Green+Ambassadors+-+Energy

**Energy Technology**


==During class we will cover a range of topics related to energy, starting with post industrial revolution America and ending with possibilities of green technologies. We currently live in a world with a dependency on fossil fuels, and many say that we are currently at "peak oil" production (or will be by 2015).==

====Natural gas is now popular and seen as a way to provide power. It's cheap and we have massive stores of it in the shale beneath our Earth. The only problem is, our extraction methods may permanently soil our drinking water and be the cause of earthquakes and landslides. Researchers and government officials have yet to make a decision about how hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," will impact the Earth's environment, yet companies are forging ahead (including ones right here in Los Angeles).====

====Nuclear power was once viewed as a way to end our fossil fuel addiction, and 19% of the power in US is derived from nuclear power plants. But our nuclear plants our aging; they have a average age of 32 and were not planned on being around for more than 40 years when they were built. And we have no permanent place to store the highly toxic and damaging waste!====

====There are over 2.5 million dams on rivers in the United States. Some are merely to control flooding and others provide enough power to light up entire cities. California has dammed most of it's rivers and very few are allowed to flow freely. The price for this cheap power: anadromous fish populations are suffering (many are endangered) and irreplaceable landscapes have been flooded.====

====There are many alternatives, falling under the category of green energy. Wind power, solar power, tidal power, and biofuels are becoming increasingly common and more popular. Are they economically viable for our entire society? Are there incentives for using green energy? What will it take and what direction is our world heading?====

After powerpoints are used in class, I will upload them for your access.
DAY 1/2: Intro/ Coal

DAY 3: Natural gas/ fracking DAY 4: Nuclear power DAY 5: Hydropower DAY 6: Green energy

General Infobook
Need information about different energy sources? The NEED infobook can be accessed through the link below. You can either download the entire book, or click on just the type of energy you are interested in knowing more about. [|Energy Infobook] Cartoon Infobook

History of energy
A short history of energy Franklin Institute History of Energy Energy 101 video

Advocacy
Teenagers in Boston speaking out against diesel (video) Beyond Coal Campaign

Coal
A great overview of coal Kilowatt Ours Video

Natural Gas/Fracking
Fracking worries in CA Fracking in Los Angeles California could be next big oil state

**Nuclear Power**
international increase in nuclear power

Hydroelectricity/ Dams
Are dams good or bad?

Hydrogen
Is the hydrogen age just around the corner?