Introduction and Thesis Before any pollutants were invented; everything was run on water, wind or the sun. Early cotton factories were near rivers so they could use the water power for the complex machines. Early Mills were run on wind power that was used to grind corn and wheat. And the sun was used for light, and was valuable because oil and wicks for laps were expensive.
Coal Originally coal was used expedite the process for factory machinery making textiles and also other factory work relying mostly on machines. Coal greatly increased productivity but also had many harms along with it.
A. Harms Recently we have discovered that the harms of such nonrenewable resources as coal, greatly outweigh the goods and cause problems that could easily be solve through the removal of fossil fuels.
Global warming Many problems that the world is currently facing are a result of coal, Global warming is a relatively new problem facing our society, global warming is a heating of the earth surface and melting of the earths ice caps due to a hole in the ozone layer caused by the degrading of Ozone by CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and CO2 (Carbon Dioxide).
CFCs CFCs can be found in aerosols, refrigerators' cooling units, and air conditioners, degreasing agents and, foam packaging.
CO2 Carbon dioxide is the byproduct of directly burning fossil fuels, CO2 traps heat in the atmosphere, causing the green house affect which continually heats and traps heat.
Nonrenewable Coal is a nonrenewable resource, which takes hundreds of millions of years to create, meaning one day we will run out, which, if we are unprepared, could be a catastrophic event. We need to begin switching ourselves over, and weaning ourselves from coal so it is a smooth transition that does not cause everyone to go buzzerk when we do run out.
Deforestation Deforestation is the removal of forest or trees to create space for buildings or factories, or to use them as sources of paper or means of creating charcoal. This poses a problem primarily because with fewer and fewer trees there is less and less means for the CO2 to be absorbed, creating a perpetuating cycle of global warming.
Acid rain is caused when factories put off smoke or other pollutants that are sent into the air, which mixes with the clouds and causes toxic rain to fall down which can be damaging for plants and animal life.
Unhealthy breathing All of these factors cause rather unhealthy breathing which can lead to severe asthma, allergies, and also early deaths
B. Process of getting Product Coal takes hundreds of millions of years to form after the constant compression of ancient fossilized creatures. It is dug out of the ground and sent away to be formed into a distributable product that is used to create electricity that powers most of the buildings in the world.
C. What is Next? One of the big questions on the table today is: What do we do if we run out of such an important product. It is not the only power source we have and will need to be replaced soon by an alternated fuel source such as hydroelectric solar or wind power.
III. Alternate Sources There are more than enough means for switching from fossil fuels to clean energy. There are many different forms of alternate sources that are easily obtainable and are also low to no maintenance.
Solar Power The first possible alternate source of power is solar power; this is a form that has been evolving for hundreds of years. Before there was electricity even. Solar power was used by the first people because it was there only source of light and a major source of heat. It helped guide and light people and animal's way since the dawn of time.
Harms There are two harms that must be addressed when discussing the idea of solar power through solar panels
Expense The first is the expense of it; a single watt installed with a solar panel can cost as much as 10-12 dollars and can add up quickly. One up to paying this much is that it will last virtually for ever and will eventually pay for itself and may even turn up a profit.
Heat island? Secondly the heat island affect is when a major city or metropolitan area is much warmer that it's surrounding nonmetropolitan areas. This could be accentuated by the panels which could cause a glare thus creating the green house effect and warming an area even more.
Goods Though there are a couple of harms to the idea of solar energy there are also several upsides.
No waste The first of these distinguishing features is that it is a waste free product and is accessible to almost everyone who has access to the sun.
Renewable A second good thing is that the product is totally renewable meaning: we will never run out of it. It is plentiful and will be here for the foreseeable future.
Affects on architecture. Solar energy has had numerous effects on our present day architecture and is still causing changes. Windows, porches, sun roofs, and even mirrors are examples of these. I continue with the evolution of this architecture later in this paper.
Solar design for plants Plants, being autotrophs, are the first example of an organism with solar design. Plants are natural solar collectors and also naturally turn to face the sun, spread the roots according to the amount of water needed and the amount of water available, and open and close stomata to absorb sun light and also to transport nutrients around the plant.
PV Panels The device used to collect the suns rays is called a PV panel. Photovoltaic panels are made from crystalline and silicone, and vary in output and size.
Hydro Electric Power The second possible alternate energy source is hydro electric power. This is getting power from water through the funneling of water (usually a river) through a dam, spinning of turbines which generate power.
Harms There are only a couple harms to the idea of hydroelectric power but can be looked at as minor setbacks that do not cause many problems in the long run.
Kills fish One of the minor setbacks is that the dam can either kill fish or block their way from the spawning ground.
