Why Green Energy Is The Future

Fossil fuels still provide 90% of the world's energy. However, environmental, health, social and economic concerns will result in increased use of clean, renewable energy across the world.

Coal This dirty, 19th century fossil fuel is still burned in many
power plants in the 21st century, despite severe environmental and health impacts.

Nuclear Still promoted by the nuclear industry and the White House as "clean" energy, it is still troubled by high costs and safety problems. Concerns remain about potential accidents such as those that took place at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. There is no safe way to dispose of long-lived and highly radioactive waste from nuclear power plants.

Hydroelectric Large-scale hydroelectric projects require huge
amounts of land and water, and are often environmentally and socially destructive.

Geothermal Large-scale geothermal has toxic by-products and can have significant negative impacts on the surrounding environment.

Natural gas Promoted as the "cleanest" of fossil fuels, many new power plants being built use natural gas to generate electricity. Unfortunately, natural gas power plants emit pollutants that can cause health problems and contribute to smog, acid rain and negative impacts on water quality.

Oil This dirty fossil fuel damages the environment, and continues to be the cause of war and conflict around the world.

What is solar power? Solar power is a clean, renewable source of energy. An immense amount of energy from the sun strikes the surface of the earth every day. This energy may be captured and used in the form of heat in "solar thermal" applications, or it may be converted directly into electricity to power electrical devices using photovoltaic cells. Solar Photovoltaics (such as rooftop solar panels) convert sunlight into electricity.

Wind Power

What is wind power? Wind power is a renewable, clean, source of energy. Properly located, it can help replace fossil fuel and nuclear power.

Wind energy systems, such as wind electric turbines, transform the kinetic energy of the wind into mechanical and electrical energy.

These safe energy sources are plentiful and cheaper to use in the long term because zero fuel costs-sun and wind are free-and low maintenance costs offset the initial costs of wind and solar technology. Other benefits include sustainability and community ownership, while expensive nuclear and fossil fuel plants concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few.

There is insufficient financial investment in solar and wind power by governments and consumers. Public demand is needed to promote clean, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

For more information, contact:

Bradley Angel Greenaction

(415) 248-5010

Call to Action for a Healthy Future: Clean, Renewable and Safe Energy

Power has been generated by burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas, for two centuries and, for half a century, by nuclear energy. Today, life on our planet is threatened by global warming caused by burning coal and oil. Nuclear power leaves lethal waste and promises a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. A healthy future demands safe, renewable energy policies and practices.

The limited supplies of oil, coal and gas yield energy in ways that harm and threaten all life. They contribute to global warming, create acid rain, pollute our air, befoul our beaches, kill wildlife, and threaten the economic survival of whole communities. Many suffer from rapidly escalating incidences of asthma and cancer, while others die in wars for oil. Nuclear energy has proved too dangerous to be viable. All are affected but low-income communities, and particularly communities of color, are impacted disproportionately. These energy sources incur too high a cost.

Technology is available to turn sunlight and wind cleanly, cheaply, efficiently, and renewably into usable energy while protecting our health, our lives, and our planet.

Energy Conservation and Efficiency

We support conservation and energy efficiency. We endorse power saving technologies and devices. Conservation and energy efficiency are vitally important if we are to have a cleaner and healthier environment.

For example, new energy efficiency strategies reduce the amount of electricity used for lighting, air-conditioning, and various electrical appliances such as refrigerators.

Another way to save energy is to use new green building technologies and designs such as wall insulation, efficient heating and ventilation technologies.

The burden of saving energy should also be placed on large businesses and industries. Commercial electricity demand could be significantly reduced by implementing new energy saving lighting technologies in offices as well as public places.

Smart usage of energy, such as turning off unnecessary lights and air-conditioning at home and in the office, also reduces the amount of energy consumed and contributes to a healthier environment. By purchasing energy efficient products you can help to save the environment and support those industries that contribute to a cleaner and healthier planet.