We have heard it over and over again. The oil will run out one day and the government is not doing much about it! An Environmental News Network article says a poll of more than 15,000 respondents said the majority believed oil was running out. I agree! Especially with oil prices going up! Even if some people claim we didn’t run out for a while, coal and oil powered power plants still pollute the environment! Fortunately, we still produce more energy, through cleaner means.
1. Solar energy. The sun is over our heads, shining until the end of the world. Why not use it? One problem: solar energy is expensive! Science is finding a way to make it cheaper than oil or coal, but it will probably take another decade or so. Still, more and more people are investing in solar power, even at solar power conferences like this one in 2008, and who knows? It can become our greatest source of energy! You can even make a home solar generator for only around $300 for those sudden power outages.
two. Wind power. Ah, the cool morning breeze. Windmills have been around for a long time, and now we have turbines that use the energy of the wind to produce electricity! However, prime wind spots sometimes bump into other interests like farms, cities, or resorts. I can understand that. I don’t want places like that resort in Bora Bora to disappear! Let’s hope science can find a way to solve this.
3. Hydroelectric power. Have you ever been in a mighty river? That current is strong! The river drives turbines that provide electricity. The water will keep flowing as long as the world is alive! We are already aware of the effects of damaging a river, sometimes causing the loss of homes, but it is still a good source of energy.
Four. Geothermal energy. Hot springs are a place of natural relaxation for many people. They can also be used for power! The steam and hot water can be used to turn turbines and also to heat houses and buildings. Not only does it have a way to sink in and relax, it also has a power source! Unfortunately, there aren’t many places in the world that are prime locations for this kind of power.
5. Ocean power. Any surfer will tell you that those waves are awesome! Therefore, it is natural that they can be used as energy. Tides cause water to rise and fall, and wind across the ocean surface can create waves. The energy of the waves is already used by some lighthouses and buoys, even! Canada and France already have power plants that use tidal energy to generate electricity. A third experimental system uses the flow of heat in the oceans, but it is still being investigated. However, all methods are expensive. But we have science for that!
There you go! Should we one day run out of oil and coal, by then we will have enough knowledge to allow these energies to power our world. What method do you prefer?