The industrial revolution brought forth a myriad of technological innovations which helped to improve the world, but it also introduced new air pollutants via the combustion of coal underpinning the new technologies. Acid rain caused by carbon dioxide and particulate pollution released in combustion destroyed fragile habitats and introduced irreparable damage to the earth. While the new technologies helped to improve the everyday lives of numerous people, they also caused an exponential growth in the presence of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which have slowly destroyed the environment by altering climates which have sustained habitats for years.When a climate is changed, organisms may lose their niches, thus increasing the number of endangered species.
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Renewable energies are renewable, hence the name, while non-renewable energies are not which allows renewable energy to continue providing energy long after non-renewable sources have ceased to exist as a viable source of energy. Non-renewable energy exists on Earth in limited quantities and as they are consumed the stores are depleted until eventually they will disappear from existence. Renewable sources like solar energy will be in existence as long or longer than humans, which means that consumers and industries can keep using them indefinitely without fear of environmental damage or of running out of resources. Solar energy derives its power from photons of light which carry energy which can then be integrated into a household via photovoltaic cells; since the sun will continue to provide solar energy for millions of years, solar energy would be an excellent source of power. However, if used improperly renewable energy sources can sometimes be turned into non-renewable sources. One example of this would be biomass energy. Biomass energy comes from the combustion of plant matter and as long as “biomass feedstocks” like soy, corn, and wood exist biomass energy will be a renewable energy source (National Geographic). However, if people fail to replant the feedstocks then biomass energy suddenly becomes a non-renewable energy source and …show more content…
Admittedly, renewable energy does come with rather high installation and maintenance fees; in fact, according to Forbes, a generic solar energy system can cost upwards of “seventeen thousand dollars,” a significant amount of money for most households, especially considering that seventeen thousand dollars could also serve as a payment on a house or a car or it could even buy five tons of frozen yogurt (Forbes). However, the high prices can be dealt with using federal tax incentives and savvy shopping. Also, renewable energy will ultimately prove its worth in its ability to decrease an electricity bill while simultaneously reducing the carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Despite the financial benefit of investing in an energy source which has the potential to decrease monthly bills, the excessive costs of installation discourages potential investors. Besides the obviously inflated costs, renewable energy is also notoriously inefficient, which is one of the primary reasons why people still rely on fossil fuels. If clouds block out the sun, then solar panels drop in efficiency , if the wind dies down, then wind turbines become incredibly useless, and if warm water reservoirs suddenly become cold, geothermal energy ceases to be of any use. If a source of
Renewable energies are renewable, hence the name, while non-renewable energies are not which allows renewable energy to continue providing energy long after non-renewable sources have ceased to exist as a viable source of energy. Non-renewable energy exists on Earth in limited quantities and as they are consumed the stores are depleted until eventually they will disappear from existence. Renewable sources like solar energy will be in existence as long or longer than humans, which means that consumers and industries can keep using them indefinitely without fear of environmental damage or of running out of resources. Solar energy derives its power from photons of light which carry energy which can then be integrated into a household via photovoltaic cells; since the sun will continue to provide solar energy for millions of years, solar energy would be an excellent source of power. However, if used improperly renewable energy sources can sometimes be turned into non-renewable sources. One example of this would be biomass energy. Biomass energy comes from the combustion of plant matter and as long as “biomass feedstocks” like soy, corn, and wood exist biomass energy will be a renewable energy source (National Geographic). However, if people fail to replant the feedstocks then biomass energy suddenly becomes a non-renewable energy source and …show more content…
Admittedly, renewable energy does come with rather high installation and maintenance fees; in fact, according to Forbes, a generic solar energy system can cost upwards of “seventeen thousand dollars,” a significant amount of money for most households, especially considering that seventeen thousand dollars could also serve as a payment on a house or a car or it could even buy five tons of frozen yogurt (Forbes). However, the high prices can be dealt with using federal tax incentives and savvy shopping. Also, renewable energy will ultimately prove its worth in its ability to decrease an electricity bill while simultaneously reducing the carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Despite the financial benefit of investing in an energy source which has the potential to decrease monthly bills, the excessive costs of installation discourages potential investors. Besides the obviously inflated costs, renewable energy is also notoriously inefficient, which is one of the primary reasons why people still rely on fossil fuels. If clouds block out the sun, then solar panels drop in efficiency , if the wind dies down, then wind turbines become incredibly useless, and if warm water reservoirs suddenly become cold, geothermal energy ceases to be of any use. If a source of