綠色世代的能源議題

風力發電

風力發電的原理是利用風力渦輪機產生電力，把風轉變為可供使用的能量來源。風力渦輪機通常設置於風力農場上，外連柵型電網，藉此貯存電力，還能夠為偏遠地區供電。近來風力發電在各國的發電來源中佔了極大的百分比——在丹麥約佔19%，西班牙與葡萄牙各9%，德國與冰島各6%。風力發電有極大的發展潛力，它是一種乾淨、源源不絕的能量來源，而且能夠使我們對石油的依賴減到最小。研究顯示，隨著全國性電網格的架設，風力發電可滿足美國1/3的電力需求。若想進一步了解，可以參閱PVC傳媒的報告，您將會瞭解更多住宅區使用風力發電的資訊。

太陽熱能發電

太陽熱能發電是利用陽光產生的熱能發電，通常用於推動渦輪機，把光能轉變為電能。根據WE的報導，太陽能已可滿足十萬住戶的電力需求，同時目前的新計畫預估可以將供電量再提高十倍，這並非空口說白話，因為光是美國西南部的小規模太陽能發電區就可以提供全美用電。

太陽能光電

太陽能光電，不同於太陽熱能發電必須先將光能轉化為熱能，這是一種可以將光能直接轉變為電能的太陽能發電法。根據美國能源部門的說法，光電系統自1988年正式啟用以來，為兩百五十萬的美國住戶提供足夠電力，這相當於開發中國家中八百萬家庭的使用量。太陽能光電板可直接整備於私人住戶的屋瓦上，並在多雲的陰天製造電力。如果所有的向陽建築都能裝上蒐集太陽能的光板，預估可提供我們所需的1/4電力。

地熱

地熱是指蘊藏於地球表殼之下的熱能，可以用來為大城市或者略顯偏遠的城鎮供電。地熱是一種具有競爭性價格的永續能源，也是石油的絕佳替代品，目前僅佔全世界供電量的1%。 如果能多方協調並進，這些提供替代能源的發電方式可以幫助我們突破對進口石油的依賴，進入永續發展的新世代，這就是所謂的綠色世代。

Where the Green Generation Gets its Power From

Wind Power

Wind power is the conversion of wind into a viable power source by using wind turbines, which generate electricity as they turn. Wind turbines are often situated on wind farms, which are connected to electric grids, capable of storing and distributing electricity to remote locations. Currently, wind power accounts a substantial percentage of electricity in many countries, including 19% in Denmark's, 9% in Spain and Portugal, and 6% in Germany and Ireland. As a clean, plentiful energy source, that minimizes our reliance on fossil fuels, wind power has a great deal of potential: studies show that with the advent of a national grid, wind power could come to supply one-third of American electricity needs. Discover more about wind power for residential use with this presentation from PVC Media.

Solar Thermal

Solar thermal energy is power that is harnessed from heat given off by the sun, which is used to drive turbines that convert it into electricity. According to WE, it already yields enough electricity to meet the needs of 100,000 homes, though new projects are in the works to increase that number tenfold, and shows a tremendous amount of promise: a small area of solar thermal in the Southwest could provide all of the United State's needs.

Solar Photovoltaics

Solar Photovoltaics - unlike solar thermal - convert solar energy directly into electricity. According to the US Department of Energy, PV systems installed since 1988 provide enough electricity to power 250,000 American homes-- or more than 8 million homes in the developing world. Solar Photovoltaics can be integrated into roof tiles for personal homes, be used to produce energy on cloudy days, and could supply up to one-quarter of all our energy needs if solar panels were put on all sunny American buildings.

Geothermal Power

Geothermal Power is energy generated by heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, and can be used to power large cities or relatively remote towns. Since it’s a sustainable resource with competitive prices, it’s a great alternative to fossil fuels. It currently supplies 1% of the world’s energy. Working in concert, these alternative sources of energy can help us break free of our dependence on foreign oil, and enter into a new age of sustainable practices: the Green Generation.