Green Energy and Disaster Management
Green Energy and Disaster Management tests renewable energy sources, energy conservation and the phases of disaster preparedness and response. Questions often ask you to compare energy sources or choose a safe action during a hazard.
Core rules
- Renewable sources include solar, wind, hydro, biomass, biogas, geothermal and tidal energy. They are replenished naturally and generally reduce carbon dioxide emissions compared with fossil fuels.
- Solar photovoltaic cells convert light directly to electricity; solar thermal systems heat water. Wind turbines convert wind kinetic energy to electricity. Biogas from organic waste is a renewable fuel.
- Energy conservation reduces demand: efficient appliances, switching off unused devices, LEDs and public transport.
- Disasters may be natural, such as earthquakes, floods, cyclones and landslides, or man-made, such as fires and industrial accidents. Management includes mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
- During a cyclone, move to a safe shelter and follow official warnings. During an earthquake, drop, cover and hold; stay away from windows and heavy objects.
Worked example
A household replaces four 60 W bulbs with 12 W LEDs used 5 hours per day. Saving per bulb per day = (60 - 12) x 5 = 240 Wh. For four bulbs, saving = 960 Wh = 0.96 kWh per day. Over 30 days, saving = 0.96 x 30 = 28.8 kWh. The reasoning is to find power difference first, then multiply by time and number of devices.
Traps
Renewable does not mean zero environmental impact. Mitigation is not the same as disaster response. Do not use lifts during a fire or earthquake. Spreading unverified warnings can worsen a disaster. Biogas is renewable, while natural gas is a fossil fuel.