With all the talk about global warming and this summer’s record temperature, we all want to do our part to reduce greenhouse gases and help the earth. “Going green” refers to a whole range of actions. These can be as simple as replacing old light bulbs with new, efficient ones. Or it can be the expensive installation of a whole house energy system using solar or other renewable resources. There are also a lot of actions in between these two extremes. This article will introduce you to some of the options that can pay off for you and the environment.
Why does green energy matter? Scientists warn that our use of oil, gas and coal to provide energy is altering the atmosphere of earth. The combustion of these fuels produces carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions. The delicate balance between forests’ absorption of carbon dioxide and production of oxygen for us to breathe is being altered. De-forestation in many areas also tilts the balance. We are heading toward too much carbon dioxide and less oxygen, which will affect all life on earth. The excess carbon dioxide traps solar heat and increases the overall temperature of the planet. Green energy comes from sources that do not produce carbon dioxide.
Solar is the ideal source of green energy. Sunlight falls everywhere and is free. It is reliable and sustainable. The down side is that at night the solar panels cannot produce. And on cloudy days or in winter they produce less. Thus the issue is battery storage of the energy produced in the daytime. Efficient storage so that it can be used during non-productive times is the goal. Technology has made progress in this but still has a ways to go before solar is the fully practical energy source we hope for. Solar panels are highly productive in areas such as the Arizona desert, but not so practical in Maine.
Wind energy is another green energy that is becoming popular because of advances in windmill technology. But it is less reliably available than solar energy. If testing shows that your location provides enough wind energy, wind power may be the option for you. Individual windmills that can generate enough power for your home, or for most of your power needs, are available. Like solar panels, they are cost efficient over a period of years. And also like solar, they depend on batteries to store the energy produced at maximum times in order to use it when the wind is not blowing.
Large power companies are building wind farms to provide energy for the power grid. But the advantage of a small home windmill is that it does not lose power because of sending it through long transmission lines, as the large power companies do. Many people are looking to small individual units of power generation, through solar, wind or water, or even geothermal, as the truly efficient and sustainable power source for the future.
This article can get you thinking about converting to green energy. Follow up on this beginning and check out the sources that can work for you. It may lead you to a new source of energy for your home that can benefit both you and the planet.
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