You cannot define renewable energy that easily. It is the general term used for a whole range of unconventional energy sources, so the definition has to be all-encompassing. As most experts put it, renewable energy is any energy source that occurs naturally and very widely.
Most renewable energy sources are dependent on nuclear power. This nuclear power comes from the sun. In a huge nuclear reaction, the sun produces energy in the form of light and heat and this reaches the earth as natural sources of energy. The sun is the ultimate source of solar power, wind power, biomass energy and so on. Fossil fuels may be categorized under biomass energy, but are limitedly available and have plenty of disastrous side effects.
There is a great renewable energy program at The US federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory which researches the latest energy saving techniques. Scientists have finally understood that energy efficiency much more effective, and NREL educates people in this field.
They cooperate with the leaders of the construction industry, highlight attempts to try to build using renewable energy and give information to producers as well as consumers how they can save money by using this type of energy. NREL also collaborate with agencies to set a rule of thumb for buildings and other energy consuming contrivances.
Renewable energy use is beneficial for the environment in the polluted world of today. Wind and solar energy are two of the most prominent types of this energy. Biofuels, geothermal energy and wave or tidal power are fast becoming popular, though some of these may potentially harm the natural world.
Is there any difference between renewable and alternative energy?
Many people don’t know the fine difference between the two. Renewable energy is fundamentally natural; it’s the energy we get from the sun, wind or waves. Alternative energy, however, includes both bio fuels and nuclear energy sources which are not really healthy options for us to use.
The infrastructure of today is made for the use of fossil fuels, even though renewable energy or green energy is way more cost effective. The government has taken very few steps to make any changes and go for renewable sources of energy in a larger scale. With the present situation getting worse day by day, there must be a change pretty soon.
One positive thing about fossil fuels is that we can store the energy we get from them, unlike renewable or green energy sources. Solar power, for instance, is useless in cloudy weather. Unless there is any wind, that source of energy cannot be made use of. This and the fact that initial costs to get energy from these unconventional sources are high, have lent it a definite drawback as compared to traditional sources of energy.
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