Page 644F: Resources and Pollution

Energy Quest
At this California Energy Commission site your students can learn about fossil fuels and nuclear energy as well as conduct experiments, play energy games, and learn about super scientists. Click on alternative fuel vehicles to find out more about biodiesel fuel.

On-Line Renewable Energy Education Module
You can access information on solar energy, wind power, small hydroelectric power, geothermal energy, and biomass energy at this site by the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology. Click on biomass, then on biomass theory, and finally on existing biomass to find out what percent of the energy used in Africa comes from biomass.

Energy Resources Program
Visit this U.S. Geological Survey site for a look at projects being conducted by this agency on energy resources. You can find out the status of energy resources in your area by clicking on your region, then clicking on project descriptions.

Fossil Fuels
Go to this interesting site to find out all you ever wanted to know about fossil fuels. At this Department of Energy site you can learn more about coal, oil, and natural gas energy resources. Click on cleaning up coal to discover why coal as a fuel source is so important to the United States. l

The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels
This Union of Concerned Scientists site discusses the hidden costs of using fossil fuels for energy. Some of these costs are damage to human health, environmental degradation, and national security costs. Scroll down to thermal pollution to find out how burning fossil fuels produces heated water that can damage aquatic ecosystems.

Energy Matters: Fossil Fuels
Energy Matters is part of the 1998 ThinkQuest competition in which students were challenged to use the Internet as a collaborative, interactive, teaching tool. At this interesting site you can discover how physics influences how and why we can obtain energy from fossil fuels. You can explore every type of fuel here and even play a game.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
This U.S. Department of Energy site includes information on solar energy, biofuels, geothermal energy, and hydrogen as a fuel. Click on wind energy to access the National Wind Technology Center, then click on avian issues to find out what kinds of research is being done to limit harm to birds from wind farms.

Biofuels for Sustainable Transportation
Visit this National Biofuels Program, U.S. Department of Energy site to learn more about biofuels. Click on what are biofuels to learn more about biofuels and what biomass resources they are made from. Scroll down to biodiesel to find out what plants are used to make biodiesel fuels in particular.

Geothermal Education Office
At this site you can learn all about geothermal energy. Click on the geothermal slide show to view slides of geothermal activity, such as Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii and fumaroles in the Philippines. This site takes some time to load, so be patient. It’s worth the wait.

Natural Resources Conservation Service
At this U.S. Department of Agriculture site you can learn all about the natural resources of the United States. Click on backyard conservation to find out how you can use conservation practices to control soil erosion, conserve water, and provide food and shelter for wildlife in your own backyard. Click on wildlife habitat to find out what plants attract both birds and butterflies. This site includes links to many similar sites.

The Viable Alternative: Sustainable Development
The Rocky Mountain Institute is an organization that explores how communities use renewable and nonrenewable resources. At their site you can read about sustainable development in the areas of energy, water, transportation, and buildings and lands. Click on energy to find out more about solar energy, wind power, and photovoltaic cells.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
Visit this U.S. Department of Energy site for information on energy efficiency and renewable energy resources. Click on bioenergy to find out more about biomass resources, then go to biofuels.

Welcome to EPA’s Global Warming Site!
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) site has information on all aspects of global warming. It includes information on climate, greenhouse gases, impacts of global warming, and what can be done about it. Click on kids and educators to go to the educators site for activities about global warming.

Global Warming Information Page
At this site you can access information about how politics, science, and economics affect global warming. Click on global warming in brief for an overview of the subject, or you can click on student research page for links to other sites and articles about global warming. This site is sponsored by the Cooler Heads Coalition, National Consumer Coalition.

Global Warming FAQ
Visit this National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site for answers to frequently asked questions about global warming. Find out if the climate is warming and if any observed climatic changes can be explained by natural variability.

The Ozone Hole Tour: Home Page
Visit this Center for Atmospheric Science, University of Cambridge, England site for an overview of the ozone hole over Antarctica. Click on the discovery of the ozone hole to find out how this thinning of the ozone layer was first identified.