One environmental issue that has been of prominent concern in the 20th century has been the growth in human population. The chart below, from the population reference bureau, illustrates the dramatic growth in human population beginning around the year 1750. As human population has grown the demand for resources of all kinds has also grown. Supporting more people means producing more food, which in turn requires greater amounts of energy, soil nutrients, water, and other resources associated with agricultural production Show
There are many types of resources that go into producing food and producing forages. In general these resources have been grouped into two types: renewable resources and nonrenewable resources. Renewable resources may be defined as resources that have the potential to be replaced over time by natural processes. The renewal process may be relatively quick, as with sunshine which comes on a daily basis. Or, the renewal
process may be very slow, as in the formation of soil which may take hundreds of years. Nonrenewable resources may be defined as resources whose stock or reserves is limited or fixed. The available supply of nonrenewable resources may be replenished through recycling (e.g. recycling aluminum cans), but the overall supply remains relatively constant. The table below gives several examples of each type of resource.
Examining the resources listed in the table above suggests that modern agricultural production, including forage production, is dependent on a number of resources that are considered nonrenewable. Farm equipment contains steel and aluminum parts and uses oil based fuels. The energy to manufacture fertilizer and other agrichemicals is derived from oil, coal, and natural gas. Phosphate fertilizers are widely used on crops. The realization of this dependence on nonrenewable resources has led to increased interest in developing and implementing so called sustainable agricultural production systems, as will be discussed in other sections of this lecture topic. The terms alternative energy, clean energy, green energy, and sustainable energy are not uncommon to hear these days. You may even note a sense of urgency around them. But do you know why? These are all common phrases used in reference to renewable energy resources. So why has renewable energy become increasingly relevant? Read on to get the answer to that question and more. We’ll cover what renewable sources of energy are available today, the pros and cons of renewable power generation, and how practicing sustainability affects you financially. What Makes Energy Renewable?
Renewable energy is the energy we derive from many of Earth’s naturally occurring resources, including wind, water, and sun. We call these resources renewable or sustainable (as in sustainable energy) since they are inexhaustible. What Is the Difference Between Nonrenewable and Renewable Energy Resources?Currently, the primary sources of energy in the United States are fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Unfortunately, fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources created over the course of millions of years, far beneath the Earth’s surface. When these finite resources are gone, they’re gone. The rate at which we’re using fossil fuels is too fast. If we don’t make a drastic and immediate change in how we’re using them, they could be potentially depleted within our children’s lifetime. On the other hand, renewable energy comes from virtually inexhaustible sources. Using these natural resources allows us to conserve and extend the lifespan of our nonrenewables. Even worse than depletion might be that fossil fuels have an extremely negative impact on the environment. The top cause of carbon emissions in the U.S. comes from electricity generation produced by burning fossil fuels in nonrenewable power plants. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions lead to global warming and other forms of climate change, which can lead to:
Renewable energy has a much lower carbon footprint than coal and other fossil fuels. Switching to renewable energy sources can positively impact the environment by slowing climate change. This positive environmental impact is where the terms green energy and clean energy come from.  How Do You Conserve Nonrenewable Energy Resources?
Even though making the change to renewable resources is a critical move for our future, finding additional ways to conserve our nonrenewable resources is equally important. Did you know that Americans wasted two-thirds of the total energy used in 2018? Think of how much longer our fossil fuels would last if we could avoid such waste. 6 Simple Steps Towards Energy Conservation:
Why Is Energy Conservation Important?In the United States, fossil fuels produce 80% of all energy consumed. Our current dependence on fossil fuels is too high to risk a rapid depletion rate. We are working towards replacing fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas with renewable alternatives, but we need time. The more energy we can conserve, the longer we will have nonrenewable resources available to assist us with our energy needs. Just as importantly, energy conservation helps to slow global warming. These Critical Achievements Can Be Accomplished Through Simple Acts of Energy Conservation:
What Are Renewable Sources of Energy?In its early stages, the costs and limitations of alternative energy didn’t make it as practical for widespread commercial use as it is now. Fortunately, renewable energy source options are steadily growing and improving. Plus, as the demand for improved energy efficiency and clean sources of energy grows, it’s becoming easier and more beneficial for consumers to go green. Let’s take a look at some of the sustainable energy resources that we’re using today to fulfill our energy needs:
What Are Different Ways To Generate Renewable Power?We now know that we use the Earth’s naturally occurring resources like the sun, wind, and water to source our energy needs. But how does that work? Here, we’ll look at some of the ways we use alternative energy to generate renewable power. How Do We Use Solar Energy To Generate Power?
