Today, scientists are constantly looking for renewable and sustainable energy solutions.  This stems from the increased release of carbon dioxide and decrease of natural fossil fuels we use for energy.  Solar energy has become the number one on the list of future energy sources.

Solar energy has gained a lot of attention because the sun is the one element that is not likely to disappear anytime soon.  Also, the sum emits at least one thousand watts of energy per square meter!  Impressive, right? Because of the sun, this energy is equally distributed over the globe and is renewable on a daily basis.

Even though solar energy is an excellent resource, today’s technology isn’t developed enough to adequately capture as well as process the solar energy successfully.  Technology, however, is evolving to allow solar panels to process more energy that is passes through them.  The ultimate goal though is that we can fully rely on more sunlight as a sustainable energy source instead of using more of our natural resources and fossil fuels.

Today, there are more people in the process of converting their homes to using solar energy.  Now, it may not be possible right now to create solar energy to power entire communities and cities, but at the individual level, people are capable of successfully capturing energy to use.

Nuclear power is another renewable form of energy that is becoming more known.  There are still many concerns and dangers related to nuclear power also including the potential of contamination and melt downs. The problem with nuclear energy though is that the byproducts created by nuclear power cannot be destroyed or reabsorbed.  Fact: Byproducts from nuclear energy take millions of years to break down.

Nuclear power does give us an immediate answer to energy needs, we aren’t taking into consideration the consequences our future generations will encounter.  Yes, nuclear energy is capable of running massive amounts of energy and will continue to do so for years to come, but the drawbacks are serious and we need to realize the larger scale of the future.

For now, scientists are continuing to find different ways to implement renewable energy forms that will not harm the environment.  Energy companies are experimenting with solar, wind and hydro power where possible.

Unfortunately for the time being, we have to count on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources until we can find a solution.  Right now, what we can do is to reduce our usage on these natural resources to make sure that they last a little bit longer.

Green Living