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I have decided to do my wikispace on Alternative Energy. I've picked this topic because a lot of people don't know what alternative energy is even though a handful of people are telling them to use them. I thought that this could help people understand it better. **__I wanted to know What types of Alternative Energy are out there?,__ __Why should we use alternative energy,__ __What we benefit from using alternative energy,__** and **__and what are some easy was to save energy.__**    =What is Alternative Energy? = media type="custom" key="236039" Alternative energy is basically energy that is received from a source or sources that do not harm the environment or deplete natural resources. Renewable energy is using a natural resources.

=Types of alternative energy = media type="custom" key="244811" Here is detailed list of the alternative energy's and their pros and cons.

Hydro power Energy
 Hydro power energy is energy that is generated by moving water. The first hydro power machines were simple paddle wheels used for grinding grain. Hydro power works at a big river or fall. The water shoots through a pipe and turns the blades in the pipe to create a generator. For example, the Hoover dam has generators on both sides of it. This is not just a small dam, it's very big. It's actually 726 feet tall and 660 feet wide. You could imagine how much power that must produce. **//Pro://** A lot of people say that hydro power is very good fuel for electric generators because it is clean, almost free, and does not pollute the air. //**Con:**// One problem with this is that it changes the environment and affects the organisms around it. However they are thinking of ways to eliminate these problems. As you see in the picture below the five top producing states are 1.Washington 2.California 3.Oregon 4.New York 5. Alabama.

Off Shore Turbines
<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> Offshore turbines are like underwater wind farms only they use the flow of water in the ocean and rivers instead of the wind. They are installed at the sea beds with high currents. Some turbines have the generators installed on the bottom of them. **//Pro: Con://**

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<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">Wind
<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> We use the wind's energy by building big towers and putting propellers on the top of them. When the wind blows the propellers moves to produce electric energy. When many of these towers are built together, it's called a wind farm. They only build wind farms were there are steady, stronger winds. What are some advantages of using wind as energy? **//Pro://** Some advantages are that wind is free, it doesn't produce waste and does not release carbon into the air, the land beneath it can still be used for farming, they are tourist attractions, and this is a good way to produce energy for remote places. **//Con://** Some disadvantages are that the wind is not always predictable, a lot suitable areas for wind farms are by the coast and the cost for areas around the coast are expensive, can kill birds, and can be noisy.

<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">
<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> If we harnessed solar energy then we would have a lot more energy. One way to use the sun's heat is through photo voltaic cells or solar cells. Solar Energy will be the m<span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)">ost resour <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)">ceful energy in the near future. Right now, we only receive one third of the energy the sun will give us because either the atmosphere blocks the energy out or the energy is getting reflected back into space. Pro:Solar Panels give off no pollution, many solar panels can be placed on top of roof tops which eliminates the problem of finding a place to put the panels, solar panels can provide remote places an easily accessed, cheap, and clean source of energy. Con: When you first purchase and install a solar panel, it can be a lot of money, solar panels can only produce energy when the sun's out, weather can sometimes effect the quality of the cells, and pollution affects solar panels so the longer we wait to install the panels, and the more pollution that is put in the air, the least efficient the panels will be. <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)">

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<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)"> <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">This is a unique backpack because it has a charger in it! <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)"> <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)"> <span style="color: rgb(132, 255, 10)">

<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">Hybrids Cars
<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> Hybrid cars are not new. Hybrids trucks and cars combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine. Hybrid cars are basically any vehicle that combines two or more sources of power. There are a lot of hybrid cars that are out there. **//Pro: Con://** You could also save gas by not driving during rush hour. This saves gas because your not stopping and going all of the time. This process uses up a lot of energy, so it's best not to do it.

Here are Bp commercials. Bp is is creating low carbon energy will using alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, hydrogen, and natural gas power. Low carbon energy is energy that releases less carbon into the air. Wind and solar power release 0% of carbon into the air. although these are an extremely clean way to provide energy, we still need more to support our ever growing populations. Thats when hydrogen and natural gas power steps in. Hydrogen power releases only 10% of carbon into the air and natural gas power is a much cleanlier way to media type="youtube" key="WhxFnVWnkZg&rel=1" height="355" width="425" media type="youtube" key="f4ooBn9lw6s&rel=1" height="355" width="425" media type="youtube" key="3rklKyFMUME&rel=1" height="355" width="425"

<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">Geothermal Energy
<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> The word geo means Earth and thermal means heat. When you put those to together you get geothermal or Earth heat. When magma in the Earth rises to the top and breaks the Earth's crust, it forms a volcano. The magma that doesn't break the Earth's crust still heats the Earth. this heat also heats the water and eventually forms a geothermal reservoir. These reservoirs are a very powerful energy source. <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> = = =<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> = =<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">Why should We Use Alternative Energy? = <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> One of the main reasons we should use alternative energy is because it s a lot cleaner for the environment. The use of fossil fuels, such as coal oil and natural gases, makes the air a lot dirtier. It can reduce pollution and help stop global warming. Alternative energy also release much less carbon into the air than <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; color: rgb(87, 211, 9); background-color: rgb(241, 251, 112)">
 * //Pro: Con://**
 * //http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld002.htm//**

=<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">What are some Benefits from using Alternative Energy? = <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> Some benefits are that the environment will be cleaner and healthier. The air will be less polluted because we aren't adding combustion into the air that releases more carbon then we need. When we cut down the trees there are less plants to take in the carbon so the carbon stays in the atmosphere. It is a lot cleaner for the environment. The use of fossil fuels, such as coal oil and natural gases, makes the air a lot dirtier. It can reduce pollution and help stop global warming.

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=<span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)">What are some easy ways to Save Energy? = <span style="color: rgb(155, 232, 38)"> Saving energy does not have to be hard or expensive. It may actually be cheaper. A lot of things can help save fossil fuels and trees by doing simple things. You could switch your plastic or paper grocery bags into safe, clothe, reusable ones. Take your lights bulbs out and replace them with energy saving ones. The next time you look into buying a car, look at the hybrid ones. You could simply turn off the appliances that your not using or if you really want to save energy, install solar panels to your roof. In the future I bet almost everyone will be using alternative energy, so why not save energy and start now? Here are some easy ways to save energy.

1. Shut your blinds at night to keep the cold air out. That way you don't have to turn up the heater and waste fuels. 2. Make sure you turn off all faucets because a leaky faucet could waste more water than you think. 3. Take a shower and not a bath. Baths use up way more water than an average shower. 4. Don't leave the refrigerator door open.When you open the door thirty percent of the cool air escapes. 5. Change your light bulbs to compact florescent light bulbs. They use up 75% less of energy and last ten times longer. 6. Unplug any electrical idea that's not in use (chargers) 7. Turn lights off when you leave a room. 8. Plant a tree in your yard. This will keep your house cool in the summer and help clean the air.

For other helpful hints go to these sites: media type="delicious" key="chefcoley11/alternativeenergy" ARG0="title=Alternative%20Energy%20Websites;bullet=%E2%80%A2;icon;sort=alpha;name;showadd" width="150" height="200" = =