subject: Re-live With Renewable Energy [print this page] Eco living refers to living with minimal emission of carbon content in the environment. And this can be achieved with the use of renewable energy. This clearly means use only those forms of energy which can be renewed or recycled without leaving any hazardous affect in the atmosphere. It is the energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewable, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from hydroelectricity. New renewable (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and bio-fuels) accounted for another 3% and are growing very rapidly. The share of renewable in electricity generation is around 19%, with 16% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3% from new renewable.
Renewable energy substitutes conventional fuels in electricity generation, hot water/space heating, motor fuels and rural off-grid energy services. Climate change concern, in addition with high oil prices, peak oil and greater government support, has given rise to renewable power incentive and commercialization. According to a 2011 projection by the International Energy Agency, solar power generators may produce most of the worlds electricity within 50 years, which would dramatically reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases that harm the environment. The mainstream forms of renewable energy are wind power, hydro power, solar energy, geothermal energy, bio fuels and bio mass.
When airflows are used to run wind turbines, the kinetic energy in the wind is converted to mechanical energy. This mechanical energy can then be used to produce electricity or drive machinery.
Hydro power is form of renewable energy where the power in water is harnessed and used to generate electricity. The cost of hydroelectricity is relatively low, making it a competitive source of renewable electricity.
Solar energy can be defined as the conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done directly with the use of photovoltaic or indirectly by concentrated solar power. Commercial concentrated solar power plants were first developed in the 1980s.
Geothermal energy, thermal energy generated and stored in the earth. Thermal energy is the energy that determines the temperature of matter. Geothermal power is cost effective, reliable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly, but has historically been limited to areas near tectonic plate boundaries.
Bio mass, another source of renewable energy as the energy it contains comes from the sun. It is a biological material from living organisms. This is then converted to bio fuel, through biological carbon fixation.
New and emerging technologies are still under development and include cellulosic ethanol, hot-dry-rock geothermal power, and ocean energy. With the use of these forms of energies, let your pockets relax and earth be a greener place to live in. Use renewable energy, and let the environment rejuvenate!!
