Green Energy
Green energy is a very broad term. It can be used to describe many
different sources and methods of extracting energy sometimes mistakenly.
Solar power and wind power are some of the greenest energies that are
available today. The most destructive part of both of these energies
comes from the production of the materials that are used to make them,
silicone for solar panels and metal for wind towers.
New designs and scientific breakthroughs are lowering the impact of
both of these technologies making them an even better source of green
energy. Solar panels are beginning to be incorporated into different
building materials such as glass and metal, even paint and ink has the
potential to be a photovoltaic cell. Wind towers are being retrofitted
with radars that sense birds and turns off the rotors when a flock migrates
through the area. It is estimated this will prevent over 700,000 bird
fatalities every year.
Other forms of green energy are water power which uses the movement
of waves, tides and currents to produce power. Passively safe nuclear
reactors (they can shut down without an operator, preventing meltdowns)
are sometimes considered green, but they are still affecting their environment,
adding heat to the surrounding air and water sources which can be detrimental
to certain types of wildlife.