Shaping a Changing World

The Original YWACC proposal from a different perspective.

The focus of my group’s “Shape a Changing World” project is to increase the use of renewable energy throughout our school, our town, and our state. In 2015, renewable energy only accounted for about 10 percent of energy consumption in the United States. Although this number has increased during the past years, we are still too dependant on nonrenewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as hydropower, wind, geothermal, and solar, all pose so many more environmental benefits than than their non-renewable counterparts. Nonrenewable energy sources release numerous gases, such as nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide, into our atmosphere that contribute to global warming. In fact, about 29 percent of global warming emissions come from fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas (Union of Concerned Scientists). Most renewable energy sources however, produce almost no global warming emissions.

Another problem with nonrenewable energy sources is that they are finite resources. They can not be regenerated on a human timescale, meaning that they will eventually run out. On the other hand, renewable energy can be regenerated on a human timescale. Solar power, wind, and hydropower are all replenished by the Earth itself. We should be trying our best to preserve the nonrenewable energy sources while using renewable sources for energy.

Using nonrenewable energy sources also leads to an increase in public health problems. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants is linked with breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, cancer, premature death, and a host of other serious problems.” By using renewable and eco friendly energy sources, we can combat this issue, as well as the pollution caused by coal and oil factories.

Some causes for using renewable energy would be to help combat the environmental issues listed above. Right now there is a current global demand to use renewable energy over non-renewable energy. We must act now to try and reduce the harmful environmental effects produced from nonrenewable energy sources. Some other causes to switch to renewable energy sources are that nonrenewable energy sources have the following harmful effects: air and water pollution, public health damage, habitat loss, harmful emissions, etc...

Renewable energy sources produce many positive effects. The most important being, a cleaner way to produce energy, that is sustainable for our environment. For example, renewable sources produce less pollution to our Earth than non-renewable energy. Some other effects of using renewable energy are stable energy prices, an increased number of jobs, economic benefits, reliability, and resilience (Union of Concerned Scientists).

One of the most popular renewable energy sources would be solar energy. Solar power is a way to derive clean, environmentally- friendly, energy from the sun. Solar power use is increasing at a rapid rate. According to Environment Connecticut, “Hundreds of thousands of Americans have invested in solar energy and millions more are ready to join them.” Solar power is created through the following process: First, sunlight hits a solar panel, then it is converted from a DC current to an AC current, which can then be used to power a house, building, or school.

Another form of renewable energy would be using hydroelectricity. Hydropower is derived from the energy of fast, moving water (kinetic energy), which is then harnessed for whatever means necessary. Hydropower is renewed by the water cycle, and is not a finite resource. Hydropower is also increasing in usage as over 20 percent of the world’s electricity is produced by hydropower (Statistic Brain).

A final solution over usage of non-renewable energy sources would be wind power. Wind power is harnessed through a windmill or turbine that is mechanically powered, to create electrical power. Wind power is plentiful, consumes no water, requires little land, and most importantly- is a clean energy source (National Geographic). While setting up a wind turbine itself can be expensive, the benefits outway the costs.

To help fight this environmental issue, (overly depending on non-renewable energy sources that pose strains, such as climate change), we plan on starting small. As a community, we will try and petition to make most of the energy sources that we use at Miss Porter’s come from renewable sources. My group will focus on using solar panels, such as the ones on the Pool and Squash Building, as our primary energy source. We will make posters and announcements about using renewable energy throughout our school, as well as the town of Farmington. Eventually, we plan on creating a signed petition that we will submit to Connecticut Legislation, to help our state as a whole increase the usage of alternative energy sources.

By raising awareness for renewable energy sources, we face the environmental issue head on. Through small steps, my group will try and decrease the dependence on nonrenewable resources. We will try and combat the harmful effects of using nonrenewable sources, by starting at the school level, to the town level, and finally, statewide. It will not be an easy task, or a guaranteed answer, but my group will try our best to educate others on picking renewable sources over non renewable energy sources.