Developing an Energy Plan

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Energy and Conservation:

The law of conservation of energy states that during an ordinary chemical change, there is no detectable increase or decrease in quantity. Energy is neither created or destroyed, but can change its form. Energy is part of the abiotic, nonliving component of the biosphere, with the ability to do work. All energy can be defined as kinetic (energy due to motion) or potential (energy in storage). Different forms of energy are: heat, electrical energy, light, or chemical.

Energy resources are classified as nonrenewable, renewable, or perpetual. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy resources with a finite supply. The replacement of nonrenewable sources is slower than the rate of consumption. Renewable resources are replaced at a rate at which supplies are not depleted. Perpetual resources are considered inexhaustible. It is an alternative to fossil fuels.

Energy is converted from one form to another. This conversion of energy involves degrading a higher form to a lower quality form. For example, heat is released with all conversions, therefore, the net efficiency is always less than 100%.

All fossil fuels are made of carbon and hydrogen. Oil, coal, and natural gas are remains of organic matter. The conversion process is still used, but is very slow. This is why fossil fuels are called nonrenewable and finite.

Pros and Cons

Fossil Fuels:
Fossil fuels are located in various places. There is not just one reliable source to extract fossil fuels. Some are readily available but over produced, while others are extremely hard to access and not economically feasible to extract.
Coal is made predominantly of carbon. It has small traces of other elements such as; nitrogen, sulfur, and hydrogen. Coal mining produces acid that drains into the water systems. Strip mining causes soil erosion. Coal combustion releases sulfur and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Oil production adds to carbon risks due to the potential for an oil spill.
Natural gas contains a large amount of methane. Petroleum, like other fossil fuels, releases pollutants; sulfur, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide. Extraction and processing requires large amounts of water and produces high amounts of waste.

There are some ...