A Closer Look At The Alternative Energy Sources Of Solar And Wind Power
Keywords: alternative energy sources, solar power, wind power
More and more scientists today agree that global warming is a serious issue and that the cause of global warming is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Politicians, too, are being swayed as they see increases in property damaged, injuries, and even deaths due to natural catastrophes which appear to have gotten worse in recent decades.
Because fossil fuels appear to be the source of worldwide atmospheric change, people have began to look to other methods of producing energy. In addition to causing atmospheric change, there’s the reality that we will run out of fossil fuels. The world’s economy is based on fossil fuels but they are a finite resource. Eventually we will run out of them. Fossil fuels are not a sustainable resource. Two methods of producing energy which have little impact on the environment and are sustainable are solar and wind power.
First, we’ll take a look at solar power. Solar power is, of course, power derived from the energy of the sun’s rays. The limitation with this energy source is the sun itself. The sun will never run out, except at night. Solar power sources have been designed to compensate for the downtime of night or cloudy days, but solar power works best in sunny climates.
Solar power is generally used in one of three ways: to generate heat, to generate electricity, and to desalinate salt water. Solar powered heating systems are usually either active or passive in design. An active solar heating system uses pumps to circulate water which has been heated by the sun. Passive solar heating systems use the nature of water to create circulation. This method relies on the fact that heat energy wants to move into areas of lesser heat.
In generating electricity, solar power is harnessed by photovoltaic cells which convert the suns energy into electricity. These cells have been widely used to power calculators for decades. In solar desalination, the power of the sun is used to evaporate water to separate it from the salt and other undesirable minerals.
Another type of clean, renewable power comes from the wind. Wind power, while growing in popularity, still accounts for barely 1% of the world’s power supply. This is hard to believe considering how much the wind blows! Wind power is usually harnessed using wind turbines.
A centuries old version of harnessing wind power is the windmill. These lovely structures used the wind to grind grains and pump water. Today’s wind turbines are advanced machinery employing the latest technologies.
More and more “wind farms” are sprouting up around the world. These huge arrays of wind turbines can be found on land and offshore. The biggest ones in the US are land-based farms in California, Oregon, and Washington. There are also more and more popping up the Midwest. Because of energy costs and damage done to the environment, alternative energy sources are receiving a great deal of interest. Two of the most promising are solar and wind power.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as science books at www.sciencekitsandbooks.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
Graduating From A Golf Academy Insures Loving Your Work (1)
Students can work at the course where professional golfers play or can also help coordinate tournaments. The possibilities are nearly endless with a golf degree. So whether you aspire to work on the Pro Golf Tour or simply would like to manage a golf course, obtaining an associates degree from a Golf Academy can set you on the right road.
Using Axes And Crampons On Your Ice Hiking Adventure (2)
A crampon should be rugged, and the ski mountaineer should beware of rejected army crampons that may be on the market for some time, and that have received the well-deserved nickname of "folding crampons" for their utter lack of necessary sturdiness.
Tips For Making A Perfect Arrangement For Thanksgiving Party (3)
Then the Indians take their turn at selling vegetables. This game entertains for some time. A nice quiet game to follow can be "Questions and Answers," either oral or written.
The Thrill Of Wine Tasting In Paris (4)
This inaugural event kicked off the popularity of wine tasting in Paris that we see today. Now you will find the events included in almost every tour that you may take it the city.
Why The Genre Of Mystery Books Continues To Grow Stronger In Popularity (5)
Thanks to those lovely school book drives, Mom started me on a habit that I still engage in today. That series haunted me, calling me, asking me to find more to give me that mystery fix.
Shift Your Back Yard To The Play Ground (6)
Its size was regulated to our needs. It was high enough to admit without stooping our six-foot Daddy. We covered the frame, which was made of crating lumber, with fine wire screen and purchased a ready-made screen door.
Hunting Equipment For The Novice & Experienced Hunter (7)
Keywords: hunting equipment, hunting gear, hunting dogs When embarking on the sport of hunting it doesn't take long for one to become very familiar with the necessary and required hunting equipment.
