What exactly is climate change?

So, what exactly is climate change? What is global warming? What is the difference? Here’s all that you should know.Orig.src_.Susanne.Posel_.Daily_.News-climate.change.world_.war_.3_occupycorporatism

“Climate is a measure of the average pattern of variation in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological variables in a given region over long periods of time.”

“Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. In other words, climate change includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer.”

Climate change is the change of the various climates around the world. Examples of climate change include global warming.

“Global warming refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth’s surface. It is caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is causing climate patterns to change. However, global warming itself represents only one aspect of climate change.”

Over the past hundred years or so, the average temperature of Earth has increased because of this phenomenon. It has risen by 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit already, and is estimated to increase from 2-11.5 degrees in the next hundred years. These changes do not sound like much, but a small change in climate can affect the Earth in a very big way. These small changes can cause large, and “potentially dangerous shifts” in weather and climate.climate-change

Evidence has been found that clearly proves the existence of climate change.

Effects and    evidence of climate change include the following:

-Changes in rainfall

-Flooding, droughts, or intense rain

-More frequent and severe heat waves

-Warming and increasingly acidic oceans

-Melting ice caps

-Rising sea levels

These signs of climate change pose significant threats to life on Earth.

More indicators of climate change can be found here: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/indicators/

Who has caused climate change and global warming? Humans.

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, industrial and agricultural practices, release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. These greenhouse gases blanket the Earth, and trap heat energy under the atmosphere. This causes the overall climate to warm. This is the greenhouse effect, and it is not all bad. The greenhouse effect is necessary—in moderation—to support life on our planet. But the increasing greenhouse effect and the buildup of greenhouse gases has significant consequences.

More causes of climate change: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html

Climate change can change anything connected to our climate—which includes all life on Earth. It can affect water supplies, food supplies, power and transportation systems, the environment, our health, and our safety. It will continue to worsen—Earth will continue to warm until carbon dioxide begins to leave the atmosphere, which can be up to 100 years after it is placed in our atmosphere.WHO-climate-change-chart__1_

This is kind of depressing, though. People, along with larger organizations and agencies, can take action.

What the EPA is doing: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html

What you can do: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/

Calculate your carbon footprint: http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/

 

Goodreads

Today is my final passion blog post for my English 137 Honors class. I am going to try something a little different. Instead of reviewing a book that I have read before, and trying to convince at least one blog reader to read a book for fun, I am going to talk about one of the best websites in the world. This website also has to do with books, so it does relate to my passion blog theme for this year.

How many of you have heard of Goodreads?goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com

There’s also an app.

“Goodreads is a free website for book lovers. Imagine it as a large library that you can wander through and see everyone’s bookshelves, their reviews, and their ratings. You can also post your own reviews and catalog what you have read, are currently reading, and plan to read in the future. Don’t stop there – join a discussion group, start a book club, contact an author, and even post your own writing.”

Once you make an account (or link it to your Facebook account), you start using this amazing service by selecting books that you have read. These books are added to your “read” bookshelf. You can then review and rate these books. Then, you add books you are in the middle of reading, and put these on your “currently-reading” shelf. Lastly, you can add books that you want to read to your “to-read” bookshelf. Additionally, you can add more shelves and categorize books in any other way that you want. Listing the books that you have read (and also rating and reviewing them) allows others to see what your opinion is on this book, and based on your highest rated books, Goodreads can actually recommend books to you. Also, keeping a to-read list is one of the most invaluable tools a book lover can have. I am able to keep track of what I have and have not read, and if a friend or enemy ever mentions a book that sounds good, I can add it to my list right away, before I forget the recommendation.

What is on my shelves?

Currently, I have 53 books on my to-reads shelf. And before you say that that is a lot, keep in mind that this is much less than I have had in the past. At one point, I had over one hundred books on my to-read list. Yeah. I have a problem with reading. But it is a good problem.

Some of my most highly rated books include:
– The Sherlock Holmes series (Arthur Conan Doyle)
– Sharp Objects (Gillian Flynn)
– The Chet and Bernie Series (Spencer Quinn)
– The Lunar Chronicles (Marissa Meyer)
– The Devil Wears Prada (Lauren Weisberger)
– I am Number Four (Pittacus Lore)
– Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling)
– Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan)
– Legend (Marie Lu)
– Everybody Sees the Ants (A. S. King)
– And more!!

