One of the hottest topics right now is the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs) to enhance our energy efficiency in everyday life. ICEs consume more energy than EVs, so you might wonder how different forms of energy affect the environment.
Unfortunately, it’s a bit complicated. Electricity is created in many different ways, including the use of coal, water, solar, wind, nuclear, and hydro. Additionally, all forms of electricity impact the environment, but some are more severe than others. If you’re looking for ways to decrease your carbon footprint and travel effectively, read on. This article will discuss how different forms of electricity affect the environment.
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas burn to create heat, which is turned into electricity. Unfortunately, while fossil fuels provide more affordable energy, they’re the worst option for the environment because they’re non-renewable sources of energy. Ultimately, once they’re used up, they’re gone. Fossil fuels generate most of the electricity around the world with power plants that generate energy for long periods of time.
Unfortunately, fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide when burned, leading to climate change. They also produce air pollutants like sulphur and nitrogen. This air pollution is dangerous to your health and the planet, with thousands of people dying due to the use of coal for fuel.
Power plants that use fossil fuels also require massive quantities of these non-renewable resources, transported over long distances, causing potential supply chain issues and further harming the environment through transportation.
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy utilises heat produced by splitting atoms in a process called fission. The heat produces steam that is used by a turbine, generating power. Nuclear power reactors don’t produce greenhouse gasses in the fission process and do not cause air pollution. Nuclear power plants use uranium as fuel, a non-renewable resource that can’t be reproduced in a short amount of time. However, it can directly replace fossil fuel power plants, providing clean electricity.
Unfortunately, even though nuclear energy produces low pollution and is relatively low cost and reliable, there’s still a limited fuel supply as uranium will eventually run out. In addition, uranium is mined and synthesised, an expensive and time-consuming process. Nuclear power plants also produce other environmental impacts. Since uranium must be mined, the process can leave radioactive particles, causing erosion and potentially polluting the water.
Nuclear energy also comes with the risk of accidents that cause radioactive contaminants to be released into the air and water supply. Additionally, power plants produce radioactive waste that must be properly stored to prevent pollution.
Renewable Energy
Solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro energy are all types of renewable energy that use renewable resources to produce electricity. The world is already using many of these methods, with much of it coming from hydropower. As time goes on, we expect to see other methods more widely used across the world, especially as we all become more eco-conscious and depend less on fossil fuels. In addition, renewable energy does not produce air pollution or contribute to climate change since they don’t require the combustion process.
Renewable energy is the most sustainable power source, allowing us to utilise energy without relying on fossil fuels while helping to reduce issues with the power grid.
The Electricity Grid
To understand electricity, you must understand how it gets to your home or workplace. Power plants generate electricity and deliver it to you via power lines, which are part of the overall grid. The grid includes all electrical components, including transformers, power lines, and substations. The grid is connected to thousands of power plants and consumers nationwide.
Unfortunately, the grid isn’t always reliable because too much pressure can cause blackouts. For example, if too many people are drawing power from the grid simultaneously, it can overload the system. Luckily, consumers can help support the grid by creating their own energy at home through the use of solar panels, which allow you to generate your own power from the sun.
Other ways to help the grid include using a smart meter that communicates with the electricity company while managing your electricity to prevent overloading the system. While you might not have a say in the type of energy your electric company produces, you can still make a difference in the environment by using your energy more efficiently at home and the office by using energy-efficient appliances and only using electricity when necessary, which means shutting off all the lights when you’re not in a room.
Importance of Energy Conservation
Unfortunately, even though we’ve made great advances in renewable energy, the United States still depends on fossil fuels for energy, causing a rapid depletion rate and damaging the environment and our air. While we’re in the process of replacing fossil fuels like natural gas, coal, and oil with renewable resources, it’s a long process that’s going to take many years. The more energy you can conserve energy, the longer we’ll have access to non-renewable resources for energy. However, that’s not necessarily good for the environment for the reasons we’ve already discussed.
Non-renewable vs. Renewable Energy Costs
Renewable power is becoming increasingly cheaper, with wind power and solar the most affordable options. As these resources become more affordable, individuals can gain more experience working with them, professionals can improve them, demand has increased, and there are more competitive supply chains to offer options for renewable energy.
Using renewable resources could save billions of dollars and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, eventually, renewable energy will be able to save consumers money by reducing their utility bills and giving them incentives for changing their type of power. But unfortunately, infrastructure is still a major issue and will take time to sort out by governments and utility companies.
Effects of Electricity on the Environment
Electricity has varying impacts on the environment because of how it’s produced differs. For example, coal severely affects the environment and air quality more than solar power. However, the fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gasses are those that affect climate change and can destroy animal populations and change ecosystems, so they’re the most dangerous. If you want to learn more about greener power, talk to your local utility company to discover their initiatives to use renewable energy sources.
Article by Ashley Nielson
Author Bio;
Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music.
