When you turn on a light, watch television or drive your car, you consume energy. The majority of this energy comes from non-renewable fossil fuels like gasoline. With limited supplies of fossil fuels remaining in the world, many experts warn of the need to switch to renewable energy sources. Not only are renewable fuels more readily available, but they also protect the environment from the pollution and global warming effects of fossil fuels.
Types
Non-renewable energy sources include fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Manufacturers derive these fuels from fossilized plant and animal remains that date back thousands of years. Once existing supplies of these fuels run out, there will be no way to make more for centuries.
Renewable fuels come from sources like the sun, water, geothermal energy, wind and wood. Each of these energy sources offers a virtually unlimited life and cannot reasonably be used up. People can continue to use these fuels forever as long as they are harvested and applied properly.
Uses
Both renewable and nonrenewable fuel provide energy for transportation, electricity, heating and air conditioning and water heating in the U.S. and around the world. Fossil fuels are available to large-scale power plants as well as individual drivers or homeowners. In terms of renewable energy, solar, wind and geothermal systems can be used at large-scale facilities or in a single home. Biomass also provides homeowners with the opportunity to heat their homes sustainably, while hydroelectric power requires major infrastructure and is best left to commercial operations.
Problems
While renewable fuel sources offer an eco-friendly alternative to dwindling fossil fuel supplies, renewable energy production poses problems of its own. Many of the sources for this energy are only found in remote or limited areas. While high levels of sun in the southwest provide an excellent opportunity for solar use in that area, transporting electricity from the southwest to other major cities may be too expensive for practical use. The same is true of hydroelectric dams or wind farms found far from big cities. In addition, wind, sun and water are less reliable than fossil fuels in many cases. Low wind or too many clouds could interrupt power supply for large numbers of people.
History
Through the Industrial Revolution of the mid-19th century, people in the U.S. derived more than 90 percent of energy from wood, according to the EIA. As combustion-engines replaced wood or steam-powered engines in transportation and industry, the country switched to fossil fuels. By the start of the 21st-century, fossil fuels accounted for the vast majority of energy production in the U.S. and much of the rest of the world. With the threat of global warming and pollution, combined with increasing oil prices, the country once again began to consider the use of renewable fuel sources. As of 2009, roughly 7 percent of U.S. energy comes from renewable sources, according to the EIA, and this number is expected to grow over the coming years.
Considerations
Many government agencies and other organizations throughout the world have set aggressive renewable energy goals to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and help protect the environment. Some countries set goals to derive a specific percentage of energy from renewable sources, and many U.S. states have developed similar goals. In 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $3 billion in funding for research and development of renewable energy production. The federal and many state governments also provide tax credits and other incentives to encourage homeowners and businesses to switch to more efficient fuel sources.
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