Renewable Energy - Alternative To Fossil Fuels
Today we live in a world where fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) provide more than 90% of the total energy. The energy needs are increasing and it is estimated that fossil fuels will be depleted in not so distant future. The need to look for alternative sources of energy is therefore a priority.
Why alternatives? Two reasons - energy supply and environmental concerns. We all know fossil fuels will eventually run out. By some estimates, they may be depleted within the next 50 years or so. Fossil fuels were formed from organic materials (dead plants and animals) over hundreds of millions of years and cannot be renewed. When they run out, they are gone for good.
One of the biggest problems with fossil fuels is pollution. Coal fueled power plants are the largest source of air pollution in the U.S. Burning fossil fuels produces many pollutants - carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and many other harmful compounds. This causes many health and environmental problems - acid rain, smog, ozone hole, and global climate change just to name a few.
The future is definitely in renewable energy sources like solar power and wind power. They come in practically unlimited supplies and don’t pollute the environment like fossil fuels do.
Our overly dependence on non-renewable energy sources is, as we know, not sustainable. We should put in serious efforts to reduce it. There are renewable eco-friendly alternatives all around us.
The main drawback of renewable energy is the cost. It’s true, low fossil fuel prices made it difficult for alternative sources to compete. But this is changing. Technologies are improving and the cost of green energy has fallen dramatically over the last few years.
Alternative energy sources are definitely the way of the future. But how smooth will the transition from fossil fuels be? That’s up to us and is certainly something to consider sooner rather than later.
Start using renewable energy today and considerably reduce or even eliminate your power bill. For more details see home electricity generation.
