The Future of Energy: Guiding Decisions with Evidence

Unit 4 Assignment

Your Name (Note: Please change this before you submit your paper!)

Kaplan University

The first paragraph is always the introduction with thesis statement. Please visit the KUWC for tutorials on writing introductions, writing transitions between paragraphs, and on writing strong paragraphs. (Note: Please replace the sample paragraphs with your content before you submit your paper!)

Energy Self-Assessment

Describe a minimum of five daily life situations (2-pts each) requiring renewable or nonrenewable energy.

Discuss the origin of the energy sources used in the previous paragraph and their renewable/nonrenewable status. For example, my household energy comes from both a coal-fired power plant (nonrenewable fossil fuel) and the Bonneville Dam (renewable hydropower) (Pacific Power, 2013).

Renewable Energy Analysis

Analyze at least three forms of renewable energy (4-pts each) including one assigned by instructor. The instructor assigned: __________. Please pick two additional renewable energy sources to discuss, such as biomass/biogas, hydro/wave/tidal, wind, or solar (NRDC, n.d.; National Atlas, 2013; Union of Concerned Scientists, 2012).

Identify the most and least appropriate forms of renewable energy for your location. For example, solar, hydroelectric, biomass, wind, and geothermal are appropriate here in Oregon (Pacific Power, 2013; Solar Oregon, n.d.).

Economic Costs/Benefits and Ecological Impacts

Discuss the economic advantages and disadvantages of current energy sources and the three identified renewable energy forms (the two you picked and the one the instructor assigned:__________). For example, my current energy sources are coal, hydropower, and solar and I must discuss geothermal, too. Each has economic advantages and disadvantages.

Discuss the ecological impacts of current energy sources and the three identified renewable energy forms (the two you picked and the one the instructor assigned:__________). For example, my current energy sources are coal, hydropower, and solar and I must discuss geothermal, too. Each has ecological impacts.

Role of Technology

Discuss the role of technology in the implementation and distribution of renewable energy sources.

Energy Conservation

Describe the actions you currently take to conserve energy. For example, I purchase energy efficient light bulbs and use smart power strips.

Identify and describe at least three more energy conservation techniques (3-pts each) in addition to the actions you currently take.

The last paragraph is always the conclusion. Please visit the KUWC for tutorials on writing conclusions. (Note: Please replace the sample paragraphs with your content before you submit your paper!)

References

(WARNING: Only list a source on this References page if you have also cited it parenthetically in text. And please DELETE this warning and the example references before you submit your paper!)