What kind of resource is wind

It is sustainable, renewable and does not release carbon emissions as a by-product. Wind power works in most cases when the wind causes two or three aerodynamic, propeller-like blades on a wind turbine to rotate around a rotor thus capturing the winds kinetic energy.

This action spins a shaft, and an additional motor helps increase the speed. This turning helps a generator create an electric current to make electricity. Wind turbines typically rise feet or more into the air to take advantage of the faster wind speeds from higher altitudes. Because these turbines are tall, the space they take up is mostly high above us, which means that the ground area they use is notably small. The area around wind turbines can be left alone or used for farming.

Wind is very much a sustainable energy source. It uses kinetic energy that exists naturally in the wind and converts it to electrical energy that we can use to power anything and everything that operates on electricity.

Wind power is sustainable because it is an energy source that does not create waste or cause carbon emissions, soot, smog, acid rain or global warming. Alongside solar and waste to fuels, wind power is among the cleanest and most sustainable energy sources we can use.

Wind farms also indirectly save the country money by reducing the costs spent on importing fossil fuels. Those saved dollars can be used to support domestic infrastructure, helping make us more self-sufficient. Yes, wind power is considered to be green energy because it produces zero carbon emissions. Clean energy refers to ways of generating electricity that produce no or minimal carbon emissions, while green energy refers to renewable sources of energy solar, wind with zero carbon emissions during operations.

For example, we can burn garbage known as waste-to-energy or bioenergy to produce electricity. Of course, we have been producing non-recyclable waste for years, and until this changes, waste-to-energy will continue to be a renewable source. Yes, it is a solution, but the smoke produced contributes to climate change and harms the atmosphere.

Find out more about how Inspire can help you make the best decisions for the world and your wallet here. In , wind energy was the source of around 7.

This was a huge jump from a few years before this: in , the amount of wind energy produced in the United States was at the point of being able to power 15 million homes. It saves money, it saves water, but most importantly, it causes far less damage to the environment than its non-renewable counterparts. Wind turbines leave wildlife in their surrounding areas almost entirely untouched and undamaged. Because wind energy does not require any water to cultivate, it is drought-proof, which is especially pertinent in areas of the country and the world that are prone to droughts.

Also, the wind comes from a source that will literally always be available to us, so our sources will never deplete. Here at Inspire Clean Energy, We are a renewable energy company all about finding the best renewable energy sources and empowering households to choose to purchase from renewable sources.

With us, you can choose to power your home with clean energy with a simple subscription that keeps you in control — that means no nasty surprises or undecipherable quarterly bills.

We are passionate about providing energy that not only saves money for each household but also looks at the big picture, contributing to the halting of the damage done to the environment.

Ready to make the switch to clean energy? By contrast, every country has access to sunshine and wind. Many nonrenewable energy sources can endanger the environment or human health. To top it off, all these activities contribute to global warming. Humans have been harnessing solar energy for thousands of years—to grow crops, stay warm, and dry foods. Solar, or photovoltaic PV , cells are made from silicon or other materials that transform sunlight directly into electricity.

Distributed solar systems generate electricity locally for homes and businesses, either through rooftop panels or community projects that power entire neighborhoods. Solar farms can generate power for thousands of homes, using mirrors to concentrate sunlight across acres of solar cells.

Solar supplies a little more than 1 percent of U. But nearly a third of all new generating capacity came from solar in , second only to natural gas. Today, turbines as tall as skyscrapers —with turbines nearly as wide in diameter—stand at attention around the world. Wind, which accounts for a little more than 6 percent of U. Top wind power states include California, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa, though turbines can be placed anywhere with high wind speeds—such as hilltops and open plains—or even offshore in open water.

Hydropower is the largest renewable energy source for electricity in the United States, though wind energy is soon expected to take over the lead. Nationally and internationally, large hydroelectric plants—or mega-dams—are often considered to be nonrenewable energy. Mega-dams divert and reduce natural flows, restricting access for animal and human populations that rely on rivers.

