Non-Renewable Energy and Conservation of Energy
Environmental problems with the use of non-renewables
1. During the process of combustion , all three fossil fuels ( oil, gas and coal ) release Carbon Dioxide which is causing The Greenhouse Effect.
2. The products of the combustion of coal and oil also cause Acid Rain. This is now being reduced by cleaning up the emission.
3. Coal mining makes a mess of the landscapes, especially ‘’open-cast mining’’. This type of pollution is commonly known as 'visual'. However, the dust settles everywhere and it provides a significant hazard in the health of a local population.
4. Oil spillage cause serious environmental problems. Oil floats on water, and can cause immense harm to birds and localised ecosystems.
5. Nuclear power is often regarded as 'clean', because the process of nuclear fission does not release sulphur and nitrous oxides. However, the nuclear waste can be very dangerous and difficult to dispose of, since it requires long term storage before the levels of radiation are considered safe for living things and the environment.
6. Nuclear fuel is cheap but the overall cost of nuclear power is high due to the cost of the power plant and in final de-commissioning at the end of its useful life.
7. There is always a small, but nevertheless significant, risk of a major disaster, like the Chernobyl incident, where large areas of Europe were contaminated by radioactive fallout . This, unfortunately, becomes embedded in food chains.
The need for conservation
1. The bottom-line is when fossil fuels run out we have to use other forms of energy
2. Fossil fuels , especially crude oil, form a source of very important chemicals
3. To stop the fossil fuels running out so quickly there are things we can do:
[i] Improve the degree of insulation of buildings,
[ii] Turning lights and other things OFF when not needed,
[iii] Making everyone drive small cars with low-powered little engines.