Alternative Energy Resources

The energy that is used today comes from fossil fuels, which is a nonrenewable limited resource that will eventually be used up. Alternative energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, geothermal and wind energies can be used, to conserve the planets limited natural resources. Alternative energy is the use of another energy without the burning of fossil fuels and break up on atoms. Solar energy can be used to operate cars and provide electricity for homes and businesses. Hydroelectric energy can be used to provide electric power to small towns and cities. Geothermal energy can be used to heat buildings or water and to power turbines to make power. Wind energy can be used to pump water and generate electricity.

Solar energy is of the most resourceful sources of alternative energy. It is the most important of the non-conventional sources of energy, because it does not pollute the earth. “One of the reasons for this is that the total energy we receive each year from the sun is around 35,000 times the total energy used by man.” (Alternative energy sources) Solar energy can be converted directly or indirectly into alternative forms of energy. People use solar energy for many things, but most of it is used for heating, cooling, transportation and the generation of electricity. When the sun's rays are

transformed into electricity, it is called photovoltaic energy. This is a simple way to get electricity. Photovoltaic panels can be put on the roof of a house to provide electricity or can be used in remote places where there is not electricity from other sources. Solar energy also powers cars without the use of gasoline which is made from the fossil fuel oil.

Solar-powered vehicles (SPV’s), such as cars, boats, bicycles, and even airplanes, use solar energy to either power an electric motor directly, and/or use solar energy to charge a battery, which powers the motor. They use an array of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells (or modules made of cells) that convert sunlight into electricity. The electricity either goes directly to an electric motor powering the vehicle, or to a special storage battery. The PV array can be built (integrated) onto the vehicle body itself, or fixed on a building or a vehicle shelter to charge an electric vehicle (EV) battery when it is parked. (Green nature)

Next, “Hydroelectric power is the largest source of renewable ...

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...,000 light bulbs that use 100 watts (Energy Story)

Even though you can only use windmills in areas that are fairly windy they are still an effective way to produce without burning fossil fuels.

Luckily, there are many means alternative energy sources to conserve the earth's limited natural resources. Solar, hydroelectric, wind and geothermal energies are the alternative energy sources that will be used in the feature, so that consumers won’t rely on the earth’s natural resources as much they do now. As the world continues to grow and have need for energy, applied science will discover more alternate energy sources to be used in the future.

Works Cited

Energy Story. Wind Energy, 15 April 2005 www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter16.html

Green Nature. Solar Powered Vehicles 25 April 2005 greennature.com/article101.html

The World Bank Group. Geothermal Energy, 19 April 2005

www.worldbank.org/html/fpd/energy/geothermal/

Tran P.. Alternative Energy Sources, 19 April 2005 www.cc.utah.edu/~ptt25660/tran.html

Union of Concerned Scientists. How Hydroelectric Energy Works, 25 April 2005 www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/renewable_energy/page.cfm?pageID=82