Renewable Energy, Solar, and Sustainable Living

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy options include such resources as solar and wind power. These and the practice of energy efficiency are said to be twin pillars of sustainable living on a societal scale.

This concept was made popular through an article written by Bill Prindle and Maggie Eldridge for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Mike Eckhardt and Alyssa Frederick of the American Council for Renewable Energy also contributed to the writing. The exact title of the article in question is, "The Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Synergies between Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology and Policy."

The interest in such an exploration arose from the realization that these two matters have been pursued on completely different tracks as far as policies and programs go. This is despite the fact that development in each area is a vital focus to both the stabilization and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

An excess of carbon dioxide emissions has been determined to be a cause of global warming. This is in tandem with an excess of other greenhouse gases as well as such practices as deforestation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined that the excess of greenhouse gases causing the warming of the planet is anthropogenic, or "human-caused." It has been on an increase since the middle of the twentieth century.

By harnessing such alternative energy options as solar energy, through the use of solar panels, or wind energy, through the use of wind turbines, these emission issues are reduced. Utilizing fossil fuels, the current power preference of today, involves combustion. This releases the aforementioned harmful greenhouse gases into the air. In addition to that, these fossil fuels are a limited resource, unlike renewables.

Of course, it is important to remember that green energy isn't just about optimal resources, but also about optimal usage of those resources. That is where the energy efficient side of sustainable living comes in. Today there are many environmentally-friendly products available on the market which require lower amounts of power to accomplish the same level of performance as more traditional purchases.

Energy efficiency also applies on the level of human action. For instance, a great product optimized for minimal energy usage can have its benefit pushed even further by only having it on when it is in use.

Almost all renewable energy options have their roots in solar energy. The energy coming from solar radiation is used directly and indirectly by human technology as well as just through nature. For instance, it is absorbed by the hydrosphere and also helps out plants through photosynthesis.

Because energy flows through the earth in such a variety of ways, there are many methods for tapping into it and encouraging a level of sustainable living that works for individuals as well as communities. The problems resulting from non-sustainable energy practices have affected the planet in a myriad of ways, but there are also many steps people can take to correct it.

Please browse the rest of BurningClean.com to learn more about methods of sustainable living which can be adopted within the home. General informative articles on renewables are also included so that visitors can better acquaint themselves with the alternative resources available today, as well as those which will be available in the future.


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