Science:
PBS Green Video
Humans have a great impact on the world. We use our natural resources to build new things, feed ourselves, and for entertainment. This can come at a great cost to our environment. In this section we will look at how we affect the world both positively and negatively.
A natural resource is anything that people use that comes from nature. This could be the sand that is made into glass or the trees that we use to build our homes. We divide natural resources into two groups: renewable and nonrenewable resources. A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replenished or replaced with a short passage of time (about one human lifetime or less). An example is water. A nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that CAN NOT be replenished or replaced with a short passage of time. Some examples are coal, oil, or natural gas.
Every day millions of people burn fossil fuels as they travel by planes, trains, and automobiles. Coal is burned to produce electricity and natural gas is burned to heat many of our homes. We are polluting our air, water and soil, but all is not lost. There are thing that each one of us can do to help (Click here to see how). Also there are many companies who are working hard to help the environment around the world and here in Peoria. Explore the web pages below and find out more.