There are two types of energy resources- renewable and nonrenewable. Renewable resources are energy sources that can be easily replaced . Nonrenewable resources are energy sources that cannot be easily replaced.
Examples of nonrenewable energy sources include petroleum (oil), natural gas, and coal.
In 2005, 37% of all energy consumption in the United States came from petroleum, which was mostly used for transportation fuel. Although petroleum is inexpensive, It produces greenhouse gases and many other pollutants that affect the atmosphere.
25% of all energy usage came from natural gas. It is mainly used for heating fuel. Of all fossil fuels, it produces the lowest amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The last nonrenewable resource is coal.
Coal accounts for 21% of all energy consumption. It is the least expensive, but the most harmful resource to the environment. It releases greenhouse gasses and other pollutants that cause acid rain.
Renewable resources include solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy, and hydroelectric energy.
Solar energy is harvested through photovoltaic cells, or PV cells. These cells capture light and convert them into electricity. Solar panels create no pollution, making them great for the environment.
Wind energy used wind turbines to harvest energy. The wind moves the turbines and creates mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then converted into electrical energy. The wind turbines create no pollution, but have many downfalls. Wind turbines are noisy, are harmful to wild bird populations, and only work where there are strong winds.
Geothermal energy uses heat from the ground to heat water, resulting in steam. This steam is used to then heat and cool buildings. Geothermal energy plants only emit a small amount of greenhouse gases. Harvesting geothermal energy is very costly.
Biomass energy comes from organic matter. Examples of organic matter include wood, crop waste, and manure. Biomass is a good energy source because it uses materials that would normally go to waste. The only problem with biomass is that it costs more than oil, for less energy.
Hydroelectric energy is harvested by using dams. As water moves through the dams, it spins turbines to create mechanical energy. This mechanical energy is then converted into electricity. Hydroelectric power is responsible for most of the renewable energy use in the United States. Although it is a cheap source for energy, it has a large impact on the wildlife. The dams could potentially block the river, resulting in complications with migrating fish.
As you can see, renewable energy sources have more pros than cons. These sources will reduce the pollution in the atmosphere. Renewable resources are also a better choice because fossil fuels will eventually run out. In my opinion, I think that we should start switching to renewable resources before it is too late. Imagine a world where there was no power- just because we failed to save what little we had. Imagine a world where the air was so polluted that you could not breathe- just because we did not stop using fossil fuels that polluted the air, instead of using renewable resources. I wouldn't want to live in a world like that. Would you?
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