Chapter 20 Sustainable Energy

1. Most of our energy waste in North America results from

A. a failure to turn off lights.
B. technological inefficiency.
C. the fact that more efficient energy conversion is not possible.
D. overwhelming public ignorance of conservation issues.
E. the fact that energy conservation techniques are quite expensive.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

2. Energy efficiency is a measure of

A. heat produced by a barrel of fuel.
B. energy stored in a unit of fuel.
C. energy produced compared to energy consumed.
D. total energy consumed over a year divided by time spent.
E. energy used per unit of time.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

3. How does eating locally grown food in season save energy?

A. Locally grown food does not need to be transported far distances.
B. Locally grown food does not use petroleum-based fertilizers.
C. Locally grown food does not use petroleum-based pesticides.
D. Locally grown food supports local farmers.
E. All of these are ways that eating locally grown food in season saves energy.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Comprehension

4. Which of the following electric power plant devices has the least net efficient energy?
A. Hydroelectric
B. Coal-fired generator
C. Oil-burning generator
D. Nuclear generator
E. These are all about the same in terms of net energy efficiency.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

5. Net energy yield differs from energy efficiency in that net yield takes into account
A. lifetime energy costs of equipment, infrastructure, and disposal.
B. energy lost in conversion from heat to electricity.
C. energy saved in waste heat capture.
D. lifetime energy consumption of all users of the energy produced by a plant or generator.
E. energy lost in conversion from one form to another form.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Comprehension

6. Net energy yield is a good way to assess efficiency of nuclear power because
A. nuclear power is an unusually expensive energy source.
B. fuel production, transport, construction, and waste disposal consume vast amounts of energy.
C. nuclear power uses extremely large amounts of fuel.
D. nuclear electricity production requires energy to initiate reactions.
E. it shows how efficient nuclear power actually is.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

7. Utility companies are investing in public education and incentive programs to reduce energy use because
A. it is cheaper for them to invest in energy conservation than build new power plants.
B. they are worried about the finite supply of fossil fuel.
C. the high cost of global warming would be prohibitive for them.
D. of the need to improve public relations by helping consumers reduce their monthly bills.
E. they are worried about the pollution from mining and burning coal.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Comprehension

8. The idea of cogeneration is to actively use ________ electricity generating plants.

A. solar as well as coal energy to produce electricity at
B. warm water as well as steam to produce electricity at
C. two kinds of fuel, e.g., coal and oil at
D. both electricity and waste steam heat from
E. two different types of thermal conversion machines for increased efficiency at
Answer: D
Question Classification: Comprehension

9. A glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of

A. parabolic collection.
B. an active solar heating system.
C. passive heat absorption.
D. cogeneration.
E. charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

10. A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the
south side of a building is an example of
A. parabolic collection.
B. an active solar heating system.
C. passive heat absorption.
D. cogeneration.
E. charging fuel cells to increase efficiency in energy use.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

11. Which of the following solar energy use has been used by people for thousands of years?
A. Parabolic solar collection
B. Active solar heating system
C. Passive heat absorption
D. cogeneration.
E. All of these methods have been used in one form or another for thousands of years.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

12. Active solar energy systems involve

A. large volumes of massive heat absorbers.
B. pumps and moving fluids.
C. photovoltaic cells.
D. cogeneration.
E. stationary materials to gather and hold heat.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

13. Parabolic mirrors ________ sunlight on a collecting medium.

A. selectively focus the brightest
B. selectively reflect the brightest
C. deflect the most
D. diffuse intense
E. focus intense
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

14. The most effective technology developed so far to produce solar energy concentrated enough to run an
industrial furnace or turbine is to use
A. parabolic mirrors.
B. cogeneration.
C. passive heat absorption.
D. photovoltaic cells.
E. cogeneration.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

15. In 1997, the _______________ company invested money into a solar cell manufacturing facility. This
action is __________________.
A. Shell Oil, typical for a fossil fuel company because they are invested in energy sources.
B. British Petroleum, typical for a fossil fuel company because they are invested in energy sources.
C. British Petroleum, atypical for a fossil fuel company because they usually block renewable energy.
D. Shell Oil, atypical for a fossil fuel company because they usually block renewable energy.
E. Chevron Oil, not supported by the board members at Chevron.
Answer: C

