All About Alternative Energy

By: Nicholas Portugal Intro Engineering P2 Thursday, May 31st, 2012

About Energy Basics

Energy, in general, is the amount of work that a physical system is capable of performing, as that which changes the position, physical composition, or simply the temperature of a particular object.

There are several types of energy such as: kinetic (working), potential (stored), thermal, electrical, chemical, electrochemical, electromagnetic, sound, nuclear, mechanical, gravitational, etc.

Energy Facts

Energy cannot be created, nor destroyed. It must be transmitted or absorbed from a substance / energy-transmittable object. Energy is split into two main categories: renewable and non-renewable. Renewable means energy can be easily replaced if depleted. Non-renewable means energy cannot be replaced easily. For instance, fossil fuels cannot be easily replaced since they take millions of years to replenish because they are formed primarily from anaerobic decomposition of dead organisms. Examples include coal, petroleum, and natural gases.
Renewable Energy

Non-Renewable Energy

Energy Facts

Energy cannot be held. An object or living being may have energy, but it cannot physically see energy or notice it in their possession. For humans, energy may be boosted with basic carbohydrates, proteins, and various fats. For objects, energy is mainly potential, either when it is charged, ready to be activated. When an object moves by a reacting force, it has kinetic, or active energy, because it is moving. Much like the Trebuchet project we did earlier this school year; when we were ready to launch the rock in the sling, as the trigger pulls back and positions to launch, that energy is potential. When released, it converted to become kinetic energy.

Energy Depletion Over The Years

We use energy to power absolutely everything we use, whether the energy we use is renewable or non-renewable. The sources that have primarily powered our world include oil, natural gas, and coal. Because these natural resources are quickly depleting, we must utilize alternative energy to power our future. Even though there are some technologies that can longer sustain the old energy sources we have always relied upon, we must realize these will be gone someday if we dont conserve and switch to using completely renewable alternative energies.

What Is Alternative Energy?

Alternative energy, to put it plainly, can be any source of usable energy that replaces a more common, or presupposed source of energy that may be harder to retrieve or simply depleting quite significantly.

It may be used often when designing models or structures in engineering and architecture, such as our solar car we recently built; it runs on solar power, a modern example of alternative energy.

Benefits of Alternative Energy

There are several benefits using alternative energy, since it is produced without burning fossil fuels. High carbon dioxide emissions is one of the major contributing factors of global warming, which can be stopped with the use of alternative energies. Another great advantage with using alternative energies is they can be very eco-friendly. For example, floating wind farms are positioned in the middle of the ocean, as they generate twice as much wind energy as wind farms on land, since in the middle of the ocean, winds may reach up to speeds twice as fast. This is a great reliable way to retrieve wind energy without on land obstructions.

Benefits of Alternative Energy

Alternative energies can be most beneficial to society since they are much less expensive to retrieve than traditional energy resources.

The energy resources we used to use to power our appliances and machinery were mostly non-renewable resources. Prices to get non-renewable resources continue to soar, as they take millions of years to replenish.
For instance, solar and wind technologies are purely emissions-free and renewable.

Benefits of Alternative Energy

Alternative energies are very ecologically friendly to the environment. They dont use as many harmful substances as old sources do. In addition, emissions from biomass are significantly lower than comparable conventional fuels. Energy efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and results in fewer emissions. Economically, alternative energies are much cheaper and easier to get than regular energy sources. The money saved by this energy efficiency can be used to provide energy, as well as even create new cash crops for farmers, and provide rural communities with new tax revenue.

Kilowatt Hour Costs Table

Type of Energy Source Coal Wind Power Geothermal Power Hydro Power Cost of 1 Kilowatt Hour 4.8 5.5 Cents Per KWH 4.0 6.0 Cents Per KWH 4.5 30 Cents Per KWH 5.1 11.3 Cents Per KWH

Solar Power
Gas Power Nuclear Power

15 30 Cents Per KWH

3.9 4.4 Cents Per KWH 11.1 14.5 Cents Per KWH

Alternative Electricity Sources

The recommended alternative electricity sources we should utilize to conserve our non-renewable resources are wind power and solar power preferably. These are great alternative electricity sources to use as opposed to burning fossil fuels and consuming precious nonrenewable resources. Wind power never runs out since its always there in our atmosphere, and produces no pollution to contaminate our environment. Solar power is a completely renewable resource that will never run out as long as the sun exists. It is perfect for lighting and heating sources.

Alternative Heating Sources

Two vitally essential alternative heating sources we can use are geothermal energy and solar heating systems. These two are most recommended when heating your home, as they are the newest heating alternatives for the 21st century. First, geothermal energy, literally means earth heat. It is very reliable as a source of warmth for homes, as the earths heat is right underground, so underground piping may be installed with a fluid to absorb this heat. Solar heating systems are also incredibly reliable when building design to collect sunlight and generate heat. It helps to provide warm air and water to homes.

Alternative Transportation Sources

With todays modern transportations and technologies associated with transportation, one incredibly important resource we use today as an alternative is petroleum. Currently, transportation is approximately 95% reliant on petroleum, with exceptions to railways which run on electric power instead. Regarding aircraft, there now exists solar planes. Solar power is collected by rays of the sun, and using this type of power, is relatively less expensive to purchase, and ecologically friendly; this alternative source emits much less CO2 in the atmosphere, and functions most efficiently without burning fossil fuels, or taking the highly dangerous risks of using hydrogen fuel in aircraft, since these have a high unpredictability of reliability and safety.

APA References
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Fossil fuel. Retrieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel Work, energy, & power. (n.d.). Retrieved http://www.wou.edu/las/physci/GS361/E nergyBasics/EnergyBasics.htm Zelman, K. (2004). Eat to boost your energy. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/ art.asp?articlekey=56767 AllEnergySolutions. (2009). Benefits of alternative energy. Retrieved from http://www.all-energysolutions.com/benefits-of-alternativeenergy.html Wikipedia. (n.d.). Alternative energy. Retrieved http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_ene US rgy Energy Information Administration. (n.d.). Eia energy kids - energy basics. Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page= about_home-basics Energy-Facts.com. (2008 - 2009). Energy facts. Retrieved from http://www.energyfacts.com/ PureEnergySystems: PESWiki. (2011,

December 19). Directory:cents per kilowatt-hour. Retrieved from http://peswiki.com/energy/Directory:Cents_ Per_Kilowatt-Hour

APA References
Rodrigue, J., & Comtois, C. (1998-2012). Transportation and energy. Retrieved from http://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch8 en/conc8en/ch8c2en.html

Orloff, J. (2012). Alternative energy sources . Retrieved from http://saveenergy.about.com/od/alternative energysources/a/altenergysource.htm

Renewable Energy World Editors. (2011, June 14). Solar plane takes flight with first international trip. Retrieved from http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/ news/article/2011/06/solar-plane-takesflight-with-first-international-trip

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