Renewable energy is sustainable energy, that cannot run out or is endless. It comes from natural sources or processes. Some of the renewable energies include geothermal, hydrogen energy, biomass energy, light and warmth from the sun, wind as well as tidal waves. Renewable energy has become popularly used because fossil fuels are running out and fast.
Our world is often powered by electricity but generating it becomes a dirty business. Generating electricity from unsustainable non-renewable sources is one of the contributors to air pollution in the US which also pollutes the waterways and land.
This is the reason why we are encouraged to switch to renewable energy failure to which will lead to run out of fossil fuels and unable to supply the world with the electricity it requires. In this article, we will focus on the benefits of using renewable energy.
The following are some of the benefits of using renewable energy.
Benefits Of Renewable Energy
1. Renewable energy will never run out
Renewable energies will never run out because flowing water, sun, plant matter, heat from the planet’s core, and strong winds are not exhaustible and can each provide a lot of energy.
The energies will always replace themselves naturally once they are used up. The heat emanating from beneath the earth, moving water, sunshine, and strong winds can guarantee a steady energy supply to a country for many years. Sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas are considered limited resources, and they may run out in the future. We need to embrace the uses of renewable energies since they are there to last.
2. It causes less global warming
Carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions to the atmosphere are commonly caused by daily human activities. The gases act like a blanket, trapping heat resulting in significant and harmful impacts, from stronger and more frequent storms to drought, extinction, and rise of sea level.
Most of these emissions come from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. In contrast to this, most renewable energy sources produce little or no global warming emissions.
Burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 to 2 pounds of carbon dioxide gas while coal produces between 1.4 to 3.6 pounds. Wind, on the other hand, is only responsible for 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of carbon dioxide; geothermal between 0.1 to 0.2; solar energy 0.07 to 0.2 and hydroelectricity between 0.1 to 0.5 of carbon dioxide. While you look at the above numbers, you will realize that renewable energy sources produce less carbon dioxide.
3. Renewable energy contribute to improved public health
Negative health impacts such as breathing problems, heart attacks, premature deaths, cancer, neurological damage, and a host of others are caused by air and water pollution which are caused by coal and natural gas. Renewable energy such as wind, hydropower, and solar produce less or no air pollution.
Burning fossil fuels emits a lot of pollution into the atmosphere putting our health at significant risks. We breathe air, and for us to ensure that we are not putting our health in damage, we opt to make sure that the air we take in is clean. This can be achieved by using renewable energy sources.
4. Renewable energy creates jobs and employment opportunities
Unlike the fossil fuels industry which is mechanized, the renewable energy industry is labor-intensive. A labor-intensive industry happens to create more jobs and employment opportunities. In 2017, IRENA’s estimates showed that the renewable energy industry employed 10.3 million people worldwide.
It is estimated that more jobs are created for each unit of electricity generated from renewable sources than from fossil fuels. The renewable energy industry has become a major employer in the United States. Wind and solar energy jobs outdo gas and coal jobs in over 30 states including Washington DC, according to Environmental Defense Fund.
5. Renewable energy saves you money
Energy can help you save money long term. Renewable energies will also help you save on operating costs as well as maintenance costs. You do not have to pay to refuel a technology that generates power from steam, sun, wind, or other natural processes.
Companies can opt to install wind turbines, solar panels, and other forms of renewable energy on their properties and use them to operate. This can save them money by reducing energy bills. Renewable energy will get affordable as it becomes more efficient. The price of fossil fuels will increase as they increasingly become scarce. Renewable energy will always regenerate naturally thus the price is cheaper.
6. The energy is environmentally friendly
27% of greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, fluorinated gases, and methane, are released from electricity generated from fossil fuels in the United States. Electricity generated from wind turbines and solar panels causes no air pollution. By using renewable sources, it can help improve the state of the environment. Biofuel helps support the growth of more plants and the exchange of carbon dioxide back into oxygen during the daytime regardless of it producing some pollutants.
7. Renewable energy sources are clean and do not damage the planet
Sources such as solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal are clean and do not generate any pollutants to the atmosphere. They do not damage the health of our planet. Non-Renewables will omit pollutions such as particulate contaminations which are caused by burning coal and may lead to warming the planet and damaging the Ozone layer. Renewable energy stays put once they are up and running.
When we depend on the use of fossil fuels, it means that we need to search for gas deposits, coal, and even new oil, failure to which may lead to depletion of fossil fuels. For us to acquire these fossil fuel sources, we will be forced to dig down thousands of feet to extract them.
This will lead to dislodging of the soil leaving behind huge scars on the face of the Earth. For renewables, you do not have to extract them like the fossils leading to the damaging of the planet since the sources are naturally occurring and replenished. For a cleaner energy future and a healthy planet, renewables are the best option to go for.
8. It uses less water
Approximately 60,000 gallons of water per MWh of electricity are used when generating electricity from coal or natural gas. Photovoltaic solar and wind do not require water for them to generate power. According to Solar Energy Industries Association, only 20 gallons of water are used per megawatt-hour of electricity produced to clean and wash the solar panels.
Natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy are generated by heating water and creating steam to turn turbines but for hydropower which relies on water, electricity is generated through the flow of water from a dam, stream, or river.
Wind utilizes the wind motion brought about by the rotation of the earth and heat from the sun to generate electricity. Solar energy taps heat from the sun for lighting, heating, and generation of electricity while geothermal leverages heat from underneath the earth.
9. It requires less maintenance of facilities
Unlike traditional generators that use traditional fuel sources, renewable energy technologies require less overall maintenance. These technologies such as wind turbines and solar panels have few or no moving parts and do not depend on combustible fuel sources to operate.
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Final Thoughts
Renewable energy is the best option to go for especially when it comes to cost, maintenance, and even environmental impact. It is generated locally in remote and rural areas and does not rely on imported energy.
Save your environment surroundings, your health, and your economic status by opting for renewable energy. We hope that you will find this article educative. You can ask any question about the benefits of renewable energy and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Till next time. Thanks!
