Alternatives to Fossil Fuel Gases

Solar Power

• Solar energy can be harnessed via solar energy system that use solar panels. One disadvantage of this is that a large surface area is needed to mount the necessary solar panels. Once installed, these systems are low maintenance and clean, meaning they do not cause any pollution. Also, if you have a solar energy system installed in your home you can reduce your monthly electric bill up to 90 percent.

Wind Energy

• Wind energy is a form of kinetic energy that is harnessed via windmills or wind turbines. This is another form of clean energy that does not cause any air or water pollution. Windmills use the wind to turn their blades, which initializes a crank that collects the energy. The wind turbine is a more modern version of the windmill. They have large blades and long shafts that contain a gear transmission box, which works to increase the blade's speed. This transmission box is attached to another shaft that turns a generator in order to create electricity.

Hydroelectric Power

• Hydroelectric power harnesses the energy of moving water; it is one of the oldest ways of harnessing energy. As of 2011, about 7 percent of the energy in the United States comes from hydroelectric power. Dams are set up with turbine blades connected to generators. Water then flows through the dams, spinning the turbine blades, which are connected to generators. This produces the energy that is then sent out to power homes and businesses.

Geothermal Power

• Geothermal power harnesses the energy that comes from the heat emitting from the earth. Three types of power stations are used in the geothermal process: dry steam, flash steam and binary-cycle. As of 2007, less than 1 percent of the world's power was generated using geothermal power; this is because though this is a environmentally friendly renewable way of generating energy, there are few locations in the world that provide enough heat to efficiently produce enough energy.