We may be hearing more about the importance of organic foods and natural remedies, but we sometimes forget about some of the other types of renewable energy available to us. After all, most of us have never really thought much about how electricity is produced, since the local utility companies always take care of that. But there are many different types of renewable energy, and they can each play a very large role in our future. So, what are the best options?
When it comes to burning fossil fuels, you’re basically taking air out of the atmosphere through gas or oil – and then releasing it as a waste product. On the plus side, this energy produces carbon dioxide; the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide is arguably the greatest single cause of damage to the environment. But, as you’re using up the natural sources of this carbon, you are also contributing to the destruction of the earth’s climate. Even if we didn’t face the serious threat of global warming, reducing carbon dioxide emissions is nevertheless a necessary step for good overall health.
There are two major ways in which we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions: by changing our behaviors and switching to a green renewable energy source. If we want to truly “go green,” then we need to think differently about what we use. For instance, rather than driving an electric car, we could instead power our homes with renewable energy, like solar panels. Or, rather than fueling a standard gasoline engine, we could instead power a hybrid car by powering our cars with a small battery. We could even take the hybrid car on vacation, keeping the engine powered and simply re-charging the battery when we get back.
The United States has the highest population density of any country in the world. Because of this, the U.S. must use a lot of electric power to meet its energy needs. In fact, the sheer number of electric power plants that have been built means that our electrical grid is now so congested that it frequently breaks down. Even without a major power outage, though, the sheer number of electric power plants means that the fuel used to operate them adds up to more carbon than we emit in a year.
While the numbers don’t lie, our consumption of fossil fuels is the largest single cause of air pollution in the world. In the past, developing countries would rely on imported oil to meet their energy needs, but with the abundance of oil in the ground and the rising cost of extraction, it is no longer possible for these countries to afford to do so. As a result, their energy choices are limited to fossil fuels, which pollute the air as well as the water and the soil. The rapid growth of hydropower, however, has made it possible for developing nations to meet their energy needs without depleting the resources that are used to create that energy. The use of this form of renewable energy has also increased significantly in the past few decades, as hydropower dams have been built all over the world and the flow of the river has increased dramatically.
Another one of the common forms of renewable energy is tidal energy. The largest of the potential tidal energy sources is the tidal wave, which is generated by the tides. A tidal wave can go hundreds or thousands of miles, and is often accompanied by powerful winds. These combine to make the largest tide movements in the world, which have in turn led to massive industries centered around harvesting the energy that is produced by the tidal wave. Some of the ways that tidal energy is used include tidal turbines, tidal energy generators, tidal power generators, and the use of tidal waves for other purposes.
One type of renewable energy that has gained a lot of momentum recently is clean coal energy. Clean coal energy is a controversial topic, as it has the ability to create a large amount of pollution, but it does have an advantage over other forms of renewable sources of energy. Coal can be used to create electricity without releasing that pollution into the air. The pollution that is created by coal mining is much higher than that created by other types of renewable sources of energy, which means that clean coal energy can be a great way to help the fight against climate change. Many companies are coming to terms with the fact that burning fossil fuels like coal will not solve the problems that are being created by climate change.
As technology continues to improve and new sources of renewable energy become available, more people are turning to these options. Although it is a great step in the right direction, it is only a beginning. Without the support of the government and businesses that are interested in these types of renewable resources, it will be very difficult for us to utilize them on a large scale. However, if we work closely with these important resources, we can do our part to make sure that they continue to be a part of our daily lives.