Renewable energy is important because of the benefits it offers:
Environmental
Renewable energy offers clean sources of energy that are a lot
friendlier to the environment than conventional energy
technologies.
The increased use of fossil fuels has significantly increased
greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, creating
an enhanced greenhouse effect known as global warming.
Energy use from fossil fuels is also a primary source of air,
water, and soil pollution producing carbon monoxide, sulphur
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and lead. These
take a dramatic toll on our environment whilst most renewable
energy technologies produce little or no pollution.
Pollution and global warming pose major health risks. Air
pollution contributes to lung disease including asthma, lung
cancer, and respiratory tract infections whilst the long-term
effects associated with global warming may be even more
devastating. Deaths due to extreme weather could increase, and
temperature rises could result in the migration of diseases to
parts of the world presently unaffected by them - and produce
ideal conditions for their survival.
The quality of our environment would undoubtedly be improved by
the use of renewable energy technologies.
Energy for our children and their children's children
Renewable energy will not run out. Fossil fuels, the world's
current main source of energy at present, are a finite resource
and will some day be depleted - according to the petroleum
industry's best analysts the world supplies will start to run
out from 2020 to 2060.
Sustainability - meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs - is the only way forward . Renewable energy sources are
sustainable and their use will not only benefit us in the
present, but will ensure continued energy production for future
generations.
Jobs and the local economy
A
good deal of the fossil fuels required to provide electricity,
heating and fuel are imported. All money spent on energy imports
is money lost to the local economy.
Most renewable energy investments are spent on materials and
workmanship to build and maintain the facilities. Jobs develop
locally - directly from the design, installation and servicing
of renewable energy products - thus increasing local economic
growth.
Additionally, the income generated from these local jobs is much
more likely to be spent in the local community than that which
is paid to conventional energy suppliers.
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