The consequences of polluting energy
By now, everyone is familiar with the terms ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’. Because the earth is warming up and the climate is changing, people want to switch as much as possible to green, sustainable energy. This form of energy is less harmful to the environment. Moreover, sustainable energy is generated from energy sources that are unlimited. In contrast, there is grey energy, which is generated from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels can run out and will probably do so in the relatively short term.
01What are fossil fuels?
Fossil fuels are carbon compounds that have formed in the earth over thousands to millions of years under very high pressure and temperature. The carbon compounds are remains of dead animals and plants that have slowly ended up in the ground. Examples of fossil fuels are crude oil, natural gas or coal. These three fossil fuels are relatively easy to extract and have therefore been used for hundreds of years.
A major disadvantage of fossil fuels is that they are very polluting. When natural gas, crude oil or coal is burned, greenhouse gases are released, of which CO2 is the most important. These greenhouse gases cause the earth to warm up. In the past, burning these fossil fuels was hardly harmful, because nature could absorb the released CO2 again. That has been different since industrialisation. So much energy is now being used that the earth can no longer cope with it.
Greenhouse gases
When burned, fossil fuels form greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases settle in the atmosphere, which is very harmful. Sunlight can still reach the earth, but can no longer leave the earth as well as before. The greenhouse gases partly reflect the sunlight. This gives you the well-known greenhouse effect: slowly but surely the earth warms up. Even a small warming of the earth can potentially already have major effects on the climate and the environment.
The effects of a warmed-up earth
Throughout the earth's history there have always been fluctuations in the earth's temperature. There have been ice ages, but also periods of above-average warmth. Animal and plant species die out as a result, but also come into being. In principle, this is therefore completely natural. With the current warming of the earth, things are different. Due to the burning of fossil fuels, the earth is warming up many times faster than is the case with a normal fluctuation. As a result, the ice at the poles is melting at a rapid pace and sea levels are rising, which can be very dangerous for the Netherlands, among others. Weather conditions are also becoming more extreme: winters are becoming more extreme in certain areas, summers are becoming warmer. Storms can also become increasingly severe.
02Sustainable energy
For this reason, it is of great importance that people start living sustainably as quickly as possible. The EU and UN have set various targets for this. Sustainable energy is not polluting when generated. Examples of this are wind energy, solar energy and geothermal heat. Energy must also be used more economically. In this way, less is wasted and the climate is therefore burdened less heavily.
The consequences of polluting energy → EnergieAanbieding.nl
Overview of all the consequences of grey energy. Understand the importance of green energy.
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