The Impact of Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources on Earth - Term Paper Example

The Impact of Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources on Our Earth... How Does Each One Help or Hinder Our Future? Introduction Energy can be defined as the degree of force which is when applied to certain objects is capable of moving one object from one position to another. There are different forms of energy such as kinetic energy, potential energy, light energy, sound energy, gravitational energy, nuclear energy or any other type of energy that can be easily altered into other forms and hence the total energy is most likely to remain the same. However, energy can be classified into two main groups such as renewable as well as non-renewable energy (The National Academics Press, 2012). Renewable energy can be defined as the energy that is mainly created out of the natural sources such as sun, wind, rain, tides and can be reproduced as per the requirements. They are generally available in abundance and can be availed as and when needed. Renewable sources of energy are the cleanest sources of energy. Renewable energy sources are the sources that generally comprise wind power, geothermal energy, ocean energy, fuel wood, tar sands and oil share among others (The National Academics Press, 2012). On the other hand, the non-renewable sources of energy can be defined as the energy that has been prepared from those sources that are most likely to extinct fifty-sixty years from now. Owing to the fact that the non-renewable sources of energy are not environmental friendly, it is most likely to have an impact upon the health of an individual. The main reason behind their name to be regarded as non-renewable is that they cannot be re-created within a short span of time. Non-renewable sources tend to prevail in the form of fossil fuels, oil, natural gas as well as coal (The National Academics Press, 2012). The study intends to identify the impacts of renewable and non-renewable sources of energy upon the earth. Impacts of Renewable and Non Renewable Energy Sources on Environment Bio-energy is considered to be the source of energy which has become one of the most utilized sources of energy in numerous developing countries and it is being highly produced in an environmentally unsustainable way. Traditionally, bio-energy use was mostly unproductive, socially inequitable as well as damaging to the health. It can be stated that wind energy has become cost competitive with traditional energies in leading countries. Among all the renewable sources energy, it can be mentioned that the geothermal energy is practically infinite in nature in the long-term and it is also considered to be an abundant resource in the developing countries (The National Academics Press, 2012). Solar energy does not lead to air pollution when it is operated. The primary environmental and safety issues related to solar energy comprise the way they are created, installed and disposed of. There is a need of energy to create and hence install solar components. The fossil fuels used for this purpose can lead to emission of harmful gases thereby polluting the environment. Hence, one of the significant questions is related to the amount of fossil energy input needed for solar system in comparison to the fossil energy consumed by traditional energy systems. This generally alters based upon the technology and climate and the remaining energy can be effectively utilized to solar systems in applications where they are generally cost effective and hence enhance with the improvement of technology. The materials that are utilized in a few of the solar systems can lead to health and safety issues for a person who comes into contact with them. The production of the photovoltaic cells needs hazardous materials such as arsenic as well as cadmium. Silicon which is a chief substance that is utilized in solar cells can prove to be detrimental to the workers if they inhale it with dust (The National Academics Press, 2012). Geothermal energy tends to produce heat that can be found beneath the surface of the earth. One of the widely developed geothermal energy has been the hydrothermal energy which consists of trapped hot water or steam. The invention of new technologies helps to use hot dry rock, geopressured resources as well as magma. The geothermal resource tends to be different in numerous aspects. Nonetheless, they give rise to a common set of environmental problems. The two main leading issues are generally air and water pollution along with the disposal of the harmful waste, land subsidence and location siting. Owing to the fact that these resources are exploited in a centralized mode, minimizing their environmental impacts to a certain degree is quite easy (The National Academics Press, 2012). The creation of hydrothermal energy confronts a special issue. It has generally been observed that hydrothermal reservoirs are situated near the wilderness areas. Developments of hydrothermal energy in such areas lead to greater resistance. Various geothermal plants are found to release harmful substances into the atmosphere during their operations. These gases generally include carbon dioxide as well as hydrogen sulphide among other harmful elements. This is most likely to hamper the future growth of the geothermal resources. The industries