Alternative Renewable Sources

Renewable resources provide alternative sources of raw materials which can offer economic and environmental advantages to both consumers and businesses. From a business perspective, it makes good economic sense to rely on raw materials in which supply will not be a limiting factor for meeting demand. Alternative renewable resources use less energy and do not have the negative environmental effects of nonrenewable sources such as raw ore and fossil fuels.

Solar Energy

Solar power offers a clean, alternative source of energy which is renewable and has minimal environmental impacts, explains the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Solar energy taps into a free source of energy which can reduce the reliance on fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum. Solar energy supplies less than one percent of the U.S. energy demand, reports the National Atlas of the United States. Yet, it offers great potential with improvements in technology and reductions in consumer costs, explains the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Wind Energy

Like solar power, wind energy provides clean energy without adversely affecting the environment. It is virtually limitless as a renewable resource. As long as the wind blows, energy production is possible. As an alternative fuel, wind energy has enormous potential. Currently, renewable energy sources supply about 12 percent of the nation's energy demands. According to the American Wind Energy Association, wind energy can provide up to 20 percent of U.S. energy needs by 2030, making this renewable resource a powerful player in the industry.

Timber

Timber is a primary building material as well as an alternative and renewable source of energy. Timber production in the United States topped 40 billion board feet of saw logs alone in 2009, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Composite products which are made of a mixture of materials will also use wood as a raw material. Over three billion cords of wood were produced in American forests in 2009. Timber provides the necessary raw materials to fuel the building industry, furniture-making industry and other businesses.

Agricultural Crops

Agricultural crops provide a myriad of raw materials for food and other products. They also provide a renewable source of energy using biomass. Biomass is corn, soybeans or other crops grown for their energy-producing abilities. A 2006 study in the journal, "Science News," found that soybeans show great potential as an alternative transportation fuels, outweighing corn with its energy efficiency.

Agricultural crops are big business, globally. According to the U.S. Grains Council, the United States provided nearly 40 percent of the global corn in fiscal year 2009. In addition to corn, the U.S. is the largest producer of other grains including sorghum. These alternative renewable resources help drive the world's economy.