Project: Alternative Energy Sources
Introduction
Today our generation is confronted with the ultimate reality of an energy challenge. As exceptionally populous, growing nations become progressively wealthy, and as more developed countries keep on expanding their energy utilization, the levels of demand in relation to-energy in the whole world have arrived at levels that can’t be supported by nature in the near future. Simultaneously, fossil fuel, which is as of now giving over 85% of the total global energy supply, is limited and, what’s more, their extensive use has unfavorable environmental consequences (Tester, 2012). The effects of its frequent use are global warming due to the emission of carbon dioxide into the air and other calamities, such as higher ozone concentration in urban areas, particulates, corrosive downpour, and aerosols that are detrimental to air quality. With the limited supply of the said fossil fuels, humanity is only left with an option of seeking an alternative source of energy, for production of its industrial power which isn’t detrimental to nature and would go a long way in supporting the needs of the populace as well as achieving the goals of the industrial and post-industrial human society. This is a long-term solution for the energy challenge.
Over the years, the fate of humanity has lived on a balance. It has lived depending on fossil fuel to heat and power their homes. Time has come that this pattern has to change. The United States, in particular, is aiming to retire components of its nuclear capacity by 2020 (the United States. Department of Energy,1995). In as much as we have an unlimited supply of fossil fuels, the use of renewable energy is of great importance to nature. We often refer to renewable energy as “green” or “clean” because they produce few pollutants, if any. As a case example, most of us already use the said energy sources, namely;
Solar Energy
According to the United States Department of Energy (1995), “Solar technologies tap directly into the infinite power of the sun and use that energy to produce heat, light, and power” (pg. 4). The funny thing is that we use energy from the Sun without even noticing. The energy from the Sun melts snow, warms our body, furthermore, dries clothing’s on our clotheslines. On certain days the Sun causes the boulevards to appear “sufficiently blistering to sear an egg.” Nearly every portion of the energy consumed by people originates from solar energy. The wood we consume as a source of heat and the leafy foods we eat originates from plants. These plants utilize the Sun’s energy to convert minerals, carbon dioxide, and water into plant food and material (the United States,1978, pg.549). Non-renewable energy sources, such as coal, oil, and flammable gas form by the decay and deposit of plants and organisms over millions of years, (Miller & Spoolman, 2017). We can consider oil, natural gas, and coal to be products of a “fossilized process” or stored up solar energy. Often, humanity has utilized the energy from the Sun to light and heat their homes for centuries. Ancient Native Americans built their dwellings directly facing the- south-facing cliff walls because the Sun travels low across the southern sky in the Northern Hemisphere during cold seasons (California Integrated Waste Management Board,2005, pg.98). They used South-facing windows that filled their homes with natural sunlight, and brick floors, and dark tile that stored Sun’s heat and emitted it back to their residences in the evening. The passive solar houses use the changing position in the sky. The specially designed solar homes let in the winter sun but exclude the hot summer sun. Using these unique design features can reduce heating costs in the winter and air conditioning bills in the summer.
Geothermal Energy
The Earth’s center, 4,000 miles beneath the surface, can arrive at temperatures of 9000° F. This warmth—geothermal vitality—streams outward from the center, warming the encompassing territory, which can shape underground supplies of high temp water and steam. These supplies can be tapped to meet several demands, for example, to create power or warmth structures. Utilizing geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) can even exploit the shallow ground’s steady temperature for warming and cooling structures (Kavanaugh & Rafferty, 2014).
In summary, the use of renewable energy sources is not only efficient but environmentally friendly, and nations should embrace their use in case we want to leave a better world for the next generation.
REFERENCES
California Integrated Waste Management Board. (2005). School DEEL resource manual. Sacramento, CA: California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Kavanaugh, S. P., & Rafferty, K. D. (2014). Geothermal heating and cooling: design of ground-source heat pump systems. ASHRAE.
Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2017). Environmental science. National Geographic Learning | Cengage.
Tester, J. W. (2012). Sustainable energy: choosing among options. MIT Press.
U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy. (1995). Tomorrow’s energy today: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The United States. (1978). Priorities in agricultural research of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Administrative Practice and Procedure of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-fifth Congress, first session … October 19 and 20, 1977. Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off.