Alternative
Energy Sources
Research Paper
Hayden Page
Period 7
What do the terms renewable resources and nonrenewable resources mean?
The term renewable resources means a natural resource that renews itself naturally and
is made at a rate faster or equal to the rate of consumption by humans or other decomposition.
The term nonrenewable resource means energy sources that we use and consume
faster than nature can produce them, or they do not replenish at all or at a very slow rate, such
as fossil fuels.
What type of resources does the United States of America use the most?
The United States of America uses Oil and Petroleum energy resources the most.
What type of resources does the United States of America use the second most?
The United States of America uses coal and natural gas energy resources the second
most.
What type of resources does the United States of America use the least?
The United States of America uses Wind Turbines and wind power energy resources the
least.
What are the hazards of using nonrenewable energy sources?
The hazards of using nonrenewable energy sources are that once you run out of the
resources, you run out and can no longer produce the resource once you run out of it. Another
hazard of using nonrenewable energy sources such as oil and petroleum is that spills and
accidents can be very harmful to the people working to get the resources out, as well as the
environment around the digging or mining sites.
What kinds of energy sources are considered renewable?
These kind of energy sources are considered renewable:

Solar energy

Wind power

Tides

Hydroelectricity

Geothermal power

Alcohols derived from corn, sugarcane and grass

Oils from plants and seeds

Naturally occurring methane gases

Bioenergy from biomasses, such as landfills or animal waste used to produce
energy

Thermal energy conversion

Water

Oxygen
Which kinds of energy sources do we use and for what purpose?
The United States uses almost all of the resources above to give the US electrical power
and other things, but falls in comparison to the United States use of nonrenewable sources
such as Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas.
Why should the United States of America and other major countries look into using
more renewable energy sources?
The United States of America and other major countries should look into using more
renewable energy sources because in the future, all the countries will run out of nonrenewable
resources such as Oil, Natural Gas, and Coal, and every town and city will remain without
power, heating, cooling, and water because of the lack of energy to make everything run well
and actually take place. Although, if the US and other countries start to lose dependence on
nonrenewable energy sources and start to invest in more ways to gain dependence on
renewable resources, then when we run out, we wouldn’t be hit as hard and we will still have
most of the necessities for us and our homes.
What are some possible reasons that these countries do not use more renewable
energy resources?
Some possible reasons that these countries do not use more renewable energy
resources are that nonrenewable resources often give more energy than most renewable
energy sources, and are sometimes easier, or more efficient to mine, drill, or produce. Another
reason is that if you want to make more money and/or produce more energy, you can send out
more men and machines to drill or mine more nonrenewable resources, but with renewable
resources, it is hard to produce more without making a lot more machinery or making a whole
new structure.
What are examples of how renewable energy is used in developing (third-world)
countries?
One example, in Zimbabwe, is that “Only 13% of the population has access to electricity in rural
areas, while 5% use electricity for purposes more than lighting. Women must make more use of
technology in researching the abundant opportunities available in the country’s energy sector.”
Also another quote is “She said electricity the coverage rate of Zimbabwe was on average at
40% with 85% electrification in urban areas, 15% for new development areas yet to be
electrified,” and “This comes at a time when leaders at the UN on Tuesday committed to
expanding the use of renewable energy with the objective of aiming to mobilize resources and
generate actions that will reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change.”
Citations
1. Asaff, Ben. "Examples of Renewable Resources." LoveToKnow. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 June
2016.
2. CHIMHANGWA, KUDZAI. "Zimbabwe Committed to Use of Renewable Energy." NewsDay.
N.p., 26 Sept. 2014. Web. 10 June 2016.
3. Borgford, Christie, Andrew Champagne, Mapi Cuevas, Leila Dumas, William G. Lamb, and
Sally Ann Vonderbrink. Physical Science. N.p.: Holt,Rinehart, and Winston, 2005. Print.