Energy Fuel
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Hydrogen fuel cells can transform the way the world uses energy. Fuel
cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen with only
water as a by-product. They can power everything from laptop computers
to automobiles. While at least a decade remains before they can easily
be incorporated into everyday life, the promise of zero emissions and
increased fuel efficiency makes hydrogen fuel cells worth the wait.
Alternative Fuels
Alternative
fuels also known as non-conventional
fuels,
are any
materials or
substances that can be used as a
fuel, other than
conventional fuels. Conventional fuels include:
fossil fuels (petroleum
(oil),
coal,
propane, and
natural gas), and nuclear materials such as
uranium. Some well known alternative
fuels include
biodiesel,
bioalcohol (methanol,
ethanol,
butanol), chemically stored
electricity (batteries and
fuel
cells),
hydrogen, non-fossil
methane, non-fossil
natural gas,
vegetable oil and other
biomass sources.GeothermalGeothermal technology uses natural heat from the earth to heat and cool buildings. This clean and sustainable technology reduces emissions and operating costs. In Michigan, numerous homes, businesses and educational buildings use geothermal heat pumpsWind Turbine A
wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the wind into
mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for practical
use. Mechanical energy is most commonly used for pumping water in rural
or remote locations--the "farm windmill" still seen in many rural areas
of the U.S. is a mechanical wind pumper--but it can also be used for
many other purposes (grinding grain, sawing, pushing a sailboat, etc).
Wind electric turbines generate electricity for homes and businesses and
for sale to utilities.SolarSolar energy is a kind of renewable energy that comes in the form of radiation from the sun. Everyday, millions upon millions of watts of power reach the earth's surface. Much of this energy is used to heat our planet, but up to a third is wasted, reflected back out to space. In fact, each meter of the earth's surface during a sunny day receives about 1,000 kilowatts of energy, more than enough energy to power a home or office. It is estimated that solar energy is so abundant, that in just 20 days, all the solar energy that reaches the earth exceeds that of the energy that can be produced by all the oil, coal and gas in the earth's crust.BiomassBiomass, as a renewable energy source, refers to living and recently dead biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. In this context, biomass refers to plant matter grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel, and it also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum.Energy Efficiency A critical first step in the move toward alternative energy is energy efficiency which is considered the most cost effective form of renewable energy. Critical to understanding energy efficiency is understanding how we use energy in our homes and offices. An energy audit can help to identify effective measures to save money and the environment while making buildings safer and more comfortable. Planning and designing new buildings to meet higher standards, such as ENERGY STAR, LEED, and Green Built Standards ensures that they will be ready to meet rising energy costs in the future. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org, American Wind Energy Association |
