Use any kind of energy and electricity production is accompanied by the formation of many water and air pollutants. The list of such pollutants is surprisingly long, and their number is extremely large. Naturally the question arises whether always energy and electricity must be accompanied by the destruction of the environment. And if it is true that any kind of human activity influences the nature and the extent of this damage is different. We can not influence the environment in which we live, because to maintain vital processes such as to absorb and use energy.

    The man certainly has an impact on its surrounding environment, but in nature there are natural mechanisms to balance supporting the environment and communities living in it, in equilibrium, when all changes occur very slowly. However, in many cases the economic activity of man to break the equilibrium, supported by these mechanisms, leading to rapid changes in environmental conditions to which no man or nature can not successfully cope. Traditional energy production, giving huge amounts of water and air pollutants - a type of such activity. Surprisingly, only two hundred years ago, mankind, except the energy of the human and animal possessed only three types of energy. And the source of all three types of energy was the sun. Wind turned wing windmills, which grind corn or weaving. In order to be able to use the energy of water needed to water ran down to the sea from the above sources located where the river filled by the rains that fall.

    Over the last decade, interest in these energy sources is growing, because in many ways they are unlimited. As the fuel supply becomes less reliable and more expensive, these sources are becoming more attractive and more economical. Rising prices for oil and gas was the main reason why we again turned their attention to water, wind and sun.



     SOLAR ENERGY Solar energy - a kinetic energy of radiation (mostly light) that is formed by reactions in the solar interior. Because it supplies virtually inexhaustible (astronomers estimate that the sun will "burn" a few million years), it refers to renewable energy. In natural ecosystems, only a small portion of solar energy absorbed by the chlorophyll contained in the leaves of plants, and is used for photosynthesis, ie the formation of organic matter from carbon dioxide and water. Thus, it is captured and stored as potential energy of organic substances. Due to their expansion met the energy needs of all other components of ecosystems.

    It is estimated that approximately the same percentage of solar energy is enough to meet the needs of transport, industry and our way of life not only now but in the foreseeable future. Moreover, whether we will use it or not, the energy balance of Earth's biosphere and the state is not affected. However, solar energy falls on the entire surface of the Earth, never reaching a particular intensity. Therefore, you must catch the relatively large area, focus and turn in a form that can be used for industrial, residential and transportation needs. In addition, we should be able to store solar energy to maintain energy and night and on cloudy days. The above difficulties and costs necessary to overcome, suggest impracticality of this energy, at least today. However, in many cases the problem is exaggerated.

    The main thing - to use solar energy so that its cost was minimal or even zero. As the improvement of traditional technologies and rising energy, this energy will find more and more areas of application.

   Light emission can capture directly, when it reaches Earth. This is called direct solar energy. In addition, it provides the water cycle, air circulation and accumulation of organic matter in the biosphere. So, paying for these energy resources, we in fact have been an indirect use of solar energy.

   CENTRAL SOLAR POWER Energy Tower. Ancient legend says that Archimedes saved his hometown Syracuse using solar energy. Commanded thousands of soldiers to return their panels to the sun and vyshykuvavshy them in line in the shape of a parabola, Archimedes focused reflected sunlight on a sail fleet attackers and burned them. This is the principle of the power tower: the rays of the sun concentrated at one point under the mirror.

     These mirrors (heliostaty) back in the day to follow the sun in his heavenly journey. They reflect the sun's rays and focus them on the energy tower, where a huge concentration of energy causes water to boil and turn into steam. Water vapor through pipes enters the turbine to the ground, rotate it and produces electricity.

    In the Crimean coast of the Azov Sea based solar power (SES-5). Power of Power - 5000 kW. SES-5 is designed mainly for experiments aimed at refining and improving the systems and modes of operation of large SES tower in order to develop a new reliable and efficient technology. However, the SES-5 generates electricity and sends it to the Crimean energy system.

    Scientists believe that powerful solar power plant in its economy will be in line with modern thermal and nuclear power plants.

   Solar ponds. Solar ponds - a cheaper way to capture solar energy. Artificial reservoir partially filled with brine (very salty water) over which is fresh water. The density of brine is much higher, so it remains on the bottom and top layer is almost not mixed. Solar rays pass freely through the fresh water, but absorb brine, turning while in the heat. The top layer acts as insulation, preventing the bottom cool.

   In other words, solar ponds used the same principle as in greenhouses, only earth and glass replaced in accordance with brine and fresh water. Hot salt solution can be circulated through pipes, opalyuyuchy space, or used to generate electricity, it is heated liquids with low boiling point, which evaporates, providing movement of low pressure turbine. Since the solar pond is a high performance thermal battery, it can be used to receive energy continuously.

    The disadvantages of all these plants convert solar energy include the fact that they need large areas, and relatively close (within 80 km) from the consumer. Otherwise, the loss in transmission would be unacceptably high. However, later may be ponadprovidni lines that will solve the problem, but in the near future the construction of solar ponds and enerhovezh limited to lack of sufficiently large free areas near large cities. On the other hand, the solar panels can be placed on rooftops.

    PERSPECTIVES SOLAR ENERGY Solar can be useful in several respects. First, the replacement of its fossil fuel reduces air pollution and water. Secondly, the replacement of fossil fuels means a reduction in imports of fuel, particularly oil. Thirdly, replacing nuclear fuel, we reduce the threat of the spread of nuclear weapons. Finally, solar power can provide us some protection by reducing our dependence on the uninterrupted supply of fuel.

    In terms of environment and sustainable development of these alternative sources of electricity is sound. Unfortunately, they did not solve the problem of reducing stocks of crude oil is still needed for transport.

    Passive solar heating system is very cost-effective, and it makes sense to include them in projects of all new homes. However, still existing and used homes will not change, the consumption of traditional energy is reduced, at best slow down its growth. Indeed reduce their use could be widespread improvement of thermal insulation of buildings and plant in them "retroactively" solar heating systems and vodonahrivannya. In this case, it should be possible to transfer part of the fuel oil consumed for domestic purposes, the needs of transport. However, in very good chance it would solve the problem of the future shortage of crude oil needed to produce motor fuel.

Therefore, we must focus on the transport sector.

    What can you do? Well informed and active citizens can do much to support and develop more balanced and environmentally sustainable policies. You also need to write to the appropriate authorities, demanding that they support the following activities: - funding primarily to nuclear power and research and technical developments in solar energy to obtain hydrogen production of cheap solar cells and light low-cost batteries with high capacity - the redistribution of appropriations that are the pad on freeways (which only encourages the consumption of fuel), the construction of rail systems elektrotransportnyh - economic incentives for renovation and use of solar energy heating systems.

    Investing money in these promising directions, we eventually Holodomor properly greater economic and political security than spending measures for the protection of oil tankers.

   Note that none of these measures are not costly, it is only a change in priorities that would lead us to a sustainable society.

    Learn and apply in practice, any means that can save in your own home (of course if they do not cause discomfort), improving its insulation and implementing, wherever possible, solar heating and hot water.

    Finally, to protect ourselves from future oil crises, try to settle in a place where car use is optional.