Why is Renewable Energy Important?

Conserving energy is important to not only save homeowners money on energy expenses but also to protect the future of the environment. One way to conserve energy is to utilize renewable energy sources. This article is going to discuss the importance of renewable energy and what it means for our future.

First off, what is renewable energy? Renewable energy sources are those that are replenished constantly. Renewable energy is reliable and plentiful compared to non-renewable energy. Sources such as coal, natural gas, and oil are only obtained by costly explorations and possibly dangerous drilling. Furthermore, these sources will continue to become more expensive as supply decreases. However, renewable energy will become less expensive once the technology needed to access it improves.

Common types of renewable energy include:

• Solar
• Wind
• Hydropower
• Biofuels
• Geothermal
• Tidal

One of the biggest factors in the importance of renewable energy is that these sources produce neither greenhouse gases nor harmful emissions. Unlike non-renewable energy, renewable energy causes no harm to the planet. With this lower impact on the environment, the earth will be better off in the long run.

Because of the immense benefits renewable energy sources can offer, more and more people and agencies are investing in these sources. In fact, hydropower accounted for around 6% of total energy generation in the U.S. and 46% of electricity generation from all renewable energy in 2015. Along with it's reduced harm to the environment, renewable energy can offer other benefits as well.

Compared to non-renewable energy resources, renewable energy prices have slowly been decreasing. Because of this price reduction, the world has seen significant advances in ways to utilize renewable energy. More energy efficient equipment, better engineering designs, and technology have all been a major focus of implemented renewable energy.

Furthermore, renewable energy offers long-term certainty. Because renewable energy as a long lifespan and one solar or wind farm can last for around 30 years, this allows users to have time to further increase efficiency by the time the equipment is ready to be upgraded. Unlike non-renewable sources, renewable energy will continue to become more effective while becoming less expensive.

And lastly, renewable energy can offer security. Renewable energy can be utilized anywhere, anytime. This leaves endless possibilities for harnessing this energy. On the other hand, most gas and oil sources are found in certain regions. These areas can prove to be technically challenging and can be expensive to access.

Choosing to diversify the nation's energy supply and realizing the importance of renewable energy will allow for a secure energy future. It's important to have long-term, sustainable energy options in order to continue harvesting the amount of energy we need.

Explaining the 3 Most Common Sources of Renewable Energy

Nowadays, homeowners are looking for ways to both save on energy costs in the home while helping the environment. The best way to do so is by investing in renewable energy sources, but since there are so many available for use, it can be confusing to differentiate between all the options available to you.
So, to help prevent some of the confusion here is a short and simple guide on the different types of renewable energy that are available.

Biomass

Simply put, biomass is the breaking down of organic materials and converting them into other forms of energy. This is the most popular form of renewable energy and the focus on using biomass is to cut down on the release of carbon dioxide into the air. Across the nation, the two most common forms of biomass include:

-Biofuel: Also known as biodiesel, this oil is produced from fats and oils and is used instead of fossil fuels such as gasoline.
-Bioethanol: This fuel is created by fermenting carbohydrates found in crops such as sugarcane or corn.

Wind Power

Considered a very reliable form of renewable energy, this is the simple action of harnessing the wind to create electricity. Many utility companies prefer to use wind power as it is an incredibly consistent source of power and can be almost unlimited with the construction of wind turbines.

Solar Power

Have you ever noticed homes with large sheets of window-like panels on their roof? If so, they are utilizing solar power as an energy source. This is when you use solar cells, created by crystalline silicon that absorbs protons from the sun's heat and transfers them into electrons. Solar energy is so versatile that it can be used for anything from a small residential home to powering a massive commercial plant.

Even if you choose to utilize one of these energy sources in your home, there are still small things you can do every day that will save you money on energy costs, while helping the environment in the long run. For example, planting trees near your home! The reductions in energy use from shade trees can save up to 2.4 tons of CO2 emissions per year!

Besides planting trees and incorporating renewable energy into your home, there are plenty of ways to save energy in your home!  Some quick internet research can help you find cost effective and eco-friendly energy solutions for you and your home.

3 Major Benefits of Wind Power

In 2016, more than half of the renewable energy in the U.S. was used for producing electricity, and about 13% of electricity came from renewable energy sources. Environmentally friendly energy suppliers and American consumers agree that one of the best solutions to the energy crisis is wind power. Here’s why:

It’s renewable

Wind is a renewable energy source, meaning that it can be produced over and over again, never running out. The energy we currently get from fossil fuels, on the other hand, won’t last much longer. Wind energy will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, solving the problem of our ever-increasing demand for gas and petroleum products. Wind energy can also be produced right here in the U.S., make us less reliant on other countries for our power generation.

It’s better for the environment

Wind power produces green energy. It is the cleanest form of all renewable energy, creating absolutely no pollution. Fossil fuels emit harmful greenhouse gases, potentially causing climate change, but wind energy comes from the sun and does not release any toxic gas. Less pollution means a lower risk of disease for humans and damage to the environment.

It's cost-effective

The most substantial cost of producing wind energy comes from the installation of the turbines. However, the cost has decreased over the past few years, and when combined with solar power, wind provides cheap and reliable energy for both developed and developing countries. If you own a large plot of land, you can even earn some additional cash by installing wind turbines for agricultural purposes. State governments often provide interest-free loans or incentives on wind turbines. You can use the electricity generated for your own purposes, thus reducing your monthly utility bill. As a renewable energy supplier, your surplus energy will be sent back to the local grid.