Question Classification: Comprehension

16. The quickest and easiest way to save money on energy bills is to
A. install a new water heater.
B. modify your energy-using behavior.
C. put new insulation in your home.
D. buy a more efficient automobile.
E. install a new furnace.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

17. The two greatest energy users in the average American home are
A. the furnace and water heater.
B. the refrigerator and water heater.
C. lighting and space heating.
D. small appliances and space heating.
E. the refrigerator and the stove.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

18. Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface
A. causes the cells to liquefy as they heat.
B. releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires.
C. is collected in the form of photons and sent through attached wires.
D. causes an uneven magnetic charge to develop.
E. changes to chemical energy.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

19. Photovoltaic electricity costs are __________ coal or nuclear-powered electricity.

A. substantially less than
B. unlikely to become as cheap as
C. incomparably more expensive than
D. likely to be cheaper in the near future than
E. the same as
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

20. Plants store solar energy by

A. changing phase.
B. creating kinetic energy.
C. creating the chemical bonds of sugar molecules.
D. transforming it into electrical energy.
E. Plants do not store solar energy.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Comprehension

21. Which of the following is not normally considered a biomass fuel?

A. wood
B. peat
C. waste wood chips
D. ethanol
E. All of these are biomass fuels.
Answer: E
Question Classification: Knowledge

22. Very few living trees are cut down for fuel in ______________ because twigs, branches and crop
residues are used for fuel. However, in ________ the forests are nearly gone and even fruit trees are cut for
fuel.
A. Pakistan, India
B. Pakistan, Haiti
C. Haiti, Pakistan
D. India, Haiti
E. Haiti, China
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

23. In the United States and Canada, the most common problem with using wood as a major heat source is
A. the cost.
B. wood shortages.
C. that it separates people from the utility grid.
D. the production of pollutants.
E. None of these - using wood as an alternate source is a viable way to reduce our dependence on foreign
oil.
Answer: D
Question Classification: Knowledge

24. Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is

A. scarce.
B. not clean.
C. needed to rebuild the soil.
D. difficult to burn.
E. commonly full of pathogens.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

25. Burning methane from dung

A. is more efficient than burning the dung directly.
B. provides more heat than burning the dung directly.
C. allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer.
D. Both A and C.
E. All of these.

Answer: E
Question Classification: Comprehension

26. Since the 1920s, hydropower production has

A. risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use.
B. fallen due to disinterest.
C. fallen due to a lack of available sites.
D. become our most important energy source.
E. stayed at about the same level.
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

27. Siltation and decreased water quality are especially significant problems with
A. microhydro dams.
B. minihydro dams.
C. huge dams on major rivers.
D. low-head hydropower technology.
E. All of these equally.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

28. Low-head hydropower involves ___________ dams on ___________ rivers.

A. large, major
B. small, minor
C. large, minor
D. small, major
E. medium-sized, minor
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

29. Some highly efficient turbines can be submerged directly in a river and require only _______ to
operate.
A. run-of-the-river flow
B. low-head dams
C. a low, natural waterfall
D. a slow trickle of water
E. a high, natural waterfall
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

30. In the US, windmills played a critical role in the settlement of

A. Appalachia.
B. The Sierra Nevadas.
C. the Great Plains.
D. the Rocky Mountains.
E. The Northeast.

Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

31. Geothermal energy uses ________ to produce usable heat or electricity.

A. naturally occurring hot groundwater
B. artificially heated water injected below ground
C. molten rock from below ground
D. underground radioactive decay
E. waste heat water from power plants that is stored underground
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

32. Tidal power stations operate by using

A. the differential heat of inshore and offshore waters.
B. electrolytic decomposition of saltwater.
C. turbines that spin in the flow of tide water.
D. the energy from waves as they crash on the shore.
E. All of these together.
Answer: C
Question Classification: Knowledge

