Nuclear energy possesses perhaps the largest potential for growth over the next few decades. The reason for this is the simple fact that it creates a relatively small amount of environmental pollution and can be adapted for use in nearly any part of the world. It certainly poses some security risks if it this technology is misused or mishandled, but the benefits certainly outweigh the costs. This type of energy production does not create smog, or direct environmental wastes, and many scientists, entrepreneurs, and engineers are looking at low cost, micro-nuclear solutions for small cities and towns (Kruger, 2006). Instead of building huge, multi-billion dollar power plants, the focus has shifted to creating small, sustainable, community nuclear power plants. The sustainability level of nuclear power is quite high given that a very small amount of nuclear waste is created for a huge amount of power output, unlike coal-fired power plants and other fossil fuel alternatives. The plants are also relatively cheap to construct if built on smaller scales with the help of private sector ingenuity. While nuclear power is not technically a renewable resource, power plants use up so very little radioactive material in their lifetimes that nuclear power could be utilized for many times the timeframe that oil has been used as a power source.
Natural gas is another alternative energy source that has been incorporated into numerous sustainability studies and programs. While it is still a fossil fuel, it is much cleaner to burn than oil or gasoline and much cheaper to source and produce (Hekkert et al., 2005). Natural gas is currently being employed in many power plants, cities, and government facilities to create electricity, heat buildings, and power cars, trucks, and mass transit vehicles. Many scientists view natural gas as a half step in the right direction. It is still a fossil fuel, and a non-renewable resource, but it is more environmentally friendly and efficient than other fossil fuels. Natural gas is more sustainable as well, and when the shift away from oil and gasoline occurs, natural gas is the logical bridge between fossil fuels and non-fossil fuel energy alternatives. CO2 emissions are also reduced with the use of natural gas, and since this compound has been at the forefront of much scientific study and debate surrounding global warming, natural gas has become a very attractive alternative to oil and gasoline for the time being (Hekkert et al., 2005). Still there are more efficient and less polluting alternatives to natural gas, especially when it comes to automobiles.
Ethanol. Which is created through processing corn or other grains, has been a part of the alternative energy landscape in the U.S. For over thirty years. As a fuel it is relatively efficient, but it requires a huge amount of grain resources to produce, and the energy that is consumed during the production of ethanol fuels often outweighs the energy efficiency benefits of using it (Tyner, 2007). One of the benefits of ethanol however is the notion that it can be mixed with gasoline to create a sort of hybrid fuel. It can also be produced from crops that are easily grown in many places, but since the global population is increasing at a near exponential rate, it is hard to imagine using foods like corn and soy to produce, relatively inefficiently, fuels like ethanol for energy production. One of the biggest reasons that ethanol is still a major part of the alternative energy debate is because of the huge government subsidies for study and production within the U.S. These subsidies are an excellent start, but the U.S. government remains stuck on this product, as it represents the byproduct of so much government funding and political debate that took place in the 1970's. Certainly there are far better alternative energy options, but ethanol is an integral piece of the alternative energy puzzle, and must not be disregarded in this way.
Hybrid automobile technology is an important step in the right direction as well. Like natural gas it does not completely eliminate fossil fuels from the energy landscape, but it does create more efficient, more environmentally friendly alternatives to oil and gasoline. A hybrid diesel vehicle is far more efficient and less polluting than even a natural gas vehicle, but the battery technology employed in most diesel hybrids creates an environmental issue in and of itself (Hekkert et al., 2005). The batteries that are used in hybrid vehicles are currently very inefficient and are produced using very toxic chemicals and compounds that will eventually make their way back into the environment. Their energy efficiency is often...
Introspection and questioning value proposition leads to additional inquiries about the reason for a quality department. It is significant to learn the purpose as to guarantee consumer satisfaction, to guarantee outgoing quality or assist manufacturing. On the other hand, such purposes of the quality department do not help a business. The reason for a quality department is to guarantee profit margins by dropping inefficiencies, operations mistakes and product defects.
These unwavering expectations provide the foundation for our commitments to those with whom we interact: " (JLP, 2005). Financial Goals ExxonMobil does not explicitly state its financial goals. This is proprietary information that is not published. However, ExxonMobil does suggest that it intends to keep up with global demand. ExxonMobil is focused on long-term growth, rather than short-term gains. One could expect the financial goals of the company to include a
Offshore Wind Energy Wind Energy (Facts and Features, Usage, Future Prospects, Strengths and Weaknesses, Recommendations) It is an undeniable fact that human activity needs energy as a basic requirement. Energy input is a fundamental need for transportation, water and food provision and mobility services. In the contemporary energy system, non-renewable fossil fuels are the principal resources that satisfy the global energy needs. They are preferred due to their dependability and low-cost. On the
Obama energy policy in relation to the economy of the United State of America's 21st century economy. It begins with a general description of the policies and then proceeds and outlines the various elements of the policy. After the analysis the paper then presents the criticisms that are waged against the policy. A conclusions and recommendations are then presented at the end of the paper. These are geared towards
S. pp). For more than ten years, Chinese officials have stated that production from Chinese firms investing overseas is more secure than imports purchased on the international market (U.S. pp). In order to secure more reliable access, Chinese firms are being directed to invest in projects in the Caspian region, Russia, the Middle East and South America (U.S. pp). The National Intelligence Council's report also states that Europe's energy needs will
Coffee Industry According to legend the origins of the coffee industry began when an Arabian goatherd named Kaldi found that his goats reacted strangely around a certain green-leafed bush with red cherries. He ascertained that the excitement exhibited by the goats was due to the effects from eating these cherries. He also consumed some of the fruit and felt "invigorated"; later monks were said to have benefited from the plants qualities
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