Alternative Energy

Description:

“Right now more energy passes through the windows of buildings in the U.S. than flows through the Alaska pipeline.” ~K. Bidwell and P. A. Quinby

Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels e.g biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power.

Conventional sources of energy are diminishing and many experts have already pointed out a time horizon for their depletion. This implies that current oil and carbon reserves that remain for future generations will not suffice for their needs. It is possible that the future generation might find better uses for these energy sources as raw materials, rather than using them as energy and pollute the environment. The technology already exists for the use of renewable and alternative energy and this will slow the rate of consumption of fossil fuels and reduce the pollution.

Since energy sources are diminishing, common sense says that humankind should contemplate two different but complementary options:

Reduce fossil fuel consumption in order to extend the life of existing reserves, not only by lessening the dependency in fossil fuels, but also by using them more efficiently.

Switch to alternative sources

The first option has been in force for decades, and now there are ‘fuel efficient’ aircrafts and car engines, power plants and manufacturing processes. Even so, it appears that these advantages are offset by population growth, with its demand on services, and the consequent creation of more consumption.

Therefore, it is reasonable to think that society’s options point to the second alternative, to alleviate the load and demand on fossil fuels.