Energy Lesson 4 : Non-Renewable Energy Choices and Impacts

1. Can students complete an everyday task using a renewable energy source? Can the sun cook food? Can wind do work? Can water do work? Can biomass boil water?

2. Students take an online virtual tour of a hydroelectric dam (http://www.desertusa.com/gc/gcd/du_glencandamtour.html), a coal plant http://energyclassroom.com/energy-classroom/virtualpower-plant-tour/ (a nuclear power plant https://www.edfenergy.com/virtual-tours and geothermal power plant https://www.bherenewables.com/ tour_geothermal.aspx There are many virtual tours available, easily found through a simple internet search.

3. Through the Michigan Technological University Tech Alive Web Module, My Decisions Impact Michigan, the U.S. and the World (http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module17/title.htm), students can learn how energyrelated pollution is affecting Michigan’s Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior.

4. What is fracking and is it a viable option for energy generation in Michigan? Students will present a 1-2 minute presentation that could be used at a community meeting to inform citizens of possible fracking in the area. Using resources identified at the end of the lesson or other appropriate sources they should describe the fracking process as well as the advantages and disadvantages both locally and on a larger scale.

5. Students learn more about biomass by completing the Michigan Biomass Curriculum Project activities on the MEECS Energy Resources Flash Drive.