Last week we were talking about our fossil fuels reliance that contributes greatly to climate change, and we were wondering how to get out of it? Today, we offer a solution: renewable energies. Let’s pause on these resources with infinite potential but too often underestimated.
Renewable energies, for a sustainable world
These renewable energies stocks are almost unlimited because their consumption does not exhaust its resources but we have to be careful and not use them faster than they are regenerated. They include wood, water, sun, wind and ground heat. Water and wood have already proven their efficiency and are even the most used sources of energy especially for hydropower plants, fireplaces and boilers.
Energies produced by the sun, the sea, the wind and the heat from the ground are available almost everywhere in the world, but they are often difficult to store and they are discontinuous. So if green energies are adapted to the context in which they are to be implemented, they represent one of the best solutions to face up to the climate change challenges.
Cost and ecologic impact
At first, the price of renewable energies may seem higher than fossil fuels, but this investment in the long run will actually help save money while having a smaller environmental footprint. Regarding greenhouse gases emissions (GHG), they depend on the energy source; for example, coal (fossil fuel) produces from 900 to 1150 grams of CO2 per kWh while biomass (renewable energy) only produces 20g. Similarly, the gas produces from 400g to 420g and the solar from 20g to 130g. Clean energies are consequently much healthier as they generate much less GHG.
In France, renewable energy only represent about 20% of the energy supply, far behind nuclear energy which is the main source (it would take 12 times our sustainable resources to compensate the nuclear one), despite its controversial impact on health and environment pollution in the short and long term. As a host of the COP21, it is our duty to reverse the trend.
A change that starts within ourselves
A world without fossil fuels would involve great changes in our systems. It would also require a change in our habits like our means of transport, our accommodations and consumption – they would have to be improved in order to need less energy and produce less greenhouse gases.
For example, the housing would have to be always more responsible to fulfil the needs of households (energy self-sufficiency); like being better insulated, having a suitable and green heating system like a heat pump and being supplied with electricity produced from clean energy. Transports would have to continue being less individual with the development of carpooling. The public transport vehicles would have to be completely electric… and we should ride more bikes!
Even though a political, scientific and economic willpower would allow renewable energies to take gradually a better place in our energy resources, we should all play a part at our level. As we can see it all around us and thanks to the movie “Tomorrow” (which we strongly recommend) a great amount of good practices arise worldwide. And most often, individual initiatives overcome regulatory or technological advances. Our citizen’s behaviors are therefore the key to a responsible society! Every action counts!
And do not forget our next meeting before the conferences and debates of the Darwin Ocean Climax festival, which will focus on renewable marine energies. See you next week !
Laura Anty, Environmental Writer. Emilie Tocco, Translator
