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What is energy and why is it important

 According to Charles Harper, Energy is fundamentally a physical variable

measured variously as calories, kilowatt hours, horsepower, British thermal units,
joules, and so forth.
 In short energy is all around us in different forms.

Why is it important?

 Energy is the ability to do work and work is actually a transfer of energy.

How do we get the energy that powers our society?

 Most of the world’s present energy needs are supplied by finite or nonrenewable
resources, mainly the fossil fuelspetroleum, natural gas, and coal.
 renewable energy sources, such as wind power, solar energy, and hydrogen,
provide only tiny portions of current world energy flows but have great potential
as alternative sources in the future.
 Similar to renewable energy, uranium generated energy and hydroelectric energy
only provide a small portion of the global energy resource.
 According to Ritchie and Roser, (n.d) In 2019, almost two-thirds (63.3%) of global
electricity came from fossil fuels. Of the 36.7% from low-carbon sources,
renewables accounted for 26.3% and nuclear energy for 10.4%. As we noted
earlier, the relative contribution of fossil fuels and low-carbon electricity has been
pretty stagnant for decades.

social and environmental problems associated with our present energy systems

 Finite Energy Resource Supplies and the problem of population growth

 Pollution
 Increasing cost of energy

do we have solutions for this crisis?

  Yes! Green energy

Green energy, what is green energy

 In order to be deemed green energy, a resource cannot produce pollution, such

as is found with fossil fuels. This means that not all renewable energy sources
are environmentally friendly. Power generation that burns organic material from
sustainable forests, for example, may be renewable, but it is not always green
owing to CO2 released during the burning process.
 Green energy sources are frequently renewed naturally, unlike fossil fuels such
as natural gas or coal, which can take millions of years to create. Green sources
also prevent hurting eco-systems by avoiding mining and drilling operations.

Why is it important

 no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air
pollution
 Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels
 Sustainability

What are the main types of green energy or alternative energy resources?

 Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind power, geothermal

energy, biomass, and hydroelectric power are common sources of green energy.
Each of these technologies generates energy in a different way, whether by
harnessing the sun's energy through solar panels, wind turbines, or the flow of
water.

Fossil Fuel

 Fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These fuels are
found in the Earth’s crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be
burned for energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.

 According to the National Academies of Sciences, 81 percent of the total energy

used in the United States comes from coal, oil, and natural gas.
 This is the energy that is used to heat and provide electricity to homes and
businesses and to run cars and factories. Unfortunately, fossil fuels are
a nonrenewable resource and waiting millions of years for new coal, oil, and
natural gas deposits to form is not a realistic solution.
 Fossil fuels are also responsible for almost three-fourths of the emissions from
human activities in the last 20 years.