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Introduction
Energy is something we cannot live without. With President Obama’s interest in building a clean energy economy, preventing climate change and protecting our environment, people are getting more interested in renewable sources of energy(House, 2014)
Three energy sources utilized in regular routine and their origins
We rely on electrical energy, hydroelectric energy, nuclear energy, fossil fuel energy and solar energy in our daily lives(“Department of Energy,” n.d.). For light and heat in our homes and at work, we use electrical energy, which is derived from renewable water sources or nuclear fuel(which can be renewable or non renewable)(“Is Nuclear Energy Renewable Energy?,” n.d.). To drive to work, we use non-renewable sources of energy derived from fossil fuels. To dry our clothes, we use solar energy which is renewable.(Nansaior, Patanothai, Rambo, & Simaraks, 2011)
Impacts observed on humans and environment as a result of increasing energy needs and use. As more people in the world use energy each day, with growing populations, there are bound to be impacts on humans and their environment. There is a chronic deficit of electrical energy in many places in the world because the supply cannot meet the demand. As people depend more on vehicles that use fossil fuels for their travel, there is a depletion of the natural resources that provide these fuels, which result in price rise of fuel around the entire world. This leads to inflation and people are unable to buy enough of commodities to feed themselves and their families. In addition, the residue and the exhausts from the burning of fossil fuels harm the environment and pollute it. Pollution leads to many diseases in human beings and animals(Demirbas, 2009).
A new energy source for my home. The choice would be for solar power to heat and light our homes. Solar power is freely available and the units required to harness this power for domestic use are cheap and easily installed. It is a renewable source of energy with almost no after effects on man or environment.(“Energy and You,” n.d.) On rainy days, there may be a shortage of solar power, so an alternate source of energy will need to be kept on standby(Barlev, Vidu, & Stroeve, 2011).
Simple Changes making a big impact. When man becomes aware about the amount of energy he wastes each day and takes measures to conserve it, he can save a lot of energy. Switching off electricity when it is not needed is a simple measure that can be adopted. Turning the faucets off can conserve water. Similarly switching off the engines of vehicles at red lights can help conserve energy and reduce pollution. Only foods that are required each day are prepared and used to avoid wastage of these essential items and to conserve the energy that is used to cook or preserve them(“Energy Saver | Department of Energy,” n.d.). These simple adjustments can reduce consumption of energy, reduce pollution and conserve energy for future generations(Brounen, Kok, & Quigley, 2013)
Conclusion
All forms of energy are a gift of nature for man. They need to be used economically, with minimal wastage and extreme caution, with a view to provide sustainable energy for the future of the human race.
References
Barlev, D., Vidu, R., & Stroeve, P. (2011). Innovation in concentrated solar power. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 95, 2703–2725. doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2011.05.020
Brounen, D., Kok, N., & Quigley, J. M. (2013). Energy literacy, awareness, and conservation behavior of residential households. Energy Economics, 38, 42–50. doi:10.1016/j.eneco.2013.02.008
Demirbas, A. (2009). Political, economic and environmental impacts of biofuels: A review. Applied Energy, 86. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2009.04.036
Energy and You. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/index.html
Energy Saver | Department of Energy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver
House, T. W. (2014). Energy, Climate Change, and Our Environment | The White House. Whitehouse.gov. Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy
Is Nuclear Energy Renewable Energy?. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/chowdhury2/
Nansaior, A., Patanothai, A., Rambo, A. T., & Simaraks, S. (2011). Climbing the energy ladder or diversifying energy sources? The continuing importance of household use of biomass energy in urbanizing communities in Northeast Thailand. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35, 4180–4188. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.06.046
