Oil, toxic fumes, gasoline, solar power, nuclear energy, these are all words that are getting tossed around a lot these days. But how does all of this relate to us. We have all seen the rise in gas prices and they don't seem to be stopping any time soon. This essay will describe the the various forms of energy and there pros and cons.
Our first topic is oil. Oil is the lifeblood of our modern society, oil is used in almost every sort of device that makes out life better. Oil drives our cars, oil makes our electricity, and it lubricates almost anything that has to move in a tight space. Without oil you would not be reading this essay, you would not be able to drive anywhere. Oil is very important, but with this much going for it there are bound to be some cons. Oil pollutes the air with its toxic fumes and oil spills from tankers while rare they contaminate the shore lines. Oil seems to be a decent way to get energy for now as a short term solution but for the future we will need a more permanent solution.
Alternative forms of energy are a very hot topic today. Ethanol is the most readily available form of alternative energy but in reality it is a huge flop. Ethanol takes more energy to produce than it can generate. It is just a waste of time and it is driving food prices sky high because several farmers are converting their fields to grow corn so they can make more money. Electric cars also seem to be a miracle because they produce no pollution. But then stop and think of where the electricity was made, oh yeah thats right, a coal or oil power plant putting tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Wind and solar power are wonderful sources of power. A small wind turbine on top of your house can cut your energy consumption by 40%. These turbines are expensive at about 8,000 dollars but should be considered a long term investment that will over time start paying for itself. An even larger full size turbine can supply all of your electricity if you live in a windy area. These ca cost as much as 20,000 dollars but like the smaller ones are an investment. If you get one of these turbines you will most likely never have to pay an electricity bill again. Solar power is also a clean alternative and it is now even easier to have. They now have roll up solar "Blankets" as well as solar paint. Both are easier to apply as well as cheaper than the solid panels.
Nuclear energy seems to be a great way to produce electricity. It does not pollute the air, it creates large amounts of electricity and with the new storage facility in New Mexico, storage of spent fuel rods will no longer be a problem. However this is a very dangerous form of creating electricity. An explosion of a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl, Russia in 1986 killed almost the entire city and the nuclear fallout makes some parts of the city still too dangerous for humans. Nuclear energy also wastes what could be extra energy. The "spent" nuclear fuel rods still create so much energy that if they are not kept underwater they would melt their storage container. So my question would be why don't we use that extra energy? Unfortunately I do not have the answer.
