1. Use less produce able Carbon Dioxide bulbs or lightings
Don’t use fluorescent bulbs as it takes high ratio of energy to output large amount of lights. So replace it with less energy consumable light bulbs. Scientist has discovered that if we use CFL bulb than we can lower down nearly 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb's lifetime. It use only a quarter of the energy consumed by conventional bulbs.
2. Efficient usage of Home Appliances
In home we are using energy more than required and it resulting wastage of energy. As we get energy by power plants, which burn fossil fuel to power our electric products. Making it burn outputs air pollution and contributes to smog, acid rain and global warming. If we use less energy definitely we will be saving money as well as energy.The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that if each of us increases the energy-efficiency in our major appliances by 10 - 30%, we'll release the demand for electricity by the equivalent of 25 large power plants!
3. Buy power saving Appliances
While you go for shopping for any electric appliances don’t buy appliances which use power above than average use specially appliances such as Refrigerator, Stove, Washer/Dryer, Air Conditioners, Water Heater, Computers and Home Office Equipment. Buy which has highest energy efficiency rating specified by any experts or sources.By using appliances marked with Energy Star Logo can help us to save 15 percent of energy than the federal requirement.Energy Star is the symbol for energy efficiency. It's a label created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy to help consumers save money and minimize air pollution.
4. Mineralize the energy needed for heating
USA Scientist concluded that heating and cooling systems in the U.S.A. emit into the atmosphere more than millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, which increasing the % of Global Warming rates. By decreasing the usage appliances we can save lots of energy which emits heat.
5. Save your fuel while driving
You can’t image that you can manage to save your fuel 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and attention to your style of driving in an appropriate way. You should take care of for saving fuel by: Don’t drive aggressively, Drive steadily at posted speed limits, Avoid idling your vehicle, Make sure your tires are properly inflated, Select the right gear, Service your vehicle regularly and much more.
6. Drive less and Use public transports more
If you try to drive less and walk more than it would be great contribution towards saving energy and creating global warming awareness. You should try travel by taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking. Try consolidating trips to the mall or longer routine drives. Encourage car-pooling.
7. Paint your Home according to Seasons
Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate. This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
8. Recycle every material
Try not to use products and materials which are not recyclable. Recycling saves energy, landfill space and natural resources. Increase usage of recycled materials such as paper & cardboard, plastic, glass, aluminum, steel & copper. Visit your local recycling center and find out what materials they accept for recycling. For your convenience use plastic bags or totes to store materials for recycling.
9. Eat more vegetarian meals than non-vegetarians
Avoid eating non-vegetarian food as it is not good for human health as well as to the planet. Try to this meal to increase your contribution towards Global Warming Awareness: Nutburgers, Irish Colcannon, Tofu Tamale Pie, Tofu Loaf, Grilled Polenta with Portabello Mushrooms, Vegetable Fajitas and many more.
10. Choose clean Energy Options
If you can choose your electricity supplier, pick a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources.
Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Global Warming Solutions
Fighting global warming is a daunting task, but there are many steps we can all take to help curb it. The Sierra Club believes that we can save our planet while preserving our way of life; that instead of falling into despair, we should look to this challenge as an opportunity. Now is the time for a bold shift to a safer, cleaner energy future built on clean power and energy-saving technology. To learn more about the ways to fight global warming, see the options below.
Way 1Global Warming Policy Solutions
We already have the clean energy technology to tackle the pressing issue of global warming. The Sierra Club believes that in order to safely and effectively mitigate the effects of climate change, comprehensive global warming legislation must accomplish the following:
(1.)Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous global warming: Scientists tell us that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2ยบ C over pre-industrial averages. Not only must global warming policy require such emissions reductions, but it must also ensure the U.S. adheres to this mandate by requiring periodic scientific review of progress toward sufficient emission reductions that will meet this goal. Legislation should direct EPA to adjust its regulatory process based on future scientific study and review of climate change to ensure that we meet measurable, intermittent emission reduction benchmarks between now and 2050 that will prevent a rise in global temperatures above dangerous levels.
