non-renewable resource

(noun)

resource, such as fossil fuel, that is either regenerated very slowly or not at all

Related Terms

Examples of non-renewable resource in the following topics:

  • The Carbon Cycle

    • Fossil fuels are considered a non-renewable resource because their use far exceeds their rate of formation.
    • A non-renewable resource is either regenerated very slowly or not at all.

  • Types of Natural Resources

    • Abiotic: these resources come from non-living and non-organic material.
    • Non-renewable natural resources: these resources form extremely slow and do not naturally form in the environment.
    • A resource is considered to be non-renewable when their rate of consumption exceeds the rate of recovery.
    • Examples of non-renewable natural resources are minerals and fossil fuels.
    • Wind is an example of a renewable natural resource.

  • Present Sources of Energy

    • Present sources of energy include fossil fuels, various types of renewable energy, and nuclear power.
    • Most of the world's energy resources are from the conversion of the sun's rays to other energy forms after being incident upon the planet.
    • The estimates for remaining non-renewable worldwide energy resources vary; the remaining fossil fuels total an estimated 0.4 YJ (1 YJ = yottajoule, or 1024 J) and the the energy available from nuclear fuels such as uranium exceeds 2.5 YJ.
    • The total energy flux from the sun is 3.8 YJ/yr, which dwarfs all non-renewable resources.
    • Renewable energy sources only comprised 16.7% of our energy in 2010.

  • World Energy Use

    • The most prominent sources of energy used in the world are non-renewable (i.e., unsustainable).
    • shows a pie chart of world energy usage by category—both renewable and nonrenewable sources.
    • Renewable energy comes from sources with an unlimited supply.
    • In the US, only 10% of energy comes from renewable sources (mostly hydroelectric energy).
    • For example, by the year 2020 Germany plans to meet 10% of their total energy usage and 20% of its electricity usage with renewable resources.

  • New Energy Sources

    • Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat, which are all naturally replenished.
    • The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 19%, with 16% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity, and 3% from new renewable sources.
    • While many renewable energy projects are large-scale, renewable technologies can also be suited to rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.
    • Ethanol is a quasi-renewable energy source.
    • This is because, while the energy is partially generated by non-depletable sunlight, the harvesting process requires vast amounts of energy that typically comes from non-renewable sources.

  • Payback, ROI and renewable energy

    • The long-term financial rewards of renewable energy cannot be understood without comprehending ‘payback' or return-on-investment (ROI), both of which measure profitability in relation to capital expenses.
    • This is not the case with wind, sunlight and many other renewable energy sources.
    • With renewable energy (e.g. wind and sunlight), however, after the expense of conversion machinery is paid for, the electricity or heat obtained is free of charge (minus the cost of maintenance and disposal) while non-renewables maintain the constant expenses associated with: continuous extraction and refinement, waste treatment, maintenance and disposal, and related environmental disasters and healthcare costs.
    • The payback period of the €50,000 investment, which is based on the annual market cost of electricity if the switch to renewable energy had not been made (€10,000) is therefore 5 years (€10,000 x 5 years = €50,000).
    • Again, the ultimate payoff isthat at the end of the payback period, the business receives free electricity (minus maintenance and disposal costs) which is why renewable energy can be a smart investment.

  • Unique Issues in Nonprofit Marketing Strategies

    • HHMI is known for funding research for top scientists around the country in areas such as cancer research and renewable energy.
    • However, non-profits may also focus marketing efforts on optimizing revenue.
    • The downturn in the economy has affected all business, but NPOs started out with limited resources before the recession hit.
    • Furthermore, NPOs have to compete with other "worthy causes" for their limited resources; there are over 1.9 million NPOs in the US.
    • Another challenge is that limited budgets, resources, and staff limit the options available to accomplish goals.

  • Economic Activities

    • Other land resources are called "renewable. " A forest, fishery, herd of buffalo, whales, water quality and the like are renewable resources.
    • Fish, whales and buffalo (and other wildlife) can be harvested and if a large enough population is left it will "renew" or replenish.
    • Other resources are called exhaustible resources.
    • Individuals value security, aesthetics, creativity, leisure, a sense of belonging, and other non-market phenomena.
    • The role of these things frequently arises in the allocation process because individuals may trade market goods for non-market values.

  • Introduction

    • Hartman gathers many different types of resources to target different types of learners in Mrs.
    • Russell, with its multitude of available resources, is the epitome of a Resource-Based Learning (RBL) unit.However, resource-based learning is not tied to a single learning theory or to any specific pedagogy (Hill & Hannafin, 2001; Ling, 1997).Nor is it new to teaching and learning.
    • What, then, is resource-based learning?
    • Resource-based learning is an educational model designed to actively engage students with multiple resources in both print and non-print form.Ideally, the classroom teacher and media specialist collaborate to plan resource-based units (California Media and Library Educators Association [CMLEA]).Learners take responsibility for selecting resources, human or otherwise, that appeal to their own learning preferences, interests and abilities.Thompson and Henley (2000) provide a comprehensive list of resources ranging from traditional reference books to the Internet, as well as innovative games.Resources incorporated into planned, authentic tasks afford students opportunities to develop the skills and techniques necessary to become autonomous, self-directed learners and effective users of information (Doiron & Davies, 1998; Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation, n.d.).Resource-based learning units often culminate in student products or artifacts, which are presented to an audience (Bleakley & Carrigan, 1994).
    • Russell's Civil War unit is a better example of resource-based teaching.The remainder of this chapter will address resource-based learning at the more student-centered end of the continuum.

  • Basic Economics of Natural Resources

    • Natural resource economics focuses on the supply, demand, and allocation of the Earth's natural resources to create a more efficient economy.
    • Natural resource economics focuses on the supply, demand, and allocation of the Earth's natural resources.
    • The main objective of natural resource economics is to gain a better understanding of the role of natural resources in the economy.
    • Extraction: the process of withdrawing resources from nature.
    • Natural resource economics focuses on the demand, supply, and allocation of natural resources to increase sustainability.