4.7C (S) - Science
Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
4.7(C)
Vocabulary
Natural resource
Recycle
Renewable resources
Reuse
Nonrenewable resources
Reduce
ConservationLandfill
Renewable Resources
Renewable resources are those resources that can be used to benefit people and can then be replaced within a short period of time. Plants, such as cotton for clothing, trees for wood, or crops for food are renewable resources. We can harvest plants for use and then grow more plants to replace the ones we used. Animals can also be used to provide food for people. Animals are considered a renewable resource because they are of benefit to people and can be replaced with other animals to meet our needs.
Air and water are also renewable resources. The water cycle helps to replace the water that we use to meet our needs. Air is constantly being replenished within the environment.
One important thing to consider when discussing renewable resources is the need for conservation. Many of our natural resources are renewable, but that doesn't mean we can waste them! Fresh, clean water is often in short supply in some areas of the world. Plants can be re-grown, but this takes time. Polluted air is harmful to all living things. Using our resources wisely while making sure to protect them from harmful things such as pollution, will help to ensure that the Earth continues to provide people with what is needed for survival.
Non-renewable Resources
Nonrenewable resources include coal, oil, and natural gas. These fossil fuels took millions of years to form and we are using them up much faster than nature can replace them. Once the supply of coal, oil, and natural gas are depleted (used up), they are gone for good.
Currently, our country is very dependent upon fossil fuels to supply the energy we need on a daily basis. This means that we must buy oil from other countries and produce oil from areas that are sometimes difficult to reach or have the potential to greatly harm Earth. (Think about the damage that was done to our coastal environments due to the BP oil spill that happened this past summer.)
The use of fossil fuels also creates other problems within our environment. Air pollution, global warming, and acid rain are just a few of the harmful effects caused by the burning of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels provide most of our energy because they are relatively cheap to produce.
Because of the limited supply of nonrenewable energy sources, it is important that we practice conservation of energy. Conservation means that we take steps to protect and use our resources wisely. This might mean walking instead of driving when going short distances, turning off lights when leaving a room, or adjusting the thermostat in our homes to use less energy.
Many scientists around the world are researching and developing technologies for other ways to produce energy so that when our fossil fuel supply is depleted, we will have alternative energy sources available to meet our energy needs.