What is alternative energy?
Renewable - A renewable energy source is defined as any energy source that is replenishable and replenished on some reasonable time scale. Renewable energy sources include, but are not limited to wind, solar, heat from the earth's interior, oceans, rivers, and biomass. Renewable material sources include, but are not limited to wood; grass fibers, plant-based plastics, fuels and 100 percent recycled content metals, papers, plastics and glass.
Sustainability - There are hundreds of definitions of sustainability and sustainable development, but the best known is the one first coined by the United Nation's World Commission on Environment and Development. It suggests that development is sustainable where it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Source: Sustainable Research Group (Grand Rapids, MI)
Energy Efficiency
A
critical first step in the move toward alternative energy is
energy efficiency which is considered the most cost effective
form of renewable energy. Critical to understanding energy
efficiency is understanding how we use energy in our homes and
offices. An energy audit can help to identify effective measures
to save money and the environment while making buildings safer
and more comfortable. Planning and designing new buildings to
meet higher standards, such as ENERGY STAR, LEED, and Green
Built Standards ensures that they will be ready to meet rising
energy costs in the future.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Hydrogen fuel cells can transform the way the world uses energy.
Fuel cells generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen
with only water as a by-product. They can power everything from
laptop computers to automobiles. While at least a decade remains
before they can easily be incorporated into everyday life, the
promise of zero emissions and increased fuel efficiency makes
hydrogen fuel cells worth the wait.
Alternative Fuels
Alternative
fuels also known as non-conventional fuels, are any materials or
substances that can be used as a fuel, other than conventional
fuels. Conventional fuels include: fossil fuels (petroleum
(oil), coal, propane, and natural gas), and nuclear materials
such as uranium. Some well known alternative fuels include
biodiesel, bioalcohol (methanol, ethanol, butanol), chemically
stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen,
non-fossil methane, non-fossil natural gas, vegetable oil and
other biomass sources.
Geothermal
Geothermal
Technologies uses natural heat from the earth to heat and cool
buildings. This clean and sustainable Technologies reduces
emissions and operating costs. In Michigan, numerous
homes, businesses and educational buildings use geothermal heat
pumps
Wind Turbine
A
wind energy system transforms the kinetic energy of the wind
into mechanical or electrical energy that can be harnessed for
practical use. Mechanical energy is most commonly used for
pumping water in rural or remote locations--the "farm windmill"
still seen in many rural areas of the U.S. is a mechanical wind
pumper--but it can also be used for many other purposes
(grinding grain, sawing, pushing a sailboat, etc). Wind
electric turbines generate electricity for homes and businesses
and for sale to utilities.
Solar
Solar
energy is a kind of renewable energy that comes in the form of
radiation from the sun. Everyday, millions upon millions of
watts of power reach the earth's surface. Much of this energy is
used to heat our planet, but up to a third is wasted, reflected
back out to space. In fact, each meter of the earth's surface
during a sunny day receives about 1,000 kilowatts of energy,
more than enough energy to power a home or office. It is
estimated that solar energy is so abundant, that in just 20
days, all the solar energy that reaches the earth exceeds that
of the energy that can be produced by all the oil, coal and gas
in the earth's crust.
Biomass
Biomass,
as a renewable energy source, refers to living and recently dead
biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial
production. In this context, biomass refers to plant matter
grown to generate electricity or produce biofuel, and it also
includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers,
chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes
that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material which
has been transformed by geological processes into substances
such as coal or petroleum.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org, American Wind Energy Association
Design and Construction Technologies
West Campus, Room M103
Phone: (517) 483-5338
Additional contact information »