Nonrenewable vs. Renewable Resources

SOL: ES.7

GOALGOAL To be able to distinguish between renewable

and nonrenewable resources and list advantages/disadvantages of each.

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

Nonrenewable Resources

When they are used up, they cannot be replaced by nature

About 92% of the energy consumed in the United states is comes from non renewable energy sources.

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

Nonrenewable Resource Examples

1. Fossil Fuels Coal Oil Natural Gas

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

Nonrenewable Resource Examples

2. Minerals- mined, dug out of rocks and soil (Metals, gemstones)

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

Advantages of Nonrenewable Resource

1. Easily mined, Easily transported, Easily Refined, and Easily used.

2. Extremely cheap

3. Everyone uses them

Nonrenewable Nonrenewable ResourcesResources

Disadvantages of Nonrenewable Resource

1. Limited supply leads to them being more expensive in the future.

2. Harmful to the environment when they are mined.

3. Harmful to the environment when they are burned.

Coal, natural gas, oil, and gasoline are all fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. This causes global warming due to the greenhouse effect. Rising sea level, desertification, shortage of food and water, etc.

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources Renewable Resources Resources that are continuously

replaced by nature

Makes up 8% of energy usage in the United States.

Most renewable resources go towards making electricity.

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources Renewable Resource

Examples 1. Wind

2. Water (hydroelectric power)

3. Geothermal

4. Tides

5. Solar

6. Biofuels

7. Nuclear (Nuclear is sometimes considered non-renewable because Uranium comes from rocks and is therefore limited).

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources Advantages of

Renewable Resources 1. Unlimited supply

2. Generally Clean: Do not release Carbon Dioxide but nuclear waste is harmful.

3. Fairly cheap

4. Most are just as good as non-renewable energy sources at creating electricity and running our vehicles.

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources Disadvantages of

Renewable Resources 1. Wind turbines can kill birds and bats.

People don’t like looking them.

2. Nuclear energy leaves nuclear waste, which is radioactive (causes cancer).

3. Geothermal energy is not available everywhere (only in volcanic areas such as Iceland).

4. Energy from tides not easily transported inland.

5. Cars would have to be reengineered to support biofuels.

Hydroelectric dams force fish to be blocked from potential breeding areas.

Pair ActivityPair Activity Nonrenewable resources include

Oil Coal Natural Gas

See if you can come up with atleast 3 more resources that the Earth provides us with (either renewable or nonrenewable)