelines

      2. Cooling it and turning it into LNG for overseas transportation

    14. What are the advantages of natural gas over oil as a fuel source? (there are several)

      1. Produces less CO2

      2. More pure 

    15. What are disadvantages of using natural gas?

      1. Unconventional sources (trapped in permafrost = global warming?)

      2. MAJOR greenhouse effect (because releases methane, which accelerates the effect more than CO2)

      3. Requires pipelines (which go underground or underwater)

    16. What are environmental impacts of mining coal?

      1. Surface destruction, mine tailings, air pollution, habitat destructions (roads being built), water contamination

    17. Where are the largest coal deposits located?

      1. US, Russia, China

    18. What are environmental impacts of burning coal?

      1. CO2 emissions = Greenhouse effect

      2. Sulfur emissions = Acid rain

      3. Smog and particles lead to health issues for humans and animals

    19. What is CTL and how is it useful?  What are the drawbacks?

      1. CTL: Coal to liquid

      2. Adv: Versatile, creates cleaner-burning fuels (diesel), energy security

      3. Dis: Same environmental issues as others, high production cost, less efficient


  1. Explain how the nuclear fuel cycle relates to the true cost of nuclear energy and the disposal of nuclear waste.

    1. Describe the parts of a nuclear reactor and explain how each part functions.

      1. Fuel rods: Contain nuclear fuel that undergoes fission, releasing heat.

      2. Moderator: Slows down neutrons to sustain the fission chain reaction.

      3. Control rods: Absorb neutrons to regulate or stop the chain reaction.

      4. Coolant: Carries away the heat produced by fission to prevent overheating.

      5. Heat exchanger: Transfers heat from the coolant to produce steam.

      6. Turbine: Uses steam to spin and generate electricity.

      7. Containment structure: Protects the reactor and prevents radiation leaks.

    2. What are the methods and safety features used to control the reactor.

      1. Control rods 

      2. Cooling systems

      3. Pressure relief valves

      4. Containment structure

      5. Backup systems like automatic shutdown mechanisms

    3. What element is usually used as fuel at nuclear power plants?

      1. Uranium oxide

    4. How is nuclear waste currently managed?

      1. LL: Specialty facilities above ground storer it, or buried in shallow area

      2. ML: Specially designed containerss stored undeerground

      3. HL: Dry casks in plant sites or deep geological areas

    5. Besides nuclear power plants, what are sources of radioactive waste?

      1. Medical facilities

      2. Research buildings

      3. Nuclear weapons

    6. Nuclear power is the slowest growing energy source in the world, what issues have inhibited the growth of this energy type?

      1. High initial cost

      2. Public safety concerns

      3. Waste storage

      4. Regulatory issues

      5. Proliferation concerns

    7. What is the difference between low-level and high-level radioactive waste?  How is each type created?

      1. Low level: Has small amounts of radiation and comes from materials like contaminated tools, clothing, and medical or research waste

      2. High level: mainly comes from spent nuclear fuel and byproducts of nuclear reactors

    8. What are different options for disposing of high-level waste?  What are some of the issues with putting the waste in Yucca Mountain, NV?

      1. Deep geological repositories

      2. Dry cask storage

      3. Reprocessing (into plutonium or uranium)

      4. Transmutation (experimental)

      5. Political opposition, water contamination concerns, cost, geological uncertainty (exposure to earthquakes)

    9. How long does it take for high-level radioactive waste to become safe?

      1. 10,000 - 240,000 years

    10. You have 180 grams of radioactive material.  It has a half-life of 265 years.  After 1325 years, what mass remains?

      1. Remaining mass= Initial mass×(1/2​)^(Time passed​/half life)

        1. Remaining mass = 180(½)^(1325/265) = 5.625 grams


  1. Describe the issues surrounding the use of nuclear power including advantages and disadvantages.

    1. Describe different ways of handling a nuclear power plant that is no longer useable.

      1. Immediate deconstruction/disposal

      2. Safe enclosure (sealed and monitored for decades, then dismantled)

      3. Entombment (permanently sealed w/ concrete)

    2. What are the benefits of using nuclear power?

      1. Abundant and cheap fuel, low emissions, less air pollution, high output

    3. What are the major nuclear accidents that have occurred worldwide?

      1. Chernobyl

      2. Fukushima (2011) - Due to flooding from tsunami

    4. What is the main type of pollution created by nuclear power plants besides radioactive waste?

      1. Thermal pollution - Large amounts of water needed to cool reactor, when water is released it is warmer


  1. Describe and calculate the effect of changing energy efficiency on the use of energy.

    1. Why is some energy loss unavoidable?

      1. Second Law of Thermodynamics, which states that energy conversions always produce some waste heat

    2. Explain how purchasing expensive, energy-efficient appliances can actually be cheaper in the long run.

      1. Although energy-efficient appliances have higher upfront costs, they save money in the long run by using less electricity and lowering utility bills

    3. What are some common devices that are energy inefficient?

      1. Incandescent light bulbs, old refrigerators, space heaters, and traditional water heaters.

    4. Assume: coal mining is 95% efficient; processing and transport is 80% efficient; a coal burning plant is 35% efficient; transmission of electricity is 90% efficient and an incandescent bulb is 5% efficient.  What is the net energy efficiency of an incandescent bulb powered by coal energy?

