People used to imagine a challenging distant future when they thought about climate change. Now that future is here. Global greenhouse gas emissions are warming the earth rapidly, directly affecting people in their homes.
Rising heating and cooling costs are often the first way people recognize the pace of global warming, but a few renewable energy sources are combating the concerning change.
Why Are Costs Increasing?
Energy costs fluctuate when people have to compensate for changing weather conditions. Although it’s normal to pay a higher bill during the hottest or coldest months of the year, those months give way to milder weather that doesn’t force HVAC units to turn on frequently. The increasing climate temperatures change that throughout each year.
Global warming weakens the polar vortex that would otherwise regulate standard winter temperatures and storms. Warmer air disrupts the vortex, resulting in extreme weather events outside of typical winter seasons. Colder air requires more indoor heat, driving up electricity bills in residences and businesses.
Scorching summers are also becoming more frequent and even extending by a few weeks each year as greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. People need more electricity to cool down indoors, leading to the continuing spike in heating and cooling costs.
Why Pick Renewable Energy?
Learning about the effects of traditional energy is essential to understanding why renewable energy is so vital. These are a few energy sources that contribute to the problem because people depend on them worldwide.
Chopping Down Wood
Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce oxygen, which makes them critical in the fight against global warming. Chopping them down to create wood sets any climate progress back. Nearly 8% of households still use wood as their primary heating source and contribute to deforestation issues.
Mining for Coal
Burning coal to operate electricity plants releases CO2 into the atmosphere because coal is mostly carbon. As of 2020, the U.S. uses coal for 30% of its electricity production for businesses and homes. It’s a significant resource as people depend more on their HVAC units.
Drilling for Oil
Oil is another traditional energy source because it’s a fossil fuel. Burning it to produce electricity generates CO2 that helps trap more heat in the atmosphere and accelerates global warming.
What Are Renewable Energy Sources?
Some people may think renewable energy can’t make much of a difference because it still keeps electric units and appliances running. The difference is how it creates that electricity. These new energy sources could replace traditional methods that hurt the environment.
Wind Power Station
Wind farms use massive windmill turbines to generate electricity. As the breeze pushes giant blades around in the air, the machinery inside the windmills transfers it into energy without using fossil fuels or unsustainable natural sources.
Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems
Electric cars still require traditional charging stations, but the technology within the engines makes the energy last longer. Kinetic energy recovery systems turn friction into power every time you press on the brakes. Your battery lasts longer because you’re a safe driver, which reduces your environmental impact if your home doesn’t run on something renewable like solar energy.
Geothermal Energy Units
Underground geothermal machinery creates electricity by running off steam produced by hot water deep beneath the earth’s surface. Even massive geothermal plants produce 99% less carbon dioxide than traditional systems. It’s a lesser-known source of electricity that’s becoming more popular each year.
What Is the Future of Renewable Energy?
The future of renewable energy is more promising than ever. Greener sources are becoming more widely available as their installation and maintenance costs decrease. Experts estimate that renewable energy sources will fuel 30% of the world’s electricity by 2024. Corporations and individuals continue to work together to expand sustainable resources and make fossil fuels a thing of the past.
Combat Rising Heating and Cooling Costs
The global population will continue combating rising heating and cooling costs for some time, but renewable energy makes it possible to stay comfortable without fueling the underlying problem.
Sustainable electricity created by sources like wind farms and kinetic energy technology stretches the resources people need to maintain their lifestyles while paving the way for a greener future with stable weather patterns.