Some of the books on my recommendation list:
– Hunting Lila (Sarah Alderson)
– Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (Lish McBride)
– Deathnote (Tsugumi Ohba)
– Boneshaker (Cherie Priest)
– My Fair Lazy (Jen Lancaster)
– Shadow and Bone (Leigh Barduco)
– Sweet Evil (Wendy Higgins)

Some of these books look pretty interesting…I might be increasing the length of my to-reads list today! Haha.

Goodreads is fantastic. It allows people to keep track of what they read and want to read, recommend books to friends, join or start literature discussion groups, and learn everything you need to know about a book. It is one of my favorite websites, and I recommend it to every book lover. And if you have a Goodreads profile, add me as a friend! I’m listed as Emma Clement.

The Skinny on Solar Panels

As someone who is interested in the environment and protecting it, I have always been interested in renewable sources of energy. The eco-friendly form of solar1energy that I am most excited about is solar panels. To me, solar panels signify the change that parts of society are making to live more sustainably. Solar panels harness the most significant source of energy that we have access to on Earth, and then store this as electricity that we can use. However, solar panels are often criticized for being inefficient, expensive, or ineffective. Here is some more information on the different types of solar panels and on solar panel efficiency.

Types of solar panels:

  • Monocrystalline silicon (aka single silicon): these are the most efficient types of solar panels. They create the most electricity out of sunlight when compared to the other types of solar panels in use today. Single silicon solar cells (say that three times fast) use more silicon than other types of silicon-containing solar panels. This increases their cost, but you need fewer of them to create a specific amount of electricity because of their high efficiency. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are distinguished by solar4their square shaped cells.
  • Polycrystalline silicon (multi-silicon): these panels are cheaper because they use less silicon, however, this makes them less efficient. These solar panels are best for construction on use, and can be recognized by their woven silicon and wire appearance.
  • Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): these panels can look like real roofing tiles. These solar shingles are the most attractive-looking panels for use on a house or other building. However, these good looks cost more, are less efficient, and may not last as long.
  • Solar thermal panels: these panels produce hot water for homes and pools. Some solar thermal systems can even provide heating or air conditioning for homes. These look nothing like a typical, blue solar panel.
  • More info on types of solar panels: http://pureenergies.com/us/how-solar-works/types-of-solar-panels/

So those are some of the different types of solar panels. So what? How efficient are they? And what does an efficiency rating mean? Here’s what you should know.

  • Most solar panels are from 11-15% efficient, meaning that they convert from 11-15% of the sunlight that hits a panel into useable electricity. This sounds low, but most typical roofs can be easily outfitted with solar panels to cover one’s energy needs.
  • Compare different solar panel efficiencies here: http://sroeco.com/solar/table/
  • The higher the efficiency, the less surface area you’ll need in your solar panels.
  • When someone looks to buy solar panels for their roof, pre-negotiated solar deals typically offer a choice of different panels. You might not want to get the most efficient panels if you have more roof space. Companies usually focus on minimizing the cost of solar panels while maximizing expected kilowatt production from those solar panels.
  • Solar panel efficiency is affected by: panel orientation (which should be installed in the optimal position for sunlight and airflow), tilt of a roof, temperature, and shade from plants/buildings/trees.
  • More info on solar efficiency here: http://pureenergies.com/us/how-solar-works/solar-panel-efficiency/

If the right type of solar panels are chosen and installed correctly, the averagesolar2 household owner can drastically reduce their consumption of electricity from traditional sources (such as fossil fuels). Large industrial or office buildings can install solar panels as well. Additionally, solar farms are being created in various parts of the country, for the sole purpose of harvesting solar energy into electricity. But what else can solar panels be used for?

To me, one of the most exciting ideas for using alternative energies is the idea of solar powered-cars. While this is not exactly feasible at tsolar3he moment, the idea is becoming closer to reality. Ford has created a concept hybrid car and put solar panels on its roof. This C-Max Solar Energi car is just one of the solar paneled cars created to explore this exciting engineering concept. Small car roofs create a challenge in generating enough electricity to make it worthwhile and practical. But whether or not this idea becomes a real product in the future, it definitely demonstrates the progress that humans are making towards a more sustainable future with solar energy.