(2.)Transition America to a clean energy economy in a just and equitable way: Global warming is among the greatest challenges of our time, but also presents extraordinary opportunities to harness home-grown clean energy sources and encourage technological innovation. These bold shifts toward a clean energy future can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and generate billions of dollars in capital investment. But in order to maximize these benefits across all sectors of our society, comprehensive global warming legislation must auction emission allowances to polluters and use these public assets for public benefit programs.
Such programs include financial assistance to help low and moderate-income consumers and workers offset higher energy costs as well as programs that assist with adaptation efforts in communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Revenue generated from emissions allowances should also aid the expansion of renewable and efficient energy technologies that quickly, cleanly, cheaply, and safely reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. Lastly, it is absolutely vital that comprehensive global warming legislation not preempt state authority to cut greenhouse gas emissions more aggressively than mandated by federal legislation.
(3.)Aid communities and ecosystems vulnerable to harm from global warming: Global warming has already negatively affected vulnerable communities and eco-systems, the vast majority of which have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions. These include states, localities and tribes that will require financial assistance to adapt infrastructure to respond to climate change, developing countries and small island states that are vulnerable to sea level rises and already suffer from heat waves, water shortages and food and water-borne disease, as well as wildlife and ecosystems that will require assistance to preserve natural habitats and prevent wildfires.
As the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gas pollution, the U.S. has an obligation to assist communities and regions that are suffering the consequences of our carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition to passing comprehensive global warming legislation, the Sierra Club believes in federal energy policy that will transition us away from our dirty, fossil-fuel past toward a clean energy future. Learn more about the energy bills in Congress we support. We are also conducting local campaigns across the country to conserve our energy use and use cleaner energy. Our priorities include:
Encouraging more states to adopt energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and goals. Twenty five states now require local utility companies to derive a specified percentage of energy from renewable sources. Our goal is to have more states and ultimately the entire country to adopt a renewable electricity standard (RES) of at least 20 percent by 2020 and to increase electric efficiency by at least 2 percent per year.
Stopping the coal rush by opposing as many new polluting coal plants as possible and cleaning up existing plants. We also want states and the federal government to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent. Learn more about our coal campaign
Pushing for "Clean Car" laws in more states. Thirteen U.S. states and Canada require the auto industry to produce cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks than federal standards dictate. Adding more states will force the auto industry to make all cars sold in the U.S. and Canada meet these standards. Learn more about the clean cars campaign.
Protecting the Arctic Refuge, coastal waters, and other sensitive lands from coal, oil, and gas development. Learn more about our wild legacy program.
Expanding the "Cool Cities" campaign. More than 900 "Cool Cities" have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and pledged to reduce global warming pollution. The campaign aims to help these cities fulfill their pledges through energy efficiency and renewable energy, and encourages more cities to become "cool." Learn more about Cool Cities.
Conducting on-the-ground education campaigns to let people know how they can reduce their own carbon footprints. Check out our personal global warming solutions pages for reducing your energy consumption and transportation emissions.
Way 2Personal Global Warming Solutions
The world's scientists agree: global warming is real, here, and happening faster than anyone predicted. But scientists also say we can curb global warming and its consequences -- if we take bold, comprehensive action now that adds up to an 80 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, or an average of 2 percent a year. Learn more about how to be part of the Two Percent Solution!
U.S. carbon emissions primarily come from transportation and power plants. You can take the following steps to reduce your own carbon emissions from these sectors:
Transportation
Every gallon of gasoline we burn emits 28 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, so the less you drive the more we thrive! Of course, driving less is often easier said than done.
Power Plants
The best way to do your part to reduce power plant emissions is to use less electricity! This has the added bonus of keeping more money in your pocket.
