Ee 3410 Experiment 4

In the 21st century electronics are used by almost everyone. As people age so does the technology people use. When this technology is outdated or stops working people throw it away in landfills. This technology that is thrown away is known as electronical waste or is also known as e-waste. E-waste is a worldwide problem that has many solutions to solving it, but there is only one truly environmentally friendly solution to solving this epidemic. E-waste is a danger to the environment and the health of others, but can be solved with the proper processes, proper safety, and attention to this problem is needed to stop e-waste.

America’s nuclear energy plants are — by a wide margin — the nation’s largest source of carbon-free power. They produce clean, reliable electricity as well as well-paying jobs. Although several dependable nuclear plants have closed in recent years for economic reasons, nuclear energy is getting a fresh look for its ability to produce vast amounts of power without emitting greenhouse gases. And with new reactor designs, both big and small, scientists and technologists are re-engineering the future of nuclear energy for everyone’s benefit.

Atomic energy production is a dangerous technology that must be replaced by eco-friendly energy production methods. Atomic energy production relies upon radioactive materials used as fuel to generate electricity; these fuels are highly toxic and volatile substances that are lethal to all forms of life. In the event of a technical malfunction, or natural disaster, these dangerous substances can escape into the environment where they will remain disruptive for centuries. The nuclear power plant at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan is one such example of this, but alarmingly, many nuclear power plants are built along geological fault lines, in tsunami regions, and other dangerous weather zones all across the globe. The potential for widespread devastation to the environment is real. For this reason alone nuclear energy should be phased out entirely and replaced by a safe alternative.

According to data from the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear energy accounted for 63.3% of emission-free electricity in the US while solar, wind and thermal energy collectively accounted for only 15.4% of emission-free electricity in the US. The operating capacity of solar and wind energy farms hinge on intermittent environmental conditions and thus, these methods are only able to attain an average capacity of 20-30%. This is in stark contrast to nuclear energy’s average capacity of 86%. 4 Opponents may point out that the processes used to build and fuel the nuclear energy plants will emit pollutants and greenhouse gases. However, studies have found that the life-cycle emissions of nuclear plants is comparable to the other forms of renewable energy.5

The world as we know today is dependent on energy. The options we have currently enable us to produce energy economically but at a cost to the environment. As fossil fuel source will be diminishing over time, other alternatives will be needed. An alternative that is presently utilized is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is currently the most efficacious energy source. Every time the word ‘nuclear’ is mentioned, the first thought that people have is the devastating effects of nuclear energy. Granting it does come with its drawbacks; this form of energy emits far less pollution than conventional power plants. Even though certain disadvantages of nuclear energy are devastating, the advantages contain even greater rewards.

For many Americans, the electric bill is the most dreaded bill to arrive each month; it is always expensive, yet it doesn’t have to be. To lower electricity costs for citizens and businesses, the Unites States could increase its use of nuclear power. Nuclear energy is created when an unstable radioactive element decays and emits nanoparticles called radiation. With today’s current technology, the emission of these atoms as well as the energy released can be controlled and used in different ways. One such way is in the creation of electricity produced by nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is not renewable; however, it meets every reasonable criterion for sustainability, which is a primary concern for many people. Furthermore, the United States should use nuclear energy as its main source of power for three primary reasons: first, it is the most reliable source of power in the world today. Second, it is more cost effective than any other non-renewable resource and, finally, nuclear energy releases no greenhouse gasses, which contribute to global warming.

A massive amounts of heat produced during the fission process is used to produce electricity while releasing no harmful byproduct. Therefore, it is one of the cleanest and most ecofriendly ways to obtain energy and it should solve all our energy problems. However, there are a quite few disadvantages related to nuclear power generation that overcome its benefits. Building the nuclear power plant is very expensive due to longer construction times for radiation, insulation, security, and safety purposes. The waste from nuclear power plants is highly radioactive and potentially dangerous, if not handled carefully. The nuclear power waste can stay radioactive for thousands of years and must be stored deep in earth and away from the population, which is another very expensive and risky process. Because of the Three Mile Island accident, Chernobyl disaster and Fukushima nuclear accident, people have the biggest fear of nuclear radiation that has longer and real impact on life. All energy sources have some risk. The risks associated with nuclear energy are likely to be much less than those associated with fossil fuels. However, nuclear energy has a potential for devastating accidents, which surpasses everything that could occur with fossil fuels. It is also capable of destroying civilization the same way as nuclear weapons. Moreover, the long-term radiation danger of nuclear waste is a huge burden on humankind. Even though nuclear energy is a viable way to generate clean energy, it has grown more slowly than projected because of safety, security, and economic problems. The overall risks of nuclear accidents are much too high to overcome its benefits. Instead, we should improve and develop more on renewable energy sources to meet our energy

