The big question today is whether to replace and reduce our reliance hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and petroleum fuels. Alternative energy is perhaps one of the most discussed and talked about resource in today's society as a possible replacement to hydrocarbons. It is has been estimated that all our natural resources will have been completely depleted within 150 years and as such we need to be in continuous search for viable sources of alternative energy.
The most common types of alternative energy currently in use are wind power, hydro power and solar power. The alternative energy sources are harnessed from natural phenomena abundant on the planet, and as such they are in essence free. It is these sources of alternative energy that are frequently being pursued to provide an economically viable energy source that can be used by the whole planet.
Taking a look at these types of alternative energy resources, we are able to see the differences of each and the advantages they could possibly have over each other as replacements of hydrocarbon fuels.
Wind Power
The use of wind power, while a free alternative energy source, would be in the current scenario the most costly renewable energy source. The costs are high largely in part to the fact that wind turbines must be put in place throughout countries with sufficient numbers to ensure that enough electricity is generated to meet the needs of the population, this includes areas where the wind velocity are not very strong. The evident cost of building enough wind turbines capable of harnessing the wind's alternative energy is astounding.
The current use today is in countries with the financial strength to invest in wind power and where the climate allows for sufficient wind to power the turbines. However, many farms and rural communities do use wind turbines to provide power for themselves. In low numbers the inherent cost of building wind turbines allows such investment to pay for themselves quite quickly, however in larger quantities the costs escalate incrementally and as such have not been used by many.
Solar Power
As an alternative energy [http://www.globalearth.info] source, solar power is derived from the natural power of the sun. Other than the installation of necessary equipment to convert the sun's rays into usable electricity it is generally free. The cost of equipment required to harness the power of the sun has in recent days become less and less expensive, primarily due to advances in the technology. The cost of investment for smaller installations generally pay for themselves with a few years or so.
Many of you live in areas trying to conserve energy by having rolling blackouts on a daily basis. This is no longer a concern for those who use solar power! When you use solar power to power your home, as long as your generator is turned on, you will have power. The way these generators work, is that during the day the sun's power is drawn into the generator into storage cells. The generator then converts the stored solar power into usable energy for your home. This means that, even when the rest of the city is under a blackout, your home can still be running smoothly on solar power.
For the many that live in areas that are trying to conserve energy by utilizing rolling blackouts day in and day, the use of solar power allows flexibility and loss of of regular power would no longer be a concern. Using solar energy at home only requires your generator to be turned on to have the power needed when the blackouts occur. These generators work in such a way that during the day the sun's power is drawn into the generators to the storage cells and generator then converts the solar power that has been stored in the cells into usable electrical energy to which an be used in the homes. So in short, intermittent or scheduled blackouts still allows for the home to still have electricity with this alternative energy source.
Equipment required to build systems to make use of solar power as an alternative energy source for homes can quite easily be bought in most home improvement stores in developed nations, and as easily be installed in a few short hours. Solar panels are easy to install on your own, however doing it yourself can sometimes be difficult, but there are normally contractors that can do the job of installing the solar panels and generators at a reasonable cost.
Hydro Power
The use of water has long been in existence particular its use as a replacement for manual labor, and there is also evidence of some of the very first commercial use of hydro power as an alternative energy are still in existence today in the as evident from old milling and industrial facilities. Hydro power is nowadays used produce power on larger scales and the constructions of dams and hydro facilities is fast increasing due to concerns on the depleting natural hydrocarbon resources.
The use of hydro power as and alternative energy source however is limited to areas where water is abundant and the natural terrain allows for it to be harnessed in order to power turbines that generate that electricity required. Some homeowners have however in recent times started to device and develop devices to produce small amounts of electricity enough for their home or farm's outdoor needs.
Keeping the Earth Green!
Using alternative energy sources such as solar power to provide power to your home is one of the best ways that you can help keep earth green! Solar power does not require you to burn up fossil fuels and hydrocarbons and as such provides you with the necessary energy without depleting the earths resources considering that in our lifetimes there is no possibility of depleting the energy from the sun. The use of such alternative energy also ensures that you do your part in keep the environment healthier and cleaner since you do not in anyway contribute to depletion of natural resources.
Regardless of which type or source of alternative energy you decide to use for your homes, the fact is that we still need a viable source of renewable energy that can be used by everyone soon, as the longer it takes to find this, the more natural resources will be depleted and used up.
Luvi Marie Corcuera is the Editor of Informational sites such as:
Hydroponic and Making Money [http://www.energizedcontent.com]
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