A person could have a renewable lease on their home. A library book might be renewable. People do have renewable skin--when the outer layer dies, a new layer is produced. But in the past few decades, the word "renewable" has come to refer specifically to the green industry and taken on the connotation of relating to the environment and its protection.
Renewable Definition
Renewable means to be made new again, to restore something to a previous state. It may refer to time, so it can mean the time period for a contract is able to be extended.
Renewable Resources
In order for a resource to be renewable, it must be able to be replaced at a rate that equals or exceeds the rate it is used. Timber, meat, fruits and vegetables are all renewable resources. Time is a factor. Something that can be replaced in millions of years, such as oil, is not considered renewable. In contrast, fruits and vegetables might be replaced a few times in a single year, or perpetually if grown under extremely controlled conditions.
Renewable Vs. Sustainable
Something may be renewable but not sustainable. Sustainable means that when it is renewed the process does not have unrecoverable negative impacts. One example would be taken from the Great Dust Bowl. The lands were used for single crops. Those crops were renewable, but the farming practices were not sustainable because they took nutrients from the soil and did not put them back. The soils became depleted and they would no longer support the desirable plants. Now with crop rotation and soil conservation to replace nutrients, farmers can produce a crop indefinitely, sustainably.
Renewable Energy
Solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels and marine action are some of the many energy sources that may bring power to the world of the future. Unlike oil, of which there is a finite amount, the sun will shine as long as there is life on Earth, and the wind will continue to blow. There will be heat in the center of the planet for millions of years to come, and the oceans will move in powerful ways. If crops are managed sustainably, corn and soy beans can be turned into biofuels.
Other Renewable Products
If sustainable practices are used, forest products are renewable. If forests are properly managed, they can produce wood for building and paper. Some plant products grow faster than others and are more desirable. Something might be technically renewable, such as a Sequoia, but if it takes 1,000 years to grow, for all intents and purposes it is not renewable. Some plant products not only can be grown quickly, but also help the economies of developing nations and encourage sustainable development.
Chemical products can also be renewable. Some chemicals can be made from very simple ingredients such as water. Nontoxic, sustainable products such as soy beans may be used to substitute for plastics in products such as carpets and Astroturf.
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