Deck 10: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Question 1

The development of renewable energy resources will likely

A)increase international tensions.
B)increase the need for oil imports.
C)decrease national security.
D)cause long-term economic hardship.
E)reduce harm to the environment.

Answer 1

E

Question 2

To reduce energy waste, we must

A)increase energy consumption.
B)improve energy efficiency.
C)switch from fossil fuels.
D)use only solar technologies.
E)lower energy efficiency.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The easiest, cleanest, most environmentally sound, and least expensive way to make energy more available is to

A)buy incandescent light bulbs.
B)reduce energy waste.
C)install solar panels.
D)drive a hybrid vehicle.
E)switch to a natural gas furnace.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Cells that convert solar energy directly into electricity are called

A)electrosolar chips.
B)photovoltaic cells.
C)helioelectric units.
D)photoelectric cells.
E)solarelectric cells.

Question 5

Which of the following are renewable energy resources?

A)The sun, the earth's internal heat, and the wind
B)The wind, petroleum, and water
C)Natural gas, the earth's internal heat, and the wind
D)The earth's internal heat, water, and petroleum
E)Water, natural gas, and petroleum

Question 6

Smart electrical grids

A)involve a two-way flow of energy and information between producers and users of electricity.
B)are not energy efficient.
C)are not commonly used because they are large investments with minimal returns.
D)involve a one-way transmission of energy between producers and users of electricity.
E)are an energy efficient substitute for major household appliances.

Question 7

What percent of all commercial energy used in the United States is wasted?

A)0%.
B)18%
C)43%
D)84%
E)100%

Question 8

The most effective water heater is a(n)

A)gas water heater.
B)electric water tank.
C)roof-mounted solar hot water heater.
D)oil water heater.
E)propane water heater.

Question 9

Which of the following has traditionally received most of the United States government's energy subsidies?

A)fossil fuels and nuclear power
B)solar energy and wind power
C)wind power only
D)hydropower
E)hybrid cars

Question 10

Which process transforms the sun's energy into heat, which is then used to produce electricity?

A)green roofs collectors
B)photovoltaic fuel transformers
C)electric solar converters
D)direct solar conversion
E)solar thermal systems

Question 11

The price U.S. consumers pay at the pump for gasoline largely reflects

A)subsides and tax breaks from oil companies and car manufacturers.
B)a tax on pollution control.
C)military protection of oil supplies in unstable countries.
D)the actual cost of the gasoline.
E)a substantial subsidy from the government plus a nominal price paid by consumers.

Question 12

In cogeneration systems

A)both heating and cooling are produced.
B)both coal and oil are used.
C)use a battery in case the main system fails.
D)two useful forms of energy are produced from the same fuel source.
E)heat from the earth is used to produce electricity.

Question 13

Passive solar heating systems involve

A)green roofs.
B)pumping a heat-absorbing fluid through collectors on the roof.
C)wind turbines with solar panels attached.
D)foil sheets under the floor.
E)adobe walls and windows that face the sun and store the collected solar energy.

Question 14

A building design can save energy and money by

A)using superinsulation, green roofs, and natural light.
B)setting thermostats high in the winter, and using superinsulation and green roofs.
C)utilizing natural lighting, reducing insulation, and green roofs.
D)setting thermostats low in the summer, recycling wastewater, and using superinsulation.
E)using green roofs, setting thermostats high in the winter, and utilizing natural light.

Question 15

Which of the following are solar energy technologies?

A)solar cookers, passive solar heating systems, and translucent solar film
B)solar cookers, photovoltaic cells, and active solar heating systems
C)translucent solar film, solar cookers, and power towers
D)photovoltaic cells, active solar heating systems, and reactive electrosolar systems
E)reactive electrosolar systems, solar cookers, and passive solar heating systems

Question 16

Photovoltaic cells

A)produce more carbon dioxide than burning fossil fuels.
B)operate only on clear days.
C)have high air and water pollution during operation.
D)have a fairly high net energy yield.
E)are cheap compared to fossil fuels.

Question 17

Solar energy is becoming more popular recently due to

A)the decline of nuclear power after Fukushima.
B)the decreased abundance of natural gas in the United States.
C)new technology and the lower cost due to subsidies and tax breaks.
D)conflict in the Middle East over oil supplies.
E)the rising temperature of the atmosphere.