More info on the C-Max Solar here: http://www.sfgate.com/technology/article/Ford-s-experimental-car-has-solar-panels-on-roof-5107688.php

the Chemical Garden

So what is a chemical garden? Before I read this book, I would have said some special garden where chemicals are used to alter the plants that grow, or something along those lines. I had never really heard the term, but I expected this series to be some form of science fiction trilogy. Curious, I did some rchemical3esearch.
Here’s the real definition of a chemical garden, according to Wikipedia: “A chemical garden is an experiment in chemistry normally performed by adding solid metal salts such as copper sulfate or cobalt(II) chloride to an aqueous solution of sodium silicate (otherwise known as waterglass). This results in growth of plant like forms in minutes to hours.” And if you look online, you can find some pretty amazing and beautiful creations. I found a really interesting website, too. This website has photos and videos of some really beautiful chemical garden creations/reactions. It describes them as a way to “rediscover the stunning beauty of chemical reactions”, “explore some of the most beautiful chemical structures”, and enjoy a “happy marriage of science and art.” If you’re interested in cool-looking things, art, chemistry, or other types of science, check out this website. I spent an embarrassing amount of time looking at these videos when I was trying to write this blog. These chemical garden videos are really mesmerizing in a weird way.
http://beautifulchemistry.net/chemical2
So this blog so far has been a really long tangent. My goal was to write about a new trilogy I discovered and read a few weeks ago. The main character in the chemical garden trilogy is Rhine Ellery, who has four years left to live. Thanks to modern science, a botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Despite orphans, crime, poverty, and a post-apocalypse type society (in some regards), scientists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race. Additionally, many young girls—including Rhine– are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children. When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bchemical1ride, she vows to escape her husband, Linden, who is hopelessly in love with her, and be reunited with her brother. However, Rhine can’t bring herself to hate Linden him as much as she’d like to. Linden introduces Rhine to a wonderful world of wealth, and living this life with her husband and sister wives is almost an escape from the fear she has about her short lifespan. But something is wrong in her new life. Her father-in-law, a scientist bent on finding the antidote, is hiding corpses in the basement. Rhine cannot know if she should trust or fear her sister wives, and time is running out. Will Rhine be able to escape – before her time runs out? And if she does escape, how will anyone find freedom in this new anarchy?
This book had a lovely premise, writing, plot, and characters. I loved the mix of science fiction and dystopian writing, and it was great to read a trilogy that was completely finished (no waiting for the rest of the books!).
Has anyone read this book, or any other interesting books recently?

Dorothy Must Die

dorothy2By far, this is one of the more intriguing book titles that I have read in a while. And this was one of the more intriguing books I’ve read in a while, as well.
How many of you blog readers have seen the classic movie (or read the book), The Wizard of Oz? Or one of the adaptations, such as the much-loved Broadway musical dorothy1Wicked? Or even the more recent Disney movie, Oz the Great and Powerful?

Here’s a quick synopsis of each.
-The Wizard of Oz: “When a nasty neighbor tries to have her dog put to sleep, Dorothy takes her dog Toto, to run away. A cyclone appears and carries her to the magical land of Oz. Wishing to return, she begins to travel to the Emerald City where a great wizard lives. On her way she meets a Scarecrow who needs a brain, a Tin Man who wants a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who desperately needs courage. They all hope the Wizard of Oz will help them, before the Wicked Witch of the West catches up with them.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032138/plotsummary
-Wicked: “A vivid reimagining of the classic The Wizard of Oz, Wicked spotlights the untold stories of Oz’s most famous (or infamous) characters, namely the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friend, Glinda the Good Witch. The show follows green-skinned star Elphaba from birth to college and through the life-changing events which eventually label her “wicked,” introducing spoiled rich girl Glinda, local prince and heartthrob Fiyero and even the Wizard of Oz himself, a troubled man very unlike the one you may remember.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262426/plotsummary
-Oz the Great and Powerful: “Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he’s hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good adorothy3nd who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/plotsummary

