Many modern countries are relying heavily on nonrenewable resources nowadays. One common example of nonrenewable resources is fossil fuel. They are finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, renewable energy resources are constantly replenished and are important because of the benefits it provides for us as well as for the environment.
Firstly, renewable energy technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. Conventional energy technologies rely on fossil fuels which contribute significantly to many of the environmental problems we face today such as greenhouse gases, air pollution, and water and soil contamination while renewable energy sources contribute very little or not at all. The natural greenhouse effect keeps the earth at a temperature of about thirty three degree Celsius. The use of fossil fuels has notably increased greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, causing global warming.
© Guerito 2005
English: Greg Ball at "Greenstock" in Yorktown NY ...
The Nesjavellir Geothermal Power Plant in Þingvel...According to the Environmental Protection Agency, carbon dioxide is responsible for two third of the contribution to global warming. Renewable resources, on the other hand, can produce energy without much carbon dioxide emission. Energy use from fossil fuels is also a primary source of air, water, and soil pollution. On the other hand, most renewable energy technologies produce little or no pollution. To sum it up in a nutshell, renewable resources can help to improve the quality of our environment.
Next, renewable energy will not run out while other sources of energy are finite and will some day be depleted. Electricity use is the most common type of energy use and will certainly grow worldwide. The International Energy Agency predicts that the world's electrical usage capacity will increase to nearly 5.8 million megawatts by the year 2020, up from about 3.3 million in 2000.