Question 18

If energy prices were kept artificially high,

A)energy efficiency would be discouraged.
B)dependence on imported energy sources would increase.
C)the use of non-renewable energy resources in the future would decline.
D)nuclear power would be the most reasonable choice.
E)there would be no need for government subsidies.

Question 19

Electric vehicles currently available

A)use a combination of an electric motor and a gasoline engine.
B)use only an electric motor.
C)have batteries guaranteed to last the life of the car.
D)are the same price as other similar non-electric vehicles.
E)are not energy efficient.

Question 20

Active solar heating systems involve

A)green roofs.
B)pumping a heat-absorbing fluid through collectors on the roof.
C)wind turbines with solar panels attached.
D)foil sheets under the floor.
E)adobe walls and windows that face the sun and store the collected solar energy.

Question 21

Which of the following is an example of biomass?

A)crude oil
B)solar energy
C)synfuels
D)petroleum
E)agricultural waste

Question 22

Wood is a renewable fuel

A)when it is harvested no faster than it is replenished.
B)because of the low price of processing.
C)because of its high net energy yield.
D)if it is taken from slow-growing trees that are large and burn easily.
E)when it is harvested exclusively from forests.

Question 23

Where in the world is biomass used as the primary energy source?

A)China
B)More-developed countries
C)Africa
D)The United States
E)The poorest countries

Question 24

What kind of heat pump uses the constant temperature of the earth as a source of heat in winter and as a store for heat in the summer?

A)geothermal
B)solar
C)wind
D)hydropower
E)biofuel

Question 25

One advantage of wind power is that it

A)is limited to land areas
B)is not noisy.
C)does not interfere with wildlife or habitats.
D)produces little to no direct carbon dioxide emissions.
E)does not require a lot of space.

Question 26

Hydrogen fuel cells

A)rely on direct energy from the sun.
B)use geothermal energy to produce electricity.
C)combine hydrogen and oxygen gas to produce electricity and water vapor.
D)require complex carbohydrates as starting materials.
E)break apart water molecules and use the hydrogen as energy.

Question 27

The best alternative to gasoline and the best way to move forward in technology for powering vehicles is

A)diesel.
B)ethanol.
C)increasing fuel-efficiency standards.
D)electric hybrids.
E)biodiesel.

Question 28

What country is the largest producer of liquid biofuels?

A)Brazil
B)Mexico
C)China
D)Uruguay
E)Costa Rica

Question 29

Converting plant sugars into simple sugars creates which biofuel?

A)ethanol
B)methane
C)propane
D)ethane
E)butane

Question 30

Wind power is expected to grow

A)offshore because of stronger and steadier wind speeds.
B)on land because of stronger and steadier wind speeds.
C)in the United States due to increasing wind speeds from climate change.
D)offshore because coastal residents enjoy the appearance of them.
E)on land because there is low noise.

Question 31

What is the best way to encourage the general public's use of renewable energy resources?

A)advertising
B)full-cost pricing for fossil fuels
C)least-cost management
D)reduced energy consumption
E)subsidies for nonrenewable sources

Question 32

Geothermal energy is stored in the form of

A)trees and shrubs.
B)deserts.
C)rainwater.
D)soil and rocks.
E)ice and glaciers.

Question 33

Which energy source is recommended to be used heavily in the transition from fossil fuels to locally available renewable resources?

A)geothermal
B)wind
C)nuclear energy
D)petroleum
E)natural gas

Question 34

Which group is most likely to support large-scale funding of hydrogen research?

A)electric utilities
B)sustainable developers
C)fossil-fuel companies
D)automobile manufacturers
E)heating and air-conditioning manufacturers

Question 35

Hydropower

A)provides about 90% of the electricity in Europe.
B)is most important in rivers and streams.
C)uses the potential energy of large standing water bodies to produce electricity.
D)can emit methane from the decomposition of submerged vegetation in reservoirs.
E)is expected to grow in large-scale plants in the future.

Question 36

Which is an advantage of using hydrogen as an energy source?

A)Hydrogen is locked up in water and organic compounds.
B)Hydrogen fuel cells are inexpensive.
C)Hydrogen always produces fewer carbon dioxide emissions than coal or natural gas.
D)Hydrogen requires no storage systems.
E)Hydrogen produces no carbon dioxide emissions if produced with renewables.

Question 37

What is the leading source of renewable energy worldwide?

