GreenBeingsIreland.com - Natural Energy Resources

GreenBeingsIreland.com

CAMPAIGNING TO SAVE ENERGY TO STOP GLOBAL WARMING AND PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE

Natural Sources of Energy

Instead of burning fossil fuels other clean energy sources can be used - such as -

Solar - using the rays from the sun
Wind - using the power of the wind in windmills and wind farms
Hydro - using the power from water, such as hydroelectric dams
Wave - using the waves in the sea
Tidal - using the power of the tides in the sea

Ireland is using a lot of natural sources of energy, but we need to replace our dependance on fossil fuel burning power stations. Although there are lots of wind farms in Ireland they produce only 6.7 % of our electricity. Most of our energy comes from Non-Renewable Resources.

Electricity generated from different fuels in Ireland 2007
Non-renewable resources (fossil fuels)	Coal 18.8% Peat 7.4% Oil 6.8% Gas 52.9%
Renewable Resources	Hydro 2.28% Wind 6.7% Biomass 0.46% Energy imported 4.6%

Ireland has lots of natural energy sources. We get a lot of wind and we are surrounded by seas with lots of waves and strong tides. Our government needs to make better use of our natural resources, but we can also generate our own energy in our own homes.

The sun is our greatest source of energy. It keeps us warm when there are no clouds.

Solar panels provide an ideal year-round renewable energy hot water backup solution. A solar collector system can provide around 60% of your annual hot water needs for free (80 to 90% in summer). Solar energy can also be used to heat our homes.

Wood is a renewable fuel which can replace the coal or peat we use to heat our homes. Energy efficient wood burners and boilers can now be bought to replace open fires where 70% of the heat goes up the chimney.

Using renewable sources of energy like wood and solar energy to heat our homes reduces our reliance on polluting, imported fossil fuels like oil and coal.

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