The green movement has created a plethora of buzzwords. One of the more popular phrases is renewable energy. And for good reason. Businesses, traditional and emerging, will soon be affected by how they will respond to the reality of renewable energy depending on where they fall in the supply chain.
Renewable energy is a term that refers to those potential sources of energy that are naturally replenished, which means that using them does not decrease the amount available in the future. This contrasts with nonrenewable sources (fossil-based fuels) that have a limited supply and will eventually be used up. Renewable energy sources include sunlight, hydrosphere/water cycle, geothermal and some types of biomass and biofuels. Think of energy as a source and electricity as an application.
The mechanisms used to generate electricity from these sources vary considerably. For sunlight, there are photovoltaic technologies that generate electricity directly from sunlight. But there are also systems that use the sunlight to heat an intermediate fluid, which is used to turn turbines to generate electricity. There are multiple ways that water can be used to provide electricity, of which the most commonly used is the hydroelectric dam.
Other systems that produce electricity from water include wave power systems that convert the kinetic energy of waves into electricity, tidal power systems that use the kinetic energy of tidal flows in a similar fashion, and systems that take advantage of the temperature differences between surface waters and deeper waters in the ocean to generate electricity. Geothermal systems rely on the heat of the earth's interior to generate electricity in various ways, depending on the specific nature of the site. Biomass and biofuels consist of fuels derived from plant and other organic matter, which are renewable depending on the sustainability of the agricultural practices that provide the biomass. Examples include ethanol and biodiesel liquid fuels for transportation, and solid biomass from unused portions of other crops for electricity generation.
Presently, renewable energy sources provide only a small fraction of global energy production, and the majority of this is from biomass burning such a wood (which while renewable in the strictest sense is not environmentally friendly) in undeveloped regions of the world. Renewable energy provides less than 1% of the world's energy production even though its use is expected to grow rapidly amid rising concerns about global warming and the rising price of oil.
The biggest impediment to the widespread use of renewable energy sources in the past has been its price compared to the price of coal, natural gas, and petroleum. At present, wind energy costs $0.04-$0.08 per kWh, while coal costs $0.04 per kWh. Other renewable energy sources are even more expensive, such as solar thermal at $0.12-$0.34 per kWh and solar photovoltaic at $0.25-$1.60 per kWh. Water sources vary in cost from being cheaper than coal to costing three times as much. This cost differential, however, is narrowing as the price of oil rises and new technological innovations are bringing down the prices of renewables.
Looking forward, the increasing likelihood of carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes being implemented in much of the developed world means that the cost of generating electricity from coal, natural gas, and petroleum will rise even more precipitously, which will make renewable energy even more attractive for future development.
The future of renewable energy depends on how government energy policy will develop over the course of the next presidential administration and congress. Will carbon taxes or emissions trading schemes be enacted to limit greenhouse gas emissions? Will green grid technologies become widespread? Will the development of new oil supplies be allowed? All of these possible scenarios will affect the future deployment of renewable energy technologies.
As an example, consider the application of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. Not only will these systems provide electricity to homes and businesses, but they can even be used to sell energy back to the power utility. Farmers and ranchers can plant wind turbines on land unsuitable for growing crops. The widespread use of smart grid technologies can become a major method of decentralizing power generation.
Similarly, if emissions trading schemes are enacted, then the rising cost of carbon-producing energy sources will force a shift to renewable energy technologies for large portions of our energy needs. This is deemed so likely that many believe that renewable energy technologies will be the next major industrial boom, similar to the computer technology revolution of the 1980s and the internet revolution of the late 1990s. Increasingly, large quantities of venture capital are pouring into renewable energy companies in expectation of just such an outcome.
How you position your firm to take advantage of the probable boom in renewable energy depends on your business's energy needs and usage. If green grid technology becomes widespread, the opportunity presents itself to businesses to become both an electricity consumer and a supplier. If carbon taxes or emissions trading systems drive the move away from petroleum transport fuels to biomass transport fuels, it is important to be prepared for that as well.
As the renewable energy debate gains momentum, NOW is the time to prepare for its eventual inevitability to help protect your business from rising energy and transportation costs.
A typical day for many individuals starts early and ends late. Routines like this may cause one's energy to drop and cause many individuals to ineffectively perform many activities. Because of these conditions many individuals rely on energy drinks in times of exhaustion and anxiety. Some say that the use of energy drinks promote increased energy, alertness, extra nutrition, and boost athletic performance. Energy drinks are beverages that contain large doses of caffeine and other approved stimulants like ephedrine and ginseng. In addition to stimulants, many kinds of energy drinks contain sugar in various forms and other B vitamins. Many people use these drinks to replace the energy they lose after having intensive workouts or give them that extra boost before workout. Before gulping these energy drinks for for various reasons, knowing the downsides of these drinks may help individuals decide if these drinks are worth drinking.
Too much sugar in energy drinks can be stored as fat in body which may lead to unwanted weight-gain. The sugar content of these drinks may cause a sudden crash in the body's energy level when the sugar leaves the bloodstream.In addition, excess sugar can alter metabolism and retain salt and water in human body which may lead to high blood pressure. Metabolism describes the chemical reactions that take place in the human body's cells that converts the consumed food into energy.
Caffeine is another main ingredient of many energy drinks. This compound acts as a potent stimulant and energizes the brain, skeletal muscles of the heart and the respiratory system and therefore delay fatigue. Caffeine however may increase blood pressure, dehydrate the body, and prevent sleep. Many energy drinks out in the market contain about 80 mg of caffeine per serving, about twice the caffeine of a regular cup of tea. In addition, caffeine is an addictive substance and its ill effects can be felt up to six hours. This substance may also deplete the body of vital vitamins and nutrients. It is recommended that people who consume energy drinks and other caffeine related products should take vitamins and nutrients to regain lost vitamins and nutrients. Some medical studies show that caffeine consumption in adolescents seem to be associated with high blood pressure. Therefore, the consumption of energy drinks by children and adolescents is not encouraged.
Energy drinks often make big promises. However, there is limited evidence that the use of energy drinks can significantly improve physical and mental performance. But once the hype is overcome, users of this product may realize that they are mostly getting increased dose of sugar and caffeine. Now, the question lies, is it safe to use this product? As with everything, the use energy drinks is alright as long as taken in moderation. These products may not be harmful if taken occasionally, but they are not healthy choices either. The truth us energy boost comes from healthy living. Individuals who consume healthy diets and get plenty of physical activity and rest may have increased energy the natural way.
Both Gary Patterson & Cas are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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