9 IMPORTANCE OF ENERGY TO HUMAN
For domestic use e.g. wood and charcoal for cooking and heating, etc.
For use in industries e.g. electricity, petroleum, etc.
Used in transportation e.g. electric cars, diesel and petrol used in motor vehicles, etc.
Used in agriculture e.g. diesel for tractors which draw ploughs, electricity for milking machines, etc.
Used in the water supply where diesel engines windmills and solar power is used to pump water.
Used for medical purposes where electricity is used to run equipment for diagnosis
e.g. X-Ray and scanning machines and refrigeration to preserve specimens on medical research.
Measures to manage and conserve energy
Management of energy is effective planning and control of energy resources.
The following are measures that can be used to Manage energy:
Control of importation of vehicles with large engine capacity which consumes a lot of fuel.
Encouraging many people to use public transport in order to reduce the number of vehicles on roads and thus fuel consumption.
Educating people through mass media to create awareness on the importance of conserving energy.
Improvement and proper planning of road network to reduce traffic jams in which a lot of fuel is wasted.
Agroforestry, afforestation, and reafforestation programs to reduce overexploitation of natural forests.
Banning logging, selective felling of trees, and resettling people who have settled into forests
Conservation of energy is using available energy resources in the most effective manner to ensure there isn‟t wastage.
The following are measures that can be used to conserve energy:
Putting off electricity gadgets when they are not in use.
Proper motor vehicle maintenance in order for them to use fuel efficiently.
Encouraging the use of public transport which carries many people at a go e.g. buses.
Encouraging the use of renewable sources of energy e.g. solar, wind and biogas to save on oil and wood.
Encouraging the use of energy-saving stoves which use little charcoal and produce a lot of energy.
The following Advantages of Solar Energy
Cheap because it's obtained from sunlight which is not paid for.
Requires minimal maintenance once tapping equipment has been installed.
It does not pollute the environment like fossil fuels (environmentally friendly)
Can be stored in batteries and used when there is no sunlight.
It's inexhaustible i.e. available as long as the sun continues to shine.
Available in all parts of the world.
8 DISADVANTAGES OF SOLAR ENERGY
Can not be used to run heavy machinery.
Tapping equipment e.g. solar panels is expensive to buy.
The batteries which it's stored in are cumbersome to carry around.
It fluctuates in various seasons throughout the year.
Large numbers of solar panels are required to produce useful amounts of energy.
USES OF SOLAR ENERGY AND HOW SOLAR ENERGY PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Solar energy is the heat and light produced from the Sun. The Sun is the source of all energy on the Earth.
The solar energy can be be used for different purposes such as:
Drying clothes, meat, fish, fruits and grains.
Used by growing plants to manufacture their own food through a process called photosynthesis.
Generation of electricity.
Formation of coal, gas and oil.
Formation of clouds and rainfall through evaporation of water caused by the heat of the Sun.
Giving power to small radios and running small telephone systems by using silicon solar battery.
Source of Vitamin D to human bodies as the bodies absorb the Sunlight.
For domestic purposes like cooking food, heating water etc.
How the use of Solar Energy promotes Environmental Conservation
The utilization of Solar energy in manufacturing industries reduces the production of Chlorine from industrially produced chlorofluorocarbon gases which cause depletion of the ozone layer.
The depletion of the ozone layer causes global warming.
It is used as an alternative source of energy thus reducing the depletion of forests for charcoal and firewood
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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF COAL AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY
Coal is a type of organically formed sedimentary rock that is burnt to release energy. Coal comes from the remains of plants and animals that were buried for millions of years.
Thermal power is electricity that is generated from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal.
Despite global efforts to reduce the use of coal in the production of electricity, some countries still use coal as a source of electricity.
Countries that are still using coal to generate electricity include China, which produces 3785TWh, followed by India, Japan, and Germany.
ADVANTAGES OF COAL
More efficient in thermal generation of electricity than oil.
Most suitable in the smelting of iron.
The use of coal as fuel to generate electricity has a number of disadvantages as follows:
sulfur dioxide and heavy metals emitted by coal is harmful
Burning coal results in the release of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals into the atmosphere .
These compounds lead to many side effects, such as respiratory damage to humans.
Pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels have been linked to diseases like cancer and asthma in several scientific studies.
leads to formation of acid rain
The burning of coal also results in the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.
Sulfur dioxide is linked to acid rain, that is, when sulfur dioxide cools in the atmosphere it forms water droplets.
If the sulfur dioxide is in large quantities, the water droplets reach a saturation point resulting in precipitation.
The rain that falls is called acid rain.
This type of rainfall is very harmful to the environment and to people.
burning of coal contribute to global warming
The burning of coal is also linked to global warming. This is a situation whereby global temperatures go up.
Global warming also results in the rise of water in the sea, which might flood the settlements along the coast.
coal is non renewable resources
Another disadvantage of using coal as fuel to generate electricity is that coal is a non-renewable resource.
Even if coal did not pollute and contribute to global warming, we would not be able to rely on them forever.
This is because coal is non-renewable, meaning they do not naturally replenish fast enough for humans to use forever.
Therefore the use of coal as a source of fuel to generate electricity is unsustainable since the amount of coal available is diminishing every day.
Usage of coal has declined due to:
Discovery of other forms of energy such as petroleum.
Exhaustion of old accessible mines.
High cost of mining coal.
