Renewable Energy

When the new Southeast Polk High School opened they added many new energy saving products. This included installing geothermal heating under the high school cutting back on the cost of heating such a large building. Many new windows help save on energy used to light the building along with automatic lights that turn off after several minutes without movement. The new high school shows how easy it is to save money and help the environment. Renewable energy is good for all aspects of the U.S, providing jobs, economical growth, environmental cleanliness, and new research for improving energy efficiency. Therefore the United States should use renewable energy to benefit the economy and environment.

The main way the environment is adversely affected is by burning fossil fuels. When burning a hydrocarbon, such as coal or natural gas, it produces a byproduct gas called carbon dioxide. In small amounts, carbon dioxide is harmless but in large amounts, it creates what is called the “green house effect.” The carbon dioxide is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere and the heat from the sun is allowed to come through but not come back out causing the world to heat up. Langwith states that 40% of all of earths 433,000 metric tons of nitrous gases produced are from humans burning fossil fuels (Langwith, “Renewable Energy is Beneficial”). All showing how in the long run renewable energy can improve our environment.

One of the biggest reasons renewable energy has not been widely used is the large start-up cost. According to research done by Jerry Taylor, power produced by wind turbines and biomass, which is burning or converting plants into usable energy, could cost up to twice as much as gas or coal powered plants. He goes on to say...

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..., Jacqueline. “A National Renewable Portfolio Standard is not Completely Beneficial.” Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Greehaven Press, 2009. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

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Madsen, Birger T. “The Use of Wind Power Should be Increased.” Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Greenhaven Press, 2004. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.

Rich, Alex K, and David C Morley. “Point: The Alternative Imperative.” Points of View Reference Center. N.p., 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2010.

Taylor, Jerry. “Renewable Energy is Expensive and Will not Prevent Pollution.” Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Greenhaven Press, 2005. Web. 30 Mar. 2010.