Both of these adaptations (and I know there are more out there) are great vdorothy5ersions of the original, and while all cannot exist in the same universe, they all offer interesting sides to the classic tale. In this adaptation of the Wizard of Oz, a girl named Amy Gumm is an unwilling protagonist (at first) when she is swept up by a tornado. In this story, the classic tale of Oz is true. The story of Dorothy happened in the past, but something happened afterwards. Now, the Good Witches are untrustworthy, Wicked Witches can be heroes, and everything else is changed. The yellow brick road is crumbling, and winged monkeys are kept as slaves or can be executed for acts of ‘treason’. Why? Dorothy.
Dorothy found a way to return to Oz, and she seized power from Oz’s true ruler. Then the power went to her head, adorothy4nd no one is safe. Amy Gumm has been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked, with one mission. Dorothy must die to return happiness and life to the Land of Oz
This might be my favorite version of the Oz story, and I was drawn to the idea of the wicked being good. It brought up interesting ideas of what makes someone wicked, or good, and it was also just a great story to read. Give this book a try, especially if you enjoyed the Wizard of Oz, Wicked, or Oz the Great and Powerful.

Deliberation: Obesity in America

On Monday, March 2, 2015, I was able to attend a deliberation entitled “Weighing the Options: A Deliberation on Obesity in America.” Being an American, this issue immediately interests me, especially when coupled with my commitment to living my life in a healthy way. So here is some background on what a deliberation is, and on the issue of obesity in society today.
This event was put on through Penn State as a part of the Deliberation Nation effort. “The National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation is a network of thousands of innovators who bring people together across divides to tackle today’s toughest challenges. NCDD serves as a gathering place, a resource clearinghouse, a news source, and a facilitative leader for this extraordinary community.” Deliberations are similar to debates, except that they aim to talk through a solution to a tough problem, and are much calmer and less argumentative. This deliberation facilitated an interesting conversation, and it helped me learn more about one of the nation’s biggest health problems.
Although there is no easy solution to this problem, I hope that today’s deliberation was able to help find a solution. The issue of obesity emerged when famine became an uncommon event in the United States. Our bodies are designed to store fat from times of abundance of food, and as we do not need this fat storage any more, we are becoming bigger and bigger on average. Instead of working to hunt and gather for our food, we can go to a fast food chain and easily acquire food. Obesity is a big issue, because it causes many other health issues, not to mention issues with body image and more.
There are many approaches to reducing obesity. This deliberation outlined three different options. Option one focused on subsidies on healthier foods, taxing unhealthy and fast foods, and making obesity-related healthcare more expensive. This would help incentivize people to eat healthier through economic actions. Option two focuses on teaching families, families, and society as a whole to eat healthier and exercise more. This could teach college students how to eat healthy on their own, focus on teaching nutrition ideals in elementary school at an early age, and increasing discussions about nutrition at check-up doctor’s appointments. Option three is a scientific approach to ending obesity. This would work on more research to find who is at risk for obesity, and on changing one’s metabolism through genetic modification.
While all of these solutions offer valid answers to the issue of the obesity epidemic in America, I have reached a personal decision on the best way (in my opinion) to solve this problem. I am no expert, however, so my opinions are to be taken with a grain of salt. I think the most important way to challenge obesity is to change the behavior of people in America. I think economic actions could contribute to this, as could increasing research and scientific advancements, but the main focus on this initiative should be on education and changing the psychological and social aspects of food and eating. I think the best way to solve this issue is to combine all three of these approaches. Once we change the way people behave with food and nutrition, this can help to change the willpower of Americans struggling with obesity, and can lead the way to a healthier future.
For more information on deliberations, visit http://ncdd.org/.

Post Spring Break Book Wonder

What did you do over your spring break? Let me guess… you watched (at least) three seasons of your new favorite show on netflix, you ate as much free food provided by your parents as you could (you don’t have to swipe your ID for dinner if it is made by mom!), slept in until noon each day (or later), and halfheartedly finished a few homework assignments on Sunday night, right before they’re due at midnight.

Was that close to what you did over break? I am going to guess that a lot of college students spent their spring breaks pretty closely to the scenario that I just described. However, I did not spend my spring break quite that way. Over spring break, I finished all of my homework and studying as soon as possible (yes, I am one of those non-procrastinator people, sorry if that freaks you out), slept in (but not until noon, I am also one of those mythical morning people, sorry if that freaks you out, too), and spent a lot of my free time reading. I think there is no better way to relax and de-stress after half of the semester is over, and as a result, I read for fun over break. I read a lot. It was absolutely lovely.

