Energy and Your Environment

12 Energy and Your Environment 4 ENERGY USE IN THE ENVIRONMENT HAS OVER TIME We have always depended on our environment to survive. Early people relied on the sun’s heat energy for warmth and the growth of living things. Their use of water , wind , and wood had only a slight impact on the environment because the population was so small and the energy resources they used were renewable. Today we rely on other forms of energy and the world’s population exceeds seven billion. Our use of electricity, natural gas, coal, oil, and gasoline affects the environment in many ways. Transport yourself back to the following time periods and describe your environment and how you use energy. Include how you would have cooked your food and kept warm. Explain how you would get the energy to do these things. PREHISTORIC TIMES 200 YEARS AGO LAST YEAR ENERGY TIMELINE imagine... Discovery and use of fire 100,000 BC 1000 BC 100 BC 1700 1750 1920 1880 1885 1900 1950 1997 2008 2010 Use of wind to drive ships Wood commonly used for heating & lighting Steam engines developed Electricity widely used for lighting Electricity & natural gas replace wood for heating U.S. homes 99% of all U.S. homes have a color TV More than 80% of all U.S. homes have a computer Electric vehicles widely available Development of waterwheels Natural gas manufactured from coal widely used for lighting Coal used for heating most homes in U.S. Model T cars manufactured in large numbers changed