The Social Costs of Resource Use

Why are nonrenewable resources used even when renewable resources might be available?

At times, renewable resource use might be less efficient and more expensive than the use of nonrenewable resources. These factors can lead to the use of nonrenewable resources even when the option to use renewable resources is available.

Explain how a global dependence on fossil fuels can lead to international security risks.

Explain how a global dependence on fossil fuels can lead to international security risks.

Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?

water

How can a global dependence on fossil fuels have associated social costs?

A global dependence on fossil fuels leads to an increased demand for limited resources. This leads to increased costs and greater access to resources for people and countries with greater monetary resources. Developing countries experience hindrances to their development through their inability to access fossil fuel resources.

Compare the benefits and disadvantages to the different alternative energy technologies.

The alternative energy technologies all provide renewable sources of energy. They all help reduce the environmental impact of energy use. The use of solar, hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy is dependent upon the availability of those resources. Solar energy is not as efficient in some locations as it is in others. This is true of wind, geothermal, and hydropower as well. Biofuels can be used to fuel cars and are less dependent on location than other alternative energy technologies, but they have limitations associated with them as well.

Compare the costs of using renewable resources to the costs of using nonrenewable resources.

The costs of using both renewable and nonrenewable resources depend on the extent of the use. If renewable resources are managed wisely, the use of the resource will not exceed the rate at which it is replenished. In this instance the cost of using renewable resources can be minimized, if not entirely eliminated. The cost of using nonrenewable resources is harder to minimize because nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished at the rate at which they are used. The environmental impact of using nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels is greater than just the loss of the resource itself. Other impacts such as acid rain, global warming, and atmospheric pollution can result from the use of nonrenewable resources.

Which of the following is true about biofuels?

They are made from plant materials and animal fats.

Fossil fuel dependence is associated with _______.

all of the above

Which of the following alternative energy technologies is most likely to be used to power a car?

biofuel

Most of the costs associated with using renewable resources are due to _______.

overuse of resources