Energy is an important part of our daily lives on the planet. We rely on energy for warmth, cooking, electricity, transportation and food production. In fact there are few aspects of our lives that do not require some form of energy input. With the effects of global warming beyond refute and fossil fuel availability rapidly running out, the world is looking to find new sources of energy. This time around we have the opportunity to research, design and utilize energy sources that are renewable, non-polluting and environmentally friendly.
Alternative Energy 101
Alternative energy refers to energy that is considered to be ‘green’, non-polluting and generally does not involve burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel energy sources produce greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane during their mining, conversion or use.
Traditional fuels are often viewed as non-renewable since there is a limited supply of resources such as oil, coal, natural gas and wood. Renewable energies refer to naturally replenishable energies such as solar, wind, wave, tidal and geothermal. Presently only about 11% of the world’s energy consumption comes from renewable energy sources.
The Future Is Green
Today, environmentalists, engineers and scientists around the gobe are looking to find sources of alternative, clean or green energy. Many of the alternative energy technologies have been around for many years and are being used in various communities and countries around the world. However, what is changing is how mainstream governments and corporations are viewing clean energy use as the wave of the future. The Pembina Institute, a Canadian sustainable energy advocacy group, explains that investment in low impact renewable energy is now a higher priority, ‘they [governments] see beyond the fossil-fuel era and want to ensure that they are competitive within a rapidly growing renewable energy industry’.
Not All Green Energy Is Equal
Alternative energy sources are not all created equally and many still have a significant carbon footprint from their manufacture, installation or use. Some forms of alternative energy also have environmental costs or concerns, however most green energy technologies have nowhere near the impact of traditional fossil fuel based energy production in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Clean, or green, energy comes in a variety of forms ranging from solar, wind, tidal, hydro, biomass, methane capture, nuclear, hydrogen, geothermal and bio-diesel. Each alternative energy source has both positive and negative points - ranging from carbon intensive production costs, impact on marine life or birds, to environmentalists’ long-standing and well-documented concerns with nuclear energy production. Long term consequences of new technologies on the environment need to be taken into account prior to their wide-scale implementation. The energy world of the future looks very green and economists around the world are predicting the alternative energy sector will remain a high growth industry.
Get Involved
- Have an energy audit done on your home.
- Install solar panels.
- Insulate your hot water heater.
- Purchase Energy Star appliances.
- Insulate walls and install double-pane windows.
- Contact your energy provider and find out about green energy options.
- Buy Green-e renewable energy certificates.
- Turn down your heating thermostat during the winter.
- Turn up your air conditioner thermostat in the summer.
Resources
Energy Alternatives designs, supplies and installs alternative power systems: http://www.energyalternatives.ca/
The BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) is a non-profit group of citizens, professionals and practitioners, promoting sustainable energies in British Columbia: http://www.bcsea.org/
City Green works to empower people to make better green choices in their homes, workplaces and lifestyles: http://www.citygreen.ca/
The Pembina Institute works to advance sustainable energy solutions: http://re.pembina.org/
National Energy Foundation is the UK’s premier source of alternative energy information: http://www.nef.org.uk/
Canadian Hydro is an independent developer of EcoLogo® certified low-impact renewable energy: http://www.canhydro.com/
Green Pages
Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products in the voluntary market: http://www.green-e.org/
The Folkcenter for Renewable Energy in Hurup Thy, Denmark, offers visitors the change to see many fully functioning renewable energy solutions and self-supply food production demonstrating the future of a sustainable community: http://www.folkecenter.net/gb/
The Center For Alternative Technology (CAT) in Wales is still considered to be one of the world’s leaders in alternative energy some 30 years after the site opened. CAT works to demonstrate how every aspect of the average lifestyle can be done in a greener manner: http://www.cat.org.uk/
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written by Kriss , April 13, 2011