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Clean Energy Sources That Help Global Warming

Traditional coal, oil and gas plants contribute to global warming, as they release greenhouse gases into Earth's atmosphere. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change reports that the biggest hurdle in stemming global climate change lies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of coal. Clean energy sources can help offset these emissions. Clean energy -- including biofuels, wind power and solar power -- is projected to increase from $144.5 billion worldwide in 2009 to $343.4 billion by 2019, according to the clean technology consultancy firm Clean Edge.

  1. Geothermal

    • Geothermal energy uses heat from Earth's core. This energy source is more reliable than other clean energy sources because it is not dependent on weather and is constantly being renewed. Because electricity simply moves heat to buildings from the earth rather than burning a fuel to generate heat, geothermal energy is a clean and efficient source of energy. However, the initial investment is significant. If the United States tapped 5 percent of its geothermal energy, it would generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 260 million Americans, according to Discover magazine. The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) reports that electricity generated from geothermal sources represents 0.36 percent of the total U.S. production and 12.13 percent of electricity generated from renewable resources. The nation's geothermal capacity was at 3,040 MWe as of 2008; the U.S. goal is to reach 100,000 MWe by 2050. The term "MWe" stands for "megawatt electrical" and refers to electric power.

    Slaughterhouse Waste

    • Changing World Technologies, a company based in Carthage, Missouri, is converting slaughterhouse waste into oil at its thermal conversion plant. The company turns waste, including fats, bones, greases and feathers, into renewable diesel fuel, fertilizers and specialty chemicals. According to Changing World Technologies' website, 6 billion tons of agricultural waste produced every year in the United States could theoretically be converted into 4 billion barrels of oil. Realizing just a portion of this is in our national interest, the company says, "because it ensures greater national energy independence."

    Garbage

    • Energy plants that burn household garbage and industrial waste have emerged as an important fuel source in Denmark, according to The New York Times. This type of plant is much cleaner than incinerators, as it converts trash into heat and electricity and employs filters to catch pollutants. There are 400 such plants across Europe, and only 87 in the United States as of 2010. Trash-burning plants have faced resistance in the United States because of the abundance of cheap landfills and general opposition from officials and the public.

    Wind Power

    • Wind is a type of solar energy. It creates zero air and water pollution -- and it's nearly cost-free, after the turbine is constructed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make wind, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. National Geographic reports that most wind energy is derived from turbines as tall as a 20-story building and have three 200-foot-long blades. One megawatt of wind power is enough electricity to power about 250 homes in the United States.

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