Today the situation is such that people cause the environment irreparable harm. This is largely due to irrational use of natural resources. One of the main tasks of ecology is to maintain and improve natural resources.
Environment and energy efficiency are two concepts that are inextricably linked to each other. Every day we use electricity to organize their lives. Thermal power plants, which supply us with this energy is the most polluting industries. Of course, if we want to preserve our planet alive and healthy, we need to use this energy economically and expeditiously. Thus, we can reduce the damage that power plants inflict on nature.
Energy and the environment
The level of development of society is determined by the amount of energy that is consumed by one person. Today the main energy sources are oil, coal, gas. Work and heat boilers and power plants in different ways, is the impact on the environment:
- in the atmosphere of our planet receives a large amount of harmful waste
- stocks release harmful substances, and heated water,
- consume large amounts of oxygen,
- large areas of land used for landfill and waste management.
Contamination of soil, water and air leads to the so-called. the greenhouse effect. Cause the temperature on earth will rise, and therefore also use other irreversible consequences. It is also noted that such sources of energy, such as oil, gas and coal, is very difficult to obtain, and therefore in a short time, because of their irrational use, they can dry out.
Alternative energy sources
Modern teachings strive to find alternative energy sources.
The term "energy source" refers to natural substances or phenomena, through which people can get energy.
Alternative sources of energy is contrasted with conventional energy sources. Traditional, as we have noted above, are oil, gas and coal. Alternative sources are needed, in order to reduce the negative effects of traditional energy sources, which harm the environment. There are sources that can offer alternative energy:
- the sun's energy
- wind energy
- energy water
- the energy of the earth
- biofuels
The sun's energy is derived from solar radiation. Solar energy is considered a renewable energy source. The term "renewable" refers to an inexhaustible energy sources. The advantage of this type of energy is its environmental friendliness, that is, the process of obtaining energy does not cause harmful wastes and does not pollute the environment. Solar energy is created using solar energy. This type of energy has both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are availability and, as mentioned above, a complete security environment.
The downside is the dependence on weather conditions and time of day, so this form of energy can be used regularly only in certain climatic regions. Disadvantages also true, and the high cost of such power plants as are used in their manufacture expensive products. The utilization of solar power stations require large areas.
Wind energy is produced by converting the wind kinetic energy in the atmosphere any other form of energy. For this purpose, a variety of devices, such as wind power plants, wind turbines and sails. The energy obtained from wind, is also associated with renewable energy. In addition, wind energy is available and secure environment. The advantages of using wind power sector can also be attributed to the fact that windy the plants are easy to maintain, does not require time consuming installation and high cost.
But of course, there are some disadvantages, for example, the capacity of such plants does not depend on the person, and depends on the nature, that is, the power of the wind. Small cons some opponents of this technology are a danger for the birds, bad TV reception and radio signals, changes in the landscape.
The essence of the water energy is converted into kinetic energy of the water mass into electric energy. Energy produced by hydro power. The force of the water flow affects the turbine, which produces electricity. The advantage of using such units is the fact that this energy source is inexhaustible. In addition, hydroelectric power is safe for the environment. The energy obtained in this way are relatively cheap. Along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages, such as dependence on weather, climate and natural conditions. Build stations only in certain places. Another disadvantage is that the energy obtained in this way is difficult to maintain the implementation later.
The scientific community produced electricity using the thermal energy of bowels of the earth, called geothermal energy. To get it through the geothermal power plants. While it is cooling down our planet emit massive amounts of energy, which is thousands of times more than the producers of fossil fuels. Country energy is a renewable energy source. The advantages of this method of electricity production can be attributed to the fact that it is not dependent on environmental conditions. Disadvantages are the high cost of construction and maintenance of such plants. It is also believed that such a position can not be called completely safe to the surrounding environments, because the result is steam, which may contain harmful substances.
A biofuel means a fuel which is obtained from animal or vegetable raw materials. Biofuels can be of three types:
- fixed
- liquid
- gaseous
Solid biofuels are wood, wood chips, straw. Today, people grow special energy forests, which are composed of stones of fast-growing trees.
Liquid fuels represented mainly bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is mainly produced from sugar cane and corn. Biodiesel is made from fats of animal and vegetable origin.
Gaseous biofuels, biogas, bio -hydrogen, methane. Biogas is produced by the products of fermentation of organic waste. Bio-hydrogen is hydrogen obtained from biomass thermo-chemical or biochemical methods.
Conclusion
Today, scientists have struggled to reduce the consumption of resources that humanity consumes energy. Every day energy needs more resources and more is less. At this stage it is important to learn how to preserve and rationally use the energy obtained from traditional sources. Even more important is to develop new, inexhaustible, environmentally friendly energy sources, it will help for many years to preserve our environment alive and healthy.