Electricity and natural gas are still the most common types of energy used in homes. Renewable energy sources, however, are starting to gain more traction.
You might be someone that wants to invest in green energy options. In fact, you may want to use it at your home or business to save some money and save the planet.
Are you curious about how solar, wind, or hydropower work?
Keep reading below about the top 3 renewable energy options you should consider.
1. Solar Power
Solar power is one of the most popular options for residential areas when it comes to renewable energy. You can find some of the top solar panels for homes that won't break the budget because it has become much more commonplace.
The sun’s radiation that reaches Earth is considered solar energy. When sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells inside solar panels, these cells transform the radiation into electricity.
Solar energy comes from the sun's heat and radiation hitting the Earth's surface. As the sunlight hits the photovoltaic cells within the solar panels, the cells will change that heat radiation into energy.
The technologies designed for solar power will be able to use the electricity generated to power things around us or they will store the extra energy.
The sunlight that hits the Earth within just an hour and a half is enough to cover the world's energy consumption for an entire year. If more of the planet using this type of renewable energy source, it would be more than effective enough to power our world.
2. Wind Power
Wind power is technically a type of solar power. When the sun radiates heat on the Earth's surface, the air that is hot rises, and the air that is cool settles down on the rough ground. This pressure change creates the wind, which is a motion-based type of energy.
Turbines are used to capture the energy from the wind as it blows over the blades. The generator within the wind turbines will convert that energy from the blade rotation (due to the wind) into power. This power can be used by homes, schools, businesses, or anywhere else that might need electricity.
Wind turbines are efficient as a source of power because they release less CO2, use up less energy to operate, and produce more electricity overall than other renewable energy options, but only when there are many turbines working together.
3. Hydropower
Hydropower is energy produced by water. Throughout history, people have used water in running streams as a way to produce mechanical energy because it is forceful and it is strong.
Just like solar and wind energy, hydropower requires the sun's energy. The sunlight hitting the surface of the water causes evaporation.
This evaporation creates clouds and eventually will fall back down to Earth in the form of snow or rain. All of this is collected in bodies of water, and the cycle begins again. Hydropower relies on this cycle.
Since water is what is most important for this type of renewable energy, hydropower plants are usually on or near a body of water. The amount of energy generated depends on the water flow and the water cycle. If there is more water flow and more precipitation, the plant is able to produce more power.
Choose Renewable Energy for Your Home
Now that you understand the main renewable energy options available, it'll be easier for you to pick the right one for you.
As time goes on, more and more options will become available. Using these renewable resources is the best way to continue living as we need to with electricity but in a much safer and efficient way.
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