Way 1Global Warming Policy Solutions
We already have the clean energy technology to tackle the pressing issue of global warming. The Sierra Club believes that in order to safely and effectively mitigate the effects of climate change, comprehensive global warming legislation must accomplish the following:
(1.)Reduce emissions to avoid dangerous global warming: Scientists tell us that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050 to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2ยบ C over pre-industrial averages. Not only must global warming policy require such emissions reductions, but it must also ensure the U.S. adheres to this mandate by requiring periodic scientific review of progress toward sufficient emission reductions that will meet this goal. Legislation should direct EPA to adjust its regulatory process based on future scientific study and review of climate change to ensure that we meet measurable, intermittent emission reduction benchmarks between now and 2050 that will prevent a rise in global temperatures above dangerous levels.
(2.)Transition America to a clean energy economy in a just and equitable way: Global warming is among the greatest challenges of our time, but also presents extraordinary opportunities to harness home-grown clean energy sources and encourage technological innovation. These bold shifts toward a clean energy future can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and generate billions of dollars in capital investment. But in order to maximize these benefits across all sectors of our society, comprehensive global warming legislation must auction emission allowances to polluters and use these public assets for public benefit programs.
Such programs include financial assistance to help low and moderate-income consumers and workers offset higher energy costs as well as programs that assist with adaptation efforts in communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Revenue generated from emissions allowances should also aid the expansion of renewable and efficient energy technologies that quickly, cleanly, cheaply, and safely reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. Lastly, it is absolutely vital that comprehensive global warming legislation not preempt state authority to cut greenhouse gas emissions more aggressively than mandated by federal legislation.
(3.)Aid communities and ecosystems vulnerable to harm from global warming: Global warming has already negatively affected vulnerable communities and eco-systems, the vast majority of which have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions. These include states, localities and tribes that will require financial assistance to adapt infrastructure to respond to climate change, developing countries and small island states that are vulnerable to sea level rises and already suffer from heat waves, water shortages and food and water-borne disease, as well as wildlife and ecosystems that will require assistance to preserve natural habitats and prevent wildfires.
As the world's leading emitter of greenhouse gas pollution, the U.S. has an obligation to assist communities and regions that are suffering the consequences of our carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition to passing comprehensive global warming legislation, the Sierra Club believes in federal energy policy that will transition us away from our dirty, fossil-fuel past toward a clean energy future. Learn more about the energy bills in Congress we support. We are also conducting local campaigns across the country to conserve our energy use and use cleaner energy. Our priorities include:
Encouraging more states to adopt energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and goals. Twenty five states now require local utility companies to derive a specified percentage of energy from renewable sources. Our goal is to have more states and ultimately the entire country to adopt a renewable electricity standard (RES) of at least 20 percent by 2020 and to increase electric efficiency by at least 2 percent per year.
Stopping the coal rush by opposing as many new polluting coal plants as possible and cleaning up existing plants. We also want states and the federal government to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent. Learn more about our coal campaign
Pushing for "Clean Car" laws in more states. Thirteen U.S. states and Canada require the auto industry to produce cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks than federal standards dictate. Adding more states will force the auto industry to make all cars sold in the U.S. and Canada meet these standards. Learn more about the clean cars campaign.
Protecting the Arctic Refuge, coastal waters, and other sensitive lands from coal, oil, and gas development. Learn more about our wild legacy program.
Expanding the "Cool Cities" campaign. More than 900 "Cool Cities" have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and pledged to reduce global warming pollution. The campaign aims to help these cities fulfill their pledges through energy efficiency and renewable energy, and encourages more cities to become "cool." Learn more about Cool Cities.
Conducting on-the-ground education campaigns to let people know how they can reduce their own carbon footprints. Check out our personal global warming solutions pages for reducing your energy consumption and transportation emissions.
