SUSTAINABLE ENERGY: WHY SOME IDEAS SHINE BRIGHTER THAN OTHERS
Editors Note: This article by Joseph B. ('16) was for an extra credit assignment he had in chemistry. Joseph discusses the benefits and disadvantages of different types of sustainable energy.
Over the past few years, there have been a myriad of inventions that have the ability generate energy in a process that resembles photosynthesis. Similar versions of the artificial leaf have been developed by the University of Wisconsin, the Lawrence Bearkley National Laboratory, and Free University Berlin. This raises the question of why this form of technology hasn’t been hackneyed in our society by now. According to Professor Daniel Nocera, “In fact, the issue isn’t the invention at all—it’s how to use it” I am going to explore the question of why some forms of sustainable energy are embraced by our society and why others are shunned.
Solar energy has become one of the most popular examples of sustainable energy in countries around the world, and there is a very good reason why. The first thing to investigate is the process. We have all seen the large, shiny panels on the rooves of some people’s homes, and each of them are made up of photovoltaic cells. These cells serve the purpose of converting the natural energy that we receive from the sun into DC power. DC stands for direct current, and what makes it different from AC current is that it flows in a constant direction. This type of current can also be fine in batteries, which is basically what a solar panel is. Next, the power travels to a solar converter which converts it into the type of power that we can use in our homes, AC power. In contrast to DC power, alternating current does exactly what the name suggests, reverses the direction of the current periodically. The final step of receiving your electricity is the AC power’s journey to the breaker box, where you control the electricity that goes throughout your house. One of the things that makes solar energy so appealing is its ease of use. After a professional installs all of the required materials, you have a self-renewing source of energy that is clean and good for the environment. Considering global warming and all of the greenhouse gases that are being released into our atmosphere, a prodigious amount of people are searching for ways to help, and this is a great first step. This is certainly solar energy’s most appealing quality, for when people have the opportunity to save money and be green (with no side effects), it’s a hard offer to turn down.
Another rising source of sustainable energy is geothermal energy, but it has failed to receive the support or popularity that solar energy has begun to attain. As we all know, the Earth’s core is hot, in fact it is over 4200°C. By drilling a hole miles into the Earth’s surface, workers are able to capture the water and steam that arises from these depths. On the surface, there is a turbine. Once the steam reaches the turbine, it causes it to move which in turn rotates a generator. This generator then produces electricity and sends them to power lines which can travel all around a city. Why is an ingenious idea like geothermic energy having such a hard time gaining any traction with the public? Although it is considerably more cost effective than burning fossil fuels and it releases much less carbon dioxide, it has a very significant con. There is a very limited number of places where you can drill into the Earth and set this process into motion, and most of these locations are in remote areas, far away from the bustling cities that need this energy the most. Sustainable energy is best utilized in big cities that use ridiculous amounts of energy like New York, but it is very challenging to implement this type of energy in a way to maximize its usefulness. Although geothermic energy ahs a great of potential, it fails to gain support because it is too distant from our everyday lives. People want a source of energy that they know will be there day in and day out, and geothermic energy simply does not provide that comfort.
Solar energy has become one of the most popular examples of sustainable energy in countries around the world, and there is a very good reason why. The first thing to investigate is the process. We have all seen the large, shiny panels on the rooves of some people’s homes, and each of them are made up of photovoltaic cells. These cells serve the purpose of converting the natural energy that we receive from the sun into DC power. DC stands for direct current, and what makes it different from AC current is that it flows in a constant direction. This type of current can also be fine in batteries, which is basically what a solar panel is. Next, the power travels to a solar converter which converts it into the type of power that we can use in our homes, AC power. In contrast to DC power, alternating current does exactly what the name suggests, reverses the direction of the current periodically. The final step of receiving your electricity is the AC power’s journey to the breaker box, where you control the electricity that goes throughout your house. One of the things that makes solar energy so appealing is its ease of use. After a professional installs all of the required materials, you have a self-renewing source of energy that is clean and good for the environment. Considering global warming and all of the greenhouse gases that are being released into our atmosphere, a prodigious amount of people are searching for ways to help, and this is a great first step. This is certainly solar energy’s most appealing quality, for when people have the opportunity to save money and be green (with no side effects), it’s a hard offer to turn down.
Another rising source of sustainable energy is geothermal energy, but it has failed to receive the support or popularity that solar energy has begun to attain. As we all know, the Earth’s core is hot, in fact it is over 4200°C. By drilling a hole miles into the Earth’s surface, workers are able to capture the water and steam that arises from these depths. On the surface, there is a turbine. Once the steam reaches the turbine, it causes it to move which in turn rotates a generator. This generator then produces electricity and sends them to power lines which can travel all around a city. Why is an ingenious idea like geothermic energy having such a hard time gaining any traction with the public? Although it is considerably more cost effective than burning fossil fuels and it releases much less carbon dioxide, it has a very significant con. There is a very limited number of places where you can drill into the Earth and set this process into motion, and most of these locations are in remote areas, far away from the bustling cities that need this energy the most. Sustainable energy is best utilized in big cities that use ridiculous amounts of energy like New York, but it is very challenging to implement this type of energy in a way to maximize its usefulness. Although geothermic energy ahs a great of potential, it fails to gain support because it is too distant from our everyday lives. People want a source of energy that they know will be there day in and day out, and geothermic energy simply does not provide that comfort.
How Commercial Solar Energy Systems Work. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.solarcity.com/commercial/how-solar-works.aspx
Siegel, R. (2012, June 15). Geothermal Energy: Pros and Cons. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/geothermal-energy-pros-cons/
Watson, S. (2009, March 02). How Geothermal Energy Works. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/geothermal-energy2.htm
Siegel, R. (2012, June 15). Geothermal Energy: Pros and Cons. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/geothermal-energy-pros-cons/
Watson, S. (2009, March 02). How Geothermal Energy Works. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/geothermal-energy2.htm
