Energy is a topic that is receiving a lot of attention as people are being to realize that the energy sources that are utilized the most are being depleted and are not replenishing quick enough for future generations. “The future global economy is likely to consume ever more energy, especially with the rising energy demand of developing countries... [The] tremendous risk of climate change associated with the use of fossil fuels makes supplying this energy increasingly difficult” (para.1). One of the solutions to replacing non-renewable energy as the main source for the world’s energy is non-renewable resources. There are some blocks to renewable resources being put into operation that cause individuals to worry over switching from non-renewable to renewable. Although there are few problems with renewable energy sources, it is a safe alternative that should be explored furtherbecause they are safer for the environment and available for future generations.
There is a great deal of information available on renewable and non-renewable energy resources as this is a hot topic that has been debated for years now. The selection basis for this research involved finding credible sources speaking about the different types of energy available. The literature covers the different types of non-renewable and renewable energy sources that are in use today along with their benefits and disadvantages. The main consensus of the literature supports the thesis in that nonrenewable energy resources has more disadvantages than renewable energy resources, and that a switch should be made towards weaning the dependence on nonrenewable energy resources.
Probably the biggest issue with energy today is that the world is dependent on using nonrenewable resources, which will eventually run out as energy demands will continue to increase rather than decrease. According to Chiras (2013), “On average, they receive about 85% of their energy from fossil fuels, 5% from nuclear power, a type of nonrenewable energy, and 10% from renewable such as solar and wind energy, although the renewable energy contribution is growing rapidly in many countries” (p. 277). This may seem like a problem for future generations to deal with since there are reserves of nonrenewable energy resources available for years to come, but improvements in technology and awareness of ecological effects of nonrenewable resources makes it an issue that needs to be solved sooner rather than later. Technology has increased the dependence that many individuals have on energy, but technology can also help to improve the type of alternative renewable energy sources that exist. The growth of these energy sources is a sign that more people are realizing the importance of passing on a healthy planet to our children and their children.
Most people can only think of a few types of alternative renewable energy sources, like solar power or wind power. There are many different types of alternative renewable energy sources that can be used effectively with today’s technology. “Renewable energy technologies are those that harness energy from an inexhaustible source. Such sources include the sun, wind, falling water, waves, tides, biomass, or heat generated beneath the surface of the Earth” (Smith and Taylor, 2008, p. 2). These different energy sources are able to be mixed and matched to fit with the geographical environment that a community resides in to help them generate the power that they need.
There are some problems with alternative renewable energy sources that make people think that they are too hard to implement to replace the dependence on nonrenewable sources. One of the first problems is a lack of information. For instance, people may think that since they live in a cloudy environment they are unable to take advantage of solar power or if they live in a desert they are unable to use water as a source of energy. Informing them of the variety of renewable resources available could help to reduce resistance to change. The next problem is money. As most of the existing energy networks use nonrenewable energy resources, it would be costly to start implementing renewable energy networks to replace them around the globe. These costs would include building sites for the new renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines, solar panel arrays, and other renewable source generators. The technology that is used for renewable energy resources can also be costly as it would need to be further researched to find ways to get as much energy from renewable energy sources as is being produced from nonrenewable. Also, while renewable energy resources are better for the environment, there are some problems that can occur from using this type of energy. This can include problems in rivers ecosystems, bird strikes, use of land, and other environmental problems. The final problem is resistance to change on different levels. People are afraid to change from what they know to something that seems unknown. They may worry that their energy needs would not be met. Also, resistance to change may come from corporations that deal with nonrenewable energy sources that want to keep their particular monopoly without changing the way they do business.
These problems are more than balanced by the positives that come from renewable energy, and could be overcome by proper management. These positives are summed by the Natural Resources Defense Council’s article, in that using alternative renewable energy sources “… make our families healthier, more secure, and more prosperous by improving our air quality, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, curbing global warming, adding good jobs to the economy and - when they're properly sited -protecting environmental values…” (“What is Renewable Energy”,n.d., para. 1). Renewable energy resources can help to make the planet a better place to live now, help future generations, and make secure the knowledge that the energy needs of the future will be met.
In conclusion, the problems that exist from implementing alternative renewable energy resources to eventually overcome the dependence on nonrenewable energy are small in comparison to the problems that exist from staying dependent on nonrenewable energy. “Fossil fuels — coal, oil, and natural gas— dosubstantially more harmthan renewable energy sources by most measures, including air and water pollution, damage to public health, wildlife and habitat loss, water use, land use, and global warming emissions” (“Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies”, 2013, para. 1). It just makes more sense to find ways to solve the problems with renewable energy today rather than putting it off until the global population is desperate for something to replace the dwindling nonrenewable energy resources.
References
Chiras, D. D. (2013). Environmental science (9th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies. (2013, March 5). Union of Concerned Scientists. Retrieved September 4, 2013, from
Smith, Z. A., & Taylor, K. D. (2008). Renewable and alternative energy resources: a reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO.
The Energy Crisis and Climate Change. (n.d.). Global Economic Symposium. Retrieved September 4, 2013, from
What is Renewable Energy?. (n.d.). Natural Resources Defense Council. Retrieved September 4, 2013, from