Energy Alternatives for the 21st Century Energy alternatives provide opportunities for people to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels and their emissions of greenhouse gases. The regular use of such energy alternatives has been slow to catch on,however,because technology has not advanced to levels appropriate for mass consumption. But small-scale usage of these alternatives is alive and well in the United States and abroad. Wind Wind forces can be harnessed and used to generate electricity. Wind turbines,like modern-day windmills,catch the wind's energy with their blades: as the wind blows,it creates a pocket of low-pressure air at the bottom of the blades,which,in effect,pulls the turbine toward it,causing the turbine to rotate. As the turbine rotates,its rotor rotates,which turns a shaft that spins a generator,which creates electricity. Turbines can be connected to utility power grids or can be used as stand-alone units,such as for water pumping or to operate communications. Geothermal Geothermal energy is energy that is obtained from the internal heat of Earth. The planet has an internal core temperature of about 4 autel maxiscan,230 degrees Fahrenheit. According to scientists ds708,we have the ability to drill about three miles into the Earth's core,where temperatures are about 212 degrees Fahrenheit,which is hot enough to boil water. This heat can be used to operate a steam turbine,which can,in turn,generate electricity. Biomass Biomass energy,also called"bioenergy,"is the utilization of energy from organic materials such as plants and plant-derived materials,not unlike burning wood to cook your food. Not only can traditional biomass sources,such as wood and plants,be used,so can the fumes from landfills. Biomass can be used as fuel,for power production and to produce materials that would otherwise be made from fossil fuels. The best-known biomass fuels are ethanol,which is made from corn grain,and biodiesel,which is made from soybeans. Solar Solar energy is energy that is harnessed from the sun's rays. It is used to heat,cool and illuminate homes and businesses. The most common utilization of solar power is with the solar water heater,but other examples include solar photovoltaics (solar panels),used to generate electricity,and passive solar designs for heating and cooling. Solar energy is ample because more energy from the sun strikes the planet in one hour than can be used by everyone on it in a single year.
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