| The increasing scarcity and cost of | | | | by maintenance of a worm farm. Although not |
| conventional energy is leading to both | | | | actually producing any energy or electricity, |
| generators and consumers searching for new | | | | worm farms are an excellent way to ensure |
| sources of power supply. One such emerging | | | | that food waste is put to good use. Though |
| area that fits the present desire for energy | | | | there are a number of ways to configure a |
| from renewable origins is biomass, namely the | | | | worm farm, the fundamental idea for each is |
| production of energy and electricity from | | | | the same: left-over food is placed in the |
| plant waste, or in some cases plants grown | | | | container housing the worm farm and the worms |
| specifically for energy provision. Not only | | | | inside consume it. The worm castings produced |
| does biomass have the benefit of being a | | | | as a result of this process are excellent as |
| renewable source of energy, it is favoured | | | | a fertiliser, and can be used to augment the |
| because it can be utilised by homeowners and | | | | growth of fruit and vegetables. In this way |
| small businesses as well as large companies | | | | what would have been discarded is transformed |
| and governments. Furthermore, it can be | | | | into freshly grown food, negating the need |
| implemented relatively cheaply: the set up | | | | for this food to be grown elsewhere and |
| costs for certain types of biomass systems | | | | saving the energy that would have been used |
| are a fraction of the cost of solar and wind | | | | to do so. |
| energy systems. | | | | |
| | | | Of course, the exploitation of biomass as a |
| One of the simplest biomass energy systems to | | | | resource is not confined to homeowners. |
| set up is a biomass-fuelled boiler. Designed | | | | Biofuel, fuel made from plant mass from |
| to provide hot water for one or more | | | | sources as diverse as sugar cane, algae and |
| buildings, these boilers are fuelled by | | | | wood, is now being promoted by some |
| pellets of wood chips that are produced as a | | | | governments as a way to reduce reliance on |
| by-product of the construction and timber | | | | external oil supplies and also to fuel |
| industries. Since they use materials that | | | | vehicles in a renewable manner. Brazil, for |
| would otherwise be discarded, these systems | | | | example, already powers a sizable proportion |
| are cost-effective and also contribute to the | | | | of its vehicles using bioethanol. Going |
| drive to ensure that whatever resources we | | | | further, biofuels such as biodiesel can be |
| consume are utilised as efficiently as | | | | used to produce electricity, providing a true |
| possible, with waste kept to a minimum. With | | | | renewable fuel source for both large and |
| wood-fuelled electricity generators also | | | | small scale generators. When used as a |
| available, homes and businesses with regular | | | | back-up to solar power and wind power |
| access to wood refuse can use biomass to | | | | systems, this enables businesses and private |
| provide a substantial amount of their energy | | | | individuals to rely completely on renewable |
| needs. | | | | energy for their electricity and heating, |
| | | | something every person and organisation |
| Another way homeowners can utilise biomass is | | | | should work towards. |