| Thanks to the advent of alternative power, no | | | | |
| longer must we rely on depleting the planet | | | | The reasons for switching from conventional, |
| of its natural resources, burning fossil | | | | non-renewable energy to renewable energy are |
| fuels that cause pollution of the atmosphere, | | | | vast and varied, and the list grows larger |
| depletion of the ozone layer, can potentially | | | | every day. Among them are: |
| be unstable (as in nuclear energy), and | | | | |
| continues to increase in cost year after | | | | Â- it has a small to nil environmental |
| year. The main sources of alternative power | | | | impact with little to no harmful emissions, |
| are the following: | | | | as a result supporting and protecting our |
| | | | natural ecosystem for future generations to |
| Â- energy producing crops: synthetic | | | | enjoy; |
| biofuels and direct combustion; | | | | |
| | | | Â- supplementing utility power with |
| Â- wind power and power from waves and | | | | renewable power allows you a precious and |
| tides; | | | | invaluable backup system in the case of |
| | | | emergencies such as power outages and |
| Â- hydroelectric (water) power; | | | | shortages; |
| | | | |
| Â- solar power: heat and electricity; | | | | Â- once a renewable energy system is |
| | | | installed, the energy costs a consistent |
| Â- heat power: from man-made and natural | | | | amount to use year-round - as opposed to |
| waste products and from the making of | | | | utilities that fluctuate in price throughout |
| synthetic bio-fuels; | | | | the year based on seasonal as well as |
| | | | socio-political factors; |
| By definition, an energy resource is | | | | |
| renewable if it is replaced at a rate equal | | | | Â- it is "distributed" energy, or energy |
| to or faster than the rate at which it is | | | | that is used in the same location where it is |
| consumed. Renewable energy is therefore also | | | | produced - this cuts down considerably on |
| considered sustainable energy, since it will | | | | transportation and distribution costs; |
| continue to be available in unending supply | | | | |
| even as it's being utilized. Renewable energy | | | | Â- many local and state governments as |
| has also been given the moniker alternative | | | | well as the federal government offer |
| energy in reference to the alternative it | | | | incentives in the form of tax breaks for the |
| offers to conventional, non-renewable | | | | production and use of renewable energies; |
| sources. | | | | |
| | | | Â- if you produce more power using |
| Renewable energy can be utilized in one of | | | | renewable resources than you need for your |
| two ways: | | | | own personal use, you can actually sell that |
| | | | power back to the utility companies in a |
| Â- directly: as in water mills, | | | | program called "net metering". |
| windmills, solar ovens, geothermal heating; | | | | |
| | | | To complete a truly well-rounded discussion |
| Â- indirectly: using the renewable | | | | on renewable energy, there must be equal time |
| resources to create other sources of power, | | | | given to its drawbacks as to its benefits. |
| either as fuels (biodiesel, bioethanol, | | | | The most prevalent concerns about the |
| biogas) or by generating electricity (wind | | | | long-term viability of renewable energies are |
| turbines, solar panels). | | | | that it is extremely dependent on numerous |
| | | | climactic factors and that it is considered |
| Before renewable energy replaces the | | | | "diluted" energy in that much more is needed |
| conventional sources of power that we're used | | | | to generate much less power. These so-called |
| to (ie. public utility grid power), it will | | | | drawbacks, however, are no reason not to |
| take years of research and development, | | | | continue a fervent pursuit of incorporating |
| continually studying, experimenting, | | | | renewable energy usage into more and more |
| improving, and innovating. The study of | | | | parts of our everyday lives. They are only to |
| renewable energy, its applications and | | | | keep us present to the issues we must address |
| repercussions is concerned with | | | | in order to make a widespread switch to |
| environmental, economical, social, and | | | | renewable energies a viable reality. |
| political factors. | | | | |