Renewable energy is any natural or sustainable resource that can be replenished so that it will still exist in the future. Renewable resources are created naturally through solar power and wind power while other sources include fish, water and rainforests. The United Nations promotes renewable sources because they reduce reliance on fossil fuels which contributes to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Today renewable resources are considered a modern solution to the depletion of fossil fuels because they cause less pollution to humans and animals than fossil fuels do.
Nowadays alternative energy like solar panels have become very popular due to their environmental friendliness. The most common definition of nonrenewable energy is any fuel that, when burned, emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What are the benefits to using renewable energy?
There are many environmental benefits to using renewable energies. They provide clean air, less risk of polluting water and saves land for development. They also produce less greenhouse gas emissions and less pollution. Also, they are more efficient in producing energy than non-renewable sources [example: cleantech industry]. Therefore, it is possible to create an economy that depends on renewable sources of energy against the current unsustainable one [example: oil dependence].
What is the goal for renewable energy?
the goal for using renewable energies is to have a sustainable global economy that can be run without fossil fuels from old dead plants. they do not replace fossil fuels but they can replace the part of their production that fossil fuels currently provide. sustainable energy can be used in a less polluting way [example: solar panels].
How does renewable energy benefit the economy?
The cleantech industry is a rapidly growing industry in the U.S. the average growth rate of this industry was 32% from 2003 to 2007 and it is expected to reach $24 billion by 2012. This sector can create jobs, boost local economies and reduce pollution, which all helps bolster a sustainable economy [example: cleantech industry].
How does renewable energy help a country?
Renewable energy helps a country by allowing it to be independent of other countries for making electricity. Renewable energy can still be used if renewable sources of energy are not available and fossil fuels need to be used again. It also can help the economy by supporting industries that make use of renewable resources, such as wind turbines, solar panels and geothermal systems. Using renewable resources in this way is one way that many countries have made progress on creating a low-carbon society.
The goal is to create a low-carbon society where greenhouse gas emissions are decreased and greenhouse gas levels are less than they were at the beginning of 2016. This includes lowering emissions from industry, transport and buildings by 75% by 2050 compared with 1990 levels.
All countries around the world have committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This is part of an agreement from the United Nations’ climate convention. Each country sets its own goals for lowering emissions, so some aim to lower them more than others.
Some European countries have already pledged to go carbon neutral – that is, start reducing emissions as much as they can until they stop increasing altogether – by 2050. These include Sweden, Germany and Italy. Several other countries, including the UK and France, have pledged to make sure that they are carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest. Others plan to work towards these goals but have not committed to anything yet.
Who uses renewable energy?
These resources are available for all of us who need them [example: solar panels, windmills and biomass]. There are many who have benefited from the many health benefits of renewable energies such as those in developing nations [example: people in Africa] and high-income countries. Developing nations in Africa and Asia are gaining more access to renewable energies such as solar power and wind-power. This is helping reduce poverty, pollution, energy dependency and greenhouse gases.
Sources of renewable energy
Renewable energy is an important step towards stemming the effects of climate change. Despite that, it has not been a popular subject in the USA over the last few years. However, things are changing, and there are now many ways you can go green while saving money on your utility bill. Here’s a look at some of them:
Solar panels: Solar panels are great because they produce clean energy and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels like coal and oil; also, they give off no heat or pollution so they’re easy to install anywhere.
Wind turbines: These options are very popular in Europe. Wind turbines are also good because they don’t take much space as some other options.
Biodiesel: A form of renewable energy that is produced from vegetable oils like soybean oil and canola oil, Biodiesel is a really good alternative to fuel like gas since it doesn’t pollute air, burns cleaner and its production process doesn’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Hydroelectric power: This is among the oldest options for clean renewable energy. It is produced by electricity generators which convert the kinetic energy of running water into electricity at hydroelectric power plants.
Geothermal power: Produced from the heat contained deep within the Earth’s crust, geothermal energy is a great option for heating and cooling. The best thing about it is that it’s not dependent on weather conditions; we can use it all year round.
Renewable Energy in the United States
In the U.S., they are transitioning from oil and coal to renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydro-power. Unlike what other countries are doing with their natural resources, America is investing in renewable ideas for the future.
Investing in these resources does not cost as much because they do not release harmful emissions into the atmosphere like fossil fuels. It also makes the country more sustainable and environmentally-friendly over time. Only emitting 20% of the CO2 that China is, but U.S is a world leader in Renewable Energy. The United States currently has 1016 GW of renewable energy capacity and generated 792TWh in 2015 alone, which was enough to supply power to six states.
Though this puts the country ahead of the global counterparts, there is still a long way to go before renewable energy takes over fossil fuels and makes “renewables” synonymous with “dirt-cheap.