What Are The Alternatives to Preserve Non-Renewable Resources?
Take a look at where we are today with non-renewable resources. Most of us know that fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal are finite resources that we may eventually deplete. Presently, we depend greatly on these non-renewable energy sources. We use these non-renewable resources to supply us with power, heat our homes, businesses and schools and much more. When we deplete all the non-renewable resources and there are no more to collect, then what? How will we live without the conveniences that we are so accustom to? So often, we take for granted the ease of flipping a switch to get power and technologies that allow us to press a button to do all the things that people work for hours to achieve. In many ways we are lucky to live in a world with so many advanced devices. But what will we do when we are no longer able to power the devices that we have come to depend on because we have run out of non-renewable resources?
Should We Start to Replace Non-Renewable Resources Now?
Let’s’ look at the problem realistically. We will not run out of non-renewable resources during our lifetime or even in our grandchildren’s lifetime, but what about future generations? Should we continue on our current path and let our great-grandchildren worry about the problem? Or, do we begin the process now of figuring out alternative solutions so that we do not deplete our non-renewable energy sources and are prepared with good renewable alternatives.
What we have to rely on in the future is renewable sources. These resources offer us a plentiful supply and will never run out. They renew and allow us to utilize them over and over. Renewable energy sources consist of Solar, Wind, Biomass, Hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower. We can use all of these and they are currently available. What do they do and how do they help us with our power needs? Let’s find out.
Alternatives to Non-Renewable Resources
Solar refers to the solar energy that we get everyday either directly or indirectly from the sun. Solar power can be used to power electricity, pump water, heat homes, schools and businesses, heat water, cooling and ventilation and power vehicles. Solar energy for the home has become increasingly popular as a non-renewable resources alternative. Conserving the energy that comes from the sun is the most natural way to furnish our homes with energy, heat and more. When we use natural sources we preserve non-renewable resources and decrease financial costs.
Wind power takes the energy generated from the wind and uses it in more productive ways. Wind turbines alter the kinetic energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy. There are advantages and disadvantages to owning wind turbines but they have been proven to work and do help to generate electricity. Small residential wind turbines have been especially helpful in rural communities as an efficient non-renewable resources option. Wind also helps to get the sun’s heat down to earth. When the wind combines with the heat of the sun, it causes evaporation. When the water turns into precipitation it produces energy that can then be captured by hydropower.
Solar and wind energy are popular as non-renewable resources because they can be implemented fairly easily as DIY projects for homes and businesses. These sources are cost effective solutions for energy efficiency.
Hydropower, also known as hydraulic power or water power, is one of the various sources of renewable energy, providing several advantages as opposed to other similar renewable resources. The energy from this resource comes from the harnessed energy or force generated by moving water. Today, hydropower is primarily used to generate electricity. It does this in a very efficient manner, as turbines are able to convert more than ninety percent of this renewable energy source into electricity. However, hydropower is very complicated and requires a great deal of technology in order to successfully accumulate energy from water.
Biofuels are produced by converting organic matter into fuel for powering our society. It can be used for the production of electricity, transport fuels or chemicals. The biofuels umbrella includes ethanol and derivatives of plants such as sugar cane, as well as vegetable and corn oils. However, we have a long way to go to refine and make biofuels economic and practical. We have yet to develop biofuels that are as energy efficient as gasoline made from petroleum. In addition, the use of biofuels has come under fire recently because land once used for food production is now being used to produce plants for use in biofuels since it is more profitable for the land owner. As a result, food prices have increased because of simple supply and demand and many fear wide-spread food shortages. The future of this technology as a non-renewable resources alternative is up for debate.
Hydrogen is the simplest and most plentiful element found on earth. No matter its simplicity and great quantity, hydrogen does not exist in nature as a gas since it is always found with other elements such as water. Hydrogen encompasses substantial energy and burns very clean. An engine that burns pure hydrogen emits virtually no pollution. Currently, NASA uses hydrogen fuel cells to power space shuttles’ electrical systems. These fuel cells produce a valuable byproduct – pure water, which the crew drinks. A fuel cell unites hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity, heat, and water. As a source of heat and electricity for buildings, and as an electrical power source for electric motors propelling vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells are a promising non-renewable resources technology.
Geothermal looks toward the inner parts of the earth for heat and can be used for power, heating, and cooling. Geothermal energy technologies are a largely untapped area of remarkable alternative energy potential. The downside of building geothermal energy plants at this time is that it is too costly and takes too much time. The tremendous benefits of geothermal energy will hopefully bring more research and exploration to this type of renewable resource.
As early as 1881, ocean thermal energy was proposed by the French engineer Jacques D’Arsonval. The ocean produces thermal energy using the heat from the sun. It can also use mechanical energy for the tides and waves. Ocean thermal energy is very clean burning, but building Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants with our current technologies, would have the potential for disturbing and possibly injuring the local environment. OTEC is considered an emerging technology and has technical and cost challenges to overcome before implementation can take place on a widely useful level to replace non-renewable resources.
As you can see there are vast renewable resources all around us. We know what they do and how we can use them. There are so many benefits to using renewable resources. If we don’t use them now we may not have a choice later. The knowledge we learn today will help us replace non-renewable resources for the use of energy more wisely.