Energy consumption and the environment


Renewable Energy Overview

As political and economic aspects of fossilgrowing  energy  platform  in  the  world.
fuels grow more harrowing, renewable energy
is gaining popularity. Here's an overview ofWhen water moves, it tends to carry a lot of
renewable  energy.inertia and stored energy. Unfortunately, the
tsunami in Asia was a perfect example. On a
Renewable  Energy  Overviewless disastrous front, man has learned to use
the power of moving water to produce
Renewable energy is more difficult to defineelectricity. The first, and most common, use
than you might imagine. Since it is ais in the form of hydropower. Mostly seen on
catchall phrase for a variety of energylarge-scale projects, hydropower typically is
sources, any definition has to be broad. Withused in the form of dams. A dam is placed in
this in mind, let's define renewable energya river, creating a reservoir. Using gravity,
as any energy source that naturally occurswater is then released through pipes in the
and  is  very  abundant.dam. The moving water spins turbines,
producing  massive  amounts  of  electricity.
Ironically, almost all renewable energy
sources rely on nuclear power. Fortunately,Tidal power has been on the books for a long
the nuclear power is in the form of the suntime, but hasn't been seen in large-scale
at the heart of our solar system. One giantprojects. This is beginning to change. The
nuclear reaction, the sun produces solarbasic idea is very similar to hydropower.
radiation and sunlight that is converted onDepending on the system being used, pipes
our planet into energy through naturalwith large turbines are placed in strong
resources. In one form or another, sunlighttidal areas. As the tide changes, massive
is the basis for solar power, wind energy,amounts of water move to and fro in the pipes
biomass power, and so on. Fossil fuels, onspinning the turbines and producing energy.
the other hand, are a form of biomass energy,Although the tides move relatively slowly,
but an ancient one with resource limits andthe contain massive amounts of energy. Once
brutal side effects in the form ofthought an odd energy idea, tidal energy is
pollutants.coming on strong as an energy platform in
Europe.
Solar Energy is the most basic and direct
form of renewable energy. Depending on theGeothermal energy is a form of energy using
type of platform used, sunlight is convertedthe inherent warmth of the ground to create
directly into electricity or heat. Solarpower in primarily the form of heat. Roughly
energy is considered a renewable energysix to seven feet below the surface of the
because it will exist for as long as the sun,ground, the temperature of the Earth is
which should be over 4 billion years. Onceregulated. By exchanging liquids between
the sun burns out, we will have much largerabove and below ground areas, temperature
problems  than  energy!regulation can be achieved. This is mostly
seen  in  residential  situations.
Wind energy is another form of solar power.
Wind is created when the sun heats upBiomass energy is a renewable energy source,
different areas of the surface of the Earthbut not necessarily a clean one. Biomass is
at different rates. You inherently are awaresimply organic materials such as manure, corn
of this if you think about the temperatureand so on. The idea behind biomass energy is
differences when standing on a black parkingto convert the chemical energy in the biomass
lot versus grass in a park. Heat rises and sointo usable power. This often occurs by
does hot air. Air above a hot surface willburning it, which is problematic since doing
rise and colder air from surrounding areasso causes pollution. It also has to be grown,
will rush into to fill the void. Thisharvested and converted into power. Of all
temperature-induced movement creates wind inthe renewable energy sources, biomass is the
its  most  basic  form.least  attractive.
To take advantage of the energy, man hasWe have a lot of options when it comes to
produced windmills and turbines that convertkicking the fossil fuel habit. Although there
the energy into electricity. Modern windis a chance one of these options will become
turbines are between 25 and 35 percentdominant, it is more likely that a
efficient at converting wind energy intocombination of all the above renewable energy
electricity. Wind power is now the fastestplatforms will be the answer.



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