Switching to alternative sources such as electric cars can help pull this number down significantly. Electric cars are more affordable as Electricity is cheaper than gas, and can come from renewable resources such as solar and wind power. Electric cars pollute less than gas-powered cars, which makes them better for our environment. Electric cars are much more reliable and require less maintenance than gas-powered cars. By using domestically generated electricity rather than relying on foreign oil, we can achieve energy independence and will no longer need to engage in costly wars in the Middle East to secure an energy supply.
Renewable energy sources are hydropower energy, biomass energy, geothermal energy, wind energy and solar energy. Renewable sources of energy can be used over and over again and also they generate much less pollution, both in gathering and production. But they are not as popular as the nonrenewable sources as can be seen in Figure-1. Figure-1: Renewable Energy Sources vs Total Energy Sources Solar Energy As you can see in Figure-1, the sun is probably the most important source of renewable energy available recently years. We are able to harness the sun’s energy and use it to help heat our buildings, our water, and also to produce electricity.
These opposing viewpoints include if we are using too much of them, the availability of them and how reliable they are. First of all, the first opposing viewpoint of this issue is if we are using up too much of our resources and how bad we are handling these issues. Here in America, we just resort to using our fossil fuels as our primary source of energy, but that has raised a lot of eyebrows and caused a lot of opposition. People of opposition did not like the fact of how these fossil fuels were being handled and how fast they were being used. Knowing that we have renewable resources, the opposing voices argued that we need to use less fossil fuels and more of the renewable resources.
For example the cost of electric vehicle maintenance costs is lower than conventional gasoline vehicle by twenty eight percent on an annualized basis. According to Pistoia (2010) electric vehicles characteristically offer lower maintenance costs compared with gasoline vehicles. As there are significantly less moving parts in electric vehicles, the electric engines are competently maintenance free, and it does not need periodic oil changes. Though there are needs for periodic battery set checkups, but in general maintenance expenses for electric vehicles are evidently low. Furthermore, electric vehicles since it’s powered by electricity which is generally less costly than other fuels including gasoline, many Utilities in Untied States of America recommend special “time of use” rates for electric vehicles proprietors that can be used in concurrence with separate utility meters to charge for the electricity used for electric vehicle charging.
Therefore, sometimes in the future we will run out of them. For this reason, fossil fuels are considered as non-renewable meaning that they are not replaced as soon as we use them. Moreover burning fossil fuels leads to pollution and many environmental impacts. Because our world depends so much on energy, we need to use sources of energy that will last forever – renewable energy, generating power from natural resources that are replenished on the earth. As we are theoretically reaching “peak oil”, “peak gas” etc.
Modern technology continues to grow in leaps and bounds enabling us to live better and more comfortable lives. Today, one of the greatest challenges is to find methods of producing energy efficiently, using environmentally friendly techniques. There are numerous sources used to produce energy; namely, petroleum fuels, geothermal power, nuclear energy, solar power, wind power, tidal power and bio fuels. Given below is a simple chart showing the categories of energy sources we use. Abiotic (non-living) natural recourses Perpetual Renewable Non-renewable solar, wind fresh water, air, soil Recyclable Non-recyclable metals fossil fuel Currently, the most commonly used energy source is fossil fuel which is non-renewable and non-recyclable.
It’s no surprise that energy costs in the United States could be cut down with the simple flick of the thermostat. Americans today just don’t seem to understand the crucial amounts of energy that could be saving through minor switches in their daily routines. In my opinion, these ideas are expressed in clear detail in author Bill McKibben’s essay It’s Easy Being Green. In his essay, McKibben uses clear examples, excruciating detail of America’s energy use, and common sense to effectively inform the reader that the U.S.A. needs to make some adjustments in their energy consumption. In McKibben’s essay, he opens with how he recently traded in his Civic for a new hybrid vehicle from the same company (617).
Filled with environmental consequences, hidden costs, and increased consumption, electric automobiles at this point in time do not benefit the environment. Electric automobiles are supposedly superior to traditional cars, but they still release the same amount of pollution during their production process. Since the only main difference between regular and electric cars is a bigger battery and lack of a combustion engine, mostly the same parts are manufactured in production. Factory emissions still make up a large percentage of our country’s release of greenhouse gases; therefore electric vehicles are still contributing to pollution. The chemicals involved in creating the metals and internal parts of the automobile also do not differ between electric and traditional automobiles.
At first we thought that this is a gift from Mother Earth, but we now realize its consequences. Pollution and wastes that are excreted into the environment can yield devastating aftermath that will affect not only Earth, but also humans. After centuries from now, these sources will also be depleted. So we should find recyclable alternatives that are more efficient and cleaner than the traditional sources. Energy sources on Earth is finite, nothing will last forever.
Non-renewable fuels are organically-derived fuels. The original organic material, with the aid of heat and pressure, becomes a fuel such as oil or gas. These fuels are hard to come by and are sometimes harmful to the environment when burned. Concerns about these fuel sources has been very prominent in the past few years. Concerns greenhouse gas emissions and many other things such as energy security has caused for people to look towards a new source of fuel.