Alternative Energy – Something New Under the Sun
Alternative energy, renewable energy, green energy – all these terms and more get tossed around a lot these days. Just what is alternative energy?
Most energy today is used as fuel to generate electricity, provide heat or run internal combustion engines. Fossils fuels – coal, oil and natural gas provide the vast majority of it.
This is a relatively recent development. It wasn’tthat long ago that sailing ships and animals powered transportation.
Windmills are another source of energy that we consider alternative today that is actually very old. Consider Dutch windmills or the windmills of the American west.
Early in the 20th century nearly 1/3rd of homes in Florida used solar hot water. The availability of cheap electricity in the 1940′s changed that. At one point electric companies were even giving away hot water heaters to encourage consumption.
On the stage of human history, the dominance of fossil fuels has been very brief and very recent. As it becomes harder and more expensive to meet our energy needs with fossil fuel, we need to return to other sources.
With that background, here’s my working definition of alternative energy: energy from a source other than the burning of fossil fuels (again coal, oil and its derivatives and natural gas).
Another phrase that’s used a lot is renewable energy. Alternative energy and renewable energy are not the same, although many types of alternative energy are also renewable.
Most sources of alternative energy are, in fact, renewable so it’s understandable how the confusion occurred. Alternative energy sources are also considered “green” because they don’t add to the CO2 content of the atmosphere.
The alternative sources people most commonly think of are solar power, wind power and hydropower. However, researchers are eagerly exploring other innovative sources as well. These include things such geothermal, biomass and tidal power.
I think it’s safe to say that most forms of alternative energy are really a reconsideration of ancient methods.
If you want to find out more about alternative energy a great site is: Alternative Energy Primer
The authors of that site have their own discussion of the pros and cons of alternative energy on the page: What Is Alternative Energy . Their take is a bit different then you see elsewhere.
They also give you a quick overview of the current forms of alternative energy at: Alternative Energy Types
If you’re in all interested in alternative energy you’ll find those pages well worth exploring.
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