Slows water flow Water flow can be substantially slowed through the creation of these dams and also uses a lot of land to build such a thing. These dams, however, have no effect on drought or flooding because the gates used to release water are adjustable and are monitored constantly to make sure not problems occur while in use.
Building dams Dams are built to hold the water as it is being funneled through tiny slots which contain the generators. Dams are essential in the creation of power using water.
For factories Originally, water power was used for the assistance in turning parts in a factory, this piece that was used to turn these parts was shaped like a giant wheal and had angled wooden pieces facing in the direction of the rivers flow to create a surface to be pushed for movement. This is why factories where put near rivers.
Land, Water, and Money Hydro electric power requires a lot of three things: Land, Water, and Money. Dams are created on rivers to capture the water; this back up creates a lake that can range from several to many miles large. The lakes must also be man made so as to reduce flooding and also to change the natural flow of water into a more linear and contained space. This system takes much water to sustain and must be strategically placed to maximize productivity. Both of these things take lots of money to build and sustain and take the trust of a bank on the location and the price to build. Without this there would be no funding and no profit generated.
Goods There are several advantages to the prospect of hydroelectric power.
No Harmful waste For one there is no waste emitted from this which is one of the key characteristics of green energy.
Easily obtainable Hydro electric power is also, after planning and construction, very easily obtainable.
Renewable and constant It is also renewable and constantly flowing. It is specifically set up to be able to constantly flow at almost the same rate.
Wind Energy The third alternate power source I will be discussing is wind energy. Wind energy is created through the turning of large turbines by the wind. These turbines can be about 50 in diameter and are perched on long poles very high in the air to receive maximum wind.
Harms Wind energy has several, as all sources do, problems involved with the source. They are not as serious as the previously mentioned sources but this is also not the most productive source of electricity either.
Not constant Wind, thought it is fairly easy to capture it is also not constant and is unpredictable. It is constantly changing and can sometimes hardly blow all day. Wind plants must be strategically placed to obtain maximum constant and strong wind speeds.
Kills birds Wind turbines can often kill birds that are flying in the direct path of the turbines. When the bird is at the right height it can just fly right into the turbine killing it instantly.
Loud This source of power can also be very loud thus it must be located in an isolated region with little around it. They are most often placed in large fields one after the other, which could also keep the wind circulating.
Goods This source of energy is, like the others, renewable and has not waste products. It does the least to alter its environment and can function for many years with no changes.
No harmful waste
Renewable
Money making products These products are very good because they are very profitable.
Through other countries They can make money either through other countries by selling the excess to them for their own consumption or through the sale of the energy within the country.
Excess As with most products, there is excess but with clean energy, it is free to create the energy and is also not wasteful.
No harms in excess Having excess does not cause any harms to the environment. It also does not waste any resources and is virtually unnoticeable.
The Sun and the Earth The sun plays a major role in the earths balance, it keeps the temperature
Orbit the earth is in an ideal location in the orbit of the sun because it is not too hot nor is it too cold and it is also in just the right spot to create different seasons.
Atmosphere The atmosphere is used to block the suns harmful rays and also to maintain the gasses that we breathe.
Sun causes wind The sun, through heating the cooling of the air causes wind.
Plants Leaves Plant leaves are "complex energy transformation systems" and are very much like solar panels because they absorb the suns rays and create energy.
Photosynthesis Through photosynthesis they create glucose which they use as energy.
Ancient Architecture The way people live has changed much over that past hundred and thousand years. This has a lot to do with the resent advances in technology and also the past temperatures during different times or different places around the world.
Urban Planning Urban planning has gone on for centuries thought unintentionally. It is the act of planning a city around certain features making sure that it is convenient and safe for all.
Pyramids One of the first advances in architecture were the pyramids. They were used as a means of keeping heat out.
Igloos on the contrary were used to keep heat in and the cold out.
Spectacular Architecture One thing that is important to all humans it the ability to see, and to see you need light. One problem commonly faced by people is how to let the light inside a house.
Heavenly light Heavenly lights is the affect you receive when entering a hight room that has windows on the very top of the walls making it seem as if, during any time of the day, heaven is shining in on you.
Porches Shade is a very valued and precious thing, porches are a way of experiencing the outdoors without being in the sun, porches create a since of freedom while still being shielded from the elements.
Shaded pavilions are like house without walls, they are elevated in such a way that the wind can strategically make its way to the focal point of the space through height differences and the direction it is facing.
Conclusion Though the year's, energy has changed and so have the people using it, as we change and our needs change, our energy also needs to change. We have a limited time on this earth and we cannot ruin it within our life time. After all, "We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."
