Generalized Framework
- Compare and contrast traditional and emerging energy production resources and applications, focusing upon environmental impacts of:
- Solar
- Wind
- Coal
- Hydropower
- Geothermal
- Fossil fuels (vehicles).
- Environmental impacts should include resource consumption, by-products (emissions, waste), ecological impacts. [NOTE: there are additional areas which may be tested at the national competition. For the purposes of the 2007 Arizona Envirothon, please focus your efforts on these six energy sources.]
- Relate energy systems to corresponding natural resources in Arizona.
- Describe the interactions among society, technology, and use of energy sources, relative to:
- infrastructure
- environmental justice
- conservation practices
- energy policy decision makers
- design of energy distribution systems.
- Energy issues related to other Envirothon study areas
- Soils: Identify and examine impacts of various energy sources upon agricultural land, forested land, erosion control.
- Aquatics: Identify and examine impacts of various energy sources upon fish habitat and reproduction, changes in flow rates and water levels, biodiversity, groundwater/aquifers.
- Forestry: Identify and examine impacts of various energy sources upon biofuels, species diversity (plant and animal), pests and pesticides, contemporary forest management practices
- Wildlife: Identify and examine impacts of various energy sources upon migratory bird flyways, bats, habitat loss/degradation.
- Waste management: Identify and examine impacts of various energy sources upon historical and contemporary landfills, depots, and other waste repositories.
Suggested web resources:
- US Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
- US Environmental Protection Agency
- Green Communities website and links
- US Energy Information Administration
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Business Council for Sustainable Energy
- http://healthandenergy.com/ethanol.htm
