- Some resources may seem to be renewable, but may have some limits, as to how
accessible a nonpolluted resource is and what effect overexploitation of the resource
has. - Some renewable materials include the sustainable harvesting of certain products.
- Nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels and nuclear power.
- Burningoffossilfuelscausesharmfuleffectsintheenvironmentandcanleadtoregional
and global conflicts. - There are a number of renewable energy sources which offer alternatives to the burning
offossilfuels; theyincludesolarradiation; windenergy; hydropower; geothermalpower;
biomass, biofuels, and vegetable oil; tidal power; nuclear energy; and fusion power. - There are pros and cons to all alternative energy sources.
- Reducing waste and the reusing and recycling of resources can help save natural re-
sources as well as help us reach our goals for energy production. - There are many things you can do in your household and community towards the
goals of reducing, reusing, and recycling; individual efforts can also add up to make a
difference nationally, and even internationally. - Awareness of wise resource use at the consumer level can influence decisions at the
manufacturing and distributing levels. - Government legislation is also important to enforce these changes; it is up to individ-
uals to communicate to their representatives the carrying out of wise use of natural
resources, and to vote for those leaders who stand for sound ecological practices.
Review Questions
- Under what conditions is a resource renewable?
- Why must some natural renewable resources, such as geothermal power, fresh water,
timber, and biomass be carefully managed? - Why is nuclear power considered a nonrenewable resource?
- With resources that have limited supplies, what human factors put increasing pressure
on how fast we consume such resources? - What are the main disadvantages to the burning of fossil fuels as an energy source?
- Whattwoadvantagesdosolarpower,windpower,andhydropowerallhaveincommon?
Further Reading / Supplemental Links
- Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition, Random House, New York, 1998.
Natural Resources