PUBH 6011 Midterm GUARANTEED
PASS!!
Explain how energy influences human health - (ANSWER)Energy is essential for human
health, well-being and comfort: greater energy is associated with better health
Example: infant mortality improvs up to levels of about 2,000 to 3,000 kg of oil equivalent per
person per year, but beyond that, rising energy use is not associated with further health
improvement
Figures 14.1 and 14.2
Fuel ladder - (ANSWER)With greater prosperity and technological development comes a shift
toward cleaner, more efficiency, and more convenient energy sources, with the energy generated
farther from the point of use.
Define ethical considerations on what is meant by sustainable development - (ANSWER)
Petroleum - (ANSWER)35% in the US
Minor role in electricity, large role in transportation, most dominant energy source in America
85% of it becomes fuel
Accounts for about one third of fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel)
Natural Gas - (ANSWER)29%
Natural gas has been considered a promising bridge energy source because the combustion of
methane, its main component, generates about half the carbon dioxide per unit of energy released
as the combustion of coal, and fewer other air pollutants.
However, even small amounts of leakage during natural gas production, transport, and use may
undermine the climate change advantage of this source
Hydraulic fracking is another concern
Coal - (ANSWER)14%
25% of energy consumption and 40% of electricity generation worldwide
Accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions and is therefore a major contributor to climate change
Produced through surface or underground mining- both dangerous operations for workers,
making miners at risk
Page 1 of 13
, Many modern coal mines involve mountaintop removal and strip mining, processes that result in
ecological damage, stress nearby communities, increase the risk of mudslides, and contaminate
water sources with waste emissions
Nuclear - (ANSWER)9%
Carbon-free, but also potential dangers such as radiation exposure, storing the nuclear waste,
potential for catastrophic accidents
Hydro - (ANSWER)3%
Produced when flowing water strikes the blades of turbines that in turn generate electricity
Does not involve combustion, however dams may disrupt river ecosystems by changing water
flow and temperature, and causing sedimentation, reduced water quality, loss of wetlands,
disruption of facilities, and greenhouse gas emissions
Other potential health hazards: population displacement, infectious disease risk, and disaster risk
Renewable - (ANSWER)8%- biomass, solar, wind
Biomass - (ANSWER)5%
makes electricity heats/ cools homes
ethanol and biodiesel
health benefits: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil fuel use, reduced air
pollution
Wind - (ANSWER)2%
advantages: absence of greenhouse gases and other pollutant emissions during operation and
absence of a waste stream
has more workers than coal
Solar - (ANSWER)0.6%
Photovoltaic (solar panels)
Concentrating solar power (focuses the sun's energy to boil water and sending the steam through
a traditional steam turbine)
Up until about 1960, which form of energy was used more than any other - (ANSWER)coal
Compared to historic oil fields, the energy return on energy invested (EROI) is _____________
for shale oil. - (ANSWER)much lower
Page 2 of 13
PASS!!
Explain how energy influences human health - (ANSWER)Energy is essential for human
health, well-being and comfort: greater energy is associated with better health
Example: infant mortality improvs up to levels of about 2,000 to 3,000 kg of oil equivalent per
person per year, but beyond that, rising energy use is not associated with further health
improvement
Figures 14.1 and 14.2
Fuel ladder - (ANSWER)With greater prosperity and technological development comes a shift
toward cleaner, more efficiency, and more convenient energy sources, with the energy generated
farther from the point of use.
Define ethical considerations on what is meant by sustainable development - (ANSWER)
Petroleum - (ANSWER)35% in the US
Minor role in electricity, large role in transportation, most dominant energy source in America
85% of it becomes fuel
Accounts for about one third of fuel (gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel)
Natural Gas - (ANSWER)29%
Natural gas has been considered a promising bridge energy source because the combustion of
methane, its main component, generates about half the carbon dioxide per unit of energy released
as the combustion of coal, and fewer other air pollutants.
However, even small amounts of leakage during natural gas production, transport, and use may
undermine the climate change advantage of this source
Hydraulic fracking is another concern
Coal - (ANSWER)14%
25% of energy consumption and 40% of electricity generation worldwide
Accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions and is therefore a major contributor to climate change
Produced through surface or underground mining- both dangerous operations for workers,
making miners at risk
Page 1 of 13
, Many modern coal mines involve mountaintop removal and strip mining, processes that result in
ecological damage, stress nearby communities, increase the risk of mudslides, and contaminate
water sources with waste emissions
Nuclear - (ANSWER)9%
Carbon-free, but also potential dangers such as radiation exposure, storing the nuclear waste,
potential for catastrophic accidents
Hydro - (ANSWER)3%
Produced when flowing water strikes the blades of turbines that in turn generate electricity
Does not involve combustion, however dams may disrupt river ecosystems by changing water
flow and temperature, and causing sedimentation, reduced water quality, loss of wetlands,
disruption of facilities, and greenhouse gas emissions
Other potential health hazards: population displacement, infectious disease risk, and disaster risk
Renewable - (ANSWER)8%- biomass, solar, wind
Biomass - (ANSWER)5%
makes electricity heats/ cools homes
ethanol and biodiesel
health benefits: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil fuel use, reduced air
pollution
Wind - (ANSWER)2%
advantages: absence of greenhouse gases and other pollutant emissions during operation and
absence of a waste stream
has more workers than coal
Solar - (ANSWER)0.6%
Photovoltaic (solar panels)
Concentrating solar power (focuses the sun's energy to boil water and sending the steam through
a traditional steam turbine)
Up until about 1960, which form of energy was used more than any other - (ANSWER)coal
Compared to historic oil fields, the energy return on energy invested (EROI) is _____________
for shale oil. - (ANSWER)much lower
Page 2 of 13