| Green energy refers to the use of power that | | | | |
| is not only more efficient than fossil fuel | | | | Many countries now offer household and |
| but that is friendly to the environment as | | | | commercial consumers to opt for total use of |
| well. Green energy is generally defined as | | | | green energy. They do this one of two ways. |
| energy sources that dont pollute and are | | | | Consumers can buy their electricity from a |
| renewable. | | | | company that only uses renewable green energy |
| | | | technology, or they can buy from their |
| There are several categories of green energy. | | | | general supplies such as the local utility |
| They are anaerobic digestion, wind power, | | | | company who then buys from green energy |
| geothermal power, hydropower on a small | | | | resources only as much of a supply as |
| scale, biomass power, solar power and wave | | | | consumers pay for. |
| power. Waste incineration can even be a | | | | |
| source of green energy. | | | | The latter is generally a more cost - |
| | | | efficient way of supplying a home or office |
| Nuclear power plants claim that they produce | | | | with green energy, as the supplier can reap |
| green energy as well, though this source is | | | | the economic benefits of a mass purchase. |
| fraught with controversy, as we all know. | | | | Green energy generally costs more per |
| While nuclear energy may be sustainable, may | | | | kilowatt hour than standard fossil fuel |
| be considered renewable and does not pollute | | | | energy. |
| the atmosphere while it is producing energy, | | | | |
| its waste does pollute the biosphere as it is | | | | Consumers can also purchase green energy |
| released. | | | | certificates, which are alternately referred |
| | | | to as green tags or green certificates. These |
| The transport, mining and phases before and | | | | are available in both Europe and the United |
| after production of nuclear energy does | | | | States, and are the most convenient method |
| produce and release carbon dioxide and | | | | for the average consumer to support green |
| similar destructive greenhouse gases. When we | | | | energy. More than 35 million European |
| read of green energy, therefore, we rarely | | | | households and one million American |
| see nuclear power included. | | | | households now buy these green energy |
| | | | certificates. |
| Those who support nuclear energy say that | | | | |
| nuclear waste is not, in fact, released into | | | | While green energy is a great step in the |
| our earths biosphere during its normal | | | | direction of keeping our environment healthy |
| production cycle. They stress as well that | | | | and our air as pollutant free as possible, it |
| the carbon dioxide that nuclear energy | | | | must be noted that no matter what the energy, |
| production releases is comparable, in terms | | | | it will negatively impact the environment to |
| of each kilowatt hour of electricity, to such | | | | some extent. |
| sources of green energy as wind power. | | | | |
| | | | Every energy source, green or otherwise, |
| As an example of the green energy production | | | | requires energy. The production of this |
| the average wind turbine, such as the one in | | | | energy will create pollution during its |
| Reading England, can produce enough energy | | | | manufacture. Green energys impact is minimal, |
| daily to be the only energy source for 1000 | | | | however. |
| households. | | | | |