Think Green Live Clean

Photo Credit: John Illingworth

With hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico every day killing marine life and threatening peoples livelihoods, it’s now more clear than ever how important a complete switch to clean energy is for our country. So let’s explore some clean energy alternatives!

Bio-energy is energy that is generated from the burning of organic matter. It can be generated from organic waste from landfills, gas, agriculture and forestry waste, as well as crops grown specifically for bio-energy.

Bio-energy can be used for electricity or converted to ethanol for transportation. Because there are so many different forms of organic matter that can be used for this energy, it is theoretically possible for it to produce clean sustainable energy but only if certain criteria is met.

In the best case scenarios crops grown for bio-energy recycle the carbon dioxide, during each new growing session, that was released by the burning of the organic matter. They can also increase biodiversity and provide ecological corridors to bridge natural ecosystems.

Bio-energy from unsustainable sources like old growth forests or palm oil plantations cannot be justified on greenhouse benefits, especially when sustainable alternatives exist. Greenpeace has stated that palm oil production can be as harmful to the environment as burning fossil fuels. In addition, when huge bio-energy crops, like corn, are treated with petroleum based pesticides and are maintained by heavy fuel fed machines, the goal of having a carbon neutral energy goes right out the window.

Geothermal: Geothermal energy is generated from drilling into the earths surface deep enough to reach the hot rocks of the Earths crust where hot water and steam exist. (The depth of the drilling depends on the location of the drilling site.)  Geothermal zones are located at seismically active areas, where volcanoes and earthquakes occur. Steam and hot water is released up from the Earth through these drilled wells where it is trapped. The steam is separated from the hot water and the hot water is returned to the source to generate more steam. The captured steam turns a turbine in a power plant and voila; there is electricity for homes. After the steam condenses to water, it is also returned to the source.

Unlike power plants that burn coal, natural gas, or oil, geothermal generators don’t need any fuel. They release no greenhouse gas emissions and they don’t release hazardous waste.

Hydrogen: Hydrogen can provide transport, stationary, and portable energy. It has the potential to contribute hugely to a clean renewable energy future. It is an extremely proficient energy carrier and interest in hydrogen power is growing quickly.

It takes huge amounts of energy to produce hydrogen, so the main environmental question at stake is whether the energy used to produce it comes from renewable sources. If it does come from renewable energy sources then it is nothing less then pure clean energy.

To read about Wind and Solar visit my last post here.

To read more about Bio, Geothermal, and Hydrogen click here.