Renewable or nonrenewable, what's the difference?
That's like asking the difference between having an endless supply and having a limited supply. Will this planet eventually run out of oil? Probably. So oil is a nonrenewable resource.
Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
A natural resource is something supplied by nature that helps support life. When you think ofnatural resources, you may think of minerals and fossil fuels. However, ecosystems and the services they provide are also natural resources. Biodiversity is a natural resource as well.
Renewable Resources
Renewable resources can be replenished by natural processes as quickly as humans use them. Examples include sunlight and wind. They are in no danger of being used up (seeFigure below). Metals and other minerals are renewable too. They are not destroyed when they are used and can be recycled.
Wind is a renewable resource. Wind turbines like this one harness just a tiny fraction of wind energy.
Living things are considered to be renewable. This is because they can reproduce to replace themselves. However, they can be over-used or misused to the point of extinction. To be truly renewable, they must be used sustainably. Sustainable use is the use of resources in a way that meets the needs of the present and also preserves the resources for future generations.
Nonrenewable Resources
Nonrenewable resources are natural resources that exist in fixed amounts and can be used up. Examples include fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas. These fuels formed from the remains of plants over hundreds of millions of years. We are using them up far faster than they could ever be replaced. At current rates of use, petroleum will be used up in just a few decades and coal in less than 300 years. Nuclear power is also considered to be a nonrenewable resource because it uses up uranium, which will sooner or later run out. It also produces harmful wastes that are difficult to dispose of safely.
Gasoline is made from crude oil. The crude oil pumped out of the ground is a black liquid called petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource.
Coal is another nonrenewable resource.
Turning Trash Into Treasure
Scientists at the Massachusetts of Technology are turning trash into coal, which can readily be used to heat homes and cook food in developing countries. This coal burns cleaner than that from fossil fuels. It also save a tremendous amount of energy.
Summary
- Renewable resources can be replaced by natural processes as quickly as humans use them. Examples include sunlight and wind.
- Nonrenewable resources exist in fixed amounts. They can be used up. Examples include fossil fuels such as coal.
Review
- Define natural resource. Give an example.
- Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources and give examples.
- Infer factors that determine whether a natural resource is renewable or nonrenewable.
What are Resources?
Resources refer to all the materials present in our environment which are used by living beings. Resources are considered to be very useful raw materials found in the environment. These are known as materials that are found in nature. They are beneficial to every individual in a variety of ways.
Define Natural Resources
Humans require many useful things available in nature to live on this planet. These are referred to as natural resources. Air, water, woods, animals, and minerals are some examples. When humans use natural things to make a new thing that increases its value, it is known as a man-made resource.
Types of Natural Resources
Natural resources are important for living beings. There are many ways of classifying natural resources. The most general category is the amount of resources available for human consumption. There are two types of energy resources: renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
What is a Renewable Resource ?
Renewable resources are those that cannot be depleted. They are always available and thus could be reused. The various types of Renewable resources are given below:
Renewable Resources : Examples
Sun - The energy obtained from sunlight is solar energy. The sun is the ultimate natural resource for all living beings on the earth. Plants utilise solar energy and make their own food through photosynthesis.
Wind - It is an important renewable resource required for the survival of living organisms. Air is important to carry out photosynthesis (the process by which green plants turn carbon dioxide and water into food using energy from sunlight) and respiration (the inhaling of oxygen and the exhaling of carbon dioxide) in plants and animals, respectively. The energy that is obtained from wind is termed as wind energy.
Water - Water is required for survival. Humans use water for a variety of reasons, including drinking, washing, cooking, and cultivating crops. Hydro energy is generated by water flowing into a river or water held in a dam. Hydro energy is power that is generated from moving water such as rivers.
Converting hydro energy into electrical energy is a simple way to utilise it. Electrical energy is a specific form of energy that is the result of an electric charge. Electrical energy is a specific form of energy that is the result of an electric charge.
Soil- Soil is a valuable resource as it is the layer in which plants grow. Living beings require food to live. Plants produce most of the food that is required by living organisms.
Biogas- Biogas is a form of fuel that is a mixture of gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and other gases produced by the breakdown of animal and plant wastes such as animal dung in the presence of water with the help of microorganisms. It is commonly used as a fuel for gas stoves, particularly in rural regions.
What is a Non-renewable Resource ?
Natural resources that are limited in quantity are referred to as non-renewable resources. These resources cannot be supplied or regenerated in a short duration of time. These resources cannot be reused. The various types of non renewable resources are as follows.
Non-renewable Resources : Examples
Fossil Fuels- Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy sources. This means that they will ultimately be finished, which is why energy prices are rising. Fossil fuels consist of coal, natural gas and petroleum.
Coal- Coal is used as a fuel, to generate electricity, and in factories and steam engines.
Natural gas- Natural gas, often known as compressed natural gas, is an excellent alternative to petrol and diesel. It burns quickly and generates a large amount of heat. It's an excellent source of hydrogen.
Petroleum- Mineral oil or crude oil are other names for petroleum. Petrol, diesel, cooking gas, and kerosene are all made from this liquid mineral. It can be found deep within the earth.
Nuclear energy- This energy source involves use of radioactive material that is found in nature. Uranium is primarily used to make nuclear reactor fuel rods. Heat is generated when neutrons(neutral particles present in the atom) hit with the fuel rods. This converts water to steam, which is used to move turbines. As a result, it generates electricity.
Difference Between Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
Renewable Resources | Non-renewable Resources |
1. Can be replaced by natural processes in a short duration of time or can be recycled. | 1. These are natural resources that either cannot be replaced or may take millions of years to be replaced by natural processes like coal and oil. |
2. It can be reused or recycled and used multiple times. | 2. It cannot be reused or recycled. |
3. Some of the examples are: wind energy, solar power, hydroelectricity, geothermal. | 3. Some of the examples are: petrol, coal, Natural gas, nuclear energy, fossil fuels. |
4. There is no harm to the environment by using renewable resources. | 4. Huge harm done to the environment because of the harmful emissions. |
Fun Facts
Non-renewable resources like fossil fuels release harmful chemicals into the air when they are burned.
Renewable resources are so abundant that they almost never run out.
One wind turbine can generate enough electricity to power 1,400 households.
Renewable energy creates three times more jobs than fossil fuels can create.
Summary
Resources refer to all the materials present in our environment which are used by living beings. Natural resources are materials present in nature and are used by humans. Renewable resources are those which cannot be depleted and could be reused. Examples of renewable resources include air, water, soil, solar energy, etc. Natural resources that are limited in quantity are referred to as non-renewable resources. The examples are coal, petroleum, etc.
Learning By Doing
In the given table, identify the following as renewable and non-renewable resources and name them.
1. ____________ resources | 2. ____________ resources |
3. ____________ resources. | 4. _______________ resources. |
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