Friends at West Virginia University have just compiled a 20 question energy quiz that provides some rather interesting "a ha" moments. (There is no coherence to the abbreviated list of questions below other than the fact that I find the answers interesting and/or counterintuitive.)
See how you do:
- If all of the CO2 produced in U.S. power plants were captured and compressed to a liquid for sequestration the volume would be approximately equal to ___ percent of total U.S. oil consumption by volume (100 percent = 20 million barrels per day)?
- Approximately how much water is used or diverted if you burn a 60-watt incandescent light bulb 12 hours a day for one year?
- During the 105th Congress (1997-1998) seven climate change bills, resolutions, and amendments were proposed. How many were proposed in the 110th Congress (2007 - 2008)?
- From 1996 to 2005, the total installed GW of coal, nuclear, and natural gas in the U.S. changed by ___ percent, ___ percent, and ___ percent respectively.
- Where is the largest wind farm in the eastern U.S.?
- Total energy imported into the U.S. changed by ___ percent in the first half of 2008 as compared to the first half of 2007.
Answers below the fold (don't peek until you've answered!).
- 167 percent
- 5,000 gallons
- 235
- 0 percent, 0 percent, 100 percent
- Grant County, W.Va.
- -5 percent
Ask Umbra on ditching dirty things
Comments
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GRLCowan Posted 2:37 am
17 Oct 2008
Actually, for the last, -5 was my first guess, but then I thought, first half, that won't be so down.
You ignore nuclear uprates due to turbine replacements, etc.
--- G.R.L. Cowan, author of How fire can be tamed
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Sean Casten Posted 2:54 am
17 Oct 2008
I find #1 fascinating.
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2wheeler Posted 6:44 am
17 Oct 2008
So I got 2 and 6 right, mostly by luck.
I was shocked that #4c (natural gas power production increase) was so high.
Gratified that climate change legislation was being generated (proposed at least) in great amount, it gives hope some good legislation can be put through in short order early next year after housecleaning at the Capitol and WH.
My answer to #1 was biased high since I live in OH with 10 million others where 80-90% of our grid electricity comes from coal, which I know to be from very antiquated and inefficient plants with thermal, pollution control (where provided) and transmission energy losses rendering their net efficiency down near 30%.
Thanks, Sean!
Moving toward sustainability with hopefulness, one revolution at a time.
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