What is Alternative Energy

Although it is regularly discussed in newspapers and environmental forums, the simple question of what is alternative energy is rarely publicly defined, because it is assumed that anyone who is interested already knows the answer. This attitude can work against environmentalists who need to remember that a well-informed public will more readily embrace an earth-friendly standpoint.

Solar power is one of the strongest forms of alternative energy.

At its most simple, alternative energy is any power that is derived from wholly natural sources with no impact upon the environment or depletion of resources. Wind and solar power are two of the best and most commonly touted examples. The moniker of alternative also, of course, has a negative connotation in that these superior sources of energy are not popularly used. It is the hope of environmentalists and even growing numbers of businesses and industry titans that research, development and tax credits will all forward the uses of these and other clean forms of energy so that they become the norm, and the use of fossil fuels becomes first alternative, and then a thing of the past.

Sometimes, misunderstanding can arise in the shape of semantics when the answer to the question 'what is alternative energy' is confused with the answer to 'what is renewable energy'. While the term renewable can and does encompass solar, wind, tidal and geothermal sources of power, the umbrella of renewable energy also includes those technologies that can have significant environmental impact, such as nuclear power, hydroelectricity generated from dams and some biofuels.

So, while it’s easy enough to ask what is alternative energy and get a straightforward answer, turning around and applying alternative energy into the home and workplace can seem a bit daunting. Unfortunately, the federal government has not been doing as much as it could to promote serious use of alternative energy. However, some individual states have stepped into the void to try and make solar and wind power more of the norm, rather than the exception. Western states such as California realize that it’s only common sense. The sheer amount of sunshine the state enjoys year round can be harnessed in ways both big and small to power homes and businesses. Tax credits and other incentives are available to individual homeowners who add solar panels to their houses. Backyard swimming pools can be heated using solar panels, often mounted on the garage. In fact, solar panels can provide nearly all of a home’s heating and electric needs.

As more people see the extreme cost savings of using solar power, they seek to apply it more widely. California also offers incentives to apartment landlords and businesses that install solar panels. With so many costs soaring, an investment in technology that results in radical savings is unsurprisingly seen as a no-brainer.

As with anything new, there is a learning curve and glitches to be worked out. Wind power is often problematic for the simple reason that wind turbines are unattractive and no one wants them spoiling a lovely view. Unlike the historic Dutch windmills, wind turbines look as industrial as they are, and a number of them are needed in a single spot to produce any notable amount of energy. They can also be very noisy. Worse, they can have an unexpected negative impact on the environment in that some have been placed on the paths of migratory birds and the birds have been killed. Further research and development will alleviate all these problems, as well as make the turbines even more efficient, but it requires time, money and will. Solar panels are becoming more efficient every year, but they too require patience and investment before a small panel will be able to power a large building. Many people find them unattractive on older homes, or impossible to install. With enough pressure on industry, however, these are problems that can be overcome.

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