Green Energy: The Environment Redefined

Wind turbines (Vendsyssel, Denmark, 2004)
Image via Wikipedia

The world is changing – the once accepted reliance on carbon spewing machines has been replaced to a collective awareness. Individuals now demand their air to be without the smoke and stratus dangers. The miles are to be empty, clean, and philosophies are without their former disdain for the refusal of seemingly easy coal. The environment is now to be saved, not simply ravaged and left for future generations to heal. It is instead to be protected through endless campaigns and contingencies; one of which has become the rallying cry across continents: green energy.

Simply defined, green energy is the use of environment friendly alternatives to generate the needed power. Elements like solar panels, wind turbines and tidal turns are used to create electricity – allowing it to be without the usual complications of emissions or damning poisons. These elements can offer the same strength of currents as their coal counterparts and yet allow a company’s (or home’s) impact on nature be minimized.

There are some that would argue the efficiency of green energy, however. Wishing to save the environment is an important cause, they claim, but it cannot be done at the expense of modern needs. Progress will be ended with the use of these methods, with all efforts given to the protection of botanicals and to not the necessity of cities: this is the common complaint, offered daily and vehemently.

It is as unfounded as it is loud.

Green energy is not a proof of dwindling progress. It is instead the reinvention of it. Using the environment to tame the use of coal and similar options ensures that the generations to come will not be forced to turn all focus to combating the effects of today. Their attentions can instead be given to new ideas and new potentials – not to seeking ways to eliminate the constant haze. It is an assurance of the future and an aid to the present.

The use of green energy will not be a quick transition but it is an inevitable one. Its worth has been proven.

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Overcoming Concerns: The Environment and Energy

Wind farm and greenhouse gas farm, together
Image by kevindooley via Flickr

It was a new philosophy, offered with caution and unsure words; the quivering promises. An environment was to be saved – forests were to be spared and horizons were to be without their coal soaked hazes. The dominating power, forced from unkind sources, was to be shifted into alternative methods. It was not be generated without concern, allowed to exist without rules. Compromises had to be made. Standards had to be revised.

And yet this ideal was met with little certainty. Companies assumed it would be impossible; cities were unwilling to risk their established profits. The environment was important, they conceded, but it was not the only issue (and it was far behind the more obvious ones of power and its constant needs).

But the movement did not die, despite the chides and derision; and during the 1990’s it began to slowly (and painstakingly) flourish. Second generation technology–as it was called–could be found across the world and its effects were soon seen.

Composed of modern inventions like solar panels, wind farms and thermal drills, second generation technology is the result of necessary change. Its predecessors (hydroelectric dams and costly generators) were often burdened to complications, leaving many to consider them unworthy; and from this consideration came a call for power that would utilize the environment, rather than exploiting it.

Such a distinction was difficult to reach but second generation technology did manage. Its inclusion of solar energy and renewable causes allowed it become far more than a simple alternative. It instead had the potential to become the only choice. And, while such implementation has not yet occurred, the progress made toward it has been remarkable – when the movement began in 1996, there was an estimated 6,100 turbines found throughout the world. By 2008 that number had risen to almost 200,000; with land being used willingly and companies forming kinder opinions. Those results are staggering and offer hope for the days to come.

Second generation technology is the awakening of the green philosophy. It is poised to continue on and create a better future.

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Explaining Solar Power: The Environmental Truth

Saudi Arabia and Solar Energy
Image by martnpro via Flickr

It’s a common confusion, forced from too little understanding and too many wandering thoughts. The sun is considered to be without fault – constant and sure. And, since the notion of conquering solar flares appeared, individuals have believed that it will soon replace all methods of power. Light will generate electricity, allowing it to be used without the rising costs and careful consideration. It will, all are sure, offer a steady stream of free currents, enabling an environmental relief and a brighter future. This is progress; this is change; this is necessary.

It is also limiting.

Solar power is an ingenuity. This cannot be denied. Its utilization of such an abundant natural resource has marked it a green technology that none should refuse. It is not, however, without fault – and individuals must understand this to fully realize the steps they must take when choosing this method.

Wishing to lessen your burden on the environment is admirable; but assuming this can be done purely with solar panels is incorrect. To explain: this alternative works through the act of photovoltaics. This allows the sun’s rays to be captured by specialized glass and then filtered into water; where they then boil and generate power. It is an easy and immediate method that has proven itself again and again.

But few realize that the sun is not a permanent source. It is not always in the sky and is instead replaced to evening. Because of this, power must be stored or compensated with other methods (such as turbines or even traditional electricity). This must be recognized by individuals wishing to promote an environmental philosophy on their land. The sun will not be enough. It must instead by aided – and such aid is expensive. While solar panels are becoming more frequent, they do still demand high costs and installation fees. They are energy efficient but not always budget efficient.

Understand the truth of solar energy to better utilize it and create a method tailored for your land.

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The Advantage of Wind: Environment

Wind Turbines
Image by nualabugeye via Flickr

It’s a peculiar sight, unexpected among the hills and graze of livestock: turbines rise from the ground, spinning languidly; offering endless aisles of power and new relief. There is no curl of smoke, no coal-infused scent. The air surrounding them is instead clean, circling the propellers and letting them turn easily. This was once an improbable scenario, delayed by concerns of aesthetics. Too many believed wind to be the ugliest of generators, with no visual appeal or purpose. But times have changed, the decades proving that there are far greater concerns than appearances; and wind turbines have become the best response to the question of power and its impact on the environment.

Simply explained: wind turbines are connected through intricate networks that allow the motions of the propellers to generate energy through transformers. This is then made into electricity and can be dispensed throughout all buildings on the network. And this becomes the safest alternative to coal and carbon.

Wind turbines provide many obvious advantages:

1. No emissions. Due to their designs, these generators are without pollution. They require no fuel and therefore release none. Beyond the initial transportation to their sites (which is quickly countered by their abilities), they are without emission.

2. Little land loss. There has always been a concern of the construction of turbines and the space they would require. Trees, it was worried, would have to be cut down. And, while this has been proven true, the land left is still fertile and able to be used for grazing and farming. The compensation comes from the new multiple uses.

3. Off-shore possibilities. Fields are not always required for turbines. They can instead be crafted within the water (utilizing flotation principles or fixed bottom constructs). This allows for broader applications and no demand of miles. The effects are minimal.

The environment requires more than simple good intentions. It instead requires gestures. And wind turbines have become the most efficient ones to give.

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Power Doesn’t Need Fossil Fuels

Coal, one of the fossil fuels.
Image via Wikipedia

Do you use electricity? Unless you run a very old fashioned business that does everything by hand, and probably operates in a third world country, you most likely use electricity on a regular basis. Matter of fact, that was a silly question, considering the fact that you’re able to read this right now. The point is, electricity is everything, and impacts just about everything we do in the modern world. What most people don’t think about, however, is the fact that most of the electricity generated in this world comes out of some kind of fossil fuel burning plant. Either through coal, natural gas or oil, fossil fuels drive most of the world’s power production facilities.

The interesting thing is, a lot of power companies are doing much better nowadays. For one thing, there are a host of different initiatives being endlessly debated on Capitol Hill, regarding providing government funding to start-up business ventures that produce clean energy. While this is mostly just politicians talking because they love the sound of their own voices, some of it will make it past the “we should do this” phase of things, and into actual production. Sooner or later, the world is going to catch on to the fact that one need not burn a non-renewable resource, in order to extract energy from it.

There are a host of different power companies which offer services such as the Green Power Program. With this program, a household can elect to receive a portion of their electricity (denoted in preset increments, all the way up to 100%) from renewable resources such as methane out of garbage landfills and wind power out of parts of the country where it can be easily harvested and turned into power. Overall, these kinds of electricity are the salt of the Earth, because they allow you (and your business) to use the same amount of power, with an essentially zero Scope 2 carbon footprint to be concerned (and additionally taxed) over. Since the option to employ this is so readily available, it only makes sense that people should use it.

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