Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Energy powers our world, there are two main categories for energy. Nonrenewable and renewable energy. We use both everyday and they are vital to our constantly advancing world. Nonrenewable energy is energy resources that are available in limited supply and requires a long time - even millions of years - to replenish. Two examples of nonrenewable energy are coal and oil. Coal and oil take hundreds of millions of years to form and burning then typically has negative effects on the environment. Renewable energy is energy resources that are replenished naturally over short periods of time. Two examples of renewable energy are hydro power and wind power. These sources are easily replenished and have little or no negative effects on the environment. Renewable energy is the ideal type of energy because it is clean and it is easily restored. Although, unfortunately most of the energy we use today is nonrenewable.
Nonrenewable Energy
Pros:
Some advantages of nonrenewable energy is it is not limited by the weather. For example, if it is cloudy out the production of energy using solar panels is greatly reduced. This makes them a much more reliable energy source than renewable energy. Another advantage is that it is less costly than renewable energy because it is relatively inexpensive to mine and convert into usable energy. Also, no advanced technology is need such as solar panels to use nonrenewable energy such as solar panels that can be expensive. Nonrenewable energy can also be depleted whereas renewable energy can be easily replenished .
Cons:
Some disadvantages to nonrenewable energy is it pollutes the environment and increases global warming. Also, extraction of fossil fuels such as oil have caused severe environmental damage like oil spills, killing many animals and destroying their habitat. Nuclear energy doesn't release C02 but it can accidentally leak radiation and we often run into issues with disposing of waste properly. Also, it is extremely expensive to build a nuclear power plant which makes it a poorer economical choice.
Pros:
Some advantages of nonrenewable energy is it is not limited by the weather. For example, if it is cloudy out the production of energy using solar panels is greatly reduced. This makes them a much more reliable energy source than renewable energy. Another advantage is that it is less costly than renewable energy because it is relatively inexpensive to mine and convert into usable energy. Also, no advanced technology is need such as solar panels to use nonrenewable energy such as solar panels that can be expensive. Nonrenewable energy can also be depleted whereas renewable energy can be easily replenished .
Cons:
Some disadvantages to nonrenewable energy is it pollutes the environment and increases global warming. Also, extraction of fossil fuels such as oil have caused severe environmental damage like oil spills, killing many animals and destroying their habitat. Nuclear energy doesn't release C02 but it can accidentally leak radiation and we often run into issues with disposing of waste properly. Also, it is extremely expensive to build a nuclear power plant which makes it a poorer economical choice.
Renewable Energy
Pros:
Some advantages of renewable energy resources is they do not release harmful pollutants like nonrenewable energy does. This protects the environment while still providing energy to keep our everyday lives running smoothly. Once the technology to produce renewable energy is built it doesn't cost nearly as much as nonrenewable energy to maintain it. It also creates potential jobs which helps unemployment because they require skilled technicians to handle the equipment appropriately.
Cons:
Starting costs to build the equipment needed for renewable energy are expensive. For example building dams to create hydro power is pricey and costs lots of money to maintain unlike other renewable energy resources. They are also dependent on the weather, if it is not windy or sunny enough they will produce very little energy. Another disadvantage is renewable energies like solar power or wind power require large amounts of land to make the same amount of energy as fossil fuels.
Pros:
Some advantages of renewable energy resources is they do not release harmful pollutants like nonrenewable energy does. This protects the environment while still providing energy to keep our everyday lives running smoothly. Once the technology to produce renewable energy is built it doesn't cost nearly as much as nonrenewable energy to maintain it. It also creates potential jobs which helps unemployment because they require skilled technicians to handle the equipment appropriately.
Cons:
Starting costs to build the equipment needed for renewable energy are expensive. For example building dams to create hydro power is pricey and costs lots of money to maintain unlike other renewable energy resources. They are also dependent on the weather, if it is not windy or sunny enough they will produce very little energy. Another disadvantage is renewable energies like solar power or wind power require large amounts of land to make the same amount of energy as fossil fuels.