Solar energy technologies refer to any solar-based system that captures radiant energy from the sun and converts it into another form of energy, like electrical or thermal energy. Solar energy includes solar power for electricity generation, passive solar systems, and solar-thermal systems for space heating and heating water. There are two main solar power system types. The first type is through photovoltaics (PV), which is the technology used in solar panels. Here, direct sunlight is converted by the PV system into electricity with solar cells. The other type is called a concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) system, which converts sunlight to heat first using mirrors and receivers, then using that heat to produce or store electricity. Solar energy very well may be the best renewable energy source we have today. As of now, it is the most abundant and cleanest alternative energy resource available as well as one of the cheapest. The United States is home to some of the best solar resources available throughout the world. What Is Hydropower? How Does It Work?
Dams are the most common association with hydroelectric power. As water flows through a dam’s turbines, it produces electricity or pumped-storage hydropower. Run-of-river hydropower is another form that uses a channel to funnel the water through instead of a dam. The most commonly-used renewable power source globally is hydropower, claiming over 54% of the world’s renewable power generation capacity in 2018. China is home to a facility named the Three Gorges, the biggest hydropower plant in the world. Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Russia also boast some of the world’s largest hydropower installations. How Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Work?
Geothermal heat is trapped heat that lies beneath the Earth’s crust since the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago. Occasionally, heat will naturally escape in large quantities, resulting in volcanic eruptions or geysers. We capture this heat and then use it to produce geothermal energy by harnessing the steam generated by the heated water that’s pumping below the surface. The steam then rises to the top, where it operates a turbine. As with any heat pump, geothermal heat pumps can cool, heat, and provide a hot water supply for homes. There are many types of geothermal heat pump systems. There are horizontal, vertical, and pond or lake closed-loop systems, and the open-loop system, plus there are hybrid systems. They all use Earth’s consistent temperature as the exchange medium rather than the air temperature outside. How Is Electricity Generated With Wind Power?
Did you know that windmills and wind turbines are not the same things? Windmills were the first method used to harness the wind’s energy. They can be used for pumping water, crushing and shredding rocks, grinding grains, and for other agricultural purposes, as well as for basic electricity generation. Windmills are built to withstand severe weather. They are less expensive and are used on a smaller scale than wind turbines. When it comes to mass electricity generation, you have to turn to wind turbines. They are more advanced but less versatile than windmills since a wind turbine’s sole function is to produce electricity. Wind farms, which are clusters of wind turbines arranged across large plots of open land, are used for bulk electricity generation. In contrast, small-scale single businesses and residential homes can use single wind turbines. Wind turbines are massive mechanical devices used to generate electricity by harnessing the wind’s kinetic energy. Most wind turbines are built with three propeller blades that rotate when the wind flows. The blades’ rotation turns a rotor, which connects to a part called the main shaft. When the blades spin, an electrical generator creates electricity. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that today’s offshore wind market only produces 0.3% of our global power generation. Still, it has the potential ability to generate more than 18 times the amount of electricity the global market demands today. Europe, China, Denmark, Germany, and the U.K. are the current leaders in the offshore wind market. Wind energy is one of our best sources of clean energy since it doesn’t produce any harmful emissions. Wind energy is also one of the fastest-growing energy sources globally. On top of that, the cheapest sources of electricity generation for over half of the world’s population are solar photovoltaics and onshore wind energy. Thanks to larger wind turbines, onshore wind energy now ranks number one as the cheapest source of new bulk electricity generation throughout all of North America. What Are the Different Types of Bioenergy?
