The Need to Adopt Green Energy - Assignment Example

The Need to Adopt Green Energy and Abandon the Use of Fossil Fuels Introduction Over the past centuries, people have continuously worked on the best means towards attaining the most convenient ways of life. Amongst the developments that have, so far taken place, are the development of systems that help them have access to clean and fresh air and water. Also included are means of transportation, heating systems as well as lighting. Unfortunately, people have been working towards such improvements without taking into consideration the eventual impacts that may come with the accomplishments. Most severe is the impact that they have won the environment, which defines the space within which humans live. Unfortunately, most of the discussions that surround the issue to do with the energy sources within the planet and how appropriate they may be in the society of today remains controversial. Indeed, the arguments reveal a sense of deliberate misinformation and ignorance by both the sides; the environmentalists and the energy producers as well (Shyamal, et al. 24). To help fully define the future of the global energy, there must be an informed understanding of the various resources and their applications. Natural energy resources obtained from the earth are mainly categorized into two major broad categories; the renewable energy sources and the fossil fuels. The fossil fuels are primarily the products of converting biomass into oil, coal and natural gas through fossilization. Renewable energy sources, on the other hand, comprise the energy flows stemming from the sun’s heat and solar, winds and the movement of surface as well as underground waters. However, in the recent past, several campaigns have arisen with regards to the right choices of fuels to use, in order to safeguard the environment (Michael 43). The unanswered question is whether to go green or continue using the fossil fuels. However, through an in depth analysis and evaluation, the renewable energy sources outsmart the fossil fuel sources, and should, therefore, be endorsed over the fossil fuels. To help fully understand the need for adopting the use of green energy in entirety over the fossil fuels, several comparisons have been put across. These may be tackled through a comparative study of the two broad categories of fuels under the following subtopics. Environmental impacts Reliability of the energy sources Economic implications Stability in energy prices Renewability of the energy base i. Environmental impacts The green energy sources are derived from the environment in a manner that is very environmentally friendly, and with very little or no impact on the environment. For instance, the generation of hydroelectric power is mainly done along a water course with not any effect on the water. This is because the water is only used in the turning of the turbines as it flows downstream. In fact, the only change that may be done is the creation of a reservoir, which acts to only temporarily trap the water, after which it continues in its course downstream (Charles 130). Another example is the wind energy, which is usually harvested by turning the turbines to help generate electricity. The simplest application of the use of wind energy is the ancient boats, which were powered by the wind strength. The same applies to the solar energy. For the energy from the sun, the heat may be used directly to help dry foodstuffs, concentrated to aid in situations that require very high temperatures. Currently, the use of solar panels and heaters to help in the harvesting of the sun’s energy is a development to the approaches to make use of the sun. When viewed closely, the ordeals to do with the generation of power from such means has nothing to do with a byproduct that may be considered a pollutant in the environment. In fact, it does not interfere with the environment in any way whatsoever. The fossil fuel sources; on the other hand, have very far reaching after effects to the environment. Some of the effects are even threatening to bring human life to extinction. As put across by Glick (6), there have been very detrimental impacts of the continued use of the various forms of fossil fuels on the environment. One major such impact of fossil fuels on the environment is global warming. This is exhibited in so many different ways, and presents itself as the major challenge of continued use of fossil fuels. These, to the extremes, may present themselves in the form of tremendous weather changes, melting of glaciers and seasonal variations. For instance, the snows of Kilimanjaro are estimated to have melted by more than 80 percent since the year 1912. The rate at which the glaciers of Himalayas are retreating is so high to the point that they are thought to disappear entirely by the year 2035. With the melting of the glaciers, the lives of the animals and humans living along the coasts of the large water bodies are threatened. This is mainly because of the continually rising sea levels. According to Glick, even the animal and birds patterns of migrations have tremendously changed as a result of the rising temperatures and sea levels (Rangarajan & Guggenberger 4). ii. Reliability of the energy sources Several