What is energy?

Energy is used to provide electricity to our homes and can be generated from renewable sources (that can be naturally replenished) or non-renewable sources (that are used up and cannot be recreated). Energy generated from renewable sources is less harmful to the environment because it does not use up the Earth’s precious resources, and is often less polluting than non-renewable sources of energy, such as coal.

Click on the images below to learn about each renewable energy source!

Hydrogen Energy

Hydrogen is the simplest element. An atom of hydrogen consists of only one proton and one electron. It's also the most plentiful element in the universe. Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen doesn't occur naturally as a gas on the Earth - it's always combined with other elements. Water, for example, is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen (H₂O).
Hydrogen is also found in many organic compounds, notably the hydrocarbons that make up many of our fuels, such as gasoline, natural gas, methanol, and propane. Hydrogen can be separated from hydrocarbons through the application of heat - a process known as reforming. Currently, most hydrogen is made this way from natural gas. An electrical current can also be used to separate water into its components of oxygen and hydrogen. This process is known as electrolysis. Some algae and bacteria, using sunlight as their energy source, even give off hydrogen under certain conditions.

Hydrogen is high in energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces almost no pollution. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 1970s to propel the space shuttle and other rockets into orbit. Hydrogen fuel cells power the shuttle's electrical systems, producing a clean byproduct - pure water, which the crew drinks.
A fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. Fuel cells are often compared to batteries. Both convert the energy produced by a chemical reaction into usable electric power. However, the fuel cell will produce electricity as long as fuel (hydrogen) is supplied, never losing its charge.
Fuel cells are a promising technology for use as a source of heat and electricity for buildings, and as an electrical power source for electric motors propelling vehicles. Fuel cells operate best on pure hydrogen. But fuels like natural gas, methanol, or even gasoline can be reformed to produce the hydrogen required for fuel cells. Some fuel cells even can be fueled directly with methanol, without using a reformer.
In the future, hydrogen could also join electricity as an important energy carrier. An energy carrier moves and delivers energy in a usable form to consumers. Renewable energy sources, like the sun and wind, can't produce energy all the time. But they could, for example, produce electric energy and hydrogen, which can be stored until it's needed. Hydrogen can also be transported (like electricity) to locations where it is needed.

Why is renewable energy important?

Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides. The key benefits are:

Environmental Benefits

Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies.

Energy for our children's children's children

Renewable energy will not run out. Ever. Other sources of energy are finite and will some day be depleted.

Jobs and the Economy

Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and workmanship to build and maintain the facilities, rather than on costly energy imports. Renewable energy investments are usually spent within the United States, frequently in the same state, and often in the same town. This means your energy dollars stay home to create jobs and fuel local economies, rather than going overseas.
Meanwhile, renewable energy technologies developed and built in the United States are being sold overseas, providing a boost to the U.S. trade deficit.

Energy Security

After the oil supply disruptions of the early 1970s, our nation has increased its dependence on foreign oil supplies instead of decreasing it. This increased dependence impacts more than just our national energy policy.

Alternative Energy For Kids

Alternative Energy For Kids

What is alternative energy, anyway!? And why do we need them and when did alternative energy first appear in our history? We have a vague idea that these types of enhanced natural resources can save our planet, but we also have heard that alternative energy may have some disadvantages that may not be as talked about as they should be. The fact is alternative energy encompasses a myriad of sub-topics that include wind, water, geothermal, nuclear, and more.

This very important and comprehensive page is sent to you from the website that loves most things 'green' (including M7Ms) - benefits-of-recycling.com. There is a ton of interesting and valuable information of this site that you will want to check out, but, for now it's all about alternative energy for kids!


Alternative Energy For Kids / Why do we need energy?


Many things around us require energy in order to function. TV set and stereo, microwave oven and electric kettle, computer and refrigerator - all of them need energy to work. Besides, energy is also necessary to make a car run, to keep the house warm or to heat water for showers.

Most of energy, used nowadays, is called electric energy. It is supplied to our houses constantly through wires; but in order to have energy it should first be produced.


Alternative Energy For Kids / How is energy produced?

Energy is produced or generated from natural resources, which are usually called energy sources. The examples of energy sources are gas, oil, water, sun and wind. However, not all energy sources are created equal. Some of them can be dangerous for the environment we live in.