Now if you spent your whole break not reading at all, I pity you just a tiny bit (seriously, reading is so enjoyable! I do not understand how people can have so much free time and not read—the idea just blows my mind). But you can still read for fun dtimeuring the semester, even if you’re pretty busy with classes and clubs and everything. We are all busy, but it is possible to find time to read during the semester. I do it all the time. If you want to try reading something this semester, here is my newest recommendation. I read it over break, and I really enjoyed it. Perhaps some of you have heard about it. My focus of today’s blog is the book: The Time Traveler’s Wife, written by Audrey Niffenegger.

This book is longer than the usual books I review (518 pages), but don’t let that scare you away! I promise you will love this book. Well maybe. Not everyone has to love the books that I love, but it is so well written and interesting that I think most people would at least like it, if only a little bit.

As the title might give away, this book does involve a time traveler, and his wife. Big surprise. Clare, a willful art student/sculptor, first meets Henry, a librarian, when she is six and Henry is thirty six. They get married when Clare is twenty three and Henry is thirty one. How is this possible?

Everyone has different genetic codes that make up their DNA, but Henry’s is even more different from mine, yours, or Clare’s. His DNA causes him to have “Chrono-Displacement Disorder”, a condition where his genetic clock randomly changes and causes him to “time travel” at unpredictable moments in time. With Henry uncontrollably moving throughout time—sometimes disappearing for minutes, hours, or longer—can Clare and Henry live a normal life together? How will their marriage and relationship survive?

What does it mean to love someone regardless of time or age? If you love someone in one time, will you love them in the past or present or future?

Watch the movie trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USUDlMBR-dQ

Eleanor and Park

Okay, I gotta admit something. This is totally not the kind of book that I usually read. I tend to like young adult novels and books that are about dystopian societies, mysteries, strong characters, etc. They tend to be much darker than the kind of book that this one is. Eleanor and Park, written by Rainbow Rowell (who has an awesome first name, by the way), is a young adult novel. But Eleanor and Park is a young adult romance novel. Not the kind of novel that I would normally read.park2

Nevertheless, this novel was extraordinary. And if you do not believe me, believe the ratings online. On Goodreads, it is rated at an average of 4.17 out of 5 stars by over two hundred and fifty seven thousand readers. Pretty impressive, right?

This book takes place over one school year, and tells the story of two misfits who fall in love (big surprise there, as this is a young adult romance novel). It is beautiful and lovely and wonderful, and not at all overly mushy or sappy (which I absolutely hate). But how do these two misfits meet, and will it work out between them? First love almost never lasts, do Eleanor and Park have the right relationship?park 1

I apologize. This is sounding really sappy. I don’t know how to describe this book without making it sound all sappy and lovey-dovey. Let me include some quotes describing the characters.

“Eleanor… Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough…Eleanor.

Park… He knows she’ll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There’s a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises…Park.”

This novel includes some non-romancey elements, too. It deals with some quite intense topics, as well. Both of the protagonists are misfits, and this touches on the issue (this should not be an issue) of mixed race children, as Park is half Korean and half white. Additionally, Eleanor is an outcast, because of her weight. The two live in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1986, and form their friendship over mix tapes and comic books. They meet on the school bus. (Why didn’t I meet my true love on a school bus in high school? I ended up sitting up next to delinquents and drug dealers on my school bus…no fair). Their relationship, and this novel, was honest, touching, funny, and hopeful all at once. The book also touches on ‘serious’ issues, such as domestic and child abuse, bullying, body image, and racism. It is not just a flouncy, romance novel. It has a real substance.

One of my favorite quotes about this book describes it perfectly: Eleanor & Park “reminded me not just what it’s like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it’s like to be young and in love with a book.” I did fall in love with this book, and I promise you will, too. It is wonderfully and beautifully written, and it was a fantastic read. Fans of young adult novels (they can be adults, too) will definitely enjoy this read. I promise!

The Silkworm

How many of you out there are Harry Potter fans?

Excellent, excellent. I could talk forever about how much I love the Harry Potter Series (my favorite novel is Harry Potter and silkworm 2the Chamber of Secrets; my favorite movie is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, what are yours? You can post in the comments if you’d like). I am a fan of both the books and the movies (and of course the books are better), the incredible HP fandom, and even the amusement park in Universal Studios. So, naturally, I was thrilled when I heard J. K. Rowling was writing another series (under a pen name) for adults.

