Environmental Awareness: Green Energy

[Patrick Henry]

Today I will begin a series of weekly posts regarding environmental awareness. In these threads I will include information from climate change to CFLs to all the latest news, as well as what you all can do to help.

I'll start with the topic of "green" energy. Green energy is a subcategory of renewable energy, and should not be confused with it: Renewable energy is energy generated from resources that are renewed at the speed of consumption while green energy is energy generated that does not pollute the environment. This means that not all renewable energy is green. An example of this is biofuels which are believed to emit even more CO2 that gasoline.

These green energy sources are so important because they give us a place to turn when, not if, oil runs out. Solar power is a great example of green energy; it is one of the most abundant resources on earth and is constantly renewed. According to a publication by Geni.net, covering five percent of the world's deserts in photovoltaic cells will generate enough energy to power the world.

Another green source of energy is wind power. A single, wind-powered turbine will generate over 120 GW of powerd, according to the World Wind Energy Association's 2008 world report. It also stated that over 1.5% of the world's energy is wind-generated, and that number is growing faster.

Other widely-known green energy sources include geothermal, hydroelectric, and wave energy. Although these sources are a great step to becoming energy independent of oil, it will still take much more thought and innovation to reach our goals, and you can lead the way.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

--Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Inc.

[B.O.]

The problem with Solar energy is not every place on Earth is equal with the sun light they get. Or what if it rains? Also, correct me if im wrong but the current solar pannels we have aren't even that great in collecting sun light. Until we get better panels, solar will remain a dream.

Good read thi\ough Patrick, I look forward the series.

[Butters]

Originally Posted by Patrick Henry

Today I will begin a series of weekly posts regarding environmental awareness. In these threads I will include information from climate change to CFLs to all the latest news, as well as what you all can do to help.

I'll start with the topic of "green" energy. Green energy is a subcategory of renewable energy, and should not be confused with it: Renewable energy is energy generated from resources that are renewed at the speed of consumption while green energy is energy generated that does not pollute the environment. This means that not all renewable energy is green. An example of this is biofuels which are believed to emit even more CO2 that gasoline.

These green energy sources are so important because they give us a place to turn when, not if, oil runs out. Solar power is a great example of green energy; it is one of the most abundant resources on earth and is constantly renewed. According to a publication by Geni.net, covering five percent of the world's deserts in photovoltaic cells will generate enough energy to power the world.

Another green source of energy is wind power. A single, wind-powered turbine will generate over 120 GW of powerd, according to the World Wind Energy Association's 2008 world report. It also stated that over 1.5% of the world's energy is wind-generated, and that number is growing faster.

Other widely-known green energy sources include geothermal, hydroelectric, and wave energy. Although these sources are a great step to becoming energy independent of oil, it will still take much more thought and innovation to reach our goals, and you can lead the way.

"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower."

--Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple Inc.

Hydrogen needs to be the fuel of the future. Its clean and we can relay on it. With wind and solar you can't.

[Patrick Henry]

Originally Posted by Butters

Hydrogen needs to be the fuel of the future. Its clean and we can relay on it. With wind and solar you can't.

Solar and wind were examples, but I'll consider writing about hydrogen in one of the next posts.