Small hydroelectric plants an installed capacity below about 40 megawatts , carefully managed, do not tend to cause as much environmental damage, as they divert only a fraction of flow. Biomass is organic material that comes from plants and animals, and includes crops, waste wood, and trees. When biomass is burned, the chemical energy is released as heat and can generate electricity with a steam turbine. Biomass is often mistakenly described as a clean, renewable fuel and a greener alternative to coal and other fossil fuels for producing electricity.

However, recent science shows that many forms of biomass—especially from forests—produce higher carbon emissions than fossil fuels. There are also negative consequences for biodiversity. Still, some forms of biomass energy could serve as a low-carbon option under the right circumstances.

For example, sawdust and chips from sawmills that would otherwise quickly decompose and release carbon can be a low-carbon energy source. Drilling deep wells brings very hot underground water to the surface as a hydrothermal resource, which is then pumped through a turbine to create electricity. Geothermal plants typically have low emissions if they pump the steam and water they use back into the reservoir.

There are ways to create geothermal plants where there are not underground reservoirs, but there are concerns that they may increase the risk of an earthquake in areas already considered geological hot spots. Some tidal energy approaches may harm wildlife, such as tidal barrages , which work much like dams and are located in an ocean bay or lagoon.

Passive solar homes are designed to welcome in the sun through south-facing windows and then retain the warmth through concrete, bricks, tiles, and other materials that store heat. Some solar-powered homes generate more than enough electricity, allowing the homeowner to sell excess power back to the grid. Batteries are also an economically attractive way to store excess solar energy so that it can be used at night.

Scientists are hard at work on new advances that blend form and function, such as solar skylights and roof shingles. Geothermal technology is a new take on a recognizable process—the coils at the back of your fridge are a mini heat pump, removing heat from the interior to keep foods fresh and cool. In a home, geothermal or geoexchange pumps use the constant temperature of the earth a few feet below the surface to cool homes in summer and warm houses in winter—and even to heat water.

Things like plastic jugs, jars, paper, and bags can be reused. Each time you reuse something, you conserve the natural resources that would have been used to make new ones. Finally, you can recycle. Recycle means to reuse a natural resource or product to make something new. It also means to collect and send these things for reuse. Items that can be easily recycled include: glass, some plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminum, and steel.

Some plastics and metals are hard to recycle. They are often made from mixtures of materials. Mixtures can be hard to separate. Try to buy and use things that you can recycle. Where does your garbage go when you throw it away? One place it goes is to a landfill.

A landfill is a place made for safely putting garbage. Garbage must stay closed in the landfill so it doesn't pollute the ground, air, or water. Another place that garbage can go is into an incinerator.

An incinerator is a large oven that burns garbage down to ashes. The ashes are then put in a landfill. A third place that some types of garbage can go is into a compost pile. A compost pile is made from natural garbage such as food scraps, leaves, and grass clippings. Compost piles help this garbage rot. After it rots, it can be put back on the earth to fertilize plants.

The movement of garbage from a home or community to one of these places, like a landfill, is called the waste stream. Natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable, are important to all of us. We must conserve and carefully use natural resources. Our future depends on them. Written by Sanford S. Deeter, undergraduate student. Support for the production and printing of this document was provided by the U. Let's Stay Connected.

By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension. View our privacy policy. Thank you for your submission! Home Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources. Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources. This article is part of an educational series for third and fourth graders. Renewable and nonrenewable resources, fossil fuel, and recycling are discussed. Recycling conserves resources and reduces waste. Renewable natural resources Let's look more closely at renewable natural resources.

Recycling a cardboard box By-products are things made out of leftovers. Nonrenewable natural resources Now, let's look at nonrenewable natural resources. Are ears of corn a renewable or nonrenewable resource? What about coal? Is it renewable or nonrenewable? Are rocks and minerals renewable or nonrenewable resources? Is wood a renewable or a nonrenewable resource? So what can you do to take care of natural resources?

Deeter, undergraduate student Support for the production and printing of this document was provided by the U. Sanford S.