What Is Renewable Energy and Why Should We Use It?

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Fossil fuels dominate the energy industry, especially in developed countries, but their glory days are coming to an end. Discover effective, affordable renewable energy alternatives to consider.
Fossil fuels dominate the energy industry, especially in developed countries, but their glory days are coming to an end. Discover effective, affordable renewable energy alternatives to consider.
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Dan Chiras provides information on a variety of renewable energy sources that could meet our needs—socially, economically and environmentally—by analyzing their abundance, net energy yields and overall cost.
Dan Chiras provides information on a variety of renewable energy sources that could meet our needs—socially, economically and environmentally—by analyzing their abundance, net energy yields and overall cost.
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"The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence Through Solar, Wind, Biomass and Hydropower" by Dan Chiras, completely revised and updated edition.

Well-illustrated, and highly accessible, The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy by Dan Chiras (New Society Publishers 2011) is an essential resource for anyone wanting to enter the renewable energy field, whether their goal is a lower monthly utility bill or complete energy independence.

You can purchase this book from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store: The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy.

What Is Renewable Energy?

Contrary to what many people think, renewable energy is not a source of energy we’ve just discovered. Humans have relied on renewable energy since the very first human-like creatures roamed the planet over three million years ago. Throughout most of human history, the energy human beings needed to survive and prosper has come from food molecules — primarily seeds, berries and roots. The energy in these foods provided the means by which we built early civilizations. Our early ancestors also burned wood to warm their caves and cook their food. But just what is renewable energy?

Plants, of course, are renewable resources, capable of regenerating themselves from seeds, roots or tubers. But plants are here by the grace of three other renewable environmental resources: soil, water and air.

  • Published on Apr 19, 2016
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