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Renewable Energy Name Tutor\ professor Date

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Abstract This paper is based on the past lessons on energy, the various sources of energy and the interchangeability of energy. It explores the need for a replacement of fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas. This replacement is coming in the wake of the need to find an alternative energy source to rid the world on dependency on fossil fuels. Energy is often understood as the ability of a system to perform a task on other physical systems (Douglas 2007). As a source of renewable energy I chose to go with solar energy. Alternative energy Daily, the globe produces green house gases such as carbon monoxide to the earths atmosphere. This increased levels of carbon monoxide cause global warming. To respond to this influx of carbon monoxide we should replace the current systems with alternatives that are more capable and do not emit carbon monoxide. Alternate energy implies of energy sources that have no repercussions like nuclear and fossil energy. Alternative energy sources are free energy sources and are renewable such include wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass energy, hydroelectric energy, and solar energy. They all have a unique characteristic this is they have lower carbon emissions in comparison to normal conventional energy sources. Combined with recycling the use of clean energies such as solar energy in homes will ensure that man lives well into the 21st century and beyond. Solar energy Solar energy is the energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy. This energy has been harnessed by humans since eons ago, the range of these technologies have

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been in constant evolution and include, solar photovoltaic, solar heating, solar architecture and solar thermal electricity. This energy can solve a myriad of the worlds most urgent problem. In 2011 the international Energy Agency stated that "the development of affordable, inexhaustible and clean solar energy technologies will have huge longer-term benefits. It will increase countries energy security through reliance on an indigenous, inexhaustible and mostly import-independent resource, enhance sustainability, reduce pollution, lower the costs of mitigating climate change, and keep and keep fossil fuel prices lower than otherwise. These advantages are global. Hence the additional costs of the incentives for early deployment should be considered learning investments; they must be wisely spent and need to be widely shared".(1] Applications of solar energy All renewable sources of energy, apart from tidal and geothermal, derive their energy from the sun. Solar technologies are described as either passive or active. This is depending on how they capture, convert and dispense sunlight. Active solar methods increase the energy supply by use of photovoltaic panels and are considered the supply side, while passive solar technologies are described by thermal materials, air conditioning systems and are conceived as demand side technologies. Solar energy has and is useful in urban planning and architecture. The houses are built and are oriented relative to the sun, a low surface area to volume ratio, thermal mass and overhangs. When these features are tailored to the local environment and climate they produce well lit houses that are very comfortable to stay in Schittich (2003), p. 14.

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There are other numerous applications that make solar energy the prime alternative source of energy this include agriculture and horticulture, solar lighting, solar thermal energy, water treatment, cooking, solar power, solar vehicles, and solar power. This traditionally people have used off grid PV system that is rechargeable batteries to store the excess energy. With the introduction of the grid system, excess electricity can be sent to the main grid. The availability and abundance this resource makes it the most viable resource to use as an alternative. Net metering programs are used to monitor and control the rid. In relation to the core values of the university that are responsible stewardship and integrity, it means that we are blessed by our creator with the sun and using the sun to our advantage and in turn helping the community breeds integrity and honor. It is then important that we apply and optimize this resource to see the goal of a brighter future and greener renewable energy is in use and has replaced the old system that was killing us.

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Reference
1. "Solar Energy perspectives executive summary" (PDF) 2011 2. Smil (1991), p. 240.

3. Schittich (2003), p. 14
4. James Trefil and Robert Hazen (2009) "The Sciences, An Integrated

Approach"