Communitys Source Of Energy

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

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Community’s Source of Energy

Societies should embark in using renewable source of energy because non renewable sources affect the eco-system and the environment. Most sources of energy that are used are non renewable. Transitioning of energy sources of power from non renewable sources to renewable sources is highly expensive especially if a community that requires the renewable source of energy is a large community. The use of fossil fuels is not only an expensive source of energy, but it pollutes the environment. Shifting from the uses of non renewable source of energy would be done by knowing how much energy the community would need and how it would be used. The best procedure to follow in order to transition from one source of energy to another would be to conduct a study from house to house in the neighborhoods. It is possible to determine the type of energy that most people use. In this neighborhood fossil is the most common type of energy that is used.

The neighborhood relies on fossil source of energy. In places in need of electricity, large generators are used. The use of fuel is highly expensive and has a negative effect to the environment. Due to many people migrating to the area there is an obvious need for alternative sources of power. A commission would need to be set up to make up arrangements in knowing the best alternative for a renewable source. Hydroelectric power would be an option of another form of energy since there is a river that is near the community. The transition would provide more than enough energy to every homestead. The only problem would be the time and cost. Creating a dam can take several months or even years and cost billions of dollars (Independent, 1988. P.45). There are three sources of energy that are used in my home, Fossil fuels (the fossil fuels include, coal petroleum, and natural gas) electricity, and solar panels.

The community does not use nuclear power because of the adverse effects of nuclear energy and expenses in constructing nuclear plants.

Solar energy

Solar energy is extremely clean and has been used in the neighborhood for eight years. Only few selected areas are using the solar energy in the neighborhood. This is because solar energy is extremely expensive and requires experienced personnel to install. Solar energy is not a particularly sufficient power producer. This is because one photovoltaic panel has about 40% efficiency which is not enough energy (Brown, 1994, P.123). The solution to this is using many solar panels to try and produce a lot of energy. The manufacture and buying of these panels is highly expensive.

As mentioned earlier solar does not have any negative effects to the environment. Homes that use solar power as a source of energy do not cause any negative effect to the environment.

Solar power is the best alternative for a source of energy. The only problem is that it is extremely expensive and the materials used are fragile and must be mentioned from time to time

How much of an impact have these sources of energy had on local air and water quality?

Air Pollution

Air pollution caused by fossil fuels is one of the critical problems affecting the environment and the eco-system as whole. There are so many causes of air pollution. Some of this factors contributing to air pollution can be easily eradicated through enough effort. Air pollution is the contamination of the fresh air that we breathe. It is normally contaminated by smoke, harmful and poisonous gasses like the oxides of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. These oxides and other harmful gases have been associated with common diseases that affect the respiratory system. People living in this community have been affected by diseases like asthma, respiratory illnesses and allergies. These conditions and dangers endanger the affected population and extreme cases. Towns that have got a lot of industries are generally the most affected of all. Air pollution control has been very expensive. This is the main reason why industries in the community do not control air pollution. It is quite unethical to build an industry that harms the society instead of helping it that is why this community should opt for new sources of energy. The reason why it is good to put a lot of effort in controlling pollution on an industrial level, is because, the community will live in a healthy environment. Harmful and poisonous gasses destroy the Ozone layer exposing people to harmful sun rays like the UV rays. These rays have been known to

Causes skin cancer (Johansson, 1993, P.78)

Adverse effects on the quality of water

Water quality is particularly significant to a community. The ecosystem is a dynamic self contained system that is made up of species and population in its physical environment. Sometimes the change in species composition caused by aquatic or terrestrial eutrophication or acidification is passed and propagated down the food web. Lack of quality water affects organisms beyond those that have been directly affected. The effects have not been clearly understood. The environment is particularly significant, and its conservation should be a priority. The use of fossil fuel in the community have causes the degradation of water quality because waste product from the community is not properly broken down into harmless chemicals before dumping them into the river or lake (Eccli, 1974, P.156). This has caused fatal effects on the aquatic life and birds. This has made fish become scarce for the fishermen

On the other hand, the individual level is also particularly significant. People can also make a difference is the come together. Growing children are the most affected of all. This is because they have weak developing respiratory organs. When a respiratory problem occurs to a child it is most likely to be of a problem for the rest of their lives. Some of the activities that people do that affects the environment negatively are several (Eccli, 1974, P.256.

Explain how the sources of energy you identified impact the environment. Consider the following: Does the use of these types of energy resource have a negative impact on the environment in your area?

Global Warming

The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes global warming. The burning of fossil fuels produces carbon monoxide. It then converts to carbon dioxide. The surface temperature of the earth surface increases to temperatures enough to disturb the ecology. Some of negative effects of global warming are floods, drought, and drastic temperature changes, shortage of food and water supply and wild fires. Global warming can causes devastating effect to a community. It attracts calamities that leave people homeless.

