by Enzo Rivera Electricity is one of the most important resources we need in our daily life. Nowadays, living without a cellphone, laptop, or even such a common thing as a light bulb seems impossible. Electricity production increases as each day passes, but where does all this energy come from? Depending on the country, different sources for electricity can be used; some are harmful to the environment and others are not. Therefore, it is important to consider the environmental impact of energy production and how renewable and clean energy can benefit our society. Electricity production methods such as coal burning can damage the environment. When coal is used to power machinery, the smoke it produces contains toxic minerals that can lead to pollution and acid rain. Fortunately, modern technology provides a method to stop this contamination by processing the smoke before it is released into the atmosphere. Another important energy source is nuclear power. Although it doesn’t affect the environment directly, it could have serious repercussions if not managed properly. Nuclear waste, the output of nuclear power production, can sometimes become problematic if it is not handled correctly. Another very important issue regarding nuclear power is the impact a nuclear disaster can have on the environment. The Fukushima power plant accident that occurred in Japan is a clear example of the repercussions nuclear power production can have. To date, scientists continue to find increased amounts of radioactive materials near the area and therefore it is important to have enough regulations and regular maintenance to guarantee the safety of nuclear power.
But cleaner and safer energy is the best way to protect our society and to meet our electricity demands without further damaging the environment. There are various methods of producing electricity that are both clean and renewable. One is hydropower, and it has been in use for a number of decades. But due to climate change and drought in some areas, using water to create energy has decreased. For this reason, other methods have been developed and many countries are investing in them. Solar power is one example of energy that can be produced without the need of any natural resource. Sunlight is provided without cost and can be obtained all around the world, even in unfavorable weather conditions. Therefore numerous developing countries have increased their amount of solar energy in order to reduce contamination due to electricity production. Another favorable energy production method is wind power. A very important factor of this energy source is that it can be installed on different types of land, it just needs a good source of wind to work. Wind power production is fairly simple and the machinery necessary does not need a great amount of space. Some individuals have taken wind power into their own hands. William Kamkwamba, a Malawian innovator, is a good example. When he was only 14 years old, he created his own windmill. The most interesting part of his creation is that he learned how to build it himself in his local library. William’s main purpose was to provide electricity and running water for his village, and through hard work and finding second-hand parts he managed to do it. When he finished the project, he won the admiration not only of his community but also of international organizations. After some time, William upgraded his work and created a second windmill, called the green machine, which is used to power a water pump to irrigate his family’s field. From this example we can see how the desire to help his community encouraged a young innovator to take a small step towards green energy, and how with enough knowledge it is relatively simple to produce wind power. Green energy is a reliable way to produce electricity without damaging the environment. Due to the fact that the electricity demand will continue to increase in the foreseeable future, we will need to find alternative methods to prevent further contamination of the Earth. Green energy can also provide electricity to areas without enough development. As William Kamkwamba has demonstrated, there are innovative ways to create electricity without using complex machinery or expensive materials. Therefore, green energy is our best means of creating a better environment and of improving our chances of having a better Earth for generations to come. a
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May 2024
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