Environmental impact of the energy industry

Sources

• http://energy4me.org/all-about-energy/sustainability/environmental-impact-by-source/
• http://sciencing.com/list-fossil-fuels-2466.html
• https://www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-fossil-fuels
• https://www.wind-watch.org/faq-wildlife.php
• http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6532323.stm
• https://energy.gov/articles/record-year-american-wind-industry
• http://www.externe.info/externe_2006/exterpols.html
• http://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/coal-air-pollution
• http://www.ec.gc.ca/energie-energy/default.asp?lang=En&n=C00AD28F-1

Negative impacts of fossil fuel use for energy production

All energy sources affect the environment

• Climate change caused by CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuel
• Air pollution with nitrogen oxides.
• Water pollution with waste from mining, oil spills, et cetera.

Most common natural resources and their uses

Getting the energy we need affects our environment in many different ways. Some energy sources have a greater impact than others.

• Solar - light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using solar heating, photovoltaics and other technologies. Used for energy and heat production.
• Wind power - the use of air flow through wind turbines to mechanically power generators for electricity.
• Water power - is power derived from the energy of falling water or fast running water.
• Geothermal energy - heat energy generated and stored in the Earth.

Main sources of energy

Negative impacts of electricity production using renewable resources

There are two main groups of energy sources:

• Fossil fuels - these are fuels that have formed from organic material over millions of years. They are mostly made of carbon.
• Renewable resources - are natural resources which replenish to overcome usage and consumption through biological reproduction and other naturally recurring processes.

Manufacturing the materials for wind turbines, solar panels or even wires is taxing on the environment. But compared to fossil fuel dangers, renewable resource impacts are negligible.

According to a study by the University of Stuttgart hydroelectric electricity produces the lowest CO2 emissions and solar produces the most.

Most common fossil fuels and their uses

• Oil - it is used for plastic fabrication, medicine, but it's most common use is energy production.
• Natural gas - this includes gasses such as methane, propane and others. These are mostly used for heating and energy production.
• Coal - the primary fuel for powering electricity.

Thank you for your attention

How can we slow donw the impact of these issues

Wind turbine and solar plant impact on wildlife

There is no one way stop all these problems. Even the most enviroment-friendly generators still cause some pollution. But they still require less supervision, materials and are overall much better than traditional fossil fuel plants.

Wind turbines are dangerous to most bird species because they tend to nest on them and often get hit by the blades. This can also cause damage to the generator.

Solar panel fields can also take up a lot of space where animals live.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the energy industry has a big impact on the environment. But with renewable resource generators becoming more common by the day, we can expect these impacts to one day become negligible.

Environmental impact of the energy industry