Earth's Energy

Energy Resources

• According to the law of conservation of energy, energy is neither created or destroyed.
• Renewable resources can be replaced at the rate they are being used.
• Nonrenewable resources are available in limited amounts or are being used faster than they can be replaced.

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

• Coal, oil and natural gas are all fossil fuels formed from the remains of once living organisms.
• Coal is our largest source of energy for producing electricity.
• Mining and using coal produce many environmental impacts, including carbon dioxide emissions and acid rain.
• Oil and natural gas are important sources of energy for many types of vehicles and uses in our homes and industry.
• Nuclear energy is produced by splitting atoms. It also produces radioactive wastes that are very dangerous for many years.
• Fossil fuels are nonrenewable sources of energy that produce environmental damage.

Renewable Energy Resources

• Solar energy, water power, wind power, biomass energy and geothermal energy are renewable energy sources.
• Solar energy can be used either by passively storing and holding the sun’s heat, converting it to electricity or concentrating it.
• There are many ways to use the energy of moving water including hydroelectric dams.
• Wind power uses the energy of moving air to turn turbines.
• Biomass energy uses renewable materials like wood or grains to produce energy.
• Geothermal energy uses heat from deep within the earth to heat homes or produce steam that turns turbines.