Alternatives to carbon based fuels

Fossil-fuel Dependency

With the growing concerns over the high use of fossil-fuels, such as gas, oil, and coal, people, businesses, and governments are wondering what alternatives are available. The prices of oil and gasoline have reached sky-high levels. There is also the knowledge that oil supplies will not last forever, especially when worldwide consumption is increasing. As consumptions increases, supplies dwindle and become more and more expensive to extract. Supplies of Coal are more abundant, yet this still presents the problem of pollution and as these supplies decrease we are forced to use less pure and more polluting supplies..

The burning fossil-fuels releases greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide into the atmosphere that were previously trapped in the fuel. These gases contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect, causing more of the suns energy to be trapped and increasing the planet’s overall temperature. This climate change through our heavy use of fossil fuels in turn melt the polar ice caps, consequently affecting our ocean levels which then impacts weather patterns, agriculture, health, and our environment.

While nuclear energy is often presented as an environmentally-friendly approach to energy, there are still risks from the disposal of radioactive waste. Furthermore, scientists believe that the world’s uranium fuel will run out in fifty years. The infrastructures for hydrogen fuel cells, which could be used in cars, for example, have not become a reality yet. It is therefore time to examine some of the developing sources that will create clean, sustainable energy for the future.

The chart above shows the economic cost of energy prices (by U.S. Cents per kilowatt-hour), for new power plants coming online in 2013. While solar energy seems the most expensive, industry experts say the price will drop with time as more investment is made into improving the technology.

Solar Energy

Solar energy uses special panels to harness the energy of the sun’s rays. There are no emissions from solar-powered systems. While at one time this form of clean energy was considered prohibitively expensive, the price has been dropping consistently for years, and is expected to continue to do so. Perhaps the major drawback to solar energy is collecting energy when the sun isn’t shining or in areas where there is a lack of sunlight. Solar panels have batteries to store energy for overcast days and night time.

Many people are using solar energy for their homes and businesses. By installing solar panels the roof of one’s home, for example, one could power an entire household without using other forms of energy. As the panels are lightweight and can be used on existing structures it would be possible to create power in very crowded areas and cities without having to disrupt the existing infrastructure and buildings.

Wind Energy

Like solar power, wind power has many applications for “distributed energy.” This term means that power can be made on a small scale near the consumer.

Wind power uses turbines to created energy from moving air currents. No emissions are created, and like solar energy, batteries store energy for calm days without wind. Europe, in particular, has made a huge use of wind power. Denmark, for example, currently gets 20 percent of its total energy needs from large wind turbines all across the countryside. The drawbacks to wind power are that the turbines needed to harness it can be considered ugly, and can create noise pollution.

Hydro Energy

While relatively a new concept, the tidal process of the ocean utilizes the natural motion of the tides to fill reservoirs, which are then slowly discharged through electricity-producing turbines. Another method includes using buoy-like devices that created energy from the bobbing motion caused by the waves and tides. Hydro energy has been used in countries such as The Netherlands to great effect.

In good locations, wave energy density can average 65 megawatts per mile of coastline. According to the Department of Energy’s “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy" website, thermal heat from the oceans can also produce energy, while creating desalinated water in the process.

What You Can Do

For the individual, you can help conserve energy by switching to alternative energy sources, and by using energy efficient electrical appliances.

By visiting the website of Energy Star, a government program that works for energy efficiency, you can find out ways to save energy and money. According to Energy Star, Americans have “saved enough energy to power 24 million homes and avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars - all while saving $10 billion.”

If you live in the United States, try buying appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators that have the “Energy Star” seal of energy efficiency.

Use energy-efficient light sources such as compact fluorescent light bulbs that use less energy than standard light bulbs.
Insulation helps use less energy heating and cooling the home and buildings.

If available in your area, try switching to “green energy” made from clean sources. Visit this site to see if and how you can switch to green energy.

Also, see if you can create your own energy, such as solar of wind, for your home.

If you drive, look into energy-efficient vehicles and vehicles that use green energy. Check buying guides as well for more information.