We are witnessing major climate change all around the world due in part to our burning fossil fuels (and to our destruction of forests), which resulted in our planet heating up. This change should be taken seriously as it is posing a great danger to our survival. Many people and industries are taking great interest in switching to renewable energy, for example, to try and reverse the effects of climate change on the environment.
Switching to a more renewable energy source has many benefits that include having a cheaper and cleaner energy supply and reducing the dependence of some countries on foreign power supplies. Renewable, or clean, energy is produced from natural resources like hydroelectric power, wind, biomass and sunlight. It is less expensive and promises a better future for humanity and all living creatures. Read on to learn four things you should know about renewable energy.
1. Solar Energy Can Be a Global Solution
The sun is the best source of energy we have. It is all that our planet needs to meet our energy demands. The whole world, and each and every country in it, could get power exclusively from the sun.
This can be done by maximizing its use and investing in switching to solar energy. Solar technology is developing in efficiency such that even regions that see comparatively little sunlight at times can expect a useful yield from their investment.
Moreover, thanks to technology, we can use robots to help us place solar panels in different locations around the world to power up the whole planet.
2. Decentralized Green Energy Beats Power Grids
In case of storms or any other reason that can cause power outages, power grids become inefficient, as a power outage can last for several days. Green energy can be tied to a grid, but can also produce power from more than one source and provide energy to homes and businesses in a more decentralized way.
Power grids are built to produce enough power to meet peak energy demands, which aren’t the norm, and which therefore means there’s lots of infrastructure sitting idly when energy demands are not at their peak. Therefore, investing in green energy that takes us off the grid could be more efficient than power grids. As usual, mother nature has provided us with all that is needed to generate clean energy. By going off-grid, we can have energy without having to depend on imperfect systems and destroy our planet.
3. One Wind Source is Extremely Powerful
The popularity of wind farms has increased over the past few decades. Wind farms located in the ocean produce energy almost continuously because of the constant breeze of air on the water’s surface. Wind turbines should be placed away from areas that are susceptible to violent storms, however.
Although they create an endless supply of energy, if you check any website that talks about wind farms, you will be surprised to see the number of homes that can be powered from only a single wind turbine! It has to be placed and made use of properly, but this is a highly efficient energy source.
4. Creates More Jobs
Renewable energy is not just beneficial to the environment—the world economy can benefit from it, too. Since green energy is a new type of industry, more jobs are and will continue to be created from it as the demand for it grows over time. These new job opportunities are created mainly by the solar and wind industries. Employment that has a positive impact on the economy has decreased due to the breakout of Covid-19, but as more vaccines reach more people and the world opens up again, this industry is expected to grow once more.
We have damaged the planet in so many ways that we have reached a critical state. Climate change is the greatest indicator that this planet, and life, as we know it, is in danger, so we need to wake up and smell the coffee. Now more than ever, we need to switch to renewable energy for the sake of our present and the future of our children.
Conclusion
Burning fossil fuels has wreaked havoc our environment. On the other hand, renewable energy can be less expensive, more reliable, and can save our planet from a dark future. The sun, our only natural light source, can provide us with all the energy that is needed to supply the whole planet. Moreover, wind energy is very powerful and its popularity is increasing.
The benefits of renewable energy aren’t just limited to the environment, as it can greatly improve the world’s economy by creating more job opportunities. We are on the right track of eliminating the use of dirty energy, but we need to do more to power up factories, homes, and means of transportation with renewable energy.
Feature image: Pixabay; Image 1: sterlinglanier Lanier