The Watch Is A Lot Older Than You May Think (8)
From that day on, the watches people wear are commonly powered by a tiny shard of quartz crystal. The crystal will continue working as long as the shard is not allowed to come into contact with dirt or body oils.
How To Make Your Home Stand Out From Your Neighbors With Curb Appeal (9)
It doesn't matter how nice the inside of the house is if the outside is unattractive it may never be seen. By putting in a little work you can change the look of your home from drab to stunning and increase the chances of selling it quickly for a higher price.
The Use Of Morse Code In Camping (10)
When the background is light, use a dark semaphore signaling over Great Distances When the weather is clear and the countryside is open you can send signals over great distances if your semaphores are large.
Tips On To Be The Best Tracker (11)
Keywords: camping, picnic, tracking Seeing tracks is one thing; being able to read them is something else again. Understanding the story told by tracks is primarily a matter of drawing conclusions.
Great Traveling Tips For That First Time Travel (12)
What now? When you cancel, would you be allowed to re-book your ticket or get a refund? It all depends, of course, on the kind of ticket you have, your reasons for canceling and each airline's policy.
Here Is How To Find A Cheap Cruise (13)
There are cruises that will take you along the chilly Alaskan coastline or cruises that are designed for people who love the charm of the Caribbean. If you have never been on a cruise deciding where to go can be the most difficult part.
Can Chocolate Make You More Healthy? (14)
In "How good is chocolate?" nutrition expert Paul Nestel questioned the importance of chocolate's modest effects on LDL oxidation. He further asked, "Given that there are thousands of flavonoids in the foods that we eat ...
If You Are Getting Into Boating Here Are Some Crucial Accessories You Need (15)
Radios can be life savers as they can call ports, other boats, or even the coast guard in case of an emergency. Being able to communicate in any way with others is needed on a boat as many times the boat is far from any help.
Consider Taking Up Recreational Sports To Relieve Stress (16)
Golf requires a lot of walking and swinging of the club. Most golf courses are designed to look like parks so playing a game of golf can take you out of your stressful atmosphere at work and place you in a peaceful setting where you can get some exercise and relax at the same time.
Why You Should Plan Trip To The Emerald Isle Of Ireland (17)
All of the nicer ones are in the Southwest of the country. If you like beaches, try Barleycove in West Cork, it's a big beach with dunes and pretty water.
How To Find The Best Deals On Discount Cruises (18)
Another membership that you might already have that offers travel arrangements is AARP. They have many discount plans that they offer to seniors. These include not just cruises but airline discounts as well.
Why Drinking Water Helps Maintain Your Energy Levels (19)
The body needs four quarts of water to produce a healthy two quart flow of urine. This maintains good kidney function and health. If urine is colorless, you are properly hydrated.
A Sweet History Of Chocolate (20)
The cheapest chocolate candy commonly sold in the United States bears about as much resemblance to cacao-based chocolate as it does to car wax, being mostly sugar and fat. Milk chocolate usually contains up to 50% cacao.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Fun In Family Thanksgiving Party (1)
Family Ties, Family Secrets and gobble gobble are top of all family games. Your guest would definitely enjoy it. Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.celebrex-n-vioxx-alternatives.com. His articles have also appeared on www.hubforcostumes.info and www.interactivecostumes.info
Entertaining Friends In Basement (2)
Boys always like to wrestle and tumble and practice rolls and falls. These lads will have endless fun if you put an old mattress on the basement floor. The boys will need no rules or encouragement to start their fun.
Some Tips To Help You Buy An Inexpensive Engagement Ring That Won't Break You (3)
Most rings bought in these places don't come with a box. There are discount stores that have jewelry counters. You might get lucky here and find something suitable.
The Basement Can Take It (4)
The first player to get one hundred points is declared winner. The basement floor makes an ideal roller skating rink. While the younger ones are perfectly happy skating the older ones crave a little more excitement and the smooth basement floor becomes a rink for "Roller-skate Polo." This game is a product of our boys' imagination, is fast and furious and is a vent for excess steam.
