The world currently relies heavily on nonrenewable sources such as coal, oil and natural for its energy. These energy sources are nonrenewable, which will eventually dwindle and causing environmental damages that are too expensive to be recovered. In contract, renewable energy resources will never run out because they can be re-produced endlessly. Moreover, they are clean and environmental friendly. With the technology improvement that significantly reduces the cost of using renewable resources to generate power, it will become the major energy solutions for the future. Let’s use review the five major sources of renewable energy, which the world is focusing on as the long-term energy strategy for future.

Energy Source #1: The Sun

The most common renewable energy source is either directly or indirectly from the sun. The energy from solar power can be directly be used for home uses. In fact, many of homemade renewable energy systems are built based on solar power system. The solar power has been widely uses as the alternative power source to generate electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling and to power a variety of home appliances.

Energy Source #2: The Wind

Besides the sun, the wind is another commonly use renewable energy source. The movement of wind is captured with the blades of wind turbines to be converted into electric energy, and then turn into electricity via transformers.

Energy Source #3: Biomass

Biomass is a renewable energy source, derived from living organisms such as plants, wood and waste. Although the Biomass has not been commonly used like the sun and the wind, mainly due to the complexity involved. However, scientists are making a good progress toward generating electricity and producing transportation fuels.

Energy Source #4: Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the most abundant element on the earth. It can be easily found many organic compounds, as well as water. Many of us may hear about the new concept of cars which run with water, is the one run on the Hydrogen power generated from water. Unfortunately, hydrogen does not occur naturally as gas, it always combined with other elements, such as it combines with oxygen (H2O) to form water. Therefore, it needs to be separated from other element first before it can be burned as fuel or transformed into electricity.

Energy Source #5: Hydropower

Hydropower is a power generated by taking advantage of gravity when water falls from one level to another. Usually, the kinetic energy of water is captured with water turbines and turns into electric energy to generate electricity.

Summary

The technology improvement has enabled the generation of power from renewable energy at lower cost then before. The above sources are the five major renewable, nonpolluting, and reliable energy sources.

“Climate change has the potential to adversely affect our environment, our communities and our economy unless we take action now – to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts.”

Our earth is undoubtedly getting warm day by day due to the emissions of carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases (GHG’s) from various human activities including industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use, such as deforestation etc. Global warming is primarily a problem of too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. There are many heat-trapping gases (from methane to water vapor), but CO2 puts us at the greatest risk of irreversible changes if it continues to accumulate unabated in the atmosphere. CO2 remains in the atmosphere longer than the other major heat-trapping gases emitted as a result of human activities. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change.

Carbon dioxide, the most significant (both in terms of abundance and impact) anthropogenic greenhouse gas, is a natural and essential part of the atmosphere. It is required for the photosynthesis of all plants (photosynthesis is the basis of life on Earth by providing oxygen and huge quantities of organic compounds). Vital for life it is also good for our planet but only at very small concentrations. Too much concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere can turns into a deadly equation, causing adverse effects. About one third of the carbon dioxide that humans produce by burning fossil fuels is being absorbed by the world’s oceans, gradually causing seawater to become more acidic.

As Global warming has threatened us with huge economic dislocations, more powerful storms, diseases, catastrophic droughts, dwindling food supplies, unprecedented floods, and vanishing coastal areas; the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system is all that is now required to save the life on our planet.

To protect ourselves, our economy, and our land from the adverse effects of climate change, we must reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. We should try to compensate for the emissions produced by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving somewhere else. Being carbon neutral is tough but it is our social responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.

Carbon credits are an element used to aid in regulation of the amount of gases that are being released into the air. Carbon “credits” or “offsets” help us to adopt a carbon neutral lifestyle with ease. If you want to go towards neutrality or perhaps adopt a reduce/offset strategy you can buy carbon offsets once you know your footprint.

Non-renewable energy cannot be renewed but on the other hand, renewable energy is as its name states. It replenishes it’s self and will never run out. The UK government pledged a few years ago that 10% our energy will come from renewable energy sources by 2010 but it seems like this will not be realised.

Solar Energy

The sun is the main source of renewable energy whether it is directly or indirectly. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and a variety of commercial and industrial uses.

Wind

Wind is an indirect form of renewable energy driven by the sun. The energy of the wind is captured by wind turbines. Then, the winds and the sun´s heat cause water to evaporate. When this water vapor turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured using hydroelectric power.

Biomass

Plants grow due to the effects of sunlight combined with rain. Biomass is another form of renewable energy harvested from the organic matter of plants. Biomass can be used to produce electricity, transportation fuels, or chemicals. When biomass is used to produce electricity, transportation etc. it is called bioenergy.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen also can be found in many organic compounds, as well as water. On earth it is believed that hydrogen is the most abundant element on the Earth. But it doesn´t occur naturally as a gas. It´s always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Once separated from another element, hydrogen can be burned as a fuel or converted into electricity.

Geothermal energy

Geothermal energy is one source of renewable energy that does not come from the sun. This source is tapped from the Earth´s internal heat for a variety of uses, including electric power production, and the heating and cooling of buildings. And the energy of the ocean´s tides comes from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun upon the Earth.

Ocean energy

In fact, ocean energy comes from a number of sources. In addition to tidal energy, there´s the energy of the ocean´s waves, which are driven by both the tides and the winds. The sun also warms the surface of the ocean more than the ocean depths, creating a temperature difference that can be used as an energy source. All these forms of ocean energy can be used to produce electricity.

Other ways..

Many companies offer to supply ‘green’ electricity. Packages vary, so check exactly what you are buying, but they generally fall into two categories:

a green tariff – where a supplier will source a certain amount of electricity for you from renewable or low carbon sources a green fund – where a supplier will pay money on your behalf to environmental projects or renewable and low carbon energy developments

The law already requires electricity suppliers to produce a certain amount of their electricity from renewable sources. When you switch to a green tariff, check whether your supplier will generate renewable energy over and above the legal minimum. Only then will your choice lead to an increase in the amount of renewable electricity produced in the UK.

Grant

The Low Carbon Buildings Programme provides grants for a range of technologies that can be applied for online. If you live in Scotland, you can apply for a Scottish Community Householder Renewables Initiative Grant; or if you live in Northern Ireland, the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund Household Programme has been set up to provide funding.

Renewable Energy is fascinating and necessary for our survival.

Netplumb has experienced Plumbers and Heating Engineers who can give you advice. Plumbers in Enfield, Stroud Green, Islington etc.