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Alternative Energy Sources (February 21, 2003, Two)

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Program Summary

We are well aware of the problems of using fossil fuels as energy—they’re dirty, non-renewable, and getting expensive. This week Ira and his guests explored the move toward using hydrogen fuel cells in cars; let’s look at other natural sources of energy that have great potential.

The primary sources of energy on Earth are biomass, wind, water, solar, fossil fuels, and geothermal. None of these resources is new; in fact, humans have been using them for heat, light, and power for thousands of years. But as the world became more and more dependent on cheap and readily available fossil fuels, traditional methods of energy production, such as windmills and waterwheels, fell by the wayside except in underdeveloped nations. Now, however, scientists are returning to ancient methods to help solve the problems that have arisen from using fossil fuels.

Guests

Related Links and Resources

For Discussion:

• How does a windmill produce power? A water wheel?
• What form of alternative energy do you think is most cost-effective?
• Does your family use alternative energy? How?
• How do you think you could save power and money in your house?
• Would you convert to alternative energy to preserve the environment even if it cost more than conventional powe

Activities

Wind in the willows. If you’ve ever experienced a tornado or hurricane or the like, you know how powerful the wind can be. Windmills have been used for centuries to power grinding stones (the Dutch are particularly famous for their windmills). Now we are learning to harness the wind’s energy to produce electricity.

Water wizards. It’s not called the Mighty Mississippi for nothing. Water is incredibly forceful. In fact,80 percent of the electricity produced in the American Northwest comes from water. For good lesson plans on hydroelectricity, go to Nature of Water Power from the Foundation of Water Energy Education.

Here comes the sun. Solar energy is plentiful and the easiest to put to work. Millions of people have installed solar collection panels on their roofs to produce electricity and lower their bills. Users can actually watch their electric meters run backwards! CNNfyi offers a well-done lesson plan revolving around an April 13, 2002 news story about solar energy in California (Solar Power Takes Root in California).

It’s a gas. Did you know that “off-gassing” from livestock also contributes to the greenhouse effect? That’s because animal gas (and ours, for that matter!), contains methane, the largest component of natural gas, an important energy source. Natural gas is obtained from naturally occurring deposits in the earth, but, like oil, it is non-renewable in that form. Many villages around the world have long put animal “deposits” to good use by collecting it in containers and using the resulting methane for power. Now there are actually a few companies who produce containers for commercial use. Think it’ll catch on? Find out about one such company at Methane Gas from Organic Waste.

Watt’s up? Students can become watt watchdogs. Watt Watchers of Texas has put together many entertaining activities that get kids involved in monitoring and improving energy use.

Use the search box below to perform a Google search within any of the specifc sites or general domains mentioned in this Activities section.

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