Introduction
Energy is a factor of the well being of the people and is a production factor of the commercial and industrial sectors. As a result, energy is a prime mover of the country’s competitive edge and economic development in the long term. Energy is the power we use for transportation, for heat and light in our homes and for the manufacture of all kinds of products. There are two sources of energy: renewable and nonrenewable energy. Nonrenewable energy we use comes from fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas and petroleum. Uranium is another nonrenewable source, but it is not a fossil fuel. Uranium is converted to a fuel and used in nuclear power plants. Once these natural resources are used up, they are gone forever. The process of gathering these fuels can be harmful to the biomes from which they come. Fossil fuels are put through a process called combustion in order to produce energy. Combustion releases pollution, such as carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, which may contribute to acid rain and global warming. Renewable sources of energy can be used over and over again. Renewable resources include solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, biomass and hydropower. They generate much less pollution, both in gathering and production, than nonrenewable sources.
Although non-renewable energy derived from fossil fuel resources will remain the major source of energy for the global consumption for no less than 30-40 years, such energy resources will eventually be depleted. Hence, many countries have paid greater attention to renewable energy development during the past decade (1990-2000). The average growth rate of renewable energy consumption is 8% per year while the consumption of energy derived from various types of fossil fuel grows at a maximum rate of 2% per year. It is necessarily to use energy effactively.
Energy types and consumption
Active Solar Space Heating – Air. Active solar space heating systems also can be found with air as the heat distribution fluid. They are typically identified by a thermal collector (air) separate from a living space, a storage medium (usually either rocks or masonry), and an externally powered distribution system that moves the heat from the solar collector to the heat storage area and from there to the living space. These systems also can be configured as „black attics“ or forced and thermosiphoning solar thermal air panels which use the whole house for heat storage.
Alternative Building Techniques. Alternative building techniques use common or innovative materials in uniquely efficient ways. Many new products are available for building construction that are made from recycled materials, require less raw material to produce, release fewer toxic compounds during manufacturing or installation, need less energy to install, or reduce the overall energy used to produce the material (referred to as low-embodied energy).
Alternative Fuels. Alternative fuels are primarily used in the transportation sector. The fuels ethanol and electricity can be produced from renewable energy resources while methanol, propane and natural gas are considered alternative transportation fuels but are generally produced from nonrenewable energy. Methane also can be generated from animal and human waste and by capturing landfill gases.
Active Solar Space Heating – Hydronic. Active solar space heating systems come in many different configurations. They are typically identified by a solar thermal collector (water), a storage medium (usually water in a storage tank), and an externally powered distribution system that moves the heat from the solar collector to the heat storage tank. Typically the hot water is circulated in a radiant floor heating system or through a fan coil mounted in the central air handling unit.
Biomass & Biogas. Biomass and biogas energy are derived from any material containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Alcohol from crop residue, methane biogas from livestock manure, and heat from burning sawdust are all examples of turning a waste product into useful energy. Large scale biomass and biogas projects are under way in the state with the technology being used on a commercially and even smaller scale.
Electrical Storage. Renewable energy electricity systems are generally using a natural resource that is consistent, but not constant. By storing excess electricity in batteries, flywheels, pumped storage, compressed air or as hydrogen, renewable energy systems can extend there effectiveness and improve their economics.
Electric Vehicles. Cars, trucks and buses use an enormous amount of energy. Much of that energy is wasted during idling at a stoplight or because of the inefficient combustion of gasoline during acceleration. Even the most energy efficient cars can only convert 30% of the useful energy in gasoline to power at the wheels. Electric vehicles (EVs) are able to store electricity in batteries which provide overall power efficiencies of 80%. EVs can be recharged from the electrical grid or with renewable energy (often called zero-emission vehicles).
Electric Fuel Cells. Fuel cells recombine oxygen and hydrogen to form water and in the process produce electricity. This is the opposite of electrolysis. Natural gas is currently being used as the primary source for the hydrogen in most applications; however, any renewable energy that produces electricity can be used to produce hydrogen for a fuel cell. Fuel cells can be considered an
alternative form of electricity storage.
High Efficiency Woodstoves. Wood is a renewable energy source that is an excellent addition to a solar home design. Woodstoves are being produced with a very high combustion efficiency, which means less wood to chop, more heat in the house and fewer pollutants from the chimney. Fireplaces should be designed with an outside air source and glass doors to keep indoor air from going up the flue. For both fireplaces and woodstoves, it is best if the chimney is centrally located instead of on an exterior wall so that the heated masonry will warm the house and not the outdoors.