While fossil fuels helped spur much of the technological and industrial advancement of the last two centuries, the rate at which we are using up these resources is rapidly becoming unsustainable. More and more, we look toward alternate sources of energy, ones that are either inexhaustible or easily replaced. These are what we call renewable resources, and they will likely be the key to our energy needs for the future.
Renewable Resources
The definition of a renewable resource is one that replenishes itself faster than its consumption. Technically speaking, fossil fuels do replenish themselves, but the amount of time it takes decaying organic matter to be transformed into petroleum or natural gas is far outstripped by the speed at which those fuels are consumed. Renewable is also often used to describe resources which are not consumed when used, and are therefore impossible to exhaust.
Biofuels
One common form of renewable resource is biofuel. If you've ever seen the word "ethanol" while pumping your gas, you've used a renewable resource. Derived from corn, ethanol can be burned as a fuel, and can be added to regular gasoline for use in standard internal combustion vehicles. Biodiesel is another form of renewable fuel, made from agricultural products and used to replace standard diesel fuel in cars. The crops used to create these and other forms of biofuel can be replanted, providing a replenished source of energy.
Wind Power
Wind is another type of renewable resource. In areas of the country that experience constant winds, turbines can be used to generate electricity. While wind is an inexhaustible source of energy, generating electricity from wind turbines requires a constant movement of air, and any doldrums will result in a loss of power. The lack of reliability of wind power often makes it a supplemental energy source but not a primary one.
Solar Energy
Another common renewable power source is solar energy. Especially in hot, dry areas that experience little cloud cover, photovoltaic cells can be used to convert the light from the sun into electrical energy. These must be coupled with energy storage and transmission systems, however, as solar requires sunlight to produce energy and is ineffective at night. Solar energy can also be used as a tool for heating your home, your water supply, or both, by using a collection system that absorbs the radiant heat from sunlight.
Other Resources
Renewable resources don't just have to be sources of energy. Any resource that can be replenished naturally or through conservation can be considered renewable. Fresh water is considered a renewable resource, as it is naturally filtered by the environment and re-collected in reservoirs above and below ground. Wood and other agricultural products are also renewable, as they may be replanted in relation to the speed of their cultivation.
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