Alternate energy sources

1. Alternate Energy

2. Problem & Opportunity
 Several Problems
◦ Air & water pollution
◦ Health effects of pollution
◦ Oil depletion/ imports
◦ Global warming from CO2
 One Solution
◦ Renewable energy sources
cause minimal pollution,
don’t cause global warming
and are locally available

3. Pollution
 US power plants emit 18 million tons of SO2 per
year + NOx, particulates, carbon monoxide,
mercury and lead
 Energy production & use also contribute to Water
pollution
 Houston has been in violation of federal air quality
standards since they began in the 1970’s
 The Houston/Galveston area must be in
compliance by 2007 because we were designated
as a "severe" ozone area.

4. Some Energy Statistics
 The US uses ¼ of
the world’s energy
 The US pays more
than
$5 billion for
imported oil
each month

5. Global Warming
 Throughout history, the earth has
been much colder, and at times
warmer, than it is now
◦ But climate change is occurring 100’s of
times faster than these natural changes
◦ CO2, CH4, N2O, O3 and soot all cause
warming
 Global average air temperature has
risen 1°F in the past 50 years
 But, this has already resulted in
melting ice sheets, migration of
animals and more severe weather

6. What’s the Alternative?
And what’s the hold up?
 Renewable energy
generally cost more than
conventional fossil fuel
energy systems
• Solar 11 - 40 ¢/kWh
depending on the
technology
• Wind 5 - 15 ¢/kWh from
large wind turbines
But what if you consider the big picture?

7. There are lots of Alternatives
 Nuclear
 Hydroelectric
 Wind
 Solar
 Wave
 Tidal
 Geothermal
 Bio-mass
 Helium 3 (from the
moon)

8. Wind
 Wind turbines – modern
windmills have become quite
efficient and cost effective in
windy areas

9. Solar Electric
 Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
panels generate
electricity directly from
sunlight with special
materials
 Solar electricity can
also be generated
from the sun’s heat
instead of burning
fossil fuels

10. ar Thermal
 Heat from the sun can
be used to heat water,
houses, pools, in
industry and to
generate electricity

11. Passive Solar
 Uses sun angles,
shading and
thermal storage
 Daylighting is
using natural
sunlight instead
of electric lights

12. Solar Cookers
 Many different
designs
 Can improve health
& reduce
deforestation in
developing
countries

13. Solar Cars?
 Hybrid and
Electric cars are
coming
 Why not solar
charge them?

14. Water Energy
Hydro-electric, wave, tide

15. Geothermal & Bio-mass

16. A Future Hydrogen Economy?
 Solar energy can
split water into
hydrogen &
oxygen
 A fuel cell can
make electricity
from hydrogen
and oxygen,
making water
 A completely
clean, renewable

17. 2 Last Thoughts
 ELECTRIC CHOICE
 You now have a choice of electric providers
in Texas
 Providers must provide an electricity facts
label, so the source is something you can
consider
 www.powertochoose.com
It has been
estimated that we
can improve the
way we use energy
by a factor of 4!