Rising Sea Levels

The rise in sea levels is sometimes caused by global warming which is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. The melting of glaciers and ice causes the rise in the sea levels. The ecosystem is affected together with settlements in low lying places. The ice reflects the sun rays. The melting of ice speeds global warming (Michaelides, 2012, P.102). The rising in the sea levels causes the lakes and sea to become rough. Tides that have hit low lying settlements were caused by the rise in the sea levels

The current use fossil energy generates very little energy. The electricity that the community uses is drawn from a hydro electric plant that is far from the community. A hydro electric source of energy within the community would be less expensive. On average, every house uses 620Kwh every month. My house uses an average of 590KW each month.

The annual usage is:

590x12 = 7080kw

There are 1,058,748 housing units. Taking this number it can be deduced that

The annual electricity usage for the whole community monthly amounts to

620Kwh x 1,058,749 = 656,424,380Kwh

The annual usage of electricity adds up to:

656,424,389 x 12 = 7,877,092,560Kwh.

Justify your choice based on the kind of resources that are available, how much power these alternative sources can produce, and your estimated energy demands for the community.

Wind turbines and geothermal energy would not be an alternative to the community because electricity from these two areas requires some environmental factors that make it possible to have energy from the two. Therefore, the best form of alternative energy would by hydro-electricity.

Hydro power as the alternative source of energy

The situation at the community on issues regarding the source of energy can only be resolved using hydroelectric power from within the community from the nearby river. Hydro electric power will produce double the power that the fossil fuel and solar power produces. A dam for hydro electric power is necessary. And once this dam has been built it will possible to provide electricity at a constant rate (Michaelides, 2012, P.102). The current supply of electricity has been inconsistent. It has been affected by bad weather all the time and electricity lines and posts fall every other time. Electricity from nearby is going to eradicate this problem. The lake that is going to be formed by the creation of this dam may provide a place for recreation. Another reason why a dam should be constructed for hydro electric power is that the water can also be used for irrigation and home use. The water can be pumped using the same electricity into people homesteads. This river water does not run out, and even when a rough weather strikes electricity production is easy to control.

When electricity is under production in the hydro electric plant, there is no production of green house gases that are harmful in the environment.

Nuclear energy depends on the costs of oil and Uranium, and pollution is really dangerous.

HOW REALISTIC IS HYDRO POWER AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY

This new form of energy is quite realistic since there a nearby river and the size of the dam do not have to be particularly big meaning it will only take a few months to some few years to complete this kind of project. The energy conversion would be highly supported in the community.

Hydro electric power costs very little when compared to fossil fuel. The fossil fuels are above by 2 to 3 percent which is not a large margin,, but when factored annually and millions of Kwh the communities burn it, a lot of saving could be done. Hydropower can cost less than a penny per kWh (Kilowatt Hour) compared to fossil fuel power plants at around 2 to 3 cents per kWh. That may not seem like a significant difference, but when factored out over a year and millions of kW hours Americans burn, it adds up to huge savings. Hydropower plants also have a bonus as they create recreational opportunities for people as well as electricity. Hydro power dams provide not only water-based activities, but since much of the surrounding land is public they also encourage numerous other outdoor activities aside from boating, skiing, fishing, and hunting.

The building of dam for hydro electric energy source might be highly expensive. It may cause a few million dollars but with the support of the community the project is possible and building the dam is possible. The new form of energy is extremely clean and would not impact the environment in a way. The damn to be formed from the water that is to be obstructed from flowing will provide fish to the community. Hydro electric power is easily controlled than other sources of electricity. The consumption of electricity in the community is also a bit high and will require a dependable source. Cases have been reported of fallen posts that took weeks to repair. At other times electricity from far away is difficult to maintain compared with local electricity. People using solar panels and fuel generated will be happy to know they don’t have to buy fuel any more or call support and maintenance to repair the solar panel after they wear out.

Environmental conservation or protection includes every action and practice in order to conserve and protect the environment including seeking for clean sources of energy. The destruction of the environment is highly contributed by individual and industry activities; therefore change of activities in favor of a good environment by the two entities can make a significant difference. A polluted environment has been the cause of so many unwanted problems. Some of these problems cost millions of money to correct them. At other time environmental pollution has been known to cause diseases that have taken years to find the cure. Cancer is one dreaded disease that can be caused by living in a polluted environment. The environment today has become quite unstable such that there is no regular pattern in the seasons. Decrease in use of fossil fuel will mean that small industries in the community will stop using fossil fuel as a source of energy.

When fossil fuels are used their waste product is sometimes dumped into the river. Even when dumped elsewhere the rain takes the waste back to the river. Water pollution degrades the aquatic life. The most dominant of this problem is oil spillage. Oil spillage in to the lake or the dam is fatal to aquatic life and birds. The Gulf of Mexico experience one of the biggest spills. When oil products and waste are dumped into the dam, it poisons the water. It also prevents the diffuse of enough oxygen into the water. Migrating birds that move across lakes become endangered once they come into contact with oil waste. They are unable to fly and die due to exhaustion of heavy wings. This therefore concludes that hydro electric power is one of the cleanest sources of energy for the community