We’ve heard it over and over. Oil is going to run out some day, and the government isn’t doing much about it! An article over at the Environmental News Network says that a poll with over 15,000 respondents said that majority believed that oil is running out. I agree! Especially with the oil prices rising! Even if some people claim that we won’t run out for a while, power plants running on coal and oil still pollute the environment! Luckily, we still make more power, through cleaner means.
1. Solar Energy. The sun is above our heads, shining until the world ends. Why not use it? One problem: solar energy is expensive! Science is finding a way to make it cheaper than oil or coal, but it will probably take another decade or so. Still, more and more people are investing in solar power, even solar power conferences like this one in 2008, and who knows? It may just become our largest source of energy! You can even make a solar generator at home for only around $300 for those sudden blackouts.
2. Wind Energy. Ah, the fresh morning breeze. Windmills have been around for a long time, and now we have turbines using the wind’s power for electricity! Prime places for wind, however, sometimes run into other interests like farms, cities or resorts. I can sort of understand that. I don’t want places like that resort in Bora Bora to disappear! Hopefully science can find a way to solve this.
3. Hydroelectric Power. Ever been on a powerful river? That current is strong! The river powers turbines that provide electricity. Water will keep flowing as long as the world is alive! We’re already aware of the effects of damming up a river, sometimes causing loss of homes, but it’s still a good source of energy.
4. Geothermal Power. Hot springs are a natural relaxation spot for many people. They can also be used for power! The steam and hot water can be used to turn turbines, and can also heat houses and buildings. Not only do you have a way to soak and relax, you have a power source, too! Sadly, not too many places in the world are prime spots for this type of power.
5. Ocean Power. Any surfer will tell you that those waves pack a wallop! So it’s only natural that they can be used for energy. Tides make water rise and fall, and wind along the ocean surface can make waves. Wave power is already used by some lighthouses and buoys, even! Canada and France already have power plants that use the power of the tides to make electricity. A third, experimental system uses heat flow in oceans, but it’s still being researched. All methods are expensive, though. But we have science for that!
There you have it! In case one day we run out of oil and coal, by then, we will have enough knowledge to let these energies power our world. What method do you prefer?
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Another headline about the Starbucks reorganization is out; the world’s number one coffee shop is switching back to ceramic cups for its drinks, using the paper ones only upon take-out. With the amount of paper cups the company uses per day, changing it to reusable cups is a big step for our environment. It also saves them money since mugs last for quite a while.
