WHAT IS GREEN ENERGY?
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Introduction
Energy is the lifeblood of our economy. We use it to fuel our homes and offices, heat our food, and run our appliances. As a result, we know a lot about the different types of energy we have at our disposal. But one type you may not be familiar with is green energy, which has become a popular topic in recent years due to concerns about energy security and climate change. Green energy refers to any form of electricity or thermal energy that is generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rainwater and biomass (plant matter).
Renewable energy is powered by the sun, wind, water and other natural sources that are continuously replenished.
- Renewable energy is clean and safe.
- Renewable energy sources are constantly replenished.
- Renewable energy sources are renewable. The sun, wind, water and other natural sources that power them will never be depleted or used up in our lifetimes — or even the lifetime of our children’s children’s children.
- In fact, some renewable resources are so abundant that we can’t even use them all up if we wanted to! For example: the amount of sunlight that hits Earth in one hour could power us for a whole year (if we were able to convert it all into electricity).
- Renewable energy sources aren’t finite—they won’t run out anytime soon!
Nonrenewable energy sources are those that are not naturally replenished on a human time frame. They take too long to form without the intervention of humans. Fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas were created over a period of millions of years from the remains of plants and animals. Once these resources are used, they cannot be replaced quickly.
Renewable energy sources are those that are naturally replenished on a human time frame. They take too long to form without the intervention of humans. Examples of these include wind and solar power, which both use technologies that harness natural resources to produce electricity for homes and businesses.
Wind farms rely on wind turbines to convert kinetic energy from moving air into mechanical power for their generators, which create electricity for nearby areas. Solar panels collect sunlight through photovoltaic cells to create direct current (DC) electricity that can be used in homes or businesses nearby.
Nuclear energy is also not considered renewable because it relies on a nonrenewable resource: uranium. Uranium is a mineral that can be mined from the Earth. Currently, nuclear power provides about 5% of all electricity produced in the U.S. However, it produces large quantities of dangerous radioactive waste for which a safe disposal system has not been devised yet.
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On average, coal produces about 12 pounds of waste for every million BTU (British Thermal Units) of usable energy produced; petroleum 9 pounds; natural gas 4 pounds; and nuclear power 2 pounds.
Coal ash is a toxic byproduct of coal-fired power plants. It contains arsenic, lead and mercury, which can cause health problems in humans when they’re released into the environment. While some of it can be recycled and reused as concrete or asphalt, most of it ends up in landfills. There are currently over 1,000 coal ash landfills across the country that contain billions of tons of ash waste.
The problem with this practice is that many communities lack proper regulations for disposing of coal ash properly—meaning there’s no guarantee that your community’s landfill will remain safe for years to come!
Coal-fired electric power plants produce more than 100 million tons of coal ash every year-enough to fill 1 million railroad cars! This is really an underestimate because it does not include sludge from air pollution control devices or waste from coal processing and preparation. The density of coal ash varies widely depending on the type and source, but averages 45 lbs/ft3 (720 kg/m3).
Coal-fired electric power plants produce more than 100 million tons of coal ash every year-enough to fill 1 million railroad cars! This is really an underestimate because it does not include sludge from air pollution control devices or waste from coal processing and preparation. The density of coal ash varies widely depending on the type and source, but averages 45 lbs/ft3 (720 kg/m3).
Coal combustion produces about 110 pounds of arsenic per ton of burned coal; about 240 pounds each of lead, mercury, nickel and chromium; 750 pounds each of vanadium and selenium; over 1,000 pounds each of cobalt and molybdenum; as well as many other toxic trace elements.
Conclusion
So, if you’re interested in going green, there are many different ways to do so. That said, it’s important to remember that green energy isn’t necessarily synonymous with renewable energy. The key is finding a source of power that does not deplete the Earth and its resources. There are many different types of renewable energy sources that can help us combat climate change while also providing jobs and economic growth opportunities for communities across America. Whether it be solar panels on your house or wind turbines in your town, there are plenty of ways for everyone to participate!