33. Ocean thermal electric conversion (OTEC) uses _________ to produce usable energy.
A. warm surface water and cold deep seawater
B. hot water from below the seafloor
C. fossil fuel-heated seawater
D. heat from deep-ocean thermal vents
E. cold surface water and warm deep seawater
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

34. Ocean thermal electric conversion systems would operate best in

A. cold, deep polar seas.
B. warm, deep tropical seas.
C. cold, shallow temperate seas.
D. warm, shallow freshwater lakes.
E. warm, shallow tropical seas.
Answer: B
Question Classification: Comprehension

35. Wind energy is an option that has few global supporters.

A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

36. Improving standards of living have been repeatedly demonstrated to require increased energy
consumption.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

37. In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are quieter and cleaner than thermal-conversion machines
because there are no moving parts.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

38. Fuel cell vehicles with hydrogen created from natural gas are much more efficient than burning the
natural gas directly.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

39. One of the areas which we can accomplish the greatest energy conservation is in your choice of utility
companies.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

40. Capturing waste heat in a thermal-electric plant can increase efficiency from 30 percent to 80 or 90
percent.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

41. One of the drawbacks with using fuel cells for stationary electrical generation (such as a 200 kilowatt
phosphoric acid fuel cell) is that these fuel cells typically only last for about a year.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge

42. Burning wood doesnt produce a net increase in atmospheric CO2 because all carbon released was taken
up from the atmosphere when the biomass (tree) was grown.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

43. Mixed ethanol and gasoline is often called gasohol. The added ethanol raises octane levels and is a good
substitute for lead anti-knocking agents.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

44. United States companies currently dominate the $1 billion (US) per year market of wind technology.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge
45. Most of North Americas wind potential is located offshore.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Question Classification: Knowledge
46. One of the environmental consequences of a large tidal station (such as one through the Bay of Fundy)
is heavy erosion of the sea floor.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Question Classification: Knowledge

Short Answer/Essay Questions

47. Describe the best energy source option(s) for a rural area in a tropical developing country with no
coastal access. Be sure you support WHY this is the best energy source for the area.
Answer: For a total of 10 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
10 =
Identified an appropriate energy option; Supported choice of option with accurate and appropriate
explanation; Communicated effectively with a well written analysis
5=
Identified an appropriate option; Supported choice of option with a mostly inaccurate and
inappropriate explanation; Communicated with a fairly well written analysis
0=
Identified an inappropriate option; Supported choice of option with inaccurate and inappropriate
explanation; Communicated with a poorly written analysis

48. Evaluate the use of biomass, hydropower, wind and geothermal energy as potential large scale energy
sources. In your evaluation provide the pros and cons, and the context for which each energy source would
best work.
Answer: For a total of 40 points (Note: The numbers can be changed to fit your assessment needs.)
40 =
Provided an accurate evaluation of the costs of the four energy sources; Provided an accurate
evaluation of the benefits of the four energy sources; Used an appropriate and accurate context for
the four energy sources; Communicated effectively with a well written explanation
30 =
Provided an accurate evaluation of the costs of three energy sources; Provided an accurate
evaluation of the benefits of three energy sources; Used an appropriate and accurate context for
three energy sources; Communicated with a well written explanation
20 =
Provided an accurate evaluation of the costs of two energy sources; Provided an accurate
evaluation of the benefits of two energy sources; Used an appropriate and accurate context for two
energy sources; Communicated with a fairly well written explanation
10 =
Provided an accurate evaluation of the costs of one energy source; Provided an accurate evaluation
of the benefits of one energy source; Used an appropriate and accurate context for one energy
source; Communicated with a poorly written explanation
5=
Provided an accurate evaluation of the costs of one energy source; Provided an accurate evaluation
of the benefits of one energy source; Used an inappropriate and inaccurate context for all energy
sources; Communicated with a poorly written explanation
0=
Provided an inaccurate evaluation of the costs of all energy sources; Provided an inaccurate
evaluation of the benefits of all energy sources; Used an inappropriate and inaccurate context for
all energy sources; Communicated with a very poorly written explanation