      1. Net efficiency = Multiply all percentages , multiply them by 100

      2. Net efficiency = 1.2%

  2. Describe ways to improve energy efficiency. 

    1. What are ways to conserve energy or encourage energy conservation?

      1. Insulation

      2. Remove air leaks

      3. High-efficiency lighting

      4. Electric motors

    2. What is a tiered rate system?

      1. A billing system used by some electric companies in which customers pay higher rates as their use goes up.

    3. Describe a cogeneration power plant.

      1. When electricity and useful heat are produced at the same time from the same energy source. Instead of wasting the heat that is usually lost in power plants, cogeneration systems capture it and use it for heating buildings, water, or industrial processes.

    4. Describe a combined cycle power plant.

      1. Makes electricity more efficiently by using two cycles instead of one. First, it burns fuel (like natural gas) to spin a gas turbine and generate electricity. Then, instead of wasting the hot exhaust gases, it uses them to produce steam, which spins a second turbine to generate even more electricity. 

    5. What is a smart grid?

      1. A smart grid is an upgraded electricity system that uses modern technology to make power delivery more efficient, reliable, and flexible. It can automatically detect problems, adjust to changes in electricity demand, and integrate renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

    6. What are the advantages of using a smart grid?

      1. Less power outages

      2. Saves energy and money

      3. Better environmental impact

      4. Tracking and managing energy use

    7. What are advantages and disadvantages of a hydrogen powered (fuel cell) car?

      1. Adv: No waste, no carbon footprint, quieter, efficient

      2. Dis: Expensive, energy output low, dangerous

    8. List 5 potential improvements (ex. Using solar panels on the roof) to help make a new building “green”.  Describe how each improvement benefits the environment.

      1. Moss walls

      2. High-efficiency appliances

      3. Wood floors

      4. LED light bulbs/ more windows for natural light

      5. Aerogel insulation

    9. What is LEED?

      1. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

  1. Describe the different types of renewable energy and give examples of how each type can be implemented.

    1. Describe the difference between passive and active solar power.

      1. Active: Have mechanisms like energy pumps that convert energy and warm liquids/gases

      2. Passive: Sun shines through windows with southern exposures

    2. Discuss different methods of using solar power to generate electricity.

      1. Active: Heat pumps, reservoirs

      2. Passive: Overhangs, insulation, superwindows

    3. What are pros and cons of using hydropower?

      1. Pros: Clean, inexpensive over time, pairs well with other forms

      2. Cons: Disrupts aquatic ecosystems, forces relocation of people/animals in the area, high initial cost

    4. What is the difference between Run of the River and Water Impoundment systems?

      1. Run of the river: Uses elevation differences to generate power via flowing water

      2. Uses a dam to store water, releasing it when needed through a turbine that generates electricity

    5. What energy source is growing the fastest in the world?

      1. Solar

    6. Where is most wind power currently being used/developed?

      1. China, US, Germany

    7. What are the problems with wind power?

      1. Visual aesthetics, can hurt birds, unpredictable

    8. Describe the different types of biomass fuels and how they are produced.

      1. Biofuels

      2. Biomass plantations - Grow fast growing crops for energy

      3. Crop residues - Leftovers from ag production

      4. Manure

      5. Biogas - Decomposed organic matter

      6. Ethanol (fermentation) -> Methanol (gasification)

    9. Why might gasoline be preferred over liquid biofuels?

      1. Availability, engine compatibility, energy density, infrastructure 

    10. Describe how thermal energy pumps can be used to heat and cool houses that are not near geological hot spots.

      1. Heating: In winter, they extract heat from the ground (which stays warmer than the air) and transfer it inside.

      2. Cooling: In summer, they remove heat from the house and release it into the cooler ground.

    11. How can hot spots be used to produce usable energy?

      1. Hot spots (volcanic areas or geysers) provide natural heat that can be harnessed in geothermal power plants, which work by

        1. Pumping water into underground hot zones, where it turns into steam.

        2. Using the steam to spin turbines and generate electricity.

        3. Recycling the cooled water back underground to continue the process.

    12. What is the main limitation of geothermal energy?

      1. Need a reservoir

      2. Must move every 30-50 yrs

    13. What are three major problems with switching to a hydrogen economy?

      1. Production Challenges – Most hydrogen is made from natural gas, which still releases carbon emissions. Producing "green hydrogen" from water using renewable energy is expensive and inefficient.

      2. Storage and Transportation – Very light gas requiring high pressure or low temperatures to store and transport, making infrastructure costly.

      3. Safety Concerns – Highly flammable and requires careful handling


What are photovoltaic cells? What are their main advantages and disadvantages?

  • Devices that convert sunlight directly into electricity using the photoelectric effect. They are typically made from semiconductor materials like silicon.

  • Advantages: Renewable Energy, Low Operating Costs, Environmentally Friendly

  • Disadvantages: Not available at night or cloudy days, high initial $, expensive battery storage


EROEI - Energy Return on Energy Investment 

  • Energy provided by a fuel / Energy required to produce a fuel 


Egypt’s Aswan Dam: What is it and what environmental issues has it had?

  • The Aswan Dam is a large dam located on the Nile River in Egypt, built to control flooding, store water for irrigation, and generate hydroelectric power.

  • Environmental Issues:

  1. Disruption of Ecosystems: Changed the natural flow of the river, affecting fish populations and the fertility of surrounding land.

  2. Sediment Build-up: Traps sediment that would normally enrich farmland downstream, leading to soil depletion.

  3. Water Quality: Water has become stagnant -> increased salinity and algae growth

Relocation of Communities: Thousands of people were displaced when built

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