These hands can create some better things for better-ing
Global warming has always been a controversial topic. Is it real? Is it a hoax? Isn’t it the same as climate change? What even is climate change? According to both NASA and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Earth’s average planetary temperature is rising, and will continue rising. This is what we call “climate change.” It has caused and will cause many environmental issues including a rise in global temperature, sea levels, glacial retreat, and ocean acidification. Climate change has largely been caused by global warming, caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the excessive use of fossil fuels, methane released from landfills and agriculture, and gases used for industrial processes. All of these causes are included in the degradation of the air, adding to air pollution. Air pollution is one of the most damaging processes that effect the environment. However, since this process is not visible to the naked eye or in any sort of micro aspect, many people do not believe that it is happening. In 2012, president elect Donald Trump tweeted that "The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make US manufacturing non-competitive." This means that the presidency does not believe that it is real or that it is a pressing issue that the world should worry about, and will likely not acknowledge air pollution whatsoever in the next 4 years. Therefore, the US people must acknowledge it themselves, and negotiate their own cleaner air, such as striving toward the use of solar and wind energy.
There are many ways that people can avoid contributing to air pollution. One of these ways is solar power. Solar power is the production of energy by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity by the use of solar panels. Solar panels are simply left out in the sun in order to collect solar energy, meaning no use of manmade electricity, no burning of fossil fuels or gases, and no addition of pollutants to the atmosphere. Currently, the use of solar panels takes place mainly in remote locations where there is more room to place them, but has recently started becoming popular in more urban areas, mainly on rooftops. According to home inspector Bill Barber, one hour of energy from the sun could equal one year of power for the global population. Opposed to the burning of fossil fuels in our everyday lives, solar energy is 100% renewable, and greatly reduces the potential further damages of global warming. Alternative Energy News states that solar energy is the third most important renewable energy source, after hydro and wind. However, due to many businesses, and a large contribution from capitalism, solar energy is not being taken advantage of as much as it morally should be, even though the estimated savings of solar energy over 20 years is around $16,000. Therefore, not only are solar users helping save the environment, but are also helping their wallets.
The one downfall of solar energy is its limitation. While the conversion of solar energy is abundant and continuous when the sun is out, it is not being collected at night, and also depends on weather conditions. However, solar panels collect excess energy that is not used, and can be used throughout the night, depending on how much is collected and how many panels are collecting. Therefore, consumers must contemplate before buying solar panels on if they want to become dependent on it. Variables such as location and how much of the year their particular area gets sun should be considered. Northern countries, for example, such as northern Canada, Alaska, and Norway, have very long, dark winters, where solar panels may not be as effective as they would in Australia or even North America. Without the sun, the panels will not be able to collect or store energy, even if panels are collecting for the rest of the sunny year. In Yuma, Arizona, on the other hand, solar panels would be very beneficial, as it has been named the “sunniest place in the world,” enjoying 91% of daylight hours and an average of 4,055 hours of daylight a year, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. For all of those daylight hours, solar panels would generate and collect energy in excess, allowing the owner to essentially never need to pay electric energy bills again.
Another way to avoid adding to air pollution is wind power. Wind power is also a renewable, green energy source that does not contribute to pollution. According to National Geographic (NG), wind is the movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. In simpler terms, hot air rises into the atmosphere, and as it does, cold air moves to fill the void it leaves. Because the sun does not heat the earth evenly, there will always be wind. Therefore, as long as there is a sun to heat up the Earth, there will be wind to power wind turbines. Wind turbines are essentially giant propellers connected to the ground. As the wind turns the blades, the shaft of the turbine turns with them and powers a generator, meaning no manpower whatsoever, no burning of fossil fuels, and no addition to pollution. According to National Geographic, the biggest wind turbines generate enough electricity to supply about 600 U.S. homes. These 600 homes would no longer need fossil fuel support, reducing a relatively substantial part of air pollution, and that is only for one big turbine. Imagine the effect of smaller turbines due to lack of space, powering 200 homes, but being able to put them in multiple places in an area. Fossil fuels would nearly not be needed, and air pollution would become minimal.
Wind turbines would also cover for the energy that could not be collected by solar panels. If needed, solar panels would support the energy needed during the day, and when that energy is used up, wind turbines collect through the night and weather that blocks the sun, as long as there is wind.
Some people, however, oppose wind farms because they are “ugly” or “make too much noise.” The slowly rotating blades can also kill birds and bats, but not nearly as many as cars, power lines, and high-rise buildings do (NG). Opposed to these, though, smaller turbines erected in a backyard can produce enough electricity for a single home or small business, and since wind is at no cost and of no control of anyone, once a turbine is constructed and in motion, operational costs are essentially nothing. Similar to solar panels, though, turbines need space to be erected and in use, which is why many wind farms are located in areas with more flatlands, rather than in urban cities where more energy would be used. However, energy can be stored and transferred after being created in a generator so that energy can be stored and moved instead of limited to the space around where it is located. Vortex, a startup from Spain, is also developing Bladeless, a wind turbine excluding the blades. Instead of large propellers generating the energy, large white poles are designed to oscillate and violently shake using the vortex that blowing wind generates around it. Without blades, there is a reduction of bird and animal related issues, as well as a reduction of the cost of upkeep, which are two of the main problems considered by consumers before investing in turbines. Investing in wind turbines of either sort are beneficial for both the environment and for consumer wallets, especially those who cannot sustain off of solar panels due to lack of sufficient sunlight.
Renewable energy is very important to the environment and the progression of not only this country, but also the Earth itself. The effects of global warming and climate change are already underway, and will continue to effect the natural environment even greater as time continues and air pollution gets worse. As the human race, people are responsible for taking care of the world they live in, and people, such as Donald Trump, not even believing in the concept of something that is destroying the planet, makes change difficult. The only way to go about beginning to save the air, people, animals, and earth in itself, is to try to reduce the amount of pollution people put into the air individually, and working to help others do the same for everyone’s benefit. Solar and wind energy are a start to all these problems, and also a way to defy the president elect and what he may stand against. Global warming is real, and it is not going to stop because America’s president doesn’t want to acknowledge it.
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