For example, when oil or gas is burnt in order to produce energy or to heat the houses, a lot of harmful things are released into the air, making it bad for breathing. Besides, we have already used so much oil and gas, which was stored on our planet that only a small amount of those resources remained at our disposal.


That is why people decided to find other sources of energy, which would not harm the air and the amount of which would never end. Such types of energy sources are called alternative. Examples of alternative energy sources are solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and biofuel energy. All of these sources give us “clean” energy, because it is safe for people and for the environment we live in.


Alternative Energy For Kids / What are the different types?

Solar Energy Solar Energy comes from the sun. When the sun shines, it can warm water, heat the house, and it can even produce electricity to run different electric house appliances. In order to use the energy of sun, people put special solar panels on top of their houses’ roofs.

Those solar panels can produce electricity or heat water. The amazing thing about solar energy is that it is free of charge, and it is renewable (this word means that energy from the sun never ends). People use solar energy in those places, where there is a lot of sunshine all year round. In such sunny places as California people even built large power plants, which gather sunlight and transform it into electricity for people.

Wind Energy
People have used the power of wind for thousands of years. Nowadays wind energy is used to produce electricity. Special wind machines are built in the areas, where strong wind blows (usually it is at the coastline).

When many wind machines are built near one another, it is called wind farm. A wind machine consists of a tower with the blades and a generator on top of it. When the wind blows, it rotates the blades. When blades spin around, electricity is produced in the device, called generator.

In order to catch a lot of wind, the towers are built very high. As with solar energy, wind energy is renewable, because wind will always blow on the Earth.

Geothermal Energy
Our planet Earth is very hot and contains a lot of hot water and steam deep down beneath its surface. Volcanoes are best examples of how hot our planet is in its center. People have already learned how to use geothermal energy (“geo” means Earth and “thermal” mean high temperature).

In places, where hot water is close to the Earth surface, people drill special wells and use that hot water for warming their houses. After that water is sent back into the Earth, so that no water is wasted in vain. Geothermal energy is also a free and renewable source of energy.

Biofuel
Biofuel is the modern alternative source of energy, which was invented to substitute gasoline, used in all the cars, trucks, and motorcycles around the globe. Gasoline is bad for the air because when it is burned in the car engine, a lot of harmful substances are released into the air.

Biofuel energy is not that harmful and can be produced from certain plants, grown specifically for that purpose. The fuel, which is produced from plants, is called ethanol and it is suitable for most of the vehicles on the roads. Some biofuel can even be produced from vegetable oil, after it has been used in the kitchen for preparing meals, like potato chips. Such fuel is called biodiesel.

Solar and wind energy, geothermal energy and biofuel are the major examples of the alternative energy sources. They are renewable and safe for humans and for the planet Earth, so in the future people will obviously use only such kinds of energy.

Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Sources

Nonrenewable Energy Sources

   A nonrenewable energy source is a natural energy source in limited supply. While these energy sources may be plentiful, they cannot be produced at all or as quickly as they are consumed. In addition to these resources being limited, not only the burning but also the extraction of these energy sources has dire consequences to our environment.

Petroleum

   Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring toxic combustible liquid primarily made up of hydrocarbons. Petroleum is the result of partial decay of living organisms occurring in the rock strata of certain geological formations.

Coal

   Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock formed from fossilized plants. Coal consists of amorphous carbon with various organic and some inorganic compounds and is normally occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds.

Natural Gas

   Natural gas is a combustible mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs with petroleum deposits consisting primarily of methane. It is found with other fossil fuels and in coal beds and is created by the decay of methanogenic organisms in marshes, bogs, and landfills. Lower temperatures are likely to produce more petroleum, and higher temperatures are likely to produce more natural gas.

Nuclear Power

   Nuclear power is produced by controlled nuclear fission (splitting atoms). In most cases nuclear power plants use nuclear fission reactions to heat water, using the steam to produce electricity. Uranium, specifically, uranium -235, is one of the few elements easily fissioned.

Renewable Energy Sources

Geothermal

   Geothermal energy is power extracted from heat stored under the earth’s crust. This power source is generally cost effective, usually reliable, mostly sustainable, and generally environmentally friendly. Historically, geothermal energy extraction has been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Recent advances in technology have significantly widened the range of viable resources, especially for applications such as home heating.

