Wind Energy

The over-consumption of energy used around the globe has, and is, taking a huge toll on the health of our planet. There are many new products being created and used to find Earth-friendly ways to produce energy. Wind turbines are just one of the many inventions to help with finding Earth-friendly energy sources.

Long before wind turbines were used, people were using windmills. Windmills used wind power to pump water, grind grain, and help perform many other difficult tasks. Today, wind power has even more benefits. It is a clean fuel source and doesn’t pollute the air, unlike power plants. This means less smog, fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and less acid rain. Additionally, wind energy will not pollute our drinking water. Because wind energy uses no fuel, they are also very inexpensive to operate. Wind energy also benefits the U.S. economy by employing more than 70,000 people. Rural communities also benefit by leasing land to private investors of wind production.  

Wind turbines work similarly to fans, but they use the wind as energy instead of just blowing air. Wind causes the blades to rotate, which then spins a shaft. That shaft is connected to a generator which then makes electricity. Groups of wind turbines are called wind farms, and work together to deliver electricity to power grids. From the power grid, the electricity is then transmitted to where it is needed.

There are many things that must be considered when determining where you can build wind turbines. Developers must consider the best places to attain adequate wind, and they must have land rights, permits, financing, and buyers for the wind power that will eventually be created. For wind turbines to work, wind of at least 11 miles per hour is required.

Unfortunately, there is also a negative to wind turbines: they can be harmful to wildlife. Studies have been done to see how birds and bats are harmed by the propellers on the moving turbines. The “Maple Ridge” facility in New York performed a study in 2006 which estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 birds and bats were killed by their wind turbines over a five month period.

We have a very strong wind resource here in the United States. In fact, the wind energy potential is approximately 10 times the amount of our country’s electricity consumption. However, only about 4 percent of the United States’ electricity is currently generated from wind power. About 48,000 wind turbines were being operated across 39 states here in America by the end of 2014. This same year, enough electricity from wind turbines was generated to power 16.7 million American households. To give you an idea, this would be equivalent to all the homes in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota put together. 

Wind turbines create countless benefits to our planet and assist in the creation of new energy. By continuing the use of these wind turbines, and by building more of them around the planet, we can create more energy than ever before. But most importantly, we can attain this energy in an environmentally conscious way.

 Sources:

http://www.awea.org/Resources/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=900

http://energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wind/pdfs/49053.pdf 

https://www.wind-watch.org/faq-wildlife.php

http://www.awea.org/Issues/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=853

http://energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work

Powering the World's Homes with Bikes

                As the majority of us are aware, the amount of energy each individual person exploits in just one day is immense. On average, the typical person uses up to 531 kilowatts of energy per day. Utilizing so much energy is harmful to our environment, and is continually worsening the effects of global warming. In order to put an end to this epidemic, we need to take action.

                Manoj Bhargava, the creator of the popular 5-hour Energy drink is doing just that. Bhargava is an extremely wealthy man, and claims to have about 4 million dollars more than he actually needs. Rather than sit back and do nothing, Manoj has decided to put this excess money to good use and help with one of the Earth’s most prominent issues: the overuse of energy. 

                Bhargava has created a stationary bike which will be used to power a multitude of homes, while using little to no energy. He plans to put these bikes into action by distributing 10,000 of them next year in India. The bikes will be electric battery-equipped, and will keep lights and other basic appliances powered for one day after only riding the bike for one hour. In one interview, Bhargava says, “It’s so simple that we think we can make it for $100… A bicycle repairman anywhere can fix it.” 

Manoj Bhargava

                Using bicycles to provide power to homes will not only be extremely beneficial to our planet, but it will end up saving people money to power their homes as well. Manoj Bhargava’s idea comes with countless benefits. It is people like him that we should be thanking for putting in the work it takes to save our planet, and take the time to make a difference.

Sources: 
-By Wendy Koch, National Geographic PUBLISHED October 06, 2015. "Creator of 5-hour Energy Wants to Power the World's Homes-With Bikes." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2015. 
-"Energy Drinks Billionaire Says He's Going to Give Away 99% of His Fortune." Metro Energy Drinks Billionaire Says Hes Going to Give Away 99 of Hisfortune Comments. N.p., 07 Oct. 2015. Web. 08 Oct. 2015.