The Green Energy of Tomorrow

Wind energy

Windmills have been around for thousands of years, and over time they have evolved to become sophisticated wind turbines that maximize wind energy produced by nature. First used in 500 A.D. by the Persians, these machines were quite different back then. They were made from bundles of of reeds or wood to form sails, these sails were attached to a wooden shaft that rotated a gear system. Back then, the energy generated from these devices was used to pump water that irrigated fields, to grind grain, to saw lumber or to process spices and other raw materials. And slowly, over time, they began to look more like today's wind turbines.

Modern wind turbines work by harnessing the energy of the wind that turns there gigantic blades, this rotational energy is then converted with the help of an electric generator. This technology is now labeled as "The greenest energy" with almost no carbon footprint. It only generates pollution during the fabrication of its parts such as the blades and the shaft. Once built, it no longer produces any pollutants, and it generates enough energy to supply 1,500 households. This means that to supply the entire US with clean electricity, it would take an average of 1,660 wind turbines per state.

Solar energy

As for solar energy it has been used for millions of years by plants in their photosynthesis process. Scientists are even using artificial photosynthesis to study energy alternatives for the future. There are many methods to harness solar energy such as solar heating, photovoltaics and solar thermal energy. The first commercial adaptation of conventional solar power was in 1897 at the Universal Exposition in Paris, the concept was a solar steam engine built by engineer Augustin Mouchot. Since then the technology behind solar power has evolved exponentially. This type of energy is so abundant, it is most likely to replace nuclear, coal and gas energy.

Hydro electricity

This is by far the dirtiest of all renewable energy. When a hydro dam is built it floods thousands of acres of land, this results in the destruction of Eco habitats killing wildlife in the process. When a forest is flooded, the submerged trees releases mercury in the water. Mercury is highly toxic and it kills fish and wildlife that rely on this water to live. But hydroelectric dams are one of the most profitable sources of electricity. They cost a lot of money to build but once the infrastructure is in place it generates more power than a nuclear central, without the radioactive waste.

We constantly consume energy and the global economy makes it tough to convert to greener power sources, but as the climate changes it is more and more obvious that a shift in our way to consume energy is necessary. We are paying the price with floods, wildfires, hurricanes, droughts and some of the coldest winters on record. These natural disasters are only getting worse by the minute as we approach the point of no return.

Hopefully with a combination of green energy it is possible to eliminate pollution and our collective carbon footprint on this beautiful planet we call our own.