There are a variety of ways that traditional energy sources are collected. This page compares the different methods for extracting traditional energy sources.
Harvesting WoodOne of the oldest energy sources is wood. Firewood has been used as an energy source for thousands of years. If wood is used as a main source of heating or energy, usually trees have to be cut down and chopped to create a large enough supply. Wood fires can produce a lot of air pollution so some cities have banned wood burning within city limits. Watch the video to learn more.
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Harvesting PeatPeat is partially decomposed plant material that can be used as an energy source because it burns when it is dry. The video below shows how peat is processed. Some things to think about while watching the video are the environmental impacts of peat harvesting and the sustainability of this type of harvesting.
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Coal MiningCoal mining can have many negative effects on the environment as well as the workers. Watch the video to get an overview of many of the negative impacts of coal mining.
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Uranium MiningUranium is used as the energy source in many nuclear fission power plants. The process of digging it up often has many negative environmental consequences. The video below gives an overview of the two main types of uranium mining used in the US. As you watch the video, think about the environmental impacts of the two types of mining shown.
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Conventional Oil & Natural Gas DrillingConventional drilling for oil and natural gas is fairly simple. A hole is drilled into the ground to access an underground reservoir of the resource. The resource is then pumped out and distributed. Most of these easily-accessed reservoirs are currently in production which means they will be used up in the coming decades, leading to price increases in oil and natural gas. The video below very quickly shows the difference between a horizontal fracking well and a conventional well.
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Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) for Oil & Natural GasFracking opens up many oil and natural gas resources that would not be available otherwise because it can extract these resources from impermeable layers underground. Many environmental hazards are related including aquifer pollution and moderate earthquakes. In some cases, residents end up with tap water that "burns" due to the intrusion of methane (natural gas) into their groundwater sources. Watch the video to see the process of fracking and some of the environmental hazards that it may cause.
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