arguments have been put forward based on the reliability of the energy sources, claiming that the renewable sources are not entirely reliable. The argument is that the renewable energy sources are heavily dependent on climatic changes and seasons. For instance, some argue that the energy from the sun is only available when the sun is present. As such, the countries experiencing summer and winter vice versa would have challenges in the availability of the power. The same argument goes to the wind energy, which depends on the availability of the winds to turn the windmills. In fact, some have even gone ahead to oppose the construction of hydroelectric power generation plants because it is detrimental to the water base and drainage, more so, during the dry seasons. Some other evidence that tends to go against the renewable sources of energy is that they require very high cost of installation, hence expensive. However, as ascertained by Rangarajan, & Guggenberger, (2011), a renewable energy sources are very cheap and reliable, once they are used in combination to each other. In fact, the central part that may be considered expensive is the installation cost. For instance, once the solar panels are laid down, they do not require any additional input. Rather, a change of the power banks after a very long period, up to six years is what may be required. The same is to the windmills, which only require initial installation, after which they may go for up to even twenty years before any change is made except for the maintenance, such as greasing the moving parts. Besides, the fear that people have for converting from the fossil fuels to the green energy will make up for itself (Jennifer 123). This will result from the eventual efficacy that will be realized from the relief from the day to day purchase of the fossil fuels. For example, a solar powered vehicle may seem too expensive, rather one would buy the typical diesel or petroleum based product. However, the eventual efficiency that may be achieved through the use of the solar powered vehicle will in no time bring back the additional expense. This is on the ground that the user will not have to visit a petrol station constantly to get their vehicle going. iii. Economic implications In most case, people tend to view the various energy sources in terms of the economic implications that come with them. Indeed, this is a major argument that has led to the continuous and persistent use of the fossil fuels. People tend to reason that the green energy sources are very expensive to come up with, hence, rendering the energy very costly. For instance, people argue that the cost of installing solar panels or even the construction of the hydroelectric generation plant presents a very cost intensive adventure (Mauro & Figueiredo 13). When compared to the use of the fossil fuel sources, they feel it is cheap since they never get to notice that the little day to day purchase is very expensive in the long term. An analysis of the expenses that come with it clearly show a very significant cost as compared to the green sources of energy that only need an initial high installation cost. Indeed, the green energy sources require very little or no maintenance cost at all. For the fossil fuels, the economic impacts are far reaching and detrimental to the users to the point that it nullifies its advantages. The climatic changes brought about by the continued use of the fossil fuels have proven a significant financial hazard. For example, there have been witnessed cases of floods that have led to massive destruction of property and loss of lives along some sea coast. Due to changes in climate, even the agricultural activity has been interfered with, a direct impact on the economy of a nation. Some nations, especially the third world countries, have had to import foodstuffs to help curb food crises due to famines that have at one point or the other struck such nations. The byproducts of the fossil fuels have proven a very significant hazard to the world, which messes with the economy of nations. For instance, several health implications have arisen due to inhaling of the gasses that are emitted during the conversion of the fossils into energy. One such example which is the commonest is the carbon monoxide emitted by the vehicles. These have been observed to cause lung problems under the extreme conditions. In this case, the affected individual will have to get to the hospital for medication, in the process, having solemn financial implications on them. As postulated by Rangarajan, & Guggenberger (7), the cost of the renewable energy sources may be higher; however, it remains of lesser concern when the implications of global warming are looked into. iv. Stability in energy prices The prices of the fossil fuel prices depend on the prevailing factors within a country, such as political stability and economic situation. The prices of the green energy forms are, on the other hand, very stable as they are never affected by the changes in the prevailing conditions. Besides, the availability of the various renewable energy forms is very stable as nature provides them. This makes them skip the control by those in power, preventing price fluctuation. For instance, the sun will apparently