Way 2Personal Global Warming Solutions
The world's scientists agree: global warming is real, here, and happening faster than anyone predicted. But scientists also say we can curb global warming and its consequences -- if we take bold, comprehensive action now that adds up to an 80 percent cut in carbon emissions by 2050, or an average of 2 percent a year. Learn more about how to be part of the Two Percent Solution!
U.S. carbon emissions primarily come from transportation and power plants. You can take the following steps to reduce your own carbon emissions from these sectors:
Transportation
Every gallon of gasoline we burn emits 28 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, so the less you drive the more we thrive! Of course, driving less is often easier said than done.
Power Plants
The best way to do your part to reduce power plant emissions is to use less electricity! This has the added bonus of keeping more money in your pocket.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.
10
Energy inside the earth
Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, a process that happens in all rocks. The earth has a number of different layers:
The core itself has two layers: a solid iron core and an outer core made of very hot melted rock, called magma.
The mantle which surrounds the core and is about 1,800 miles thick. It is made up of magma and rock.
The crust is the outermost layer of the earth, the land that forms the continents and ocean floors. It can be three to five miles thick under the oceans and 15 to 35 miles thick on the continents.
The earth's crust is broken into pieces called plates. Magma comes close to the earth's surface near the edges of these plates. This is where volcanoes occur. The lava..that erupts from volcanoes is partly magma. Deep underground, the rocks and water absorb the heat from this magma. The temperature of the rocks and water get hotter and hotter as you go deeper underground.
People around the world use geothermal Where is geothermal
energy found?
Most geothermal reservoirs are deep underground with no visible clues showing above ground.
Geothermal energy can sometimes find its way to the surface in the form of:
. volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where
volcanic gases and steam are released) . hot springs and
· geysers
are usually found along major plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated.When magma comes close to the surface it heats ground water found trapped in porous rock or water running along fractured rock surfaces and faults. Naturally occurring large areas of hydrothermal resources are called geothermal reservoirs. Geologists use different methods to look for geothermal reservoirs. Drilling a well and testing the temperature deep under
Uses of geothermal energy
Some applications of geothermal energy use the earth's temperatures near the surface, while others require drilling miles into the earth. The three main uses of geothermal energy are:
1) Direct Use and District Heating Systems which use hot water from springs or reservoirs near the surface.
2) Electricity generation in a power part requires water or steam at very high temperature (300 to 700 degrees Farrenheit). Geothermal power plants are generally built where geothermal reservoirs are located within a mile or two Of the surface.
3) Geothermal heat pumps use stable ground or water temperatures near the earth's surface to control building temperatures above ground.
10
Energy inside the earth
Geothermal energy is generated in the earth's core, about 4,000 miles below the surface. Temperatures hotter than the sun's surface are continuously produced inside the earth by the slow decay of radioactive particles, a process that happens in all rocks. The earth has a number of different layers:
The core itself has two layers: a solid iron core and an outer core made of very hot melted rock, called magma.
The mantle which surrounds the core and is about 1,800 miles thick. It is made up of magma and rock.
The crust is the outermost layer of the earth, the land that forms the continents and ocean floors. It can be three to five miles thick under the oceans and 15 to 35 miles thick on the continents.
The earth's crust is broken into pieces called plates. Magma comes close to the earth's surface near the edges of these plates. This is where volcanoes occur. The lava..that erupts from volcanoes is partly magma. Deep underground, the rocks and water absorb the heat from this magma. The temperature of the rocks and water get hotter and hotter as you go deeper underground.
People around the world use geothermal Where is geothermal
energy found?
Most geothermal reservoirs are deep underground with no visible clues showing above ground.
Geothermal energy can sometimes find its way to the surface in the form of:
. volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where
volcanic gases and steam are released) . hot springs and
· geysers
are usually found along major plate boundaries where earthquakes and volcanoes are concentrated.When magma comes close to the surface it heats ground water found trapped in porous rock or water running along fractured rock surfaces and faults. Naturally occurring large areas of hydrothermal resources are called geothermal reservoirs. Geologists use different methods to look for geothermal reservoirs. Drilling a well and testing the temperature deep under
Uses of geothermal energy
Some applications of geothermal energy use the earth's temperatures near the surface, while others require drilling miles into the earth. The three main uses of geothermal energy are:
1) Direct Use and District Heating Systems which use hot water from springs or reservoirs near the surface.
