So I have been looking into the technology behind the environment so to speak and here is some of my findings so far.
Solar Panels: Makes use of the abundant amount of energy from the sun. The panels work by collecting solar radiation from the sun and converting that energy into electricity. The greater the solar radiation the more energy there is to convert to electricity. So on a cloudy day you are out of luck. There are many advantages to using the sun’s rays. One is solar panels produce virtually no pollution. A second one is that after the start up cost you have free electricity. Basically this is a renewable source that is not going anywhere.
http://www.solarpanelinfo.com/solar-panels/
Wind Energy aka Turbines: Humans have been using wind energy for hundreds of years. Today we are able to convert wind energy into electricity. Similar to wind mills, wind turbines are mounted on a tower 100 meters above the ground in order “to take advantage of faster and less turbulent wind.” The blades have two sides which allow the wind to form different pressures. This then causes a rotor to spin which allows a generator to make electricity. These towers can stand alone or can stand in armies supplying electricity to a town.
http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_wind.html
Hydroelectricity: Placed inside of dams, huge generators are connected to turbine blades. When the water flows through, the turbine spins and power is produced. There are many advantages to using hydroelectricity.
1. There is virtually no pollution
2. Water is free from nature
3. Can reduce green house gas emissions
4. Small cost to operate and maintain
5. This technology is very reliable (we have been using this for long time)
6. It is renewable (rainfall replenishes the fuel)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/wuhy.html
In my next post I plan to look at the problems that arise when these technologies are used.
These three are decent alternatives, but like everything else in life, there are limits that affect their productivity.
ReplyDeleteSolar panels require LOTS of land and LOTS of sunlight. Deserts are a good spot.
Wind turbines need LOTS of wind and a decent amount of land. Coasts are a good spot.
Hydroelectric plants must have LOTS of water. Rivers are a good spot.
Ok...so I think you get the point.
I look forward to your next post about the various issues that arise when using alternative energy.
Right now I am looking for other eco friendly alternatives.
ReplyDeleteThere will be problems with just about any solution. We have to figure out to work around them.
These are some useful alternatives to saving energy and making the environment more eco-friendly. As NatureNurture mentioned these alternatives to require large amounts of the elements required. I think that if the government or any other influential power started to advertise and endorse these alternatives more they might become much more popular, and as a result of that the environment would be in much better shape. Energy use is growing higher and higher at an exponential rate, but we must think about how this is going to affect our environment in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI think all of these alternatives are methods that could be used as solutions to solve, or help slow, global warming and better the environment! I am curious to see what solutions and conclusions you will say this can have on the environment. Such as if everyone changed to environmentally friendly alternatives would this ease the effect of humans on the earth?
ReplyDeleteAlso on a tangent I just bought environmentally friendly forks! The kind that are disposable but unlike plastic forks they are made of starch and are reusable for about six months and once they are no longer reusable they decompose!
Eco-friendly forks!?! Oh my! That is such a great concept. After you are done with them they will become compost which is a wonderful way to enrich soil and the earth. I am assuming that there would be no addition of methane to the atmosphere. I am definitely going to look into this! Thanks!!
ReplyDelete