CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGIES - similarities/differences

By Michael Lucas

1. What are clean and renewable energies?

Clean energy is energy that does not cause CO2 to be released into the atmosphere, and is also known as green energy. It may, however, harm the environment in other ways. An excellent example of this is nuclear energy, which, yes, does not produce CO2, and is very efficient. However, it creates nuclear waste as a byproduct after the plutonium/uranium that was generating the energy is used up. This name may be slightly misleading because of the fact that is only partially clean. Clean energy is a broader subject than renewable energy, and also includes every renewable energy source. Here is a list of "clean" energy sources:

• Anaerobic digestion
• Biomass power
• Geothermal energy
• Hydro power
• Nuclear energy
• Power derived from the incineration of waste
• Solar power
• Tidal power
• Wave power
• Wind power

Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural sources and can be used without draining the power source. Essentially, something that can be used forever without being depleted. There is no specification that renewable energy is non-detrimental to the environment. It is merely standard and expected, because it cannot be used perpetually if it's damaging to the environment. Here is a list of renewable energy sources:

• Biofuel
• Biomass
• Geothermal energy
• Hydro power
• Solar power
• Wind power

There are also new renewable energy sources being researched by scientists:

• Artificial photosynthesis
• Cellulosic energy
• Enhanced geothermal systems
• Experimental solar power
• Ocean power(different from tidal power)

     2.  How are clean and renewable energies different from oil? Why does it matter?

Clean and renewable energy are different from oil because they are sustainable sources, unlike oil which will peak soon if it hasn't all ready. It will be important to keep an open mind about renewable energy sources if we are to continue to power large cities where everyone has heating, lighting and various other appliances which all depend on electricity or oil. For more information on peak oil see Megan's post.

     3.  Why are clean and renewable energies important with the coming oil crisis?

Clean and renewable energy will be important in the coming oil crisis because of our immense population and the high demand for oil and electricity and other such things that are mostly created with oil, a good example of being plastic. In several aspects it is absolutely necessary to resort to alternative energy, renewable being the obvious answer do to its limitless possibilities. The one drawback to renewable energy is that it can be expensive for one person to pay for a large scale project like installing solar panels or miniature wind mills, which are the most popular sources of renewable energy. However, it will not be easy to make it through the next century without renewable energy to fall back on.