USES OF COAL
Fuel: for domestic heating
Source of power for driving steam engines in power stations to drive dynamos which produce thermal electricity.
Raw material: the two chief carbonation products are released in the process.
Coal far: used for making fuel, oils, disinfectants, antiseptics, air line dyes (plastic performs) etc
Benzole: used to make motor spirit, weed killers, aspirin, saccham and sulphonamide drugs
Sulphate: of ammonia: used to make fertilizers insecticides, soap, explosives and chemicals for use in refrigerators.
Advantages and disadvantages of wind energy
Wind energy is mainly used in arid and semi-arid areas where wind flow isn't obstructed by vegetation.
The wind is harvested using windmills and converted into mechanical energy which is used for pumping water, grinding grain, and generating electricity.
Wind energy is also used to propel ocean-going vessels e.g. dhows.
The following are advantages and disadvantages of using wind energy:
advantages
It is an inexhaustible source of energy.
It does not pollute the environment.
The land between the windmills can be used for other purposes.
Can be produced on small scale basis for local consumers.
Disadvantages/ Problems.
Windmills for harvesting are expensive to buy and install.
The equipment for harvesting is relatively expensive to maintain.
Many windmills are required to provide a significant amount of electrical energy.
It fluctuates when the strength and direction of the wind changes.
The large tracts of land it requires (wind farms) alter the environment's beauty.
Its not available in many areas except in open areas.
6 ADVANTAGES AND 5 DISADVANTAGES OF URANIUM OR NUCLEAR ENERGY
Uranium or Nuclear Energy is Derived from the alteration of atomic structures
Involves release of heat that produces steam used to generate electricity through fission where uranium is split into nuclear reactors/power stations
Nuclear power stations are mainly found in developed countries e.g. Britain, the USA, France, Germany, and Japan
Advantages of nuclear energy
Environmentally friendly.
Produces large amounts of energy in nuclear reactors
Reliable due to long lasting supply of uranium deposits
Disadvantages of nuclear energy
Requires heavy capital investment/expertise.
Radioactive materials are harmful to human (causes cancer) and the environment.
Nuclear leakages can cause environmental pollution.
Can result into disastrous accidents if not well planned/controlled
Advantages and disadvantages of energy produced from natural gas
Natural gas occurs in association with petroleum i.e. normally found on top of upper layers of Crude Oil.
Composed of a mixture of hydrocarbons with methane making the highest percentage
Mainly used for domestic purposes, generating thermal electricity and for industrial activities
Advantages of energy from natural gas
Clean.
Cheap to transport in pipelines.
Free from weather changes
Disadvantages of energy from natural gas
Accidental fires may occur due to gas leakage/damaged pipes.
Pollution of environment through gas leaks.
Expensive for low income earners
Problems of Energy Development in Kenya
Inadequate capital which causes the country to seek external borrowing of money which is paid for many years overburdening the country.
Small market for power because of the high cost of connection which prevents its horizontal spread
Seasonal fluctuation of water levels in dams due to low rainfall on catchment areas and some rivers flowing through dry areas where much of water is lost through evaporation which leads to inconvenience to consumers because of power rationing.
Regular siltation of dams due to deposition of soil which requires regular dredging which is quite expensive.
Location of some power generation plants in remote areas making it expensive to transport power for long distances.
There is limited spread of solar power in rural areas because the equipment is expensive to install and lack of acceptance because it fluctuates with seasons.
There is lack of acceptance of wind power and many people use diesel to pump water instead of it.
There is problem of overexploitation of wood fuel as a result of population increasing at a faster rate which has led to deforestation leading to soil erosion and reduced amounts of rainfall as a result of the effect on water cycle.
Advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy
Biomass refers to the total organic matter found on the earth’s surface in terms of plants and animals
These plant/animal matter can be converted into energy by biological and thermochemical processes
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The main sources of biomass energy are agricultural wastes
Animal waste such as cow dung and human waste is used to produce biogas
a combustible gas generated by the fermentation of organic matter e.g. cow dung
Biogas can be used as cooking gas and in refrigerators
Advantages of biomass energy
Inexhaustible as long as there is organic matter.
Available throughout the world.
Cheap because uses waste products.
Production doesn’t require advanced technology
Biogas gives twice as much heat as natural gas.
Slurry left behind when biogas is being made can be used as fertilizer.
Disadvantages of biomass energy
Cannot be transported over longer distances.
Contributes to global warming (pollution) if burnt directly.
Requires large spaces for the construction of the bio-digesters
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ENERGY FROM DRAUGHT ANIMALS
The most commonly used draught animals are oxen/bulls, others are horses, donkeys, camel etc
They are used to in plough/prepare farms, transport goods etc
Advantages of energy from draught animals
Readily available all over the world.
Maintenance of animals is cheap – require only food and water.
Animals are flexible i.e. can go through areas that are inaccessible by other transport
means e.g. roads/railway.
Some animals can be used in ASALs
Disadvantages of energy from draught animals
Prone to diseases and fatigue.
Work that can be done by animals is restricted to rural areas.
Work that can be done by the animals is limited – they tire quickly
ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRICITY OVER OTHER FORMS OF ENERGY
By use of devices like transformers, electricity can be adjusted from a fraction of watt to thousands of watts per hour
Convenient transport. It is easily transported just by wires and plugs over very long distances
It does not cause pollution; hence it is a clean source of energy
It is a renewable resource
Its an unlimited degree of divisibility.
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