Alternate Energy Uses

With the constant fluctuation in oil prices and concerns over how burning fossil fuels affects the environment, people are looking to alternate energy. Alternate energy comes in a variety of forms, and each has its own benefits and optimal uses.

Nuclear

• A number of countries use nuclear energy to generate electricity to power businesses and homes. A nuclear power plant generates energy by splitting uranium atoms in a process known as fission, releasing a large amount of energy which heats up water to produce steam. While some advocate nuclear energy as a clean source of energy due to its lack of emissions, others argue that its production of radioactive waste poses a great risk to the environment.

Solar

• Solar cells convert energy from the sun into electricity. Some envision using it as a primary energy source in the future, but scientists have not yet figured out how to get enough energy out of the process to rival fossil fuels. People use solar energy for water heating, cooking food, powering satellites and many other localized uses.

Wind

• Like solar, wind is an attractive alternate energy source as it does not give off emissions. Wind energy doesn't rival fossil fuels in terms of energy production, but many countries are building wind farms -- particularly in coastal areas -- to try to harness the energy of the wind and provide wide-scale electricity.

Geothermal

• Geothermal energy refers to energy that comes from the Earth, usually from radioactive decay and volcanic activity. People typically use geothermal energy for home heating and cooling, but society is expanding its use to other areas, such as agriculture, industry, food processing and even generating electricity.

Biofuel

• Concerns about how the internal combustion engine affects the environment are prompting many to look to biofuel as an alternative to gasoline for powering automobiles. One popular version of biofuel uses corn-based ethanol. Scientists hope biofuel will one day be as economical and efficient as fossil fuels.

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen doesn't exist on Earth as a gas as it is so light that it would quickly leave the atmosphere. Scientists have discovered ways to harness the power of hydrogen as a gas by separating it from other atoms in hydrogen-based compounds, such as in water through steam reforming or electrolysis. Hydrogen is used in vehicles, space shuttles and emergency power sources. The downside of hydrogen fuel cells is their expense.