Working Toward a Brighter Future
What is energy?
|
Energy is the capacity or exertion of power to do work by preforming mechanical, physical, chemical, or electrical tasks. Energy must be conserved to protect our environment from drastic changes and to save the depleting resources for our future generations.
Our daily lives consist of using energy. However, most people are too apathetic to know about the dangers we are causing with the use of nonrenewable energy. Most nonrenewable energy sources are fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) which at some point will run out. Our health and security depend on our ability to break our dependence on polluting energy sources. That is why our alternative is to use renewable energy. Renewable energy is energy that can be obtained from natural resources such as sunlight, geothermal heat, wind, tides, water, and other forms of biomass. This energy cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed. It's naturally available which benefits the planet, humans and economy. |
Solar Power
Solar energy is simply energy provided from the sun, in the form of solar radiation, creating solar electricity. This energy can be collected from photovoltaic, PV, cells. The way they work is by having sunshine hit the PV cell so photons of light can excite the electrons in the cell, causing them to flow and generate electricity. Unfortunately, it works for over 260 days of sunshine a year, which is insufficient to fully power our modern society.
California
Annual Electric Bill Before Solar $2,208
Annual Electric Bill After Solar $1,085
Est. Annual Solar Payment $624
Average Annual Savings $499
California
Annual Electric Bill Before Solar $2,208
Annual Electric Bill After Solar $1,085
Est. Annual Solar Payment $624
Average Annual Savings $499
Solar Heating
|
Solar Electricity
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Wind Power
The sun heats the surface of the Earth causing hot air to rise and cool air to move in to fill the void. Most wind energy comes from the turbines in which one can generate enough electricity to supply about 600 U.S. homes. Wind turbines can be as tall as a 20-story building and have three 200-foot-long blades. The free wind spins the blades which turn a shaft connected to a generator that produces electricity. The wind energy industry has been increasing since 2000, and according to its growing pace experts predict that by 2050, the world's electricity needs will be found blowing in the wind.
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Hydroelectric Power
Hydroelectricity is generated by the force of falling water. Water is held behind a dam, forming an artificial lake which is then released to spin the blades of a giant turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator that makes electricity and at the end, water flows back to the river on the other side of the dam. Hydroelectric power plants are able to provide electricity at a reasonable cost to families, schools, farms, and businesses.
|
Advantages
Disadvantages
|
Geothermal Power
Heat from the centre of the Earth conducts outwards and heats up the outer layers of rock called the mantle (when melted it becomes magma). Magma can reach just below the Earth's surface heating up rain water, where it emerges as hot springs. The trapped hot water below the surface becomes known as a geothermal reservoir. Geothermal energy comes from the drilling of wells into the geothermal reservoir. Hot water rises to the surface as steam, which is used to drive turbines producing electricity.
Most geothermal energy is produced in four states:
Most geothermal energy is produced in four states:
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
- Hawaii
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Biomass
Biomass is known as the oldest source of renewable energy. It's organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. Plant materials and animal wastes are burned to provide heat or electricity or also be converted into gaseous or liquid biofuels. Biomass fuels include wood, agricultural crops or wastes, and municipal wastes. This process releases carbon dioxide gases into the atmosphere. If process isn't managed carefully, we will be facing environmental risks such as air pollution, damage ecosystems and more.
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
Renewable Energy In California, US, and The World
The increase of solar production in California was during the same point in which hydroelectric generation fell 46% due to a drought.
On 2014, about 9.8% of energy consumed in U.S. was from renewable sources.
Last year, the United States was the world's largest consumer of renewable energy producing 22% for electric power generation of the world's total.
Overview:
Other renewable energy research:
Sources:
http://biogas.ifas.ufl.edu/uses.asp
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-profile/#
http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/what
http://science.kqed.org/quest/2014/02/13/nonrenewable-and-renewable-energy-resources/
http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/renewables.html
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/energymap.asp
http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/california/
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-biomass-energy-works.html#.Vb-UYGeh3ct
http://biogas.ifas.ufl.edu/uses.asp
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-profile/#
http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/energy/what
http://science.kqed.org/quest/2014/02/13/nonrenewable-and-renewable-energy-resources/
http://www.altenergy.org/renewables/renewables.html
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/
http://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/energymap.asp
http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/california/
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-biomass-energy-works.html#.Vb-UYGeh3ct