We’ve heard it over and over. Oil is going to run out some day, and the government isn’t doing much about it! An article over at the Environmental News Network says that a poll with over 15,000 respondents said that majority believed that oil is running out. I agree! Especially with the oil prices rising! Even if some people claim that we won’t run out for a while, power plants running on coal and oil still pollute the environment! Luckily, we still make more power, through cleaner means.
1. Solar Energy. The sun is above our heads, shining until the world ends. Why not use it? One problem: solar energy is expensive! Science is finding a way to make it cheaper than oil or coal, but it will probably take another decade or so. Still, more and more people are investing in solar power, even solar power conferences like this one in 2008, and who knows? It may just become our largest source of energy! You can even make a solar generator at home for only around $300 for those sudden blackouts.
2. Wind Energy. Ah, the fresh morning breeze. Windmills have been around for a long time, and now we have turbines using the wind’s power for electricity! Prime places for wind, however, sometimes run into other interests like farms, cities or resorts. I can sort of understand that. I don’t want places like that resort in Bora Bora to disappear! Hopefully science can find a way to solve this.
3. Hydroelectric Power. Ever been on a powerful river? That current is strong! The river powers turbines that provide electricity. Water will keep flowing as long as the world is alive! We’re already aware of the effects of damming up a river, sometimes causing loss of homes, but it’s still a good source of energy.
4. Geothermal Power. Hot springs are a natural relaxation spot for many people. They can also be used for power! The steam and hot water can be used to turn turbines, and can also heat houses and buildings. Not only do you have a way to soak and relax, you have a power source, too! Sadly, not too many places in the world are prime spots for this type of power.
5. Ocean Power. Any surfer will tell you that those waves pack a wallop! So it’s only natural that they can be used for energy. Tides make water rise and fall, and wind along the ocean surface can make waves. Wave power is already used by some lighthouses and buoys, even! Canada and France already have power plants that use the power of the tides to make electricity. A third, experimental system uses heat flow in oceans, but it’s still being researched. All methods are expensive, though. But we have science for that!
There you have it! In case one day we run out of oil and coal, by then, we will have enough knowledge to let these energies power our world. What method do you prefer?
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12 Comments
April 23, 2008 at 5:57 am
On what do you base that conclusion? I have seen lots of initiatives by my government and even by its employees in their workplaces. I will be the first to agree that more needs to be done by everyone, but blanket statements like this do nothing but perpetuate ignorance and stereotypes. I would get a lot more value from you as a writer if you let me know what IS being done and then contrasting that to what you feel should be done.
Your article has little credibility to me because you resorted to using a cliche. Wanting a coin to have only one side does not make it so.
April 23, 2008 at 6:34 am
Have finally watched “An inconvenient truth” last night. Al Gore can learn from this post or you were inspired by his Oscar winning documentary? Which ever way, everybody needs to learn major eco-friendly lessons. Good post.
April 23, 2008 at 6:35 am
Lots of initiatives, yes, I agree with that one. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Initiatives.
When I said government, I referred to mine. I really hope that would change, but after a certain recent confident statement that we’ll never run out of oil, forgive me if I have doubts.
April 23, 2008 at 11:56 am
There are new technologies that make some of these things even cheaper. There is already a new Solar Technology that is printed on plastic using special carbon ink. Currently it is only 1/4th the cost of normal solar to produce the same power. When they scale up it will be cut to 1/10th of what it is now. They are projecting 2 years to do this.
Next, on the ocean section you did not mention the 2 most imporant sources of ocean power. First ocean currents, and second the huge amount of seaweed that can be used as a bio fuel.
But even with all of these the largest, and fastest way to produce power will be nuclear. We now have the technology that will allow us to run nuclear power plants and create no waste, and these new ideas can convert the existing spent rods (Where only 5% has been used) into new rods. We have enough waste to run for 100 years if we use these methods. All with little to no waste.
-Jason Dragon
http://blog.capitalactive.com/
April 23, 2008 at 12:56 pm
The windmills and the dam look so environmentally clean don’t they? I think you have a great article here and thanks so much for sharing!
April 24, 2008 at 11:03 am
I’m not convinced oil is running out any time soon. Oil tech advances just as solar, wind and hydro does. We also have oil shale/sands. Once those become economically feasible then N.America has some of the largest deposits. Many are talking about ‘clean coal’ and carbon sequestration although I’m still skeptical. I think some of the brightest future technologies are algae and hydrogen but they are still a long way off. There is also an ingenious ’space based solar power’ scheme which is fascinating if still only in the concept phase. Nice article.
April 24, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I think we’re going to need them all to keep the status quo, but my favorite method is just plain cutting back. Leading a simpler life without needing a car, and growing part of my food source.
But then again, I’m a hermit.
April 24, 2008 at 8:51 pm
The world is in for a rude awakening. There are limited amounts of oil. In 25 years this will be running out. Recently, the price of crude has been going up about a dollar a day. The world can not go on like it has been. We will need to conserve and develop alternate technologies. The sun produces an abundance of power, and has been producing this power for billions of years. When man wakes up and realizes that there is not an infinite supply of petroleum, maybe these alternatives will be exploited and we will not have to worry if society will continue.
April 25, 2008 at 8:38 pm
How about writing about oil heat. But not your regular oil heat, but BIOheat. All it is, it’s a B5 blend of oil mixed with biodiesel (which is made up from soybean oil, corn, etc.). It burns cleaner, produces close to zero emissions, and produce zero greenhouse gases. Pretty cool. Working at NORA has taught me how to go green, and the first thing I did was convert my furnace and boiler into an oil-based solution. I just love not having to worry about maintenance. Check out this site: http://oilheatamerica.com/index.mv?screen=bioheat
That’s what got me to go green.
April 26, 2008 at 11:53 am
Nice article…
There still others alternative energy, such as nuclear fission, biomass, volcanic and algae reproductive energy instead of the above top 5.
The only matter is, the cost to build and sustain it will be another factor that need to be consider…
Wilson.
May 8, 2008 at 12:34 am
My one real problem with your article is that you allow rising oil prices to convince you that oil is running out. OPEC loves the way you think. They rely upon our belief that oil is almost gone to justify massive price boosts. By supply and demand, they can receive many times what they were originally charging.
I agree that we must pursue alternative energy. But our hasty fear is at the expense of the America public.
May 9, 2008 at 7:00 pm
The issue isn’t that oil is running out, but that production cannot keep up with the pace at which we consume it. Like OPEC or not, there is a huge supply and demand problem here. Demand is largely inelastic, since our infrastructure relies heavily upon it to power our increasing energy needs (or wants, even), and supply is dwindling, if anything.
Even with advanced oil extraction technologies, we are looking at fewer potential sources to tap, as well as more expensive procedures to undertake. None of which will help lower prices.
We’ll likely have to rely on a combination of these alternative energy sources in the future. Otherwise, I am in complete agreement with Jeremy. We simply need to consume less.
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