can easily manage such emissions by imposing strict policies and regulations. They can further make use of certain other control methods in order to meet the regulatory needs. It has often been noted that hydrogen sulphide abatement systems minimize the damages caused to the environment. However, on the contrary, it has often been noted that the installation of such systems can be quite costly. Wind-power generation tends to pose low emissions on a life cycle basis however there are numerous environmental affects that might restrict its capabilities (RSC Publishing, 2012). One of the biggest problems recognized in the United States has been the creation of the hydropower. The construction of dams has been stopped because of the fact that most suitable undeveloped sites are essentially under federal environmental protection. Deteriorating fossil fuel prices as well as minimization of renewable energy related tax credits are the main reasons behind the slowdown in hydropower advancement. As it is said that the environmental issues might limit hydropower creation in the United States, however it can be considered as ironic. This is because of the fact that hydropower plants do not generate air pollution or greenhouse gases. Nonetheless, they tend to have an impact upon the environment (Kling & Self, 2012). Impact of Non-Renewable Fuels It has been noted that the non-renewable fuels has a major impact upon the environment and are most likely to extinct in future years. It is quite important for the administrators to make certain plans in order to prevent them from being extinct (Environment Agency, 2012). Non-renewable fuels tend to cause a severe affect on the environment when they are burned emitting gaseous material thereby influencing the natural balance of earth. It also emits pollutants that lead to air pollution. Their removal can take certain serious effort that might lead to destruction to the source of energy (Environment Agency, 2012). Impact of Renewable Fuels Renewable energy can create various potential environmental influences. One of the negative impacts of renewable energy is that it can disrupt marine life, bird life and hence generate visual and noise pollution. These impacts are generally site specific and there are various ways that can assist in minimizing the impacts that tend to be small and reversible in nature. There are positive impacts of renewable sources to the environment as well other than minimizing the greenhouse gas as well as other air emissions. For instance, the usage of the hydroelectric schemes is most likely to enhance water supplies and help in retrieval of degraded land and habitat (Environment Agency, 2012). The utilization of bio-energy leads to numerous environmental advantages if people tend to make use of it in a sustainable way. In case the land from which bio-energy is generated is replanted then in such cases bio-energy can be utilized in a sustainable manner and the carbon that the gases emit can be recycled. The degree to which bio-energy relocates net emissions of CO2 is based upon the efficacy with which it can be generated and used. Although bio-energy tends to emit low sulfur dioxide (SO2) in comparison to coal and oil plants, however they may generate more particulate matter. Despite the fact that the emissions from the renewable sources can be controlled through various techniques, it has been apparent that they tend to stimulate generating costs. The projects that are undergone in large scale are generally site specific and have created much controversy. Such big projects tend to hamper the eco-system, minimize the biological diversity or alter the quality of water. Since the local population is displaced, there might be socio-economic affects to the environment. It has been observed that numerous projects in the developing countries have been scaled down because of these reasons. It has been quite difficult to attain loans from foreign lending institutions for the purpose of major projects. Although these negative impacts can be well managed and minimized to certain level, this is likely to have a greater impact upon the future of hydropower in general (Bookman & Ross, 2012). The Pros of Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels are generally considered to be non-renewable energy resources that are used by people for various purposes. These substances have been created beneath the earth’s crust since long period of time and comprise concentrated energy. Fossil fuels are formed from fossil plants and hence comprise carbon with numerous organic as well as inorganic compounds. They are burnt so that heat or electricity can be generated. The use of the fossil fuels help the people to power the machinery and hence take manufacturing process to new heights instead of depending upon the manual operations. Fossil fuels acted as a catalyst for the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, the Industrial Revolution helped in the development of numerous products and services enjoyed by the people that have made lives of the people quite easier. One of the main advantages of fossil fuel is that they are comparatively inexpensive to mine and to convert into energy (Ayers, 2010). Fossil Fuels Impact on the Environment It can be mentioned that the use of fossil fuels can have a detrimental impact upon the environment. When