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Tuesday 19 March 2013

Conventional & Alternative Energy Sources

Most Common Conventional And Alternative Energy Sources Are Listed Bellow:

HYDRO POWER 
NATURAL GAS
SOLAR ENERGY
PEAT
WAVE POWER
COAL
BIO FUELS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
WIND ENERGY
OIL
TIDAL POWER

Conventional Energy

Conventional energy sources includes oil, gas and coal. These conventional sources are usually fossil fuels. Their use leads to increased greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental damage. Our articles explore the environmental impact of obtaining and using conventional energy sources.


Alternative Energy

Alternative energy is any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel.
The term "alternative" presupposes a set of undesirable energy technologies against which "alternative energies" are contrasted. As such, the list of energy technologies excluded is an indicator of which problems the alternative technologies are intended to address. Controversies regarding dominant sources of energy and their alternatives have a long history. The nature of what was regarded alternative energy sources has changed considerably over time, and today, because of the variety of energy choices and differing goals of their advocates, defining some energy types as "alternative" is highly controversial




Ecologically friendly alternatives

Renewable energy sources such as biomass are sometimes regarded as an alternative to ecologically harmful fossil fuels. Renewables are not inherently alternative energies for this purpose. For example, the Netherlands, once leader in use of palm oil as a biofuel, has suspended all subsidies for palm oil due to the scientific evidence that their use "may sometimes create more environmental harm than fossil fuels". The Netherlands government and environmental groups are trying to trace the origins of imported palm oil, to certify which operations produce the oil in a responsible manner. Regarding biofuels from foodstuffs, the realization that converting the entire grain harvest of the US would only produce 16% of its auto fuel needs, and the decimation of Brazil's CO2 absorbing tropical rain forests to make way for biofuel production has made it clear that placing energy markets in competition with food markets results in higher food prices and insignificant or negative impact on energy issues such as global warming or dependence on foreign energy.Recently, alternatives to such undesirable sustainable fuels are being sought, such as commercially viable sources of cellulosic ethanol.



HOW TO SAVE ENERGY  


  • Turn off all electrical devices when they are not in use - that's the television, the video, the DVD player, the stereo, the computer, and so on.
  • Turn down the thermostat a little - you'll survive even if you need to wear slighter warmer clothing.
  • Insulate your home - lots of heat is lost through the roof and walls, so lay fibre glass in your roof or loft and organise cavity wall insulation.
  • Use less hot water - for instance, have a shower rather than bath, install a low flow showerhead, and wash clothes in cold or warm water.
  • Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) - CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb.
  • Use a clothes line rather than a tumble dryer - it might take a little longer, but it's kinder to the environment.
  • Recycle more - paper, glass, tins, vegetable waste, garden cuttings can all be recycled.
  • Avoid products with a lot of packing - you'll only throw it away.
  • Keep your tyres properly inflated - proper inflation can improve petrol mileage by more than 3%.
  • Drive less - walk, cycle or use public transport when you can.
  • Fly less - use the train when you can.
  • Try to travel less - for instance, use teleconferencing in your work.

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