Data Set 2
Renewable
Or
Nonrenewable
Water
Renewable –
if used wisely
Nonrenewable
Oil
Limestone
Silicon
Nonrenewable
Nonrenewable
Use
Benefits
Environmental
Impacts
Cost
Availability
Used for
agricultural,
industrial,
household,
recreational and
environmental
activities.
Produce
gasoline,
diesel fuel, jet
fuel,
home heating
fuel,
plastics and
much more
It is essential
for life on Earth.
Free energy
source.
Nonpolluting
Impacts related to
water are usually
issues of pollution
and waste created
by people
Once the facility
using the water is
built, the water is
free
If conserved, it is
readily available
Is used to
produce
many usable
products.
It varies but it
currently runs
about $107 a barrel
Limited availability –
estimates range from
30 to 140 years left –
also dependent on
future technology for
reaching deposits that
are currently
unreachable.
Road
construction
and
manufacturing of
cement
Used to make
glass, concrete,
computer
chips, solar
panels,
and medical
implants
It is a durable
material, resists
heat
Habitat destruction
at drilling sites, the
refining process, its
use creates air,
water
and land pollution,
major
habitat/wildlife
destruction due to
oil spills.
Habitat destruction,
possible water
contamination,
creation of dust
$10 to $85 a ton
Readily available
Erosion, habitat
destruction
$50 per pound
Readily available
It is the 2nd most
abundant
element
in Earth’s crust
after oxygen.
Solar
Wind
Phosphate
Renewable
Renewable
Nonrenewable
Produce
electricity
and heats water,
crop production
The most
abundant energy
resource on
Earth – free
energy source –
nonpolluting
Some toxic
materials
and chemicals are
used in the
manufacturing
process of
photovoltaic cells
FREE
Readily available
FREE
Readily available
$112 a ton
Readily available in
certain areas of
Florida. Estimates of
future supplies range
from 30 years to 345
years.
Used to produce
electricity
Clean, free energy
source
Land needed to
build wind turbines,
possibility of harm
to birds
Mainly used in
agriculture as a
fertilizer
Phosphorus (from
phosphates) is an
essential mineral
nutrient for all
plants and
animals.
Highly damaging to
the environment
due to mining
practices.
Habitat and land
destruction.