The Vital Role of Forest Canopies in Ecosystem Health
Our world is highly dependent on energy sources. We’ve been using fossil fuels ever since the industrial revolution and added a huge amount of pollutants to the atmosphere. What solutions and options do we have as Green Energy Resources?
Energy exists in abundance in nature. Most of the natural energy sources exist in infinite quantities; for example, the sun, the wind and the tides. Some of the energy sources are limited and takes millions of years to generate. They were formed over millions of years and will run out one day. Hence, they are called NON-RENEWABLE.
When Can Energy be Called ‘Renewable’?
- When it can easily be replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees to use for energy)
- When they do not produce Carbon compounds (such as other greenhouse gases).
- When they do not pollute the environment (air, land or water)
There are many sources of energy that are environmentally friendly and harness natural processes. Green energy comes from natural sources such as wind, rain, tides, plants, algae, sunlight and geothermal heat. These power resources are renewable, meaning they’re naturally replenished.
Anytime we compare this with finite amount of energy, important fuels are a specific resource that take many years to formulate and will still diminish with use.
These kinds of sources of energy give an alternative ‘cleaner’ resource of energy, helping to negate the effects of certain kinds of pollution.
Renewable energy also has a much smaller impact on surroundings than fossil fuels. They don’t produce greenhouse gases as a byproduct, causing climate change. Gaining use of treasured fuels typically requires either mining or going deep into the globe, often in ecologically very sensitive locations
We believe that Green energy can replace fossil fuels in all major areas of use including water, electricity and space heating and fuel for motor vehicles.
Types of green energy sources
Research into replenish able, non-polluting energy sources is advancing at such a fast velocity, it’s hard to keep track of the many types of green energy that are in development. Here are 6 of the most frequent types of green energy:
- Hydropower – Also called hydroelectric power, hydropower is made by the Earth’s water cycle, including evaporation, rainfall, tides and the force of normal water running through a dam. Hydropower is determined by high anticipation levels to produce significant amounts of energy.
- Solar Power – The common type of renewable energy, solar power is naturally produced using solar cells, which capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. Some of the common uses of solar power are to heat buildings and water, provide natural lighting and cook food. Solar technologies are cheap in cost and are enough to power everything from small hand-held gadgets to entire community.
Bio fuels – Rather than burning biomass to produce energy, sometimes these renewable organic materials are changed into fuels. Notable examples include ethanol and vegetable oil. According to survey Bio fuels provided 2.7 % of the world’s fuels for road transport in 2010, and have the potential to meet more than 25% of world demand for transportation fuels by 2050.- Wind Power – Air flow on the earth’s surface can be used to push turbines, with more robust winds producing more energy. High-altitude sites and areas are just precisely what is needed to provide the best conditions for getting the strongest winds. Relating to a 2009 review, a network of land-based, 2.5-megawatt wind generators in rural areas operating at just 20% with their rated capacity could supply 40 times the current worldwide consumption of energy.
- Geothermal Energy – Just beneath the earth’s crust are immense amounts of thermal energy, which originates from both the original development of the planet and the radioactive decay of minerals. Geothermal energy in the form of hot springs has been used by human for millennia for bathing, and at present it’s being used to produce electricity. In North America exclusively, there’s enough energy stored underground to produce 12 times all the electricity as coal currently will.
- Biomass – Recently-living natural resources like wood waste materials, sawdust and combustible farming wastes can be transformed into energy with considerably far fewer greenhouse gas discharge than petroleum-based fuel sources. That’s since these materials recognized as biomass, have stored energy from the sunlight.
Conclusion:
Fossil fuels are finite. They also cause pollution. To make real progress, we need to constantly find sources of renewable energy sources. The green energy sources and green technology are the best ways to secure a sustainable future for all of the mankind.
P.S: Please join us in our battle against global warming. Join us on our live Blab to speak with other Dr. Wayne Dorband and other environmental professionals. Watch the replay of Ecolonomics in Action.
Source: Environmental Professionals Network
Related articles and Resources:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reach Record Levels
- 5 Alternatives to fossil fuels – Renewable Energy Sources of Today
- Breakthrough in Solar Power Technology to Replace Fossil Fuels
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