Bioenergy is a renewable energy source derived from organic matter that comes from byproducts of recently living plants and organisms (aka biomass). One example of this is wood. We can generate energy by burning biomass or by harnessing the methane gas produced when organic material in ponds or landfills naturally decomposes. We use biomass energy for the generation of electricity, thermal energy, and biofuels. Different forms of biofuels, such as biogas, biodiesel, and bio-ethanol, help minimize the demand for traditional gasoline products while also reducing the amount of transportation-related greenhouse gases emitted. Ethanol is made from corn and sugarcane, while biodiesel is made from rapeseed, soy, and oil palm. Biomass feedstock becomes biobased products, electric power, heat, and liquid fuels, making it extremely versatile. Although burning biomass produces carbon dioxide emissions, plant regeneration consumes an equal amount of carbon dioxide, which we believe balances the atmosphere. Since animals or plants can live virtually anywhere, bioenergy is a form of renewable energy that we can incorporate worldwide. Which Is Cheaper: Nonrenewable or Renewable Energy?The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) published a report in 2020 that shows renewable power is becoming increasingly cheaper than fossil fuel for electricity generation. In fact, onshore wind power and solar photovoltaics are now the most affordable options in energy production. Products that were once too costly to be practical for consumer use have been plummeting in price. This new affordability is accredited to simple things like developers gaining more experience in the field, improved renewable technologies, enhanced energy efficiency capabilities, increased demand, and competitive supply chains. Using solar photovoltaics and onshore wind to replace coal could save up to $23 billion in annual power system costs and reduce yearly carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 gigatons. Solar PV costs are now one-fifth lower than the least expensive fossil-fuel source, and onshore wind power offers even greater savings. Nuclear, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energies are making their way into the financially competitive spotlight as well, significantly based on location. So how does renewable energy save you money? In addition to lowering your utility bills, many states and utility providers offer various green energy plans, incentives, credits, and discounts. Contact your local energy provider to learn about your options. Consider combining multiple energy technologies to create your own customized renewable energy system and reap the most significant savings on your utility bills. What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Renewable Resources?
Each alternative energy source has its advantages and disadvantages. Here, we’ll take a look at the positives and negatives of renewable resources as a whole. We already covered many of the major pros of using renewable energy: We can never deplete these natural resources, they will prolong the lifespan of fossil fuels and create fewer environmental impacts, and will save you money on your utility bills. That sounds pretty great already, but there’s more. Renewable energy jobs are on the rise worldwide. China is the clean energy employment leader providing around 4+ million jobs in the industry. However, the United States is also making tremendous growth. Americans working in the wind industry now double that of coal mining, and the solar industry employs more Americans than the U.S. wind industry. What Are the Disadvantages of Renewable Energy?While each sustainable energy option is unique, there are some prominent areas of concern.
How Do You Switch To Renewable Energy?
Most will agree that the benefits of using renewable resources far outweigh the drawbacks, not to mention that improved technology is emerging to regularly address and eliminate the negatives. You now know why making the switch to renewable energy is vital to our future. But how can you go about making the change? Ask about the green energy product and plan options available and get started on your new sustainable lifestyle today. Brought to you by justenergy.com All images licensed from Adobe Stock. What do renewable and nonrenewable resources have in common?What do renewable and nonrenewable resources have in common? They are very different forms of energy. However, some of the things they have in common are: They cost money to generate and produce.
What are 2 differences between nonrenewable and renewable resources?Renewable resources cannot be depleted over time. Non-renewable resources deplete over time. Renewable resources include sunlight, water, wind and also geothermal sources such as hot springs and fumaroles. Non-renewable resources includes fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum.
How are renewable and nonrenewable resources similar and different?Renewable resources will naturally replenish themselves over time, like wind, solar, plants, trees, etc. Non-renewable will be gone forever once used, like coal, fuel, etc. Understanding the difference is key to managing natural resources for the future.
What are the common types of renewable and nonRenewable resources include timber, wind, and solar while nonrenewable resources include coal and natural gas.
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What do renewable resources and nonrenewable resources have in common How are they different identify two renewable and two nonrenewable resources?
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