Green Power Options – Which is Best?
Everybody wants green energy. Being able to get the power we need without damaging the environment is an obvious goal – but what’s the best way to achieve it? Should we be opting for wind farms, hydroelectricity, or solar energy as alternative power? This guide to green living will help us decide
Renewable Energy is energy created from resources that are regenerative – or renewable – meaning they cannot be depleted. Producing energy with resources like these without harmful pollutants associated with fossil fuels are safe for our environment.
Wind farms often receive a bad press, especially when they’re situated near homes or in popular hiking areas. They can make a lot of noise and because they have to be placed on skylines for maximum efficiency they often spoil views. Offshore wind farms are less problematic in this way and can take advantage of fierce sea winds, increasing their output, but they rely on a nation having a lot of suitable coastline.
While the Netherlands does very well with its wind farms, the US is, considering the comparative size of its population, at a distinct disadvantage. For the home-owner, small wind-powered generators are available, but they’re not very efficient and often result in complaints from neighbors.
A much more effective way of generating power is using hydroelectricity that uses tidal forces and the natural energy of rivers. However, there are a limited number of suitable locations for hydroelectric generators, and often these are in areas which already provide fertile farmland, so a lot of people have to be displaced and lose their land in order for them to be built. The impact on local wildlife can also be damaging.
The test is being easy to access, non-polluting and practical and solar power is the only alternative that truly passes that test. Even when it is frequently cloudy, modern solar panels can still work effectively. They require very little maintenance and once installed do not get in any ones way. Harnessing the power of the sun is the greenest way to generate the power we need for these reasons.
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