Renewable Energy
Ruston S.
Every Day we use energy for everything from turning on the lights, to running our cars. But have you ever considered where this energy comes from. Most likely this energy comes from burning fossil fuels. This has many negative impacts in the environment. However scientist have developed new renewable energy sources that are environmentally friendly and are waiting to be used.
What is Renewable Energy and What Are the Different Forms? Renewable energy is a type of energy whose sources is consistently renewable, regardless of the amount of energy used. Renewable energy is derived from a repetitive natural occurrence. Therefore it takes a variety of different forms such as follows. Wind Energy. Wind energy is produced through turbines that are spun by high the power of wind. Wind energy currently one of the most economically efficient, and fastest growing renewable energy sources. Wind energy has almost no pollution and is not insufficient in production capability. As a matter of fact the U.S. could have the capability to produce ten times its current energy needs from wind power alone. Solar energy. Solar energy is produced through a broad range of technologies including solar thermal energy and photovoltaics. The sun will be a source of energy for billions of years.. Solar energy technologies, however, are very expensive, although they are economically efficient long term. Geothermal Energy. Geothermal energy is produced through using naturally generated heat from the earth to convert water into steam. This steam then spins turbines, producing electricity. This form of energy also has plenty of capability in certain locations. Hydroelectric Power. Hydroelectric power is formed by using flowing water to spin a turbine thus producing electricity. Hydroelectric power currently accounts for half of all renewable energy produced in the U.S.
Why is Renewable Energy Important? Our society today is becoming more and more energy dependent. However, energy production is the most polluting industry in the United States. This is mostly a result of use of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. These energy sources have very high carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions rates compared to renewable energy sources. Both of these gases have a variety of negative impacts on the environment. Although carbon dioxide is necessary for plant life, it is the most abundant greenhouse gas. Carbon Dioxide is widely considered the number one contributor to global warming. Newer research has also proven that oceans absorb 20% of carbon dioxide emissions, increasing the ocean's acidity, and destroying oceanic life Sulfur dioxide is the leading contributor to hazardous acid rain. However Renewable energy sources do not have this effect on the environment. Geothermal, hydropower, solar power, and Wind Power all have zero direct, biogenic, or albedo effect carbon dioxide emissions. This makes these energy sources extremely important to environmental conservation efforts, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions efforts. Both the United Nations Environmental Programme and the International Programme for Climate Change agree that without renewable energy sources being the sole source of energy, there will be increases of up to 14 degree Fahrenheit. This would cause significant risk to food supply, extremely poor air quality, and increasing commonness of extreme weather. Renewable energy is also important to consider because the current fossil fuels we use take millions of year to develop. Because we are using them at such an extremely high rate, the world will soon lack the quantities necessary to sustain the high energy demands.