Types and Benefits of Replenishable Energy
The typical energy resources currently in use include non-renewable sources that will not last forever. In fact, we have already used up a large percentage of the earth’s non-replenishing resources. This is having a profound destructive effect on not only our economy, but the environment. However, recent research has increased the interest in lower-cost renewable energy resources that do not harm the earth’s environment. These resources include solar, wind, organic matter, geothermal, and water.
The sun is a direct energy resource, and an indirect resource for most of the other types of renewing resources. The energy of the sun is used to produce electricity that keeps our families, our businesses, and even our towns up and running. It is used to heat water and cool air. Solar power is a type of renewable energy that can be harnessed all over to varying degrees.
The sun warms the air and stirs up wind, which is another type of renewable energy. Wind farmers use turbines, or windmills, to grab energy from the wind. Wind power runs farms, households, and is useful to local and global industries. When wind and sun cause evaporation, rain and snow are the results. The water fills and moves along our flowing waters where it can be used as hydroelectric energy.
The sun and water nourish the plants, and plants become biomass. Organic matter provides fuels, produces electricity, and provides essential chemicals to power our world. The energy from biomass is called bioenergy. Renewable bioenergy comes from life, then supports life, which continues to cycle in the circle of organic life.
All renewable energies do not come from solar resources. The energy we can get from heat inside the earth is called geothermal energy. Geothermal energy can provide the energy we need for electricity, as well as heating and cooling.
Then, there are ocean energies. The majority of our beautiful planet is covered by the world’s oceans, and these oceans contain more than one way of providing renewable energy. Gravity causes tides, the winds and tidal pulls create waves. This is referred to as wave energy. We can also capture energy from the sun-heated parts of the ocean.
Our large-scale consumption of non-renewing energy is damaging the environment we live in. We can make a dramatic change for the better by using sources that will not run out, but continue to renew and sustain the world. The destruction of our rainforests is due in large part to energy consumption. Oil drilling and coal mining strips the land and leaves toxins in our air and water. The side effect of using these fuels is damage to all living things.
Replacing energy that cannot replenish with renewable energy sources will have beneficial effects on the economy. Those who work for an industry that is guaranteed to deal with shortages and eventually exhaust its resources probably find it difficult to relax and feel comfortable about their financial future. However, when people work in the renewable energy industry, they can be certain that renewable energy will always need to be collected and maintained. Instead of investing in resources that are drained from countries thousands of miles away, investors will invest in an energy that will continue to renew.
The hard truth of the matter is that non-renewable energy sources will eventually run out. If we do not switch over to the renewable energy sources we will leave an injured and scarred world for our descendants. Make no mistake, there is such a thing as too late.
At dumpsterrentalrichmondva.org we are focused on eco-friendly efforts including recycling as well as renewable energy if possible.
