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Environmental Effects of Energy Production

Chapter

Abstract

The production and transmission of concentrated amounts of energy are the keystones for our rapid rise in standard of living. The major source of energy comes from fossil fuels, a resource which was accumulated over hundreds of millions of years but which is rapidly being used up: oil and gas in a matter of decades, coal in centuries: a brief episode in human history, but with a profound impact. Hopefully, nuclear breeders and fusion reactors will be developed in good time to supplant fossil fuels.

We describe here the uses of various forms of energy, historical and future trends, and especially the various environmental effects. Chief among these are the increase in global carbon dioxide and the generation of waste heat. Their effects are judged to be noticeable but not serious at this time.

Keywords

Fossil Fuel Nuclear Energy Nitrogen Oxide Waste Heat Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht-Holland 1975

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUSA

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