Renewable Energy Sources
Submitted by: Michael Mathewson
Most common renewable energy sources.
You may have heard politicians talking about the desire to reach
energy independence. No idea what that means? Well, currently,
in the United States we consume more energy than we produce
which means we need to purchase energy from other places. Right
now most of the energy we purchase is in the form of barrels of
crude oil for different places around the globe. There are many
different ideas about how we should work to achieve energy
independence. Some people believe that tapping into the
petroleum resources in the parks and of shore areas in and
around the United States is the way to become more energy
independent. Environmental groups and a number of others with
long term vision for our country have an alternative plan that
includes developing more eco-friendly energy options. Here is a
breakdown of some of the most commonly used green energy
sources.
Solar power is one of the most widely used green energy sources.
Capturing the reliable rays of the sun using specially designed
solar panel cells and transferring that energy for use in a
number of ways is an effective way to reduce our need to buy
energy from other countries. Solar energy is often used to heat
water, provide electricity to power lights and other machinery,
and it can even be used to run the heating or cooling systems in
our homes and offices.
Another commonly used form of green energy is wind power.
Windmills have been used for centuries but new developments in
the wind power industry are making it a more viable source of
energy for more people. In areas of the country where windy
days are common, constructing windmills that turn as the wind
blows helps to capture the power of the wind. As the wind mill
turns, they cause a rotation in turbines and that generates
electricity.
Hydropower is another common alternative energy source. Perhaps
the most widely known example of hydropower is the hoover dam.
As the water from the river rushes over the man-made dam it
spins turbines and produces electricity. The energy that is
created at the hoover dam each day helps to power cities in
states as far away as California. Anywhere that water flows
naturally; its power can be harnessed and converted into
electricity. Some advanced forms of hydro power that are still
being explored include new developments that would use the tides
and waves of the ocean to generate power. Others are
researching the viability of extracting heat that is stored in
the oceans waters and converting it to usable energy.
Biomass energy is not a new idea, however advancements are being
made that will help us utilize natural renewable resources that
already exist in our current environment. Burning wood is an
example of biomass energy that has been around throughout human
history. While it is not the cleanest form of energy it is
renewable if done responsibly. Scientists and engineers have
begun to develop a number of biomass fuels including creating
engines that can run on oil extracted from common food sources
like corn. Others are looking into finding a ways to capture
and use the large amounts of methane gases produced by landfills
across the United States.
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