| Green energy refers to the use of power that is | | | | energy source for 1000 households. |
| not only more efficient than fossil fuel but that is | | | | Many countries now offer household and |
| friendly to the environment as well. Green energy | | | | commercial consumers to opt for total use of |
| is generally defined as energy sources that dont | | | | green energy. They do this one of two ways. |
| pollute and are renewable. | | | | Consumers can buy their electricity from a |
| There are several categories of green energy | | | | company that only uses renewable green energy |
| (GE). They are anaerobic digestion, wind power, | | | | technology, or they can buy from their general |
| geothermal power, hydropower on a small scale, | | | | supplies such as the local utility company who |
| biomass power, solar power and wave power. | | | | then buys from GE resources only as much of a |
| Waste incineration can even be a source of green | | | | supply as consumers pay for. |
| energy. | | | | The latter is generally a more cost - efficient way |
| Nuclear power plants claim that they produce | | | | of supplying a home or office with GE, as the |
| green energy as well, though this source is | | | | supplier can reap the economic benefits of a |
| fraught with controversy, as we all know. While | | | | mass purchase. Green energy generally costs |
| nuclear energy may be sustainable, may be | | | | more per kilowatt hour than standard fossil fuel |
| considered renewable and does not pollute the | | | | energy. |
| atmosphere while it is producing energy, its waste | | | | Consumers can also purchase green energy |
| does pollute the biosphere as it is released. | | | | certificates, which are alternately referred to as |
| The transport, mining and phases before and | | | | green tags or green certificates. These are |
| after production of nuclear energy does produce | | | | available in both Europe and the United States, |
| and release carbon dioxide and similar destructive | | | | and are the most convenient method for the |
| greenhouse gases. When we read of green | | | | average consumer to support green energy. More |
| energy, therefore, we rarely see nuclear power | | | | than 35 million European households and one million |
| included. | | | | American households now buy these GE |
| Those who support nuclear energy say that | | | | certificates. |
| nuclear waste is not, in fact, released into our | | | | While GE is a great step in the direction of |
| earths biosphere during its normal production | | | | keeping our environment healthy and our air as |
| cycle. They stress as well that the carbon dioxide | | | | pollutant free as possible, it must be noted that |
| that nuclear energy production releases is | | | | no matter what the energy, it will negatively |
| comparable, in terms of each kilowatt hour of | | | | impact the environment to some extent. |
| electricity, to such sources of GE as wind power. | | | | Every energy source, green or otherwise, |
| As an example of the GE production the average | | | | requires energy. The production of this energy will |
| wind turbine, such as the one in Reading England, | | | | create pollution during its manufacture. Green |
| can produce enough energy daily to be the only | | | | energys impact is minimal, however. |