The Gas Is Greener

IN April, Gov. Jerry Brown made headlines by signing into law an ambitious mandate that requires California to obtain one-third of its electricity from renewable energy sources like sunlight and wind by 2020. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia now have renewable electricity mandates. President Obama and several members of Congress have supported one at the federal level. Polls routinely show strong support among voters for renewable energy projects — as long as they don’t cost too much.

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But there’s the rub: while energy sources like sunlight and wind are free and naturally replenished, converting them into large quantities of electricity requires vast amounts of natural resources — most notably, land. Even a cursory look at these costs exposes the deep contradictions in the renewable energy movement.
Consider California’s new mandate. The state’s peak electricity demand is about 52,000 megawatts. Meeting the one-third target will require (if you oversimplify a bit) about 17,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity. Let’s assume that California will get half of that capacity from solar and half from wind. Most of its large-scale solar electricity production will presumably come from projects like the $2 billion Ivanpah solar plant, which is now under construction in the Mojave Desert in southern California. When completed, Ivanpah, which aims to provide 370 megawatts of solar generation capacity, will cover 3,600 acres — about five and a half square miles.
The math is simple: to have 8,500 megawatts of solar capacity, California would need at least 23 projects the size of Ivanpah, covering about 129 square miles, an area more than five times as large as Manhattan. While there’s plenty of land in the Mojave, projects as big as Ivanpah raise environmental concerns. In April, the federal Bureau of Land Management ordered a halt to construction on part of the facility out of concern for the desert tortoise, which is protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Wind energy projects require even more land. The Roscoe wind farm in Texas, which has a capacity of 781.5 megawatts, covers about 154 square miles. Again, the math is straightforward: to have 8,500 megawatts of wind generation capacity, California would likely need to set aside an area equivalent to more than 70 Manhattans. Apart from the impact on the environment itself, few if any people could live on the land because of the noise (and the infrasound, which is inaudible to most humans but potentially harmful) produced by the turbines.
Industrial solar and wind projects also require long swaths of land for power lines. Last year, despite opposition from environmental groups, San Diego Gas & Electric started construction on the 117-mile Sunrise Powerlink, which will carry electricity from solar, wind and geothermal projects located in Imperial County, Calif., to customers in and around San Diego. In January, environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit to prevent the $1.9 billion line from cutting through a nearby national forest.
Not all environmentalists ignore renewable energy’s land requirements. The Nature Conservancy has coined the term “energy sprawl” to describe it. Unfortunately, energy sprawl is only one of the ways that renewable energy makes heavy demands on natural resources.
Consider the massive quantities of steel required for wind projects. The production and transportation of steel are both expensive and energy-intensive, and installing a single wind turbine requires about 200 tons of it. Many turbines have capacities of 3 or 4 megawatts, so you can assume that each megawatt of wind capacity requires roughly 50 tons of steel. By contrast, a typical natural gas turbine can produce nearly 43 megawatts while weighing only 9 tons. Thus, each megawatt of capacity requires less than a quarter of a ton of steel.
Obviously these are ballpark figures, but however you crunch the numbers, the takeaway is the same: the amount of steel needed to generate a given amount of electricity from a wind turbine is greater by several orders of magnitude.
Such profligate use of resources is the antithesis of the environmental ideal. Nearly four decades ago, the economist E. F. Schumacher distilled the essence of environmental protection down to three words: “Small is beautiful.” In the rush to do something — anything — to deal with the intractable problem of greenhouse gas emissions, environmental groups and policy makers have determined that renewable energy is the answer. But in doing so they’ve tossed Schumacher’s dictum into the ditch.
All energy and power systems exact a toll. If we are to take Schumacher’s phrase to heart while also reducing the rate of growth of greenhouse gas emissions, we must exploit the low-carbon energy sources — natural gas and, yes, nuclear — that have smaller footprints.

Robert Bryce, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is the author, most recently, of “Power Hungry: The Myths of ‘Green’ Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future.”

The Consequences of Global Warming

Global warming poses a potential threat to the future of civilizations across the world. There are numerous

consequences of global warming which experts believe are likely to have a significant impact on the earth in years to come.
Although there is an on-going debate as to whether or not global warming is caused by man, the consequences explained on this page are likely to apply should the earth continue to warm. These consequences continue to be highlighted by scientists, environmental activists and organisations who demand action be taken on a much larger scale than what is currently been done in an attempt to reduce the future consequences global warming may have on the earth.
Should the theory of man-made global warming be correct then in order to reduce the effects of global warming, all countries need to work together to help and reduce greenhouse gas emissions which are a key cause of global warming.

