Outcomes assessed in this assignment:

Science and Math Discipline Level Outcome:

Students will be able to utilize logical reasoning and critical thinking skills in analyzing scientific problems and models.

Course Level Outcome:

Upon completion of the course the student will be able to solve problems using the First Law of Thermodynamics.

Module Level Outcome:

Students will be able to propose a method for conversion of energy to a useful form, and defend the practicality and efficiency of this method in terms of energy input and useful energy output.

Instructions

In this discussion, I am asking you to do some research. If we are to save the planet from a climate catastrophe, without going back to a pre-industrial way of life, we will need to come up with practical energy sources that have no net emission of carbon dioxide, and that do not, thereby, exacerbate the climate change problem. Your challenge in this discussion is to:

1. Propose a scheme by which you think we can generate energy with a zero carbon footprint.
2. Describe, to the best of your ability, how the process would work.
3. Evaluate the scheme in terms of:
   1. Practicality, Could this be implemented on a large enough scale to have a real impact?
   2. Over all energy efficiency, How much energy goes into making the scheme work? If you propose, for example bio-fuels How much energy goes into growing, fertilizing watering, harvesting and processing the fuel? Is it more or less than you would get out of the fuel? If it is solar voltaic energy, How long does it take for a solar cell to produce the amount of energy that went into making it? The same type of analysis can be done on any type of energy source These are just two examples.
   3. Discuss any other problems with the method that you are proposing. For example, If you are proposing a form of nuclear power, you should discuss the issue of radioactive waste. If it is solar or wind, you should discuss ways to store energy for use when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. There are many practical technologies out there. I have only listed a few on the resources page.
4. Provide references or links to any resources that you have used. The format of these is unimportant as long as there is enough information there that another student can locate the resource with it.

Once you have posted, politely write one or more replies to other posts, in which you do one of the following:

• Ask a clarifying question.
• Point out a problem or suggest something additional.
• Elaborate on the topics covered in the post.
• Answer a question that another student has asked to you.

zero carbon resources