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Environment verse Energy Sources

Ma Liana

Ivy Tech Community College, IN

SCIN - 100: Earth Science

Heather Foxx

November 08, 2020

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Abstract

In this essay, I am focusing on how Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Sources are

related/impact to Global Warming and Economic. Why is Global Warming important, What can

Global Warming cause, What are the main reasons that cause Global Warming, is it

preventable/reducible by humans, how does the Global Warming relate to Global Economic,

what are the main resources of energy we use today, and how do they related to Global

warming? These questions are the guide to analysis of research for the essay. This means this

essay is not only based on personal experiences but also researched through different authors,

and websites. The suggestion is that Non-renewable Energy Sources have a big impact on Global

Warming and humans can protect/reduce the impact by replacing non-renewable energy sources

with renewable energy sources.

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Renewable and Non-renewable Energy Source

The world is the only place we can live safely or survive in the universe till today. There

is no other place for living. What does this mean? This means that the world is our only home

and we must protect the world as we protect life. As long as humans exist, the energy sources

will likely be one of the most important things that we have to have in our daily life. Can we

imagine what would today be like without the energy sources, can we go 30-miles for work in

less than an hour, can we live in our houses without electricity and gas, and can companies and

businesses run without energy? We know how important it is to have energy resources in our

daily life. We also cannot forget about how important it is to protect the world from Global

Warming and environmental disasters to have a healthy life.

There are two main energy resources we have today, Renewable and Non-renewable energy

resources. Renewable energy sources are Biomass, Solar, Water/Hydropower, Win, and

Geothermal. Non-renewable energy sources are Fossil Fuel Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, and Nuclear.

Picture from: ​https://sites.google.com/site/renewable320/fossil-fuels-vs-renewable-resources

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From the energy resources we have today, the non-renewable energy are the main emissions of

the carbon dioxide (CO-2)​.​ According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration​,​ “​In the

United States, most of the emissions of human-caused (​anthropogenic​) greenhouse gases (GHG)

come primarily from burning fossil fuels—coal, hydrocarbon gas liquids, natural gas, and

petroleum—for energy use. Economic growth (with short-term fluctuations in growth rate) and

weather patterns that affect heating and cooling needs are the main factors that drive the amount

of energy consumed. In 2018, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion

(burning) for energy were equal to about 75% of total U.S. anthropogenic GHG emissions (based

on 100-year ​global warming​ potential) and about 93% of total U.S. anthropogenic CO2

emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from other anthropogenic sources and activities were about

7% of total CO2 emissions and about 6% of total GHG emissions.” The more emission of

Carbon dioxide (CO-2) in the air, the more dangerous/unsafe can be for life. ​Dennis Normile w
​ ho 

writes about research and science policy developments in Asia, particularly China and Japan

explains​ that China’s surprise pledge last week to cut its net carbon emissions to zero within 40

years has reignited hopes of limiting global climate change to tolerable levels. The country is the

world’s largest producer of carbon dioxide (CO2), accounting for 28% of global emissions, and

its move may inspire other countries to follow suit. This means the top economic countries

produce a huge amount of CO-2 compared to un-improved countries. The U.S. Energy

Information Administration proves the energy resources used, consumption, and the greenhouse

gas emission with graphs as:

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This shows that humans are the main factor of Global Warming because we produce CO-2 by

using non-renewable energy resources.

Replacing non-renewable energy resources is the main solution to solve CO-2 emission/over

pollution in the air. Although scientists and engineers have been making many helpful

equipments such as Solar panels, Wind Turbines, Geothermal Power Plant, and Hydroelectricity,

many peoples think the world is still struggling to have enough energy without non-renewable

energy due to the limitation of technological advancements and the economic crisis. According

to Union of Concerned Scientists, “The ​average​ cost in 2017 to install solar systems ranged from

a little over $2,000 per kilowatt (kilowatts are a measure of power capacity) for large-scale
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systems to almost $3,700 for residential systems. A new natural gas plant might have ​costs

around $1,000/kW. Wind comes in around $1,200 to $1,700/kw.”

The deeper outcome of using renewable energies seems to be more beneficial for the

economy and environment than many people think. Marry Wales explains, ​“New research shows

that, in the long-run, renewable energy is more cost effective than non-renewable energy.

Company ​Lazard​ considered costs over the lifespan of energy projects and found wind and

utility-scale solar can be the least expensive energy generating sources. As of 2017, the cost

(before tax credits that would further drop the costs) of wind power was $30-60 per

megawatt-hour (a measure of energy). Large-scale solar costs are $43-53/MWh. For comparison:

energy from the most efficient type of natural gas plants costs $42-78/MWh. Coal power costs at

least $60/MWh.”

