Sunday, July 19, 2009

Realize How To Utilize Renewable Energy During This Energy Crisis

By Gary Greenman

Most individuals are more than a little aware of the electricity crisis that we`re facing at the moment. The thought of wind and solar energy has surely been around for a long time and some individuals have even made use of it on a quite small scale. However, it might just be time to start thinking big with these alternative forms of electrcity.

Turning to Alternative Energy Sources

Even if we carry on to use fossil fuels, there are so many downsides to this. Even as it`s anticipated that we still have some time left on the existing fuels, they will ultimately run out. They are a finite resource that we`ll certainly use up. At the moment, we are accessing the easiest sources, but soon, more work will be needed to get to the other areas that can provide us with this type of fuel.

In addition, fossil fuels are a major issue in the present state of the ecosystem. Whether or not you believe in global warming, there is absolutely an effect on the planet from the huge amount of pollutants being created by power consumption around the planet.

There is also the economic factor to consider. Everyone was recently taken aback with just how high gas prices went around the globe. While they have stabilized a little, the cost of power can only go up as fossil fuels become scarcer. All this leads to the perks of wind and solar power, both outstanding renewable electricity sources that could well end the power crisis.

Why Wind AND Solar Power?

Quite simply, it`s pretty hard to get the amount of electrcity needed from just one type of collector. For instance, if we use only solar panels . . . what happens when we have an extended cloudy period? And likewise, if using only wind, what happens when it dies down? It`s forever good to have backup systems in place and wind and solar energy work very well together.

At the moment, wind power in the United States offers enough electricity to energy approximately 2 million homes. Studies have shown that it`s more than possible to provide for the energy needs of the entire nation using just wind electrcity, which is also the most efficient and easily used alternative energy source.

Solar energy is very useful, but it is also still fairly costly to install solar panels. While this will likely drop as the exploration and technology get better, for the moment, it`s cost prohibitive (and space prohibitive!) to use solar panels to provide the entire nation with electricity. However, many areas are doing very well with solar power, mainly those in the sunnier parts of the country and with the combination of solar and wind, you can see that there is an renewable to the petroleum products at present being used.

Harnessing the Power

More and more people are opting to add solar panels to their houses, saving on electricity bills and lowering their overall electricity consumption rate. However, in order to really generate a dent in the power crisis, we`ll need more than just individuals working on the problem. With cooperation, it`s probable for entire towns and even cities to run completely on alternative electrcity sources, like those we`ve been discussing here. Visualize the impact this could have on the environment, as well as our everyday lives.

Solar and wind power are the future of energy sources. Together, they provide the chance that we need to escape from the ever rising cost of fossil fuels and give us a cleaner, safer and less expensive energy.

About the Author:

No comments: