Look For An Alternative to Fossil Fuels

The recent major increase in gas and oil prices has led many people to look for energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Energy alternatives can be found in the form of wind power, wave power, geothermal power, hydro power and solar power. Alternative energy is defined as energy that is renewable and is obtained from the sun, wind, waves or other naturally occurring sources, in contrast to fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas which are not renewable and will one day run out. There is an increasing concern and alarm in recent years about the supply of fossil fuels running out. Since it is not renewable it will be gone one day and therefore energy alternatives must be developed and put into place before that happens.

What is the impact of renewable energy on the current supplies of oil, natural gas and coal? This is one of the concerns that many people have. When researchers developed ways to harness renewable energy, such as solar power, wind power, waterpower and biomass, they looked for ways to offset the demand for other natural resources including fossil fuels. There is a lot of speculation about what types of fuels are available and in one number they are available. For example, is there enough oil to last hundreds of years? Understanding the impact renewable energy will have on other fossil fuels is essential.

Solar power is an excellent energy alternative to traditional electricity. The sun generates an enormous amount of power and energy that can be harnessed using photovoltaic panels. Photovoltaic panels are best installed on south facing roofs that receive plenty of sunlight. Solar panels can be installed to provide energy for an entire house, or on a smaller level they can be used for heating a swimming pool, running appliances, or charging batteries. The wind can also provide an energy alternative that is readily available. People have been harnessing the power of wind to produce electricity for centuries. The triple bladed wind mills available today have an advanced technology to make them a more efficient energy alternative. Because wind mills have few moving parts, they require very low maintenance and are easy to keep up. Geothermal power is an energy alternative that uses the heat from beneath the Earth’s surface and heat which is collected from the atmosphere and oceans to generate electricity.

Biotechnology has also provided us with an energy alternative to coal, petroleum and gas. Biomass is organic material made from plants or animal. Domestic biomass comes from agricultural and forestry residue as well as municipal and industrial wastes. The field of biomass is very exciting as biomass can be converted to energy and used as alternative to fossil fuels. Paper mills produce residue that can be turned into an energy alternative for electricity and power. Bio fuels such as ethanol, bio diesel, methanol, methane and bio crude are also produced from biomass. Bio fuels are generated by turning the raw materials of corn and soybeans starches and cellulose from plants into a useable form which is made into transportation fuels by a thermo chemical or biochemical process. Bio diesel is a clean burning energy alternative fuel that is derived from new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. Vehicles have also been designed to run on the energy alternative fuels that are produced through biomass.

However you choose to reduce your dependency on fossil fuels remember the sooner you start ,the better for our planets future.