Florida International University

EVR 1001L

 
    
Objectives
 Understand the pros and cons of different mechanisms of electricity generation
 Introduce the main environmental issues related to the energy sector
 Create awareness of our carbon footprint
Introduction
We have come to depend on electricity for most things in our daily lives. Various methods are used
for converting different forms of energy into electricity, but all of them have associated
technological, safety, and environmental challenges. There are currently two main methods for
converting certain energy types into electricity: creating steam using non-renewable resources and
transforming the energy of renewable resources.
Non-Renewable resources are those that take geologic time to replenish naturally so their amount is
limited in a human lifetime. E.g.: oil, gas, and coal
Renewables are those which continuously renew in a short period of time and can be used indefinitely
when managed properly in a human lifetime. E.g.: wind, sunlight, tidal energy, biomass, and geothermal.
Special case: uranium used in nuclear power plants is regarded as a non-renewable because it is a mineral
found in the Earth’s crust, but the energy that is released by its atomic decay is considered renewable.
Industry and manufacturing are the largest users of energy in the US economy. After transportation, the next
largest is the residential sector. The rates at which all residents consume energy add up and becomes very
significant at a national level. The US is the largest energy resources consumer per capita in the world and the
largest source is petroleum.
https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=FL#:~:text=Solar%20energy%20and%20biomass
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