The Pros And Cons Of Solar And Wind Energy

Obtaining energy by the means of burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, is unsustainable and raises environmental concerns. Gases like carbon dioxide, as well as other toxic pollutants, are released into the atmosphere when these fossil fuels are burned. This contributes to air pollution, the greenhouse effect, and ultimately global warming. When carbon dioxide is exposed to the air, heat is trapped and is unable to escape into space, leading to the rise in global temperatures. Pollution in the air can cause diseases in living organisms,

Coal is a fossil fuel that is heavily relied upon around the world as a source of electricity generation. Coal, a substance consisting of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur, is created through a natural process consisting of decayed plants that compress under moist conditions for millions of years to become the coal used today. The use of coal as an energy source was responsible for the success of the industrial revolution and was thrust to the forefront of energy generation becoming a dominant fossil fuel. Coal is burned to create steam which in turn spins a turbine to produce the electricity that powers large percentages of multiple nations. Coal has had a long history in the United States as well as globally due to coal’s abundance in the America’s as well as places such as China and India. In comparison to other fossil fuels, coal is the most widely available fuel source and the cheapest available energy source to produce electricity. Coal is mined through two methods: strip and underground mines. Both types of mines cause various environmental issues in the land surrounding mines as well as altering the atmosphere and influencing global warming. The extraction phase of coal mining has the ability to potentially cause soil erosion, alter animal and plant life, pollute groundwater, destroy farmable land, and block streams and rivers. The production phase of coal creates a harmful toxic waste slurry and can cause coal fires in storage areas

Throughout the past few decades, the human population has had increasing demands for various utilities such as electricity and heat. This increase in demand has sparked up a problem now present in our world. That problem is the emission of various carbon gases, including carbon dioxide, into our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a gas that exists naturally in our atmosphere. However, thanks to the combustion of fossil fuels, there is more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than any time in the past. On a report by the EPA, it is shown that coal is responsible for about 70% of all carbon emissions, including carbon dioxide. Coal is the most used type of fossil fuel to create both electricity and heat. With our high demand for electricity and heat,

For many years, energy has been a need for people everywhere. What has become of the world today is due to the revolution in energy use. There are two types of energy non-renewables and sources-renewables. An example of a non-renewable is coal and it is a great type of fossil fuel the reason being is because it is a reliable source of electricity. Examples of renewables are wind,water and solar power. Renewables can be recovered and reused while on another hand a non-renewables can not be used again. Coal has been used for thousands of years archaeologists discovered that coal was used even in the second and third centuries by the Romans. Solar power is a renewable source since it’s powered by the sun. It can be changed into other forms for example both heat and electricity can come directly from the sun. The sun’s power has been used for a lifetime to heat up our homes, water (to drink and bathe), and our food as well. Both energy sources-coal and solar-are quite reliable resources, and are used very much. As worldwide energy sources, coal and solar power share similarities and differences when it comes to having a huge impact on the environment the world's economic status within how much money we profit from them and human health such as increased lung cancer rates.

For example Coal energy produces Carbon dioxide and nitrogen that affect our environment. On contrary, using solar energy does not affect our environment because it is smoke free energy power. Secondly, once the solar panel mounted then the electric bill will be eliminating once for all. The Atlanta Journal Constitution Keefe Bob stated that “Buyers, sold on the promise that solar electric systems and other energy-efficient features will cut their monthly power bills by as much as 60 percent, are snapping up the houses.” ( Keefe) Even though, Coal energy is important to use, it contribute negative impact for global warming.

Before starting looking to each side of the arguments that may arise along that debate, it might be a good idea to have a bit of historical background about fossil coal and its alternatives

Another great factor that makes solar energy better than coal is it is renewable unlike coal which is non-renewable or limited. If you don’t know what renewable energy is, it is energy that comes from a limitless energy source. Solar energy is so renewable because it comes from the sun which is always giving off energy. Since solar energy comes from the sun it an unlimited energy source. While many countries and regions have access to coal not all do but nearly every town has access to sunlight. For those who do not have access to coal have struggled to make economic development. “Each day more solar energy falls to the Earth than the total amount of energy 6.1 billion inhabitants would consume in 27 years” (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). That means that the energy we get from the sun exceeds 35,000 times the amount of energy used by man.

