| Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and | | | | looking. |
| coal are used around the world as primary | | | | |
| sources of energy. Because they are being | | | | Biomass energy comes from wood, garbage, food |
| used up much faster than they can be renewed, | | | | crops, manure, grasses and plants, |
| they are known as nonrenewable sources. | | | | agricultural and forestry waste and residue. |
| | | | It basically comes from refuse. This |
| Nonrenewable energy sources represent about | | | | renewable energy is also not new. It was used |
| 90% of the energy used today. These sources | | | | over 100 years ago in the form of wood |
| are being depleted. Since they are known to | | | | burning, which supplied 90% of energy needs |
| have an effect on air quality, causing human | | | | at that time. When biomass is burned, it |
| and environmental health problems, a greater | | | | produces heat or electricity. It can also be |
| emphasis is being placed on renewable energy | | | | converted to methane gas, which is the main |
| sources as the new frontier for energy. | | | | ingredient of natural gas. It represents 3% |
| Renewable energy sources consist of solar, | | | | of the energy in the United States. Although |
| hydro, biomass, geothermal and ocean. These | | | | biomass can pollute the air and releases a |
| sources of energy will never become exhausted | | | | greenhouse gas, it is not as pollutant as |
| and are environmentally friendly, since they | | | | fossil fuels. |
| do not contribute to greenhouse effects or | | | | |
| global warming. | | | | Geothermal energy is basically the Earth's |
| | | | heat. It is drawn from hot dry rocks, magma, |
| Solar energy is the most readily available | | | | hot water springs and hot geysers. These are |
| renewable energy source. We have used the | | | | found inside the Earth's underground. Some |
| sun's energy for billions of years. | | | | are found deep in the earth's surface and |
| Prehistoric men magnified its strength to | | | | others are found closer to the surface. |
| start fires. Today, solar panels absorb | | | | Today, this type of energy is used to heat |
| energy from the sun to produce heat for | | | | water in swimming pools and spas, as well as, |
| cooking and heating, as well as, for | | | | to warm buildings like greenhouses. It can |
| electrical needs. This heat absorption is | | | | also be used to produce electricity through |
| stored for later use and is an indirect | | | | the use of a geothermal power plant. In these |
| conversion of energy. Currently, electric | | | | plants the hot water travels through |
| companies are trying to use photovoltaic | | | | turbines, which are connected to a generator. |
| technologies to convert solar energy directly | | | | |
| to electricity. | | | | Ocean Energy is obtained from ocean waves or |
| | | | temperature differences in water. Wave energy |
| Hydro energy draws on energy produced by | | | | is the kinetic energy from the movement of |
| flowing water. Waves are the result of wind | | | | water. Tidal energy entails trapping tidal |
| interacting with the surface of the sea. This | | | | waves in reservoirs behind dams. Ocean |
| interaction produces a transfer of energy | | | | Thermal Energy Conversion uses the |
| that can be extracted for power generation | | | | differences in water temperatures from the |
| using turbine generators. Although hydropower | | | | surface water to deeper down depths of water |
| is non-polluting, it can do environmental | | | | as an energy source. In order for this to |
| harm. Hydroelectric generating stations can | | | | work there must be a temperature difference |
| change the flow of the sea and in doing so | | | | of 38 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| harm plants and animals. | | | | |
| | | | As you can see, there are various renewable |
| Wind energy, or kinetic energy, is drawn from | | | | energy sources available to us as an |
| the movement of air. It has been used for | | | | alternative to fossil fuels. There are many |
| hundreds of years for sailing, grinding grain | | | | advantages to them among the most popular |
| and irrigation. Today, wind turbines | | | | being that they will not deplete in supply, |
| transform energy from wind to mechanical | | | | meaning they will be around forever. |
| energy or to charge batteries. The wind | | | | Renewable energy sources are not new. They |
| machines, or wind turbines collect the | | | | have been utilized in some way for many |
| kinetic energy by capturing the wind in its | | | | years. Unfortunately, low fossil fuel prices |
| blades. The blades then turn an electric | | | | have stunted renewable energy's popularity |
| generator to produce energy. Unfortunately, | | | | and growth in the United States. But an |
| wind energy collection is unavailable on | | | | increasing awareness of human and |
| windless days. Even though it is a clean form | | | | environmental concerns, as well as, a need to |
| of energy it has had a negative effect on the | | | | find non-exhaustible energy sources, will |
| wild bird population and some consider the | | | | keep it as a mainstay for the future. |
| giant wind turbine machines not attractive | | | | |