The Main Consequences of Global Warming

The main consequences of global warming are all a direct result of an increase in global temperatures and many of these main consequences are detailed below:

• Changing Weather Patterns - Global warming has the ability to change annual weather patterns bringing more severe conditions to many countries across the globe. This consequence of global warming could include an increase in severe drought, flooding and storms which have the potential to cause significant loss of life or economic impact.
• Melting Sea Ice & Glacial Retreat - As temperatures increase, we are beginning to see an increased melting of sea ice and evidence of accelerated glacial retreat. This may not seem a cause for concern to most until you take into account how much of the world's water supply is locked in ice. According to the USGS with data from 1993, around 1.7% of the earth's total water supply is stored in sea ice or glaciers and this translates to over 65% of the earth's fresh water supply. Should all sea ice and glaciers melt, there would be a global increase in sea levels which would have the potential to wipe out a number of communities in low lying areas.

Less Known Consequences of Global Warming

There are numerous less known global warming consequences and some of these are as follows:

• Wildlife - With the melting of the sea ice comes numerous consequences of wildlife that rely on the ice or the purity of the sea. Polar bears are in great danger of becoming extinct should we see a complete melt of sea ice as much of their hunting is done on the ice. A less documented consequence relates to the actual melting of sea ice and glaciers as this would release a significant quantity of "fresh water" into the sea which is "salt water". This has the potential to disrupt sea life that relies on salt water in the surrounding areas as fresh water is released into the sea.
• Health - Rising temperatures can impact our health through an increase of heat stroke or heat related deaths. In addition, there are likely to be more deaths or injuries as a result of increased severe weather conditions such as flooding, storms and forest fires.

Prevention

To prevent or reduce the future consequences of global warming there are many ways to prevent global warming. It is not only large industrial companies who need to take action to help and reduce the consequences of climate change and instead, everyone on the planet should be doing their part. There are many ways in which we can reduce the potential

Causes Of Global Warming

There are numerous causes of global warming, each of which contributes to the increasing intensity of the effects that climate change has on our planet.
If you are looking for information on global warming itself then our what is global warming article may be of use to you.
The main cause of global warming is the increase of greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere. This creates what is known as the greenhouse effect which heats the earth by reducing the level of solar rays that are able to escape from our atmosphere.
Although the greenhouse effect is essentially a vital factor in supporting life on earth by keeping our atmosphere warm enough to support life, human activities are contributing to the quantity of greenhouse gases providing an artificial increase in the intensity of the greenhouse effect.
One of the key causes of global warming is pollution caused as a result of transportation. The use of aviation, public transport (buses, trains, taxis) and personal transport (cars, motorbikes etc) are all on the increase as our population increases.
Increasing transportation use is a cause of global warming due to emissions produced from planes, trains and everyday vehicles. These emissions are adding to the level of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere increasing the intensity of the greenhouse effect. Technologies are constantly been developed and improved to allow for increasingly efficient engines which will have a positive impact in reducing greenhouse emissions as a result of transportation.
Energy production is another key cause of global warming. Coal, oil and gas power plants burn energy sources in order to drive turbines generating electricity. As the worlds energy demand rises, increasing amounts of emissions will be added to the greenhouse effect increasing the intensity of global warming. With increasing investment in technologies making use of solar, wind, geothermal and hydro related energy sources, the effect that energy production has on global warming can be reduced.
Increasing deforestation is having a negative impact as a cause of global warming as trees help to absorb carbon dioxide which reduces the intensity of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. As we harvest more of these trees, the capacity for this process decreases resulting in more greenhouse gases building up in our atmosphere. With the introduction of sustainable construction methods and materials we can greatly reduce the impact this process has on global warming.
There are many man-made and natural causes of global warming, however through combined commitment in making uses of sustainable resources and technologies, we can greatly reduce the impact the causes of global warming may have on the earth in future years.

