Nuclear Energy!Nuclear energy is the use of nuclear reactions to produce heat which is then used in nuclear power stations to generate electricity through a steam turbine. It releases lower CO2 gases, has relatively low operating costs and has a large power-generating capacity. However, it's health and environmental risks due to contamination and other dangerous are high.
|
Natural Gas!Natural gas are usually flammable gas which consists of methane and other hydrocarbons (compounds that are made from hydrogen and carbon). It is the most cleanest, safest, and most useful forms of energy. It is originated from fossil fuels. The uses of natural gas is used in residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation. In residential areas, natural gas is used to heat our water, cook our food, warm our homes, and generate electricity. It is used in this area because it is economically cheap. Natural gas that is used in commercial areas, such as schools, office buildings, hotels, restaurants, etc., are used for cooling, cooking, and heating. Industrial areas use natural gas in industries that produce petroleum refining, metal, chemical, plastic, food processing, glass and paper. To get this natural gas, a method called fracking, drills into the earth with a high pressured water mixture on a rock to get the gas.
|
Oil!Crude oil, also known as petroleum is separated into gasoline, heating oil, and asphalt. It's first extracted from the ground. and then refined, separated by process of distillation, and then converted to the desired product. It can also be drilled offshore. It's inexpensive to extract and a dependable source of energy, but releases hazardous gases and fumes into the air.
|
Hydrogen Fuel!"Hydrogen, when used in a fuel cell, is an emissions-free alternative fuel that can be produced from diverse domestic energy sources. Research and commercial efforts are under way to build the hydrogen fueling infrastructure and produce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that are practical for widespread use (AFDC)." It is readily available, fuel efficient, has no harmful emissions and it's renewable but it is expensive, highly flammable and dependent on fossil fuels.
|
Coal!Coal is a combustible, sedimentary, organic rock, which is composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It is formed from vegetation, which has been consolidated between other rock strata and altered by the combined effects of pressure and heat over millions of years to form coal seams.
It's abundant, inexpensive and can be converted into liquid or gaseous states which burns cleaner but it is finite, releases the most CO2 and causes sever environmental, social and health problems. |