2) Electricity generation in a power part requires water or steam at very high temperature (300 to 700 degrees Farrenheit). Geothermal power plants are generally built where geothermal reservoirs are located within a mile or two Of the surface.
3) Geothermal heat pumps use stable ground or water temperatures near the earth's surface to control building temperatures above ground.
Photovoltaic energy
Photovoltaic energy is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell, commonly called a solar cell or PV, is the technology used to convert solar energy directly into electrical power. A photovoltaic cell is a non-mechanical device usually made from silicon alloys.
Sunlight is composed of photons, or particles of solar energy. These photons contain various amounts of energy corresponding to the different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. When photons strike a photovoltaic cell, they may be reflected,pass right through, or be absorbed. Only the absorbed photons provide energy to generate electricity. When enough sunlight (energy) is absorbed by the material (a semiconductor), electrons are dislodged from the material's atoms. Special treatment of the material surface during manufacturing makes the front surface of the cell more receptive to free electrons, so the electrons naturally migrate to the surface.
When the electrons leave their position, holes are formed. When many electrons each carrying a negative charge , travel toward the front surface of the cell, the resulting imbalance of charge between the cell's front and back surfaces creates a voltage potential like the negative and positive terminals of a battery. When the two surfaces are connected throughan external load, electricityflows.Some advantages of photovoltaic systems are:
1. Conversion from sunlight to electricity is direct, so that bulky mechanical generator systems are unnecessary.
2. PV arrays can be installed quickly and in any size required or allowed.
3. The environmental impact is minimal,requiring no water for system cooling and generating no by-products.Photovoltaic cells, like batteries, generate direct current (Dc) which is generally used for small loads (electronic equipment). When DC from photovoltaic cells is used for commercial applications or sold to electric utilities using the electric grid, it must be converted to alternating current (AC) using inverters, solid state devices that convert DC power to AC.
Historically, PV has been used at remote sites to provide electricity. In the future PV arrays may be located at sites that are also connected to the electric grid enhfncing the reliability of the distribution system.
Solar thermal heat
Solar thermal (heat) energy is often used for heating swimming pools, heating water used in homes, and space heating of buildings. Solar space heating systems can be classified as passive or active.
Passive space heating is what happens to your car on a hot summer day. In buildings, the air is circulated past a solar heat surface(s) and through the building by convection (i.e. less dense warm air tends to rise while more dense cooler air moves downward). No mechanical equipment is needed for passive solar heating.
Active heating systems require a collector to absorb and collect solar radiation. Fans or pumps are used to circulate the heated air or heat absorbing fluid. Active systems often include some type of energy storage system.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Alternative Energy Sources
There is now growing awareness on the imperatives for a global energy future which marks a distinct departure from past trends and patterns of energy production and use. These imperatives emerge as much from the need to ensure energy security/ as they do from the urgency of controlling local pollution from combustion of different fuels and/ of course/ the growing challenge of climate change/ which requires reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHSs)/ particularly carbon dioxide.
- Dr. R. K. Pachauri/ Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
8Many important events have occurred during the history of using renewable sources even though the use of renewable energy is not new. Five generations (125 years) ago, wood supplied up to 90 percent of our energy needs. Due to the convenience and low prices of fossil fuels, wood use has fallen. Now, some biomass that would normally be taken to the dump is converted into electricity (e.g., manufacturing wastes, rice hulls, and black liquor from paper production).
Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which may be naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/ micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. Renewable energy sources can be replenished in a short period of time. The five renewable sources used most often are:
• wind
• solar
• geothermal
• biomass energy
• water harvesting
In 2006, about 18 percent of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, like wood-burning. Hydropower was the next largest renewable source, providing 3%, followed by hot water/heating which contributed 1.3%. Modern technologies, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption. The technical potential for their use is very large, exceeding all other readily available sources.
Renewable energy technologies are sometimes criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the market is growing for many forms of renewable energy. Wind power has a worldwide installed capacity of over 100 GW and is widely used in several European countries and the USA. The manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached more than 2,000 MW per year in 2006, and PV power plants are particularly popular in Germany. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18 percent of the country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.
While there are many large-scale renewable energy projects, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20-100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.
Climate change concerns coupled with high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. European Union leaders reached an agreement in principle in March 2007 that 20 percent of their nations' energy should be produced from renewable fuels by 2020, as part of its drive to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, blamed in part for global warming. Investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006. This level of investment combined with continuing double digit percentage increases each year has moved what once was considered alternative energy to mainstream. Wind was the first to provide 1 % of electricity, but solar is not far behind. Some very large corporations such as BP, General Electric, Sharp, and Royal Dutch Shell are investing in the renewable energy sector.
The need for renewable energy use and current global warming trends
Carbon dioxide emissions are causing the Earth's climate to change and warm, which will have catastrophic results if we do not act to reduce them. Carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere are at their highest levels in recorded history, spanning over 650,000 years.
The effects of climate change can be seen now. Temperatures are increasing, glaciers are receding at unprecedented speeds, storms are becoming more frequent and severe, and chunks of ice the size of Connecticut are breaking off the Antarctic ice shelf.
- Dr. R. K. Pachauri/ Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
8Many important events have occurred during the history of using renewable sources even though the use of renewable energy is not new. Five generations (125 years) ago, wood supplied up to 90 percent of our energy needs. Due to the convenience and low prices of fossil fuels, wood use has fallen. Now, some biomass that would normally be taken to the dump is converted into electricity (e.g., manufacturing wastes, rice hulls, and black liquor from paper production).
Renewable energy effectively uses natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, which may be naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies range from solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/ micro hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. Renewable energy sources can be replenished in a short period of time. The five renewable sources used most often are:
• wind
• solar
• geothermal
• biomass energy
• water harvesting
In 2006, about 18 percent of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, like wood-burning. Hydropower was the next largest renewable source, providing 3%, followed by hot water/heating which contributed 1.3%. Modern technologies, such as geothermal, wind, solar, and ocean energy together provided some 0.8% of final energy consumption. The technical potential for their use is very large, exceeding all other readily available sources.
Renewable energy technologies are sometimes criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the market is growing for many forms of renewable energy. Wind power has a worldwide installed capacity of over 100 GW and is widely used in several European countries and the USA. The manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached more than 2,000 MW per year in 2006, and PV power plants are particularly popular in Germany. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18 percent of the country's automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.
While there are many large-scale renewable energy projects, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20-100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.
Climate change concerns coupled with high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. European Union leaders reached an agreement in principle in March 2007 that 20 percent of their nations' energy should be produced from renewable fuels by 2020, as part of its drive to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, blamed in part for global warming. Investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006. This level of investment combined with continuing double digit percentage increases each year has moved what once was considered alternative energy to mainstream. Wind was the first to provide 1 % of electricity, but solar is not far behind. Some very large corporations such as BP, General Electric, Sharp, and Royal Dutch Shell are investing in the renewable energy sector.
The need for renewable energy use and current global warming trends
Carbon dioxide emissions are causing the Earth's climate to change and warm, which will have catastrophic results if we do not act to reduce them. Carbon dioxide emissions in our atmosphere are at their highest levels in recorded history, spanning over 650,000 years.
The effects of climate change can be seen now. Temperatures are increasing, glaciers are receding at unprecedented speeds, storms are becoming more frequent and severe, and chunks of ice the size of Connecticut are breaking off the Antarctic ice shelf.
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