This is the second book in that series. The Silkworm (and the first book, the Cuckoo’s Calling) are written by one of the best and most well-known authors out there: J. K. Rowling. She writes these books under the not-so-secret pseudonym, Robert Galbraith. Yes, that is a man’s name.The Silkworm by J.K. Rowling

I recommend these two books to all book fans—Harry Potter lovers or not (but you should love Harry Potter, because it is amazing, don’t even let me get started on why everybody should read that series). The Silkworm is not really about silkworms, but the title is not completely random, either (it will make sense once you read the book, so go get on that if you are curious!). This pair of books is a great start to what is a promising new(ish) mystery series for adults. I was actually a bit scared to start Cuckoo’s Calling, because I was worried that I had too high of an expectation for the book, just because I love her other series so much. But don’t be worried, you should give them a try—not because they are written by J. K. Rowling, but because they are amazing books that deserve the high ratings they have.

So what is the Silkworm about? I suppose I should start with the characters.

First, you have the protagonist—private detective Cormoran Strike, an ex-army silkworm1member who (unfortunately) only has half of one of his legs (not including his prosthetic). Then you have his faithful secretary (or does she do more than make phone calls?) Robin.

This novel focuses around the case of missing novelist Owen Quine (and I have no idea what the correct pronunciation for his name is), who was reported in as missing to Strike by his wife. She says that he has just gone off on his own for a while, and wants Strike to find him and take him home to his family. But there is something more to this case. It isn’t a simple disappearance. Quine has just completed a very controversial (unpublished) novel that he plans to self-publish. The controversy of this novel? It includes “poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows”, exposing many secrets and details that aren’t exactly his to tell.

When Quine turns up brutally (and bizarrely) murdered, Strike is on the case to determine who the killer is. Is it the wife, or someone else featured in his awful manuscript? Was this a single killing, or is someone else next?

Read to find out.

Renewable Energy we can Count on

So most people get that using a lot of energy is bad, because of the increase in greenhouse gases and the resulting effect on global warming. And most people get that fossil fuels are bad—that they’re dirty, inefficient, messy, and can be dangerous. But despite increases in alternative energy, a significant amount of society is still against these alternative energy sources, even if these sources could pose a solution to mitigating climate change. Why is this?

renewable3Many people have a positive mental image of rene  wable energy, while fossil fuels tend to have a more negative connotation. But people are reluctant to make the switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy. It is easy to just stick with what works, and people don’t want to change what isn’t broken. But that attitude won’t get us anywhere. In fact, the opposite attitude is what will—and is—helping us to begin to solve the pressing environmental issues we face today. Renewable sources of energy have also begun to change the minds of some members of society.

Renewable energy is currently providing clean and reliable energy where it does exist. And record numbers of new wind farms and solar energy farms are popping up in the US recently. If we continue this expansion of renewable energy, we can continue the decreases in dirty fossil fuels. New energy technologies can allow us to improve our current electricity and energy system, and this will allow us to move the country towards a cleaner future. In fact, the United States has the tools needed to increase renewables, and our electricity system has the potential to accommodate more wind and solar energy. But can we count on renewable energy? Yes.

“The wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine.”
This does not matter. With multiple wind and solar power sources, we can draw electricity from a broader geographic area to ensure a steady supply of electricity. Additionally, more accurate weather forecasts can allow grid operators to estimate renewable energy output, and make adjustments as necessary. Other power sources, such as hydroelectric power or even hydrogen power, can fill the gap made on wind or sun-less days. And it is also important to remember that electricity grids can handle change. All energy sources face changes, and even fossil fuels are not always reliable because of possible “interruption for maintenance, and from severe weather, equipment failure, and other unexpected events” (UCSUSA). The grid that handles our electricity is already used to preparing for variations in supply and demand, and can just as easily be made to work with alternative energy sources that can be just as variable as traditional energy sources.

We will be able to allow renewable energy to provide a majority of U.S. electricity, because we can actually depend on alterrenewable2native energy sources. Alternative forms of energy, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower, are readily available to be used as forms of electricity for today and tomorrow. We can add many variable energy sources, and depend on these environmentally-friendly sources of electricity. We can change.

Although change is hard, we can do it. Change is necessary for a better future and sustaining the human race on Earth.Green nature landscape with planet Earth

Let’s start a change—today!

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/smart-energy-solutions/increase-renewables/ramping-up-renewable-energy-sources.html#.VNA0Qi5HM4c

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