Environmental Issues

The current paper discusses the role of renewable energy sources in the context of the current energy consumption. Solar and wind energy, hydropower, and biomass are included into the list of the basic renewable energy sources. The paper shows that the environmental effects of renewable energy can be readily reinforced through energy conservation. The example of Missouri Electric Cooperatives is used to show how renewable energy initiatives are being promoted at the state level.

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation

Introduction
Our living standard is impossible without energy. Energy remains a resource critical for human life, existence, and development, as well as the resource associated with a whole set of economic, social and, more importantly, environmental issues. That the provision of energy invariably results in numerous environmental impacts no one can deny throughout the 20th century, professionals and scholars in energy engineering and management sought have been trying to assess the short-term and long-term environmental consequences of energy consumption. By the end of the century, humanity has finally realized the need for developing alternative sources of energy which would provide humanity with the amount of energy necessary to maintain its basic functions, and which would not produce as many negative environmental impacts as traditional energy resources do. In this context, renewable energy sources and energy conservation signify societys gradual transition to the new quality level of energy consumption, with energy being an essential component of sustainable economic policies and initiatives.

Renewable energy
Energy is defined as the ability of a system to cause external action (Kaltschmitt, Wiese  Streicher, 2007). Energy exists and is being used in a variety of forms, including mechanic, electric, thermal, chemical, solar, and nuclear energy in practical energy appliances, the effects and external action of energy within the system readily reflect through heat, force, and light (Kaltschmitt, Wiese  Streicher, 2007). In case of nuclear, solar, and chemical energy, such external action becomes possible only if the former is being transformed into mechanical or thermal energy (Kaltschmitt, Wiese  Streicher). In 2005 alone, the levels of worldwide energy consumption exceeded 441 EJ 1-3, with 28 of energy consumed by Europe, 27 - by North America, and 32 - by Asia and Pacific fossil energy consumption was distributed among 36 of crude oil, 28 of coal, 24 of natural gas, and 6 of nuclear and hydropower energy (Kaltschmitt, Wiese  Streicher, 2007). The information about the role and scope of renewable energy consumption is rather scarce, but it is clear that the whole world is gradually moving away from traditional energy resources, like coal, closer to the renewable energy sources, like wind. The development of renewable energy production and consumption is still in its infancy, but the variety of renewable energy applications makes it possible to significantly reduce the negative environmental impacts of energy and to reconcile the principles of sustainable development with the energy needs of society. For example, solar heat provision can be successfully utilized in passive energy systems, while solar tower plants, solar chimney plants, photovoltaic conversion, and Dish Brayton systems can be used to transform solar energy into electric power. In the same way, wind turbines can help utilize the energy potential of wind to the fullest, while ambient air and shallow geothermal energy could be used for heat provision (Kaltschmitt, Wiese  Streicher, 2007).

Solar energy is probably the most popular and well-known form of renewable energy today. Because sun is fairly regarded as the basic source of heat, light, and energy on the planet and because it is believed to be an ever-present form of delivering this energy to species and plants on the earth, the sun has attracted professional attention as a potential carrier of the new renewable energy vision. The term solar energy is used to define energy from the sun (Craddock, 2008). In present day energy science, several different forms of solar energy are used. These are active solar systems, passive solar systems, and direct solar systems, and these are the forms that shape the basis for developing a complex network of solar energy solutions, which would serve societys most sophisticated energy needs. Active solar systems use mechanical components to gather sunlight and to later transform it into heat or electricity passive solar systems employ non-mechanical ways of gathering and transforming solar energy into lighting, cooling, ventilation, or heating (Craddock, 2008). Direct solar systems are one-step-systems that directly convert solar energy into usable energy (Craddock, 2008). Solar energy, however, is not the only form of renewable energy today.

Biomass has already turned into a convenient form of energy generation and consumption all over the world. Biomass may consist of almost any biological materials, including wood scraps and sawdust left over from lumber processing, forest and crops grown specifically for biomass, etc. (Craddock, 2008). The possibilities which biomass offers in terms of energy generation and consumption are virtually limitless. More often than not, direct combustion is used to convert biomass into energy. Unfortunately, despite its low-cost maintenance and absolute reliability, this method of energy production is not without its problems biomass makes it difficult to maintain the homogeneity of the source material, and thus the overall rates of efficiency in biomass systems do not exceed 18 percent, compared to traditional fossil fuel systems (Craddock, 2008). In this context, hydropower could become a good means for society to replenish the scarcity of traditional energy resources water is the earliest and one of the most effective renewable energy resources. Different types of turbines are used to convert hydropower into mechanical and electric energy and add to the list of reliable energy sources in sustainable society (Craddock, 2008). Finally, winds represent an effective alternative form of renewable energy resources used by countries and societies to satisfy their growing energy needs today, Scandinavia is considered the pioneer and the leader in developing and using practical wind power solutions (Craddock, 2008). It should be noted, that the concept of renewable energy is integrally linked to the concept of energy conservation, and professionals in energy studies often view energy conservation as a good means of resolving the existing energy issues and an instrument, equally or even more effective than renewable energy sources.

Energy conservation
Renewable energy sources look like the most beneficial and promising option in the societys striving to promote sustainable environmental policies, but renewable energy is not without its problems. The fact is in that the majority of renewable energy systems are still too costly to be routinely used by individuals and countries solar energy requires building large networks of solar cells, while wind energy is impossible without large turbines, which are often embedded in the empty coastlines and distort the scenery (Parfit, 2005). The real problem is not in how much energy we are able to produce, but in how efficiently we can use this energy to satisfy our energy needs. Energy conservation is about decreasing the quantity of energy consumed through efficient use of the existing energy resources, and when combined with renewable energy, this strategy is likely to become the major alternative to the use of non-renewable, scarce, and dangerous to the environment fossil fuel systems.

In the context of renewable energy, statewide organizations often work to promote the vision of sustainable energy consumption Missouri Electric Cooperatives is an organization representing 47 electric co-ops, which tries to help individuals, businesses, and organizations resolve the problem of the global climate change (AMEC, 2010). In cooperation with Chamois Power Plant near Jefferson City, Missouris Electric Cooperatives has developed and currently implements an idea of using algae to capture the carbon emitted by power plants that work on fossil fuels (NRECA, 2010). That means that Missouri Electric Cooperatives seeks to use the benefits of biomass to resolve the existing and emerging ecological issues. In the same way, Bluegrass Ridge, the first wind farm built with the help and support of Missouris Electric Cooperatives, signifies the new approach to using renewable energy on a statewide basis Missouri-based wind power provides a reasonably priced, green and renewable source of electricity displaces more expensive natural-gas-based generation spurs economic growth in rural Missouri and helps meet growing electricity needs among cooperative members (AMEC, 2007). It would be fair to assume that the attention toward renewable energy on the side of official organizations is reflects the growing energy concerns, as well as the realization of the need for developing alternative energy solutions. Given the benefits of renewable energy and the positive potential of energy conservation, these are likely to dominate societys energy thinking in the coming decades.

Conclusion
Renewable energy has become the issues of the national and global concern. With the growing scarcity of traditional energy resources, and under the influence of the global climate change, society gradually realizes the need for developing effective sustainable energy policies. In the context of the current energy consumption crisis, renewable energy looks like the best option, but it is likely to lose its relevance without energy conservation. The problem is now in how much but in how effectively is energy produced and used. The example of Missouri Electric Cooperatives shows that renewable energy and energy conservation are likely to dominate global energy thinking in the coming decades.