1.3.4

Sustainability

Test yourself

Non-Renewable and Renewable Resources

Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable.

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Non-renewable

  • Non-renewable resources will run out one day.
    • Fossil fuels and nuclear fuel are non-renewable.
    • All non-renewable resources damage our environment.
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Renewable

  • Renewable resources will never run out. They can be or are being replenished as they are used.
    • Solar, wind, water waves, hydro-electricity, bio-fuel, tides, geothermal are renewable energy resources.
    • Most resources damage the environment. But renewable sources are less harmful than non-renewable sources.

Uses of Energy Sources

Heating and transport are two of the main uses of energy resources.

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Transport

  • Non-renewable:
    • Petrol and diesel vehicles use fuel from oil.
  • Some steam trains use coal for boiling water to produce steam.
  • Renewable:
    • Bio-fuels power some vehicles.
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Heating

  • Non-renewable:
    • Natural gas is used to heat homes.
    • Coal is burnt in fireplaces.
  • Renewable:
    • Some buildings are heated by geothermal heat pumps.
    • These use geothermal energy resources.
    • Solar water heaters use energy from the sun to heat water.

Changing Electricity Use

How people use energy in the UK has changed over time.

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20th century

  • Over the 20th century, electricity use increased in the UK because the population of the UK grew bigger.
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21st century

  • However, since the beginning of the 21st century, electricity use has been decreasing in the UK.
    • This is because appliances are becoming more efficient.
    • People are also becoming more concerned with how much energy they are using at home.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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