Application Project 03
Environmental Science
Title: Electrical Production In Your Community

   1. Investigate the production of electricity in your community by: (Include all references for each answer)

                 The following website has a lot of information about electricity: http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelelectric.html

                          Be sure to answer these questions in your own words. No credit is given otherwise.

		a. Identify the primary producer (name of company) of electricity in your community. (Found on your electric bill). Credit will not be given to this assignment if this information is not provided.
		b. Describe how the electricity is  produced from coal.  (This can be found in your text and/or at the primary producers website. Write the answer using your own words. Quotes are not permitted to answer this question.) (2 points)
		c. Indicate ALL the source(s) of energy used to produce the electricity locally.  (Oil, coal, nuclear, biomass, etc...) What percentage does each contribute? (1 point) http://www.dteenergy.com/dteEnergyCompany/environment/generation/fuelMix.html
		d. Indicate the percent of efficiency of the energy conversion (of coal to electricity).  (Text or website.) (1 point)
		e. Determine the current cost of residential electricity per kWh. (from electric bill or website) Make sure to provide the total cost of electricity. (Add up the power supply energy charges, distribution charges, energy optimization charges, and any other charges.)  This is the number that is to be entered in your spreadsheets. (1 point)
		f. What was the (nominal residential) cost of electricity per kWh in 1973? Scroll to table 9.9 at the following link: http://www.eia.doe.gov/mer/elect.html (1 point)
		g. Compare the cost of electricity to general inflation.  (Enter the 1970 value to see what that value is today.)  After considering inflation, has the cost of electricity gone up?  If so, how much?  Explain your results.  http://www.westegg.com/inflation/ or Scroll to the bottom of the page and use that calculator. http://inflationdata.com/inflation/Inflation_Rate/InflationCalculator.asp or http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/bu2/inflateGDP.html (2 points)
		h. How has or could your community improve energy efficiency?  This can be found in the primary producer's newsletters and website. Provide a thoughtful and detailed answer. (2 points)
		i. What city do you live in? _____________Where are you supposed to dispose fluorescent light bulbs in your community (see the DB)?  Why can't they be thrown out with the regular trash? (Discussion Board) (2 points)
		Submit this page along with your spreadsheets into a single word document for submission. Do not send the spreadsheets separately!  Instructions on how to insert the spreadsheets into a Word document are located here http://www.sciencescene.com/EnvironmentalScience/usefulnotes/Notes/InsertingExcelintoWord.htm