Renewable vs. Nonrenewable Resources

Before Video

• Yes, we all use energy. Our bodies need energy to function and we also use electricity every day to power things like computers and lights. We also use energy from burning fossil fuels to power our cars, trucks and buses.

• Solar, nuclear, wind, ocean currents, geothermal, coal, gasoline, biodiesel, ethanol, methane gas, etc.

• Lights, heat, computers, clock, our bodies, and any plants and animals in the room.

• THE SUN!

• The main ways people use energy is pretty much the same all over the world, but some countries use more renewable energy sources than others do. For example, Brazil gets a lot of energy to power its cars from plants! (They use sugar beets to make ethanol, which can be used in a car just like gasoline.)

• Different places can generate different kinds of energy. In windy areas, you will find a lot of wind generators. In areas with a lot of petroleum and coal you will find a lot of coal mining and oil drilling operations.

After Video

• All types of fuels can be burned for energy. Burning coal, oil and natural gas produces heat, which is then converted to other energy forms, like electricity.

• Some energy sources are more limited than others. Coal, oil and natural gas are used a lot right now but they could run out in only a few generations. Renewable sources like wind, sunlight, biomass, geothermal, and water power can be easily renewed and are almost unlimited!

• If we are still dependent on non-renewable energy sources when they run out, we will not have enough energy to meet our needs.

• Impacts of our energy use include pollution, damage to the environment, reduced air quality and climate change.

• Some renewable energy sources can have environmental impacts as well, but the benefits of renewable energy sources is that they are much more easily replenished.