What Are Renewable Energy and Alternate Energy Sources?
Unlike fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, renewable energy is sustainable because it is derived from inexhaustible sources such as the sun (solar), wind, biomass, water (hydro) and geothermal. Renewable energy sources are not man-made and occur naturally. Because of their sustainability, renewable energy sources can be relied upon for producing long term, cost effective and efficient power. Also known as ‘green energy’, these enviro-friendly energy sources are generally non-polluting and cleaner to use than fossil fuels such as oil. When commonly used in systems to generate electricity, they do not emit toxic waste or produce greenhouse gases. Many governments around the world are looking at renewable energy to reduce our dependence on oil and other polluting fossil fuels. For example, in Australia where I live, the government has committed to ensuring that twenty percent of Australia’s electricity supply comes from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. To encourage electri
