Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels.
In December of 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, an international protocol was adopted by the United Nations that committed industrialized nations to begin making efforts to reduce the level of global greenhouse gas emissions. In February of 2005, the protocol was set into action, thus requiring these countries to develop and incorporate alternative energy sources.
Currently, the majority of the planet's generated power comes from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and petroleum. While experts agree that the Earth still holds trillions of barrels of oil and nearly a trillion tons of coal, the truth remains - at our current rate, we use these resources 100,000 times faster than they can form. Therefore, simple arithmetic tells us that the demand will eventually overwhelm the supply.
By making the necessary changes to implement more alternative energy sources, we can preserve these valuable resources and reduce the amount of negative ecological effects that are directly caused by them.
Wind Power - Wind power harnesses the power of the wind to produce electrical current. This form of alternative energy is produced by generators attached to the rotating blades of a wind turbine. Wind power is a renewable source of alternative energy that produces no pollution or chemical by-products.
Solar Power - Enough sunlight hits the Earth in one hour to power the entire planet for a year. As an alternative energy source, solar energy from the sun can be collected in cells where it can be converted into electricity. Solar energy can also be used to heat water and as a source of passive light and heat.
Geothermal Heat - The heat that is produced within the Earth is called geothermal heat. The steam that is naturally produced in areas of high geothermal heat can effectively be tapped to propel turbines that will generate electricity without the negative by-products and pollutants caused from fossil fuel burning.
Hydroelectric Energy - The Hoover Dam is one of the most famous hydroelectric energy generators in existence and even though it was the largest when it was built in 1935, today, it is the world's 35th largest hydroelectric power station. One of the oldest forms of alternative energy, water was used to turn water wheels which powered the equipment used at many mills in pre-electricity times.
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