Shopping For Skater Clothes (5)
Super cool stuff at super low prices, what more can you ask for? Gregg Hall is a consultant to online businesses. See the site he recommends go to www.specialtyclothingdirect.com
Tennis Appreciation For Children (6)
It's still too early to have him playing all day and perfecting his swings, don't you think so? If you're playing tennis with your kid, you can keep his interest alive by getting excited about the game, as well.
How Rare Varietal Wines Are Changing The Australian Wine Industry (7)
Another thirty varieties consisting of thirteen whites and seventeen reds also contribute and are considered second tier varietals according to the leading wine journalist-author James Halliday. The other seventy or so varieties are only used by about ten wine producers, but these are also the producers who are pushing the Australian Wine Industry into a new era.
The Reed Huts And The Trappers Roof (8)
You can build a large, roomy trapper's roof in an afternoon, and then gradually improve it until you have built a regular hut. You can move the trapper's roof around and place it where it will best protect you from the rain.
How To Use EBay To Find The Books You Are Searching For At The Lowest Prices (9)
The first and most important thing to realize is that you can get a summary of all the hottest areas where things are selling the most. This may seem really easy and it is.
How To Use A GPS Watch To Help You With Distance Training And More (10)
With more navigational uses Garmin GPS watches have joined the ranks of technology and advancement .In the United States alone, interest for navigational systems has exploded making the average person ready to experience Garmin GPS watches.
How To Learn Russian And Not Quit After Day One (11)
For example, the letter "M" from the Russian alphabet is pronounced "ehm", just like in English. On the other hand the letter "X" in Russian is a hard "H" and not the "ecs" sound from English.
Some Basic Tips On How To Match Up A Good Cigar With A Quality Alcoholic Beverage (12)
If you have a lot of experience in experimenting with various flavors or beers and cigars then you will no doubt have no problem making the appropriate choices. One of the great difficulties with matching up these two products is that most cigars tend to have such powerful flavors and therefore make it tough to find a beer that will be able to equal the taste of the stogie.
Ugg Boots, They May Sound Funny But They Feel Great (13)
And it was the community of surfies at the great surfing beaches at Margaret River near Perth who first adopted Ug Boots as their footwear of choice and made them a symbol of the Aussie surfing lifestyle.
Some Of The Accessories You Should Consider For Your Binoculars (14)
Accessory items introduced when the purchase is made are to be considered, but these items will be purchased only if they are really needed. There is a limit to the extra needs for newly purchased equipment and additional purchases are not made without a thorough needs investigation.
Take The Youngsters With You (15)
The child loved the color. We placed it in the seat between Daddy and Mother. This enabled our young lad to see out the front or side windows with the greatest of ease.
Dallas Cowboys Merchandise (16)
Hats, sweatshirts, jerseys and t shirts are some of the most common items of merchandise bought and worn today. With hats alone the number of different styles is so vast some fans have been known to own twenty different hats, even more!
Is Travel Insurance A Necessity Or Not? (17)
You have heard the warnings and you know that many travel agents suggest travel insurance as a necessity for any vacation. Since you are planning on spending a lot of money between air fares, hotel reservations, and other arrangements, you feel like it might be a good idea to insure your trip - but is it really necessary?
Did You Know That Dark Chocolate May Help Prevent Heart Disease? (18)
A group of Swiss researchers implied that eating this type of chocolate on an everyday basis is most beneficial. Conclusions were made regarding the health benefits of chocolate after conducting a series of tests on a group of about 30 volunteers.
Which Barbeque Is Right For You? (19)
You may not be able to cook everything on it at once though if you decide to have more people over for get-togethers and other family gatherings or parties. Now there is a gallery of barbecue information yours for the taking.
Some Of The Key Points To Consider When Buying Cleats (20)
You'll notice that football cleats always have a center toe cleat. They are designed that way to ensure players get good traction and are able to take off more easily.
Permalink to A Closer Look At The Alternative Energy Sources Of Solar And Wind Power