shine to all, as long as the season is sunny. No one can ever block the sun’s rays from reaching the other, so he or she sell it to them to their advantage (Banerjee & Ram, 99). The same applies to the wind and even the geothermal energy sources. As such, the prices tend to be very stable and, in most cases, come without any price to be paid. The fossil fuels, however, have so many factors that impact the pricing, for instance, the political stability and economy. As noted by Wald (23), most of the nations of the world that use fossil fuels do not have the endowment of the same. Rather, they are forced to import them from the nations that are endowed with the minerals. Because of this, such a nation that is importing must ensure its allegiance to the exporting country, lest it experiences a stall in its operations. On the same note, the economy of the importing nation is dependent on the exporting counterpart as it is the one setting the prices. Unfortunately, in times of war, more so between the two countries, everything goes to a stop. No wonder the U.S. continually imports fuel while at the same time mining it; it continually banks fuel to any occurrence. v. Renewability of the energy base As put across by Krey and Clarke (104), “The distinguishing characteristic of renewable energy source is that they are derived from natural processes that are continually renewed.” (Adapted from Climate Policy; a scholarly journal.). Espinoza goes ahead to state that the renewable energy sources encompass a very broad array of technology and energy sources, ranging from solar, wind power, hydroelectric power, and ocean based energy, geothermal, biomass and even the nuclear energy. Apart from biomass and nuclear energy sources, each of the other renewable energy sources would be most beneficial in particular areas. Solar is harnessed in regions with high sunlight intensity, wind in areas with strong wind currents, whereas geothermal in the regions with intense volcanic activities. However, an in-depth consideration of the globe in entirety is of importance as the various energy forms generated may be transported from one place to the next very efficiently. Since these energy sources are highly renewable, there is no need to worry about the chances of any running out. This is opposed to the other forms of energy which are never renewable and over a long time of use, get depleted. Because of this, there are very high chances that the fossil fuel sources of energy remain expensive, hence the output as well (Mertz 71). Whereas the sun’s energy may be used over and over without ever getting depleted, the coal mines have steadily gotten depleted. This has more than the economic implication as the places of mining such energy sources remain as wastelands. These, again, are very dangerous to the lives of human beings as the derelict lands remain with a series of pits that may cause accidents. Conclusion Regardless of whatever perspective that the fossil fuel is viewed, the damages that the fossil fuels have caused may never be overlooked to favor its use. The impacts of the fossil fuels are not only to the environment, however, all other forms of life on earth are affected, humans inclusive. For instance, in the article by Wald (Fossil Fuels’ Hidden Cost Is in Billions (27), he asserts that burning of fossil fuel costs U.S. an approximate of 1 Billion dollars every year towards health. He goes ahead to mention that this is mainly from the thousands of premature deaths that result from air pollution, such as asthma. As such, the green energy sources remain as the ultimate solution to the current weeping of the world. Each and every nation must join hands together to see to it that the use of the renewable energy sources is fully set in place, and the fossil fuels abandoned. Works Cited Banerjee, Sanjukta, and Ram Krishna Akuli. "Advantages of Green Technology." Recent Research in Science & Technology 6.1 (2014): 97-100. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25th Nov. 2014. Carless, Jennifer. Renewable Energy: A Concise Guide to Green Alternatives. New York: Walker, 1993. Print. Espinoza, J. (2011, May 16). Environment (A special report) --- green power: The next generation: The pros and cons of renewable energy sources. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved [on 25th November, 2014] from http://search.proquest.com/docview/866527954?accountid=32521. Esswein, Patricia Mertz. "What You Need To Know About Going Solar." Kiplingers Personal Finance 68.6 (2014): 71. Business Source Complete. Web. 22 Nov. 2014. Grunwald, Michael. "The Green Revolution." Time 183.23 (2014): 40-45. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25th Nov. 2014. Guillén, Mauro F, and João N. Figueiredo. Green Products: Perspectives on Innovation and Adoption. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2012. Print Krey, V., & Clarke, L. (2011). Role of renewable energy in climate mitigation: A synthesis of recent scenarios. Climate Policy, 11(4), 1131-1158. Retrieved [on 25th November, 2014] from http://search.proquest.com/docview/875487237?accountid=32521. Lockwood, Charles. "Building the Green Way." Harvard Business Review 84.6 (2006): 129-137. 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