A)hydropower
B)geothermal energy
C)solar-cells
D)biomass
E)biodiesel

Question 38

One advantage of large-scale hydropower is that it

A)does not require government subsidies.
B)has a high net energy yield.
C)produces low methane emissions.
D)makes it easier for fish to migrate upstream.
E)does not alter aquatic ecosystems.

Question 39

Ethanol production has resulted in

A)decreased water usage.
B)increased transportation emissions.
C)decreased the number of malnourished people.
D)decreased prices for corn-based food products.
E)increased prices for corn-based food products.

Question 40

Geothermal energy can be used for which of the following?

A)heating space, producing electricity, and cooling space
B)producing electricity, transportation fuel, and heating space
C)transportation fuel, producing high-temperature heat for industry, and heating space
D)producing high-temperature heat for industry, cooling space, and transportation fuel
E)heating space, transportation fuel, and cooling space

Question 41

Hydrogen may be a future energy source to power vehicles.

Question 42

Governments do not have the power to control the shift from nonrenewable to renewable energy sources.

Question 43

Fossil fuels are artificially cheaper than renewable sources of energy because of ____________________.

Question 44

Including environmental costs, wind power is the cheapest source of electricity.

Question 45

Overall, nonrenewable resources have a lower net energy than renewable resources.

Question 46

Ethanol is a controversial biofuel because it is still unclear how much carbon dioxide is emitted during the production and burning of ethanol compared to conventional gasoline.

Question 47

Photovoltaic solar cells work on cloudy days.

Question 48

Electric-gasoline powered vehicles are called ____________________.

Question 49

We can make energy use more sustainable by using energy more efficiently and relying on a mix of renewable energy sources.

Question 50

Energy efficiency measures are applied only to new construction projects as it is too costly to apply energy efficiency measures to existing structures.

Question 51

Keeping energy prices artificially low has resulted in harmful environmental affects and wasteful energy use.

Question 52

Cars can be more fuel efficient by utilizing ultralight and ultrastrong materials in their design.

Question 53

____________________ is based on energy-efficient and money saving building designs.

Question 54

Hydropower can only be generated in large-scale facilities that alter a stream's course.

Question 55

Green roofs could be used in office buildings to conserve heat in winter and cooling in the summer.

Question 56

Geothermal heat pumps may be used to exploit the temperature difference between the earth's surface and underground in the earth's mantle.

Question 57

Energy conservation is best achieved through ____________________.

Question 58

____________________ provides greater conversion efficiencies than traditional generation methods because two useful forms of energy are produced from the same fuel source.

Question 59

Almost half of the commercial energy available for use in the U.S. is wasted due to inefficiencies in devices and processes used.

Question 60

Solar thermal systems used to generate electricity are the best option for energy generation in desert areas as there are no environmental impacts.

Question 61

The earth's interior provides heat energy from nature in the form of ______________________ energy, which can be used without polluting the environment compared to traditional energy sources.

Question 62

What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using biomass as fuel?

Question 63

What are two examples of widely used devices that waste large amounts of energy?

Question 64

Seeing that energy efficiency saves money and has so many environmental benefits, why has there been so little emphasis on it in the United States?

Question 65

______________________ consists of animal wastes, dead trees, yard clippings, bark, and algae that can be converted to fuel.

Question 66

Consider the accompanying diagram. Do you think it is more likely that more renewables will be used proportionally in the future as energy inputs, or that less of the output will be waste? Why or why not?

Question 67

______________________ is an indirect form of ______________________ energy that uses moving water to produce energy.

Question 68

List three (3) actions that governments can use to encourage the shift to more sustainable sources of energy.

Question 69

What are the two primary reasons the United States is more reliant on nonrenewable energy sources than on renewable energy sources. How can this be changed?

Question 70

______________________ are an example of a source of geothermal energy that utilizes drilling from wells.

Question 71

Critical Thinking

According to the accompanying diagram, what percentage of U.S. commercial energy is converted to a useful form or material?

Question 72

What are four ways an individual can reduce energy consumption everyday? Which of these would you consider doing and why?

Question 73

______________________ absorbs the sun's heat and stores it (in a structure) without the use of fans or pumps.

Question 74

Provide one example of an environmental cost and one environmental benefit associated with using geothermal energy, solar energy, wind power, and hydro power.

Question 75

Critical Thinking

According to the accompanying diagram, what total percentage of U.S. commercial energy is wasted?