Discussion on Whether We Should Switch to Renewable Energy

Introduction

The question “should we switch to renewable energy?” is asked by many people around the world. Yet, no one has an answer. While there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to switching to renewable energy, it is quite arguable if it really benefits the environment and people, especially in the future. Nowadays, there are many industrialized nations that use massive amounts of energy to power factories, automobiles, and electrical appliances.

Discussion

There are two main sources of energy that people use which are fossil fuels and renewable energy. Fossil fuels are substances such as oil, natural gas, and coal that are formed from the decay of organic matter over millions of years and it is non-renewable. While the renewable energy sources are natural forces that can be utilized without being depleted. This essay will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the renewable energy. The primary reason why renewable energy should be used is that the renewable energy is a clean source of energy, meaning, it has low or zero carbon and greenhouse emission helping to reduce the amount of pollution being produced.

Unlike fossil fuel, the renewable energy does not affect the environment much. Fossil fuels emit high levels of greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide, which affects strongly on global warming, climate change, and degradation of air quality. As for the renewable energy, it uses solar and wind power which is considered eco-friendly because they emit zero toxic gases to the environment. The use of renewable energy dramatically reduces the dependence on fossil fuel as a source of energy and also cutting back on air pollution. This is very important because renewable energy has the power to stop air pollution meaning to stop breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and a host of other serious problems.

However, if fossil fuels are to continue being used, the air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants will not stop. The pollution affects everyone, this statement has been proven by one Harvard University study, they estimated the life cycle costs and public health effects of coal to be an estimated $74.6 billion every year. Therefore, renewable energy can be very helpful towards the environment and many people who use it. On the other hand, it is easy to recognize the environmental advantages of utilizing the alternative and renewable forms of energy but people must also be aware of the disadvantages it brings towards them, like how often it relies on the weather for its source of power.

While it comes to energy, it is very important for energy to be predictable and fully consistent. However, renewable does not do so. This is because hydro generators need rain to fill dams to supply flowing water. Wind turbines need wind to turn the blades, and solar collectors need clear skies and sunshine to collect heat and make electricity. So when these resources are unavailable so is the capacity to make energy from them.

This is very important for people because nowadays, energy is a very important source in life and it needs to be consistent. Otherwise, people will not have the power to use causing them troubles just to do their daily life activities. It also is very dangerous, like in hospitals, if there is no energy source for them to use, there are chances that the patients may lose their lives when being in operating rooms or in need of oxygen machines. Therefore, renewable energy can be very inconvenient for people to use.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that using renewable energy leads to advantages like helping the environment but also disadvantages like how inconsistent the energy it provides. Nevertheless, as an 8th-grade student who has seen the struggles of air pollution that many people have to deal with, made me strongly believe that people should start using renewable energy to put an end in climate change. Conversely, the question “should we switch to using renewable energy?” still remains underdetermined.