Environmental Science

Front 1

Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute estimated that raising the efficiency of the US car and light truck fleet by _____ mile(s) per gallon would cut oil consumption by about 295,000 barrels a day.

Back 1

1

Front 2

Superinsulated houses built now in Sweden use ___ percent of the energy used by a modern American home.

Back 2

10

Front 3

Which of the following electric power plant devices has the least net efficient energy?

These are all about the same in terms of net energy efficiency.
Oil-burning generator
Coal-fired generator
Hydroelectric
Nuclear generator

Back 3

Nuclear generator

Front 4

In terms of generating electricity, fuel cells are _______than thermal-conversion machines because the chemical energy of a fuel is______________________.

Back 4

more efficient
converted directly into electricity without an intermediate combustion cycle

Front 5

Net energy yield differs from energy efficiency in that net yield takes into account

Back 5

lifetime energy costs of equipment, infrastructure, and disposal.

Front 6

Utility companies are investing in public education and incentive programs to reduce energy use because

Back 6

it is cheaper for them to invest in energy conservation than build new power plants.

Front 7

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

Back 7

both electricity and waste steam heat from

Front 8

How does eating locally grown food in season save energy?

Back 8

Locally grown food does not need to be transported far distances.

Front 9

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

Back 9

passive heat absorption.

Front 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

Back 10

an active solar heating system.

Front 11

Active solar energy systems involve

Back 11

pumps and moving fluids.

Front 12

Eutectic chemicals release heat when they

Back 12

solidify.

Front 13

Parabolic mirrors ________ sunlight on a collecting medium.

Back 13

focus intense

Front 14

The most effective technology developed so far to produce solar energy concentrated enough to run an industrial furnace or turbine is to use

Back 14

parabolic mirrors.

Front 15

The quickest and easiest way to save money on energy bills is to

Back 15

modify your energy-using behavior.

Front 16

The two greatest energy users in the average American home are

Back 16

the furnace and water heater.

Front 17

Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface

Back 17

releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires

Front 18

Renewable energy makes up about 18 percent of total world energy use with biomass making up ____ of that supply.

Back 18

75 percent

Front 19

Which of the following is normally considered a biomass fuel?
ethanol
peat
wood
waste wood chips
All of these

Back 19

all of these

Front 20

In the United States and Canada, the most common problem with using wood as a major heat source is

Back 20

the production of pollutants.

Front 21

Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is

Back 21

needed to rebuild the soil.

Front 22

Since the 1920s, hydropower production has

Back 22

risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use.

Front 23

Low-head hydropower involves _____ dams on _____ rivers

Back 23

small
minor

Front 24

Some highly efficient turbines can be submerged directly in a river and require only _______ to operate.

Back 24

run-of-the-river flow

Front 25

Windmills that operate best in light winds are those that have

Back 25

many blades.

Front 26

Geothermal energy uses ________ to produce usable heat or electricity.

Back 26

naturally occurring hot groundwater

Front 27

Tidal power stations operate by using

Back 27

turbines that spin in the flow of tide water.

Front 28

Ocean thermal electric conversion (OTEC) uses _________ to produce usable energy.

Back 28

warm surface water and cold deep seawater