Alternative Energy Sources
All living systems need energy to survive. A person who needs energy in the form of food. A plant requires energy in the form of sunlight. All mechanical systems also require energy to operate. A car needs gasoline to operate. Sailboat needs wind to move through the water. The energy in one form or another, is essential for all living beings and non-living activities on the planet. Energy really does not exist as a thing itself, however. Instead, energy is a concept that describes the different sources. Long ago, there were systems of the Earth to meet their energy needs. Cliff residents of Southwest built their houses to catch the winter sun warm. The ancient Greeks bathed in water heated by geothermal ventilation. People around the world use wood to cook their meals and heat their homes. The natural systems on the plane met all these needs.
In search of more powerful sources of coherent energy came during the Industrial Revolution, which began in late eighteenth century and continued in the early nineteenth century. For the first time, people began burning fossil fuels in large quantities to meet their energy needs. Fossil fuels used by them working in factories, farm equipment needed to produce crops, and lastly, the cars they drove. It seemed as if fossil fuels are the perfect answer to the need for fast and efficient energy. It was not until the 1970s that serious problems in the use of fossil fuels began to be recognized. Oil producers have begun to demand more money for their product. Oil consuming countries like the United States, refused to accept these higher costs. Many countries have introduced bans on oil. This drove the cost of fossil fuels higher and higher. This series of events led to an energy crisis. People began to wonder what they would do if the cost of fossil fuels and therefore started an interest in developing alternative energies.
Also, since the energy crisis of the 1970s, scientists have learned more about the environmental impact of fossil fuels. They were associated with sulfur dioxide acid rain released when fossil fuels are burned. The burning of fossil fuels also releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. The researchers found a correlation between increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and increasing global temperatures, known as global warming. These findings on the effects of fossil fuels has also led to increased interest in developing alternative energy sources. Currently, there are four energy development and alternative use today: solar, wind, hydro and geothermal. These sources, known as renewable energy, all powered by natural systems of Earth. Unlike fossil fuels, they are continuously replenished by natural systems of the earth, if they are used. Sunlight will pour upon the earth each day, if it is captured by solar panels or not. The wind blows over the country, irrespective of turning the rotor of a wind turbine. Rivers descending from the mountains and the vents free of geothermal energy, regardless of their energy consumption.
Since the planet’s resources are used faster than they are replaced, people are turning to solar, wind, hydro and geothermal to meet their energy needs. Encourage the use of energy sources that replenish themselves faster or quicker than before contributes to a sustainable energy future. Such changes to be effective, however, it will change in government policy, the more financial support for producers of alternative energy, and individual consumers requires a different choice. These factors will determine the direction of energy production in the decades to come.
Category: Hydro Energy
