With the ‘Ek Soch’ columns ‘www.bms.co.in’ brings to you one tiny thought for today which will help you make a difference. It isn’t a class on moral values, or a Business Ethics lecture. It is just one very tiny and interesting thought that will be very simple to imbibe and help your conscience on a huge level. This week we have taken up the issue of switching over to Renewable energy instead of using the convectional fossil fuels.
Before we go there lets answer a few basic questions:
- What exactly is Renewable energy?
Renewable energy is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. Renewable energy replaces conventional fuels in four distinct areas: electricity generation, hot water/space heating, motor fuels, and rural (off-grid) energy services.
So basically Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). Its technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro hydro, biomass and bio-fuels for transportation.
2. Why is renewable energy important?
Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it provides. The key benefits are:
Environmental Benefits
Renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies.
Energy for our children’s Children’s children
Renewable energy will not run out. Ever! Other sources of energy are finite and will someday be depleted.
Now that we know what exactly what Renewable energy is all about we can proceed to the important question, “Why should we switch over to renewable energy?”
- Fossil fuels tend to be a “dirtier” source of power. While some fossil fuels do burn cleanly most do not. Fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide when burned and some, like coal, also produce sulphur dioxide, a source of acid rain. Renewable energy sources like the sun and water are clean.
- Solar and hydropower do not produce harmful gasses. Wind energy does not produce harmful gasses. Some uses of waste for energy will produce gasses but not to the extent of fossil fuel sources.
- Coal needs to be mined. This mining, when not done properly, can damage the land that it is mined from. Coal mining can be dangerous to the miners and have long lasting health effects.
- Oil must be drilled. Drilling for oil is also a dangerous operation. Oil being transported can leak causing damage to both ocean life and land.
- While it is true that building power plants to produce energy from renewable resources is initially costly, the cost can be less in the long run.
- Solar generators do not need to be moved because the sun ran out in the particular area that plant is located in. The sun is not going to run out.
- Oil rigs do need to be rebuilt in new locations. New mines need to be dug for new coal. Most hydroelectric plants will not need to be moved to find new sources of water. Unless a river is diverted, the water will be there.
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