If humans are to solve the vast energy crisis that has been set upon humanity as a whole, they will be successful only if long term energy sources are acknowledged, for fossil fuels are simply a temporary source and will run out. Such alternatives to fossil fuels, excluding nuclear energy, include wind power, solar energy, biomass accumulation using vegetation, geothermal energy, and hydropower. These sources are generally regarded as being the most reasonable for long-term use by many, but, great opposition exists towards their use as well. Nuclear energy has proved to be of great importance within energy production, for it releases no harmful carbon emissions into the environment, and provides clean, affordable energy that never ceases, no matter the external influences of the surrounding environment. It is of great concern to many the vulnerability that stands between the environment and nuclear energy, for past catastrophes have shown that the improper use and operation of these technologies can lead to the utter destruction of local environments, such as the Chernobyl accident of 1986 or the Fukushima accident of 2011. Yet, advances in nuclear technology and the proper dissolution of wastes

Since the start if the industrial revolution there has been an ongoing increase in the demand for power. The level of power needed is expected to increase, and in recent years there has been a great deal of attention paid to the way in which that power need may be met in a manner that is not detrimental to the environment. One of the more controversial power sources is that of Nuclear power. Nuclear power is know to have the potential to provide relativity long term, high levels of power which does not have the environmental costs associated with the burring of fossil fuels (Chu and Majumdar, 2012). However, while there is a great deal of potential, there are also some valid safety concerns; the Chernobyl meltdown is well known for both the environmental damage and the cost on human life, more recently there are concerns about the defunct Fukushima nuclear plan in Japan, which failed following an earthquake and is now leaking radio active water into the ocean (Adelman and Watanabe, 2013). With both potential benefits and challenges the future of nuclear power appears to be uncertain.

Many people are worried about the potential for nuclear energy and the drastic effects it can have on our planet, if put in the wrong hands. No energy resource has ever been as groundbreaking as this. The potential for this energy is limitless. Through countermeasures set against countries that may have malicious intent for this power, some of which have already been put into place, we can use nuclear energy as it should be intended. The preservation of the environment and us as people.

In today’s day and age, nuclear power can be viewed as dangerous and unreliable, but it is the only source of baseload power of electricity. Baseload power is the amount of energy that is needed to meet year-round demands. Not only does nuclear power create a lot of energy to used, but it also does it reliably without emitting greenhouse gases, like fossil fuel factories. Because of this, nuclear energy has one of the lowest environmental impacts on land and natural resources of any electricity source (1). For example, by the year 2013, nuclear power plants have generated a total of 4,058,209,231 Megawatt-hours of energy, which is as much

Various energy resources are capable of generating waste that can be decomposed after several years, such as carbon emissions. However, nuclear energy damages the earth to an extent that could remain for several million years. Energy resources such as carbon emissions are decomposable after several years, yet nuclear energy appears to produce the greatest amount of damaging effects to this planet. Nuclear waste can remain deadly on earth’s surface for millions of years. Many citizens may have some form of knowledge on nuclear energy, but are not well informed about it. This form of energy is known to come from the separation of atoms from a particular element in turn releasing a form of energy. These small microscopic atoms may seem harmless however, when creating this form of energy it produces what is known as radiation. When this energy is produced radioactive waste follows, which in turn, can be incredibly hazardous for humans, animals, and plant life. This energy can pose as a threat, especially when the radioactive waste is not disposed of properly contaminating the surrounding environment. Nuclear power plants require a great deal of labor, expenditures, as well as upkeep. When considering nuclear energy as a valuable source of energy, one must consider the various disadvantages including possible environmental threats, potential malfunction or failure, and constructing expenses as well as maintenance.

Nuclear energy holds great interest for those looking for a sustainable energy source. Our current energy requirements are met by the use of fossil fuels. However, there exist some substantial problems with fossil fuels. Not only are they limited, but they also contribute to the carbon dioxide emissions and thus to global warming. Use of nuclear energy will cut the percentage of carbon emission as it does not involve any burning. Instead, the splitting of nuclei of atoms provides the energy. Using nuclear power instead of coal for electricity generation will cut 2.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emission (Brook). As with any type of alternate energy proposals, there are issues involved. One of such issue for nuclear energy is waste

Introduction: We live in a world that is crumbling and being destroyed all around us at an increasing rate. Humanity is now on a collision course with the natural environment. Using an alternative energy source can prevent all this, rather than the primitive methods commonly used now. After taking multiple classes that covered environmental issues in the world around us. Today, I will talk about the current problems facing our environment and generating energy and how nuclear energy can help fix those affects.

Over the years, humans have increasingly relied on electricity to supply power to their homes and businesses, mainly through grid connected nuclear power plants, but understanding where this power comes from and how it is being generated isn’t something many are concerned with, nor do they have the knowledge to understand how the energy is created and what could happen if these nuclear power plants began to fail. While we now strive for newer clean forms of energy such as solar or wind power, nuclear energy still seems to be at the forefront of the clean energy revival due to the efficiency at which those power plants can produce electricity. Nuclear power plants like the one off the coast of Japan, Fukushima Daiichi, which was hit by a tsunami following a very large earthquake in March of 2011, have quickly become the poster child for newer clean fuel initiatives because of the uncontrollable leaking of harmful chemicals into our atmosphere and oceans. Arguably, these types of power plants, which produce and contain harmful radioisotopes to produce electricity, have been perceived as a growing problem for our environment and have increased health risks for the inhabitants surrounding the plants. Nuclear power plants emit very low-carbon emissions and have been labeled as one of the cleanest forms of energy production, nevertheless it produces chemicals that have the potential to be even more harmful than any carbon emission affecting our environment and future generations