Today the situation has developed so, that man is causing irreparable damage to the environment. This is largely due to the disproportionate use of natural resources. One of the main goals of ecology is to preserve and enhance natural resources.
Ecology and saving energy are two concepts that are inextricably linked with each other. Every day we use electricity for the organization of your life. Thermal power plants, which supply us this energy are the most polluting environment production. It is obvious that if we want to save our planet, it is live and healthy, we should use this energy economically and efficiently. In this way we can reduce the evil, that power plants are causing in nature.
Energy and environment
The level of development of society is determined by the amount of energy that is spent on one person. Today the main sources of energy are oil, coal, gas. Work, heat and energy boiler and thermal POWER plant in various ways affect the environment:
- in the atmosphere of our planet comes a large amount of harmful wastes,
- the water flows throw the harmful substances and the heated water,
- consumes large amounts of oxygen,
- large tracts of land are under waste polygons and burial ground.
Pollution of soil, water and air leads to the so-called greenhouse effect. Thereby the temperature on the planet increases, and thus triggers a more permanent consequences. Similarly, it should be noted that such sources of energy, such as oil, gas and coal, it is very difficult to filled, and therefore in a short time because of their waste can dry out.
Alternative sources of energy
The modern doctrine is trying to find alternative sources of energy.
Under the term "energy source" refers to natural substances or phenomena that enable people to acquire energy.
Alternative energy sources puts traditional sources. To the traditional, as we have already noted above, include oil, natural gas and coal. Alternative resources needed to reduce the negative impact of traditional energy sources that deplete the environment. There are resources that are able to provide alternative sources of energy:
- the energy of the sun
- wind energy
- energy water
- the energy of the earth
- biofuels
The solar energy obtained from solar radiation. Solar energy is considered a renewable energy source. Under the term "renewable resource" means inexhaustible sources of energy. The advantage of this type of energy is its environmental friendliness, i.e. the process of obtaining energy does not result in the release of harmful waste and does not pollute the environment. Solar energy with the help of solar power plants. This type of energy has both advantages and disadvantages. The benefits can be attributed to the availability and, as mentioned above, the absolute safety for the environment.
The disadvantages include the dependence on weather and time of day, because of what this kind of energy can be used regularly only in certain climatic conditions. The shortcomings also include the and the high cost of such power plants, because in their manufacture are used expensive items. And operation of solar power stations requires the use of large areas.
The wind energy obtained by conversion of the kinetic energy of the wind on the atmosphere in any other form of energy. For this, use different accessories, like for example wind turbines, windmills, sailboats. The energy derived from the wind, also referred to renewable types of energy. In addition, the wind energy is available and is safe for the environment. Can the advantage of the use of wind energy can be attributed, and that the wind power plant low-maintenance, do not require long installation and large costs.
But I'm sure there are also some disadvantages, for example, power is such energy installation is not dependent on the person and depends on the nature, that is, from the force of the wind. The minor disadvantages of some opponents of this technology include the danger for the birds, the deterioration of income of television and radio signals, changes in the landscape.
The essence of hydro energy lies in the fact that converts the kinetic energy of the water mass into electric energy. Energy obtained by hydro power plants. The strength of the water flow affects the turbine, which produce electricity. The undoubted advantage of the use of similar devices is that this energy source is inexhaustible. In addition, hydropower plants are safe for the environment. The energy obtained in this way is pretty cheap. Beside the advantages there are also disadvantages, such as dependence on weather, climate and natural conditions. The building of the station is possible only in certain places. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the energy obtained in this way is difficult to maintain for implementation at later dates.
In the scientific community, electricity, obtained with the help of thermal energy inside the Earth, called geothermal energy. Extracted, thanks to the use of geothermal power plants. When cooling our planet emits huge amounts of energy, which is a thousand times more than the fossil fuel. Country energy is a renewable source of energy. The advantages of this method is the production of electrical energy can be attributed, and that he is not dependent on environmental conditions. Cons include the high cost of construction and maintenance of these power plants. Also, it is assumed that these stations cannot be considered completely safe for the environment, so as a result of the working station becomes leakage steam, which may contain harmful substances.
The term biofuel means a fuel which was obtained from animal or vegetable raw materials. Biofuels can be of three kinds:
- solid
- liquid
- gaseous
Solid biofuel is wood strands, straw. Today a man grows a special energy forests, which consist of wood of fast growing trees.
Liquid fuels are presented in essence, bioethanol and biodiesel. Bio-ethanol is basically produced from sugar cane and corn. Biodiesel is obtained from fats of vegetable and animal origin.
Gaseous biofuels presents biogas, bio-hydrogen, methane. Biogas is obtained from the products of fermentation of organic waste. Bio-hydrogen is the hydrogen which got out of biomass thermo-chemical or biochemical way.
Conclusion
Today, scientists are fighting over how to reduce the consumption of resources, which mankind spends on the production of energy. With each passing day, the energy, they need more and more, and resources are still less. At this stage it is important to teach saving and rationally expend energy obtained from traditional sources. Even more important is the development of new, inexhaustible, environmentally friendly energy sources, will help in the long years to save our environment and healthy living.