What Is Global Warming

This article aims to answer the question "what is global warming?".
Global warming is a global increase in the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere. This warming is a result of excessive greenhouse gases contained within the Earth's atmosphere, possibly as a result of the industrial revolution.
As increasing levels of greenhouse gases are contained within the Earth's atmosphere, more heat is trapped as a result of the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is a key ingredient of global warming as a significant level of heat from the sun is bounced back to Earth for a second time, instead of radiating out of our atmosphere.
Although global warming may only increase the globes average temperature by a few degrees, this could have disastrous effects for sea levels, wildlife and human existence.
Until recently, there were many sceptics of global warming, but as more evidence comes to light of how disastrous the future effects may be, more and more people are beginning to come around to the idea that action needs to be taken to help curb global warming.
Currently, it is quite difficult to place the blame of global warming on human activities, however, the many different effects of global warming are much easier to highlight and are been seen across the globe.
There are significant effects of global warming in Canada and these effects highlight how much of a threat global warming could be to our livelihoods, nature and the economy.
Although nobody can predict how fierce the future effects of global warming will be, we are already able to link global warming to recent extreme weather events.
The question "what is global warming?" is fairly easy to provide answers for, however, the question "what causes global warming?" may take many more years to answer. Although greenhouse gases can be linked to the root cause, we are unable to place the blame on either human existence or nature.

Natural & Renewable Energy Sources

Clean Energy Ideas is home to a selection of articles surrounding topics related to how we can use natural energy sources to provide power for our homes and businesses. Throughout our website you'll be able to find information on solar, wind and geothermal energy sources. You'll also be able to find a selection of articles covering topics relating to recycling and global warming/climate change.
A more widespread use of natural and renewable energy sources is needed to help take the burden off our current dependency on fossil fuels. The high levels of fossil fuels we burn each and every day is contributing to climate change, air pollution and environmental pollution.
By beginning to use more natural and renewable energy sources as part of our day to day lives, we will be doing our part in helping to curb the impacts of climate change whilst improving the quality of our surrounding environment and the air we breathe. Although many other issues need to be addressed, making this switch is a large step forward in the fight for a healthier world.
With increasing evidence suggesting our use of fossil fuels is contributing towards climate change, now is the time to switch to an alternative means of generating energy where possible.
Clean Energy Ideas was launched in 2007 in an attempt to try and educate visitors to the importance of the use of renewable energy sources. You will find lots of educational material throughout the website, and much of this information relates to how you can get involved in energy conservation and producing your very own natural energy.
The many different natural and renewable energy technologies highlighted throughout the website are by no means a breakthrough in how we use the earth's resources. Many of these renewable energy technologies have been around for years and as time goes by are increasing in efficiency and benefiting from technological innovation.

Some Advantages & Disadvantages of Natural Energy Sources

Below are just a handful of the many advantages relating to the use of natural and renewable energy sources:

• A variety of renewable energy sources are readily available. The sun, wind, tides, and geothermal activity are all renewable forms of energy.
• After the initial cost of; solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal energy systems, the only cost to the consumer relates to any required maintenance. You could even sell excess electricity back to your national grid if allowed in your country.
• If you're fully dependant on natural energy sources you will no longer be subject to price rises from gas and electricity companies. You could be fully carbon neutral, eliminating your dependency on the remaining reserves of fossil fuels.
• Use as much or as little of the renewable electricity you're able to generate without feeling guilty for any wastage.
• By switching to the use of renewable energy sources we're able to make the remaining oil, gas and coal supplies last longer for use in industries where renewable energy is not yet a viable alternative.
• Government grants may be available for some natural energy projects depending on your location.

Below, you can see a selection of the disadvantages relating to the use of clean energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels:

• The initial cost of renewable energy systems can be expensive.
• It can be very difficult to achieve your entire energy requirements from the use of renewable energy, but you could get close with a realistic budget and the implementation of the most appropriate renewable energy technologies for your area.

Reducing the Effects OF Global Warming

There are many other steps you can take to reduce the effects of global warming which are unrelated to the use of natural energy sources. Many of these steps are easy, affordable and can start at home. Something as basic as regular recycling can have a significant impact on the environment whilst saving energy during the manufacture of new products.
Carbon emissions are a direct result of not only heavy industry and transport but also the average household. Energy efficiency and conservation is a key aspect in reducing the effects of global warming, and there are steps that can be taken around the home to achieve this. Not only will energy conservation help reduce your carbon emissions, it will also save you money on your energy bills.