1. Forms and Sources of Energy: To Conserve or Not to Conserve
If energy can neither be created nor destroyed, why is there so much discussion about energy conservation? Where do the fossil fuels-coal, oil, and natural gas-come from? Why is the loss of these sources of energy problematic? How can we conserve these sources of energy?

Consider This Before Answering the Questions
Note that the text states that "energy changes from one form to another, and it does so without a net loss or net gain. That is to say, energy is conserved-the amount remains constant." Or, to summarize, "energy can neither be created nor destroyed." Does that, then, make you wonder why there is so much discussion about energy conservation? As you move further in the chapter, to section 4.5 Forms and Sources of Energy, and the discussion of energy consumption, this might become a bit clearer.

• Bearing this discussion in mind, go to http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html to look at "The Energy Story." When you get there, read the Introduction and jot down the forms of energy discussed at that site. What energy sources discussed at that site are not included in this chapter of your text? What energy sources are discussed in the text, but not at this site?
• Scroll down to the Table of Contents and link to Chapter 8: Fossil Fuels-Coal, Oil and Natural Gas http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter08.html. Where do these fuels come from? After reading this section, delineate the various reasons that the loss of these sources of energy may be problematic.

After You Answer the Questions
How does the concept of energy conservation differ between the information on this web site and the information in the text?

2. Clean Energy
What is renewable energy and why is it important? Why is energy efficiency important? What does clean energy have to do with me? Visit the Clean Energy Website (see link below) to answer these questions.

Consider This Before Answering the Questions
Chapter 4 discusses forms and sources of energy. Visit the Clean Energy web site at http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/ and link to the above questions:

• "What is renewable energy?"
  http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/whatisRE.html
• "Why is renewable energy important?"
  http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/REimportant.html
• Why is energy efficiency important?"
  http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/EEimportant.html
• "What does clean energy have to do with me?"
  http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/cleanenergyandme.html

Summarize the answers provided at each link.



After You Answer the Questions
If you want to learn more

• Go to the link http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/cleanenergyandme.html and read about Solar energy.
• Then read more at the "Photovoltaic" link http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/home_pv.html.
• Then go to http://www.eren.doe.gov/erec/factsheets/pvbasics.html to explore "Photovoltaic: Basic Design Principles and Components."
  • What are the three factors to consider when determining whether a homeowner's site is an appropriate one for a PV system?
  • How do weather and the geographic location of the home affect the effectiveness of these systems?

Read the box titled, "How to Size our PV System."

• Using your own residence (house, apartment, dorm room), calculate your own daily energy consumption and, checking out the average daily watt hours in summer and winter for your area, calculate your estimated energy needs in terms of peak watts and determine the power and number of modules you would require.
• After making these calculations, you might want to price the systems, consider how long you expect to be at your current residence, then decide how cost efficient it might be for you (in the long run) to use a PV system.
• Weighing the expenses against the savings, then incorporating your own personal values into the equation, what might you conclude?