Renewable Resources — Unit test Answers

The costs of using both renewable and nonrenewable resources depend on the extent of the use. If renewable resources are managed wisely, the use of the resource will not exceed the rate at which it is replenished. In this instance the cost of using renewable resources can be minimized, if not entirely eliminated. The cost of using nonrenewable resources is harder to minimize because nonrenewable resources cannot be replenished at the rate at which they are used. The environmental impact of using nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels is greater than just the loss of the resource itself. Other impacts such as acid rain, global warming, and atmospheric pollution can result from the use of nonrenewable resources.

At times, renewable resource use might be less efficient and more expensive than the use of nonrenewable resources. These factors can lead to the use of nonrenewable resources even when the option to use renewable resources is available.

The alternative energy technologies all provide renewable sources of energy. They all help reduce the environmental impact of energy use. The use of solar, hydropower, wind, and geothermal energy is dependent upon the availability of those resources. Solar energy is not as efficient in some locations as it is in others. This is true of wind, geothermal, and hydropower as well. Biofuels can be used to fuel cars and are less dependent on location than other alternative energy technologies, but they have limitations associated with them as well.

Resource availability and allocation matter to governments because resources are limited, unevenly distributed, and essential to people, businesses, and public services. Governments must plan for reliable access, manage shortages and competing demands, and balance economic needs with conservation and environmental protection. Their decisions can also affect prices, trade dependence, and national security.