According to the Union​ of Concerned Scientists,​ “The comparison becomes clear when you

look at the numbers. Burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of

carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh); coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6

pounds of CO2E/kWh. ​Wind​, on the other hand, is responsible for only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of

CO2E/kWh on a life-cycle basis; ​solar​ 0.07 to 0.2; ​geothermal​ 0.1 to 0.2; and ​hydroelectric

between 0.1 and 0.5.” Green Mountain Energy explains: ​https://youtu.be/HJorVOuFu48​. Here

are how much we can save by using Solar panel, according to Energysage.com:
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This is how Union​ of Concerned Scientists’ chart explains:

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Using renewable energy means we will protect not only the environment (Global warming) but

also be beneficial for our economy as well. Union of Concerned Scientists also states, “​Tests

performed in California​, which has some of the highest rates of renewable electricity use in the

world, provide real-world validation for the idea that solar and wind can actually enhance grid

reliability. A ​2017 Department of Energy report​ confirmed this, citing real-world experience and

multiple scientific studies to confirm that the United States can safely and reliably operate the

electric grid with high levels of renewables.”

According to ​Thai-Ha Le, Youngho Chang, & Donghyun Park (​Thai-Ha le​: Fulbright

University, Vietnam. IPAG Business School, Paris, France. ​Youngho Chang​: School of

Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 461 Clementi Road, Singapore. ​Donghyun

Park​: Asian Development Bank, Philippines),​ “This study examines the relationship between

energy consumption, emissions, income and governance for a panel data of 102 countries for

1996 to 2012. For the full sample of countries, it is found that both renewable and non-renewable

energy consumption contribute significantly to income. The finding also holds across different

groups of countries.14 This suggests that policies which promote the use of renewable energy

can benefit economic development. The empirical results also show that better governance

improved environmental performance in high-income countries. However, for middle- and

low-income countries, the effect of governance on the environment was negligible. This is

consistent with Le et al (2016) who find that governance does not have a significant effect on

environmental performance in middle- and low-income countries. This implies that these

countries have relatively weak environmental policies which need to be strengthened.”

Although great requirements still exist to use renewable energies sufficiently due to

economic crises and the limitation of technological advancement around the world, many
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researchers have been approving that renewable energies are the most beneficial for humans and

Global Warming. I experienced how non-renewable energy resources changed the environment

of the city I was born when I visited in Nov-Dec, 2019. I grew up there and lived from 1985 to

2007. During that time, the air/oxygen around the city was very good, we didn’t have such bad

air pollution. The air was fresh and clean since there were not many vehicles and machineries

which use gasoline. Now, many people have and use vehicles and machineries which change the

environment. When I visited, the pollution was so bad, so I had to wear a mask all the time.

From there, I was wondering how non-renewable energies change the environment and realized

the importance of protecting the environment. This means non-renewable energy resources are

not only bad for Global Warming but also impact our health. Nothing is comparable with having

a healthy life. Therefore, using renewable energy sources is more beneficial for us and the

environment.
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References:

Aschwanden, C. (2020). Reducing Your Emissions. ​Science News,​ ​197(​ 9), 34–37.

Cekdin, C., Nawawi, Z., & Faizal, M. (2020). The usage of thermoelectric generator as a

renewable energy source. ​Telkomnika,​ ​18(​ 4), 2186–2192.

https://doi.org/10.12928/TELKOMNIKA.v18i4.13072

Dennis Normile. (Sept 29, 2020). Can China, the world’s biggest coal consumer, become carbon

neutral by 2020?.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/09/can-china-worlds-bigger-coal-consumer-beco

me-carbon-neutral-2060

Energysage, LLC. (2020).​ ​https://news.energysage.com/much-solar-panels-save/

Ginley, D. S., & Cahen, D. (Eds.). (2011). Fundamentals of materials for energy and

environmental sustainability. ProQuest Ebook Central

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ivytech/detail.action?docID=807308

J., Carolyn. (2020, September 12). Renewable Vs. Nonrenewable Energy Resources.

sciencing.com​. Retrieved from

https://sciencing.com/renewable-vs-nonrenewable-energy-resources-12071170.html

Mary Wales. (September 24, 2018). Organic News & Environment.

https://www.naturespath.com/en-us/blog/cost-renewable-energy-versus-fossil-fuels/
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Thai-Ha Le, Youngho Chang, & Donghyun Park. (2020). Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy

Consumption, Economic Growth, and Emissions: International Evidence. ​Energy

Journal​, ​41​(2), 73–92.​ ​https://doi.org/10.5547/01956574.41.2.thle

Union of Concerned Scientists. (Published July 14, 2008, Updated Dec 20, 2017). Benefits of

Renewable Energy Use.​ ​https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits-renewable-energy-use

Union of Concerned Scientists.(Published June 06, 2014, Updated Dec 20, 2017). Barriers to

Renewable Energy Technologies.

https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/barriers-renewable-energy-technologies#.W4_-J-hKi00

U.S. Energy Information Administration. (August 11, 2020). Energy and the environment

explained.

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/energy-and-the-environment/where-greenhouse-gas

es-come-from.php