A Look At Technology's Fantastic Advances in Alternative Energy Solutions To Create a Greener, Less Wasteful World

This world has come a long ways since the time when we were carrying clubs and writing on cave walls. Technology has been our friend, but at the same time it could just be our own demise. All of its advancements have come with consequences, an luckily we are discovering them now, and hopefully we can do something about them before it is too late. Burning our beloved fossil fuels has been ripping holes in the ozone layer, and is quickly running out due to our selfish ways (yes, I mean you!). Scientists are now scrambling to find more efficient, and practical ways of using everyday things as energy. Here are some of the ways that are in the works today.

The first, more popular way, is using solar energy. The sun rises and sets everyday, and is very predictable most of the time. Solar energy is the power that creates specific climates and forms of weather that pretty much keeps all living things, well, living. (Get down on your knees and worship the Sun, you never know when it might decide to not shine ;) We convert solar energy into electricity and presto we have solar power. This power is used across the spectrum of electricity users from agriculture to businesses. The great part about solar energy is that it is plentiful and available. Unfortunately, we haven't worked out all the kinks, such as if the day is cloudy.

Another popular method is wind power. This one has been used for years and years in the form of windmills to help pump water or crush grains. Today, we use wind power in the form of wind turbines on large wind farms. These farms are connected to electrical grids that span several places with energy. It only provides about one percent of the world's power, but other countries, such as Denmark has nineteen percent of their power produced from wind. Wind is great because it also very plentiful and renewable as well. It definitely does not give off emissions either! The down side is that it does not always stay windy in certain places, and the wind tends to blow with larger amounts of energy in higher altitudes, where no one lives (Can't imagine why...).

Wave energy is another popular idea, and it is created when we put generators on the ocean surface. This is used primarily in power plants, water pumps, and desaliniation facilities. The amount of energy produced from the wave depends on the wave height, length, density, and speed. The company Pacific Gas and Electric have supported this way and plan on building a plant that uses wave power. It is estimated that it could produce two megawatts of power, and it would provide 1500 homes with power! Sadly, this energy is also still experimental and under going trials.

Tidal power, commonly called tidal energy, stems from a form of hydropower that uses the energy of water movement of incoming and outgoing tides. This also uses turbines like wind energy, and can be used in two different ways. The first is called "tidal stream systems" and this uses the moving water, or kinetic energy. Tidal stream systems are cheaper and definitely are eco-friendly. The other one is called "barrages", and this is much more costly to build, still eco-friendly, but it relies on the potential energy between high and low tides. Again, this method is best used in certain locations where tides are more prevalent. So therefore only specific places can use this energy to its best potential.

I hope we find a solution for our energy crisis soon. Gas and electricity are getting way to expensive. We are forgetting to enjoy life because we have to work so much in order to pay to survive. Granted, we could all give up a few things we love and still be happy, but that ruins the "American Dream". Let's go team, fight for clean energy and a better tomorrow! (Yay!).