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Ms. Rox stood at the front of her classroom and announced: "Did you know that "approximately 80 percent of the total amount of energy used globally each year comes from fossil fuels?"
Bobby looked up at his teacher and asked "Ms. Rox, what are fossil fuels?"
Ms. Rox looked excitedly at her students. "Great question, Bobby! Today, we are going to learn about the 4 non-renewable sources of energy and discover why they matter!"
Non-renewable Sources of Energy vs. Renewable
Non-renewable Sources of Energy
Fixed amount available
"Energy-rich and relatively cheap to process"
Renewable Sources of Energy
Unlimited amount available
Includes hydropower, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal
4 Main Non-renewable Sources of Energy
Ms. Rox explains to her students that there are 4 main sources of non-renewable energy:
1. Coal
Used to generate energy in power plants and heat homes
Dug from the ground
2. Natural Gas
Methane gas source used for home cooking and heating
Pumped through underground wells
3. Oil (Petroleum)
Liquid fuel source used to power vehicles
Used in plastic production
Pumped through underground wells
4. Nuclear Energy
Fuel source produced from radioactive elements in mined ore
Impacts on Environment
Ms. Rox asks her students if she has ever heard of the phrases "global warming" or "climate change".
She explains that these 4 non-renewable sources of energy have major impacts on our environment:
Burning oil, natural gas, and coal "releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Rising levels of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the main cause of global warming."
Rising sea levels & drastic weather changes
Health effects, including asthma and premature death
Quiz
With all of this information, Ms. Rox decided to give the class an exit ticket that asks, "After discovering these non-renewable energy sources and their impact on the environment, what are two things that we can do to help combat global warming?"
A reusable grocery bag allows us to avoid using plastic bags, which are produced by oil. Riding a bike to school is a great way to reduce the amount of natural gas that we use.
Take Action
"Global warming" and "climate change" are well-known phrases that you'll definitely come across again in the future. Here are some additional tips and resources:
This Byte has been authored by
Zainab Abbasi
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
B.S.