Thea+E.

Alternative Energy By Thea Erickson There are many ways of making energy. Of course something things, like burning coal and other fossil fuels, works good but they won't last us forever. Those are called nonrenewable resources meaning we have limited amount. So what's a solution to that problem? Well, there's a thing called alternative energy. This means that people have come up with other ways to make power and energy without harming the environment especially by burning nonrenewable resources. Bellow are some examples of alternative energies and what they are. For more information, continue reading to learn more about them.


 * [[image:http://mindscapesonline.com/shop/images/24sun_and_sky.jpg width="177" height="176"]] || Solar Power Solar power is basically taking energy from sun rays and converting it into energy that we can use such as heat and electricity. Reasons why it's a great way to make electricity and heat is because it doesn't create air pollutants or carbon dioxide and it's a renewable source so that means we'll never run out of this source. There are some set backs from solar power though. This includes the fact that sunlight does not arrive to the Earth's surface continuously and that makes solar power a little sketchy. Another set back from solar power is the cost of solar panels. They can cost anywhere from $900-$50,000. || [[image:http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/4393369/2/istockphoto_4393369-solar-panels.jpg width="176" height="176"]] ||


 * = [[image:http://v18.lscache7.c.bigcache.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/original/21034450.jpg width="183" height="162"]] ||= Hydroelectric Power Hydroelectric power is the process of generating water with the power of free-falling water. It's one of the cleanest ways to make energy. It works by having a dam hold back water. The preasure of the water running through the dam and that spins turbine. That's connected to a generator which makes electricity as it spins. Then the water is returned on the other side of the dam. || [[image:http://www.bionomicfuel.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/advantages-of-hydroelectric-energy-1.jpg width="180" height="168"]] ||


 * [[image:http://qcelectricalsvc.com/images/windturbine.png width="156" height="205"]] || ﻿Wind Power   ﻿ Wind energy is the process of turning the energy in wind into energy that can be used to make electricity, The wind spins the turbine which is connected to a generator making electricity. This is one of the alternative resources that has been around for quiet a while. It also comes bigger is better with these turbines too.  || [[image:http://www.thegreenhomeeffect.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/wind_power1-300x300.jpg width="195" height="197"]] ||


 * [[image:http://scienceprep.org/images/NuclearPlant.gif width="185" height="195"]] || Nuclear Power    ﻿ ﻿ Nuclear power is the process of making power through the fission of uranium. Nuclear power is good as a renewable resource but a big problem with nuclear power is it produces a new radioactive pottutant that's pretty dangerous but over time new technology and machines will take care of the radioactive waste and make nuclear power safer.  || [[image:http://blogs.nature.com/news/nuclear-reactor-babcock-wilcox_1.jpg width="168" height="199"]] ||

Sources: Solar Power Links -[|EIA Energy Kids- Solar] -[|Solar Panel Cost]

Hydroelectric Links -[|Hydroelectric Power: How It Works] -[|TVA Kids]

Wind Power Links -[|AE Kids: Wind Power] -[|EDINFORMATICS]

Nuclear Power Links -[|Nuclear Power] -[|EIA Energy Kids- Uranium]

Other Links -[|Dictionary.com] -[|Alternative Energy for Kids]