Sustainability
Applied Science: BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma, topic 5.1.1
Non-Renewable and Renewable Resources
Energy resources can be renewable or non-renewable.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Sustainability
Which of these are renewable resources?
Which of these are non-renewable resources?
Which of these is a non-renewable resource?
Geothermal is most often used for what?
Which of these resources is non-renewable?