these fuels are burnt or processed in the industries or by the individuals they tend to discharge chemical compounds into the environment which are generally quite poisonous. Carbon dioxide, for instance tends to have devastating impact upon the oxygen, water as well as other environmental cycles (ISES, 2010). Natural gas is considered to be a significant element of fossil fuels. Fracking can be determined as a drilling method though which toxin chemicals, sand as well as water is injected with high pressure into the ground for the purpose of releasing natural gas. One of the detrimental impacts of fracking to the environment is that the mixture comprising of toxins, sediment and natural gas released is most likely to leak into the surface and thus pollute the ground water and rivers thereby leading to water pollution (BBC News, 2012). The Most Significant Impact on Environment There are numerous impacts of the renewable as well as the non renewable energy sources upon the environment. However, one of the most significant impacts has been visual impacts. It is quite imperative for the wind turbines to be situated in the exposed areas and hence need to be visible. However, a few of the people tend to consider them as unprepossessing and with the larger size of the new generation turbines, the concerns have escalated to a greater degree. The other most significant impact has been the noise that is generated by the wind turbines. The air generally passes through the blades and mechanical noise is also generated from the moving parts of the turbine. With the pace of time, the developments in the technology have minimized the level of noise. Electromagnetic interferences are also considered to be one of the most significant aspects. It has been observed that the wind turbines may bring out electromagnetic signals that generally hamper the efficiency of the communication system. Hence, in order to minimize its impact it is quite imperative to have adequate location siting. Birds also tend to be harmed because of the wind turbines. They at times get killed when they collide with the rotating blades of a turbine. The species that migrate from one place to another are at greater risks in comparison to the resident species. It is imperative to site the turbines quite far from the migratory routes so that such impacts can be reduced (Gritsevskyi, 2012). Conclusion It is quite significant to conserve the energy so that the earth can be shielded from major changes and the depleting resources can be preserved for use by future generations. Energy can be identified as the degree of power which is when exerted upon an object can move it from one position to another position. Energy is broadly categorized into two main parts such as renewable as well as non-renewable sources. It has been observed that the renewable sources are the energy that can be created from the natural sources such as sun and wind among others and can be recreated as per the requirements of the human beings. The main advantage of renewable source is that they have lower carbon emission and it is because of this reason, they are identified as green and environmental friendly. The main disadvantage of renewable sources is that it might bring toxic chemicals and might lead to changes in the environment. On the other hand, the non-renewable energy is the sources of energy that are generally made from the components available on the earth in very limited quantity. It can be mentioned that the non-renewable energy sources are less environmental friendly and can have a serious impact upon the health of an individual. Hence, it is significant to minimize the harmful effects from such sources by planting more trees and by making minimum use of the sources of energy. Preservation of the environment from harmful gases can help in making the lives of the people more convenient. References Ayers, J. C. (2010). Non-renewable energy sources. Retrieved from http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Sustainability/book/S1C7.pdf BBC News. (2012). What is fracking and why is it controversial? Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14432401 Bookman, J. & Ross, K. (2012). Renewable energy for a cleaner future. Retrieved from http://files.earthday.net/backgroundpdf/Renewable%20Energy%20Background.pdf Environment Agency. (2012). Renewable energy and its impact upon the environment. Retrieved from http://cdn.environment-agency.gov.uk/geho0305biwj-e-e.pdf Gritsevskyi, A. (2012). Renewable vs. non-renewable energy sources, forms and technologies. Retrieved from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/envaccounting/londongroup/meeting13/LG13_13a.pdf ISES. (2010). Renewable energy future for the developing world. Retrieved from http://whitepaper.ises.org/ISES-WP-600DV.pdf Kling, E. B. & Self, D. R. (2012). Non-renewable sources of energy. Retrieved from http://www.aces.edu/fourh/docs/programs/nree/Non-Renewable_Sources_of_Energy_1.pdf RSC Publishing. (2012). Sustainability and environmental impact of renewable energy sources. Retrieved from http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/eBook/978-0-85404-290-6 The National Academics Press. (2012). Environmental impacts of renewable electricity generation. Retrieved from http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12619&page=195 Read More