Unfortunately, there are many disadvantages associated with the combustion of coal energy. For example coal releases a tremendous amount of carbon emissions that negatively contribute to climate change and global warming. Coal burning is considered not environmentally friendly due to the large production of harmful by-products such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. This pollution can lead to other major problems for example acidic rain, as well as hazardous health risks to our eco-systems. Globally, scientists agree that the release of greenhouse gases are contributing to the earths rise in temperature, which leads to rising sea levels, disappearing glaciers and change in annual weather patterns. The main problem associated with

Throughout time, we have heard how renewable energies are more efficient than coal. They are cleaner, better for the environment, and allegedly more cost efficient. How cost efficient fossil fuels are may depend on which side you look at – the electric company or people and businesses. For an electric company, it is very cost efficient. However, it will take time to see the efficiency to a business. Electric companies have to build or change the plants they currently have in order to meet the needs of the new system, whether it be wind, solar, etc. The “war on coal” came too quickly; as we will detail below, you cannot quit using your main source of heat to generate electricity and expect the country to run as it has before. Changing takes time and money.

The United States uses fossil fuels for 67.5% of its energy consumption. Fossil fuels have more negative impacts than positive ones. The only positive that comes from fossil fuels is that it can create energy. Most of the negative effects have to deal with the environment, like the most popular, burning coal for electricity. “Coal is used for about 43% of electricity generation in the U.S” (Coal and the Environment - Energy Explained, Your Guide To Understanding Energy - Energy Information Administration, no date). Burning coal releases many different toxic and deadly emissions. Some of which include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and particulates. Sulfur dioxide is the cause of acid rain. Nitrogen oxides contribute to smog. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas which is causing global warming. The particles also contribute to smog and can cause lung disease. From the emissions created from created electricity, 77% of it was from coal alone. For the next 50 years, the main goal of the United States should be to reduce the amount of energy created from coal. The most efficient and clean way to replace coal is to use solar panels at as many households as possible.

Coal has been one of the main and most used resources of energy, although it is a non-renewable resource and is a fossil fuel. Most countries depend on the combustion of coal when it comes to generating electricity. Burning coal has its advantages, like efficiently releasing energy in the form of heat, but it also has its disadvantages. The combustion of coal contributes to many environmental issues like climate change and acid rain, which lead to many health problems. One of the main polluting products of coal combustion is

Although the United States has come a long way in the field of Renewable Energy, there are still major roadblocks in the way of a national shift to clean energy. Renewable energy made up only 12% of US energy production in 2016, while The three major fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for 78%, showing there is still a long way to go (eia.gov). This has been a particularly arduous year for environmentalist and renewable energy companies alike as there have been major political strides against clean energy. Bills, Executive Orders, and new laws have slowed the progress that Renewable Energy has been making in recent years.

When burnt, coal release greenhouse gases which results in a significant rise in temperature over time. For instance the need article said “Carbon Dioxide is released when coal is burned and this is causing a major concern for human activist which have seen the recent major changes in greenhouse gas levels in the Earth's atmosphere that are responsible for the Earths climate change”. Additionally, according to greenpeace.org “coal is responsibe for ⅓ of Carbon dioxide pollution in the air”. In this case there's no reason to even consider the word sustainable as the burning of coal is affecting the earth's climate. This is all also known as Global warming which doesn’t just increase the temperature of the Earth, but it creates wild weather conditions like droughts, storms, wildfires and melting

Coal is the most abundant fossil fuel in the world and has been a critical source of heat and energy for thousands of years. It powered the industrial revolution in the 17th and 18th centuries and was the world’s primary source of energy until the late 1960s. Coal continues to be a vital source of energy today due to its low cost, accessibility, and abundance. Today, around 90% of the world’s coal is used to generate electricity or as fuel for heat or steam. Coal produces more than 40% of the world’s electricity which equals the amount of

The world currently functions through the use of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels possess two significant disadvantages. Fossil fuels harm the global environment because they enhance the greenhouse effect by releasing carbon dioxide, and they release other harmful