More wind turbines are installed every year all across the globe, as energy suppliers discover the many benefits of using wind power. There’s no doubt that as the demand for electricity increases, so too will the prevalence of renewable energy.

3 Great Alternative Energy Sources for Your Home

If you haven't heard, deregulated energy markets are currently sweeping the nation, affording homeowners and businesses the option to choose how they get their power and where it comes from. The deregulation of electricity markets has eliminated the monopoly of municipal entities, giving you more freedom than ever when it comes to your power suppliers. 

The average American home currently used 903 kilowatt hours per month, which results in a bill of $107. You can drastically reduce these monthly  costs by switching to alternative energy sources that both save you money as well as reduce your environmental footprint. Here are three of the best alternative energy sources that you should be considering for your home or business: 

• Solar power. U.S. electricity use in 2013 was a whopping 13 times greater than it was in 1950, and the introduction of solar energy is one of the major reasons that statistic is falling by the year. Alternative electricity companies that offer solar power now have the means to provide affordable solar panels for both homes and businesses due to the decreased costs of the materials used to create them. Since the market was deregulated, you can now even finance or lease solar panels. There has never been a better time to invest in this revolutionary technology. 

• Wind power. One of the oldest and most trusted alternative energy sources on the planet, wind power is making a major comeback since deregulated energy markets began to surface. If you live on at least one acre of land with strong wind resources, you absolutely must consider the benefits of wind power for your home. Conservation groups across the nation continue to support initiatives that lower the cost of wind power systems, and you can save about 90% on your monthly bills once your system is correctly installed. 

• Hydropower. Many homes and businesses are already located in an area that supports hydropower, and the recent deregulation of electricity has now made it possible to utilize this natural resource. One of the largest sources of hydropower in the U.S., the Hoover Dam, is a perfect example of just how inexpensive this technology is. The electricity generated from the Hoover Dam sells as a wholesale price of just 1.6 cents per kilowatt hour, which is exponentially cheaper than most other energy sources. As an added bonus, hydropower is naturally-produced and has almost zero effect on the environment.

Get in touch with alternative electricity suppliers in your area to see what types of alternative energy sources are available for your home or business. The way electricity is used in the U.S. will continue to evolve with each passing year, and you can be one of the first to take advantage of these breakthrough technologies.

What Are Some Alternative Electricity Sources?

Electricity is a great expense when it comes to a household, with the average american living in an average home using 903 kilowatt hours per month costing $107. Air conditioning alone uses 19% of that money, which is the largest use of electricity in a U.S. household. There are, however, many alternative electricity companies that can help you find alternative energy sources for your home that are less costly. 

A few energy suppliers are:
Wind
Wind mills or turbines use wind and convert its energy to electricity. Most homes use this electricity to charge batteries that energize the home, this compensates for times when there a minimal winds. Wind is best used for electricity in are where there is naturally a great amount of wind.

Solar
Solar power gives energy during sunny days, and at night or cloudy days a grid is accessed that has stored power for those times. Solar power systems are available for both large and small homes. The grid is normally placed on the roof to receive optimal sunlight.

MicroCHP
Heavy industries often use combined heat and power (CHP) as a source of alternative electricity. The heat from fuels produced by the industry, which is normally vented, is captured by a MicroCHP unit and produces electricity. These units are advancing to combine home electrical generation, home heating, and water heating.

Combustion Engine
Combustion engines fueled by gas, natural gas, propane, or diesel are the least costly to purchase and install. However, to operate them is the most costly source of alternative electric power, which is why they are mainly used for emergency back-up where they may be frequent outages of power.The above stated power suppliers can be provided to you from alternative electricity companies. It is becoming increasingly important to find power companies that will help because electricity use keeps increasing. In fact, in 2013 U.S. electricity use was over 13 times more than 1950 electricity use.

3 Claims About Renewable Energy That Don't Hold Water

Green energy solutions take criticisms on both practical and ideological fronts, and it’s important that environmental advocates be able to engage critics in discussion so that the country as a whole can hasten its development of sustainable energy practices. Here are three myths about renewable energy:

1.     Renewable Energy Is Too Expensive to Be Realistic

The prices of renewable energy production methods are falling and will soon be competitive -- some people also forget to take into account the hidden price tag of non-renewable sources. Air and water pollution, along with their environmental effects can have a cost, even if that cost isn't easily tallied.

2.    Renewable Power Sources Aren’t Reliable

The problem with green energy companies, some doubters say, is that they’ll never be able to consistently meet demand; wind doesn’t always blow, and the sun doesn’t always shine. It’s true that consistency has long been a concern for renewables. But engineers  are tackling  these problems and coming up with better ways to either transmit power across distances in cost-effective ways (to account for regional discrepancies in renewable resources) or store unused power more efficiently for later use.

3.    We Have No Choice Except to Generate More Power

Some people think that our increased use of devices that require power will lead, inevitably, to a model in which we’re constantly consuming more energy and thus needing to generate more power. But this is a model that negates the power of energy efficiency, or using less energy to accomplish the same purpose. The average refrigerator, for example, now uses 75% less energy than the average fridge sold in 1975, despite being 20% larger and costing 60% less.

Good engineering can do more than give us cleaner, green ways of generating our power; it can also help to increase our quality of life while decreasing the amount of energy we consume. You can do your part by figuring out how you use the most energy and then trying to find a more efficient option. Water heating is typically one of the largest energy users in a home, accounting for 14% to 18% of utility bills. So installing tankless water heaters or other efficient appliances could help the planet and your pocketbook simultaneously.

Do you have any thoughts regarding power generation and the future of energy in America? Join the discussion in the comments.