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What are solar panels and what do they do?

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What are solar panels and what do they do?

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-What are solar panels? Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. They are called solar panels because most of the time, the most powerful source of light available is the Sun, called Sol by astronomers. Some scientists call them photovoltaics which basically means, "light electricity".

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Phantom power, also called standby power, refers to the energy that's wasted around your home when devices are plugged in and using power, but you're not actively using them. ... That's a lot of energy. In fact, all that phantom power can add up to 10 per cent of a home's energy costs.

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Short circuiting is when an electric current flows down the wrong or unintended path with little to no electrical resistance. It can cause serious damage, fire, and even small-scale explosions. In fact, short circuits are one of the leading causes of structural fires around the world.
How does a short circuit cause a fire?
Short circuits occur during overloading or when two bare wires touch. A circuit is said to be overloaded when too much current flows causing heat build up or wiring to break down. This can lead to sparks and fire.

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Benjamin Franklin conducted early experiments with lightning and electricity. In 1800, Italian physicist Alessandro Voltra invented the first electric battery and discovered the role of positive and negative connectors and voltage. Michael Faraday, an English scientist, invented the electric dynamo, the first power generator in 1831. Thomas Edison followed in 1879 with the first lightbulb.
What is phantom power?

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What is Renewable and non-renewable energy?

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What is Renewable and non-renewable energy?

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Renewable energy
Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy, comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

Non- renewable energy
A non-renewable resource is a natural resource that cannot be readily replaced by natural means at a quick enough pace to keep up with consumption. An example is carbon-based fossil fuel. The original organic matter, with the aid of heat and pressure, becomes a fuel such as oil or gas.

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- What is a Dam? A dam is a road block that stops the flow of water, because the water is used to turn a turbine which generates electricity.

- When a dam breaks the residents of the area would have to evacuate their homes due to flooding. Because their will be about 9 feet of water.

How much would be the damage cost after a Dam breaks?

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Source: YouTube

By Lizzy Rosenberg

May. 20 2020, Published 3:16 p.m. ET

Midland County, Mich declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday, May 19, after the Edenville Dam and Sanford dams burst, according to AccuWeather. Thousands of residents were forced to to evacuate their homes, as the downtown area could reportedly be submerged under nine feet of water. Flash flood warnings are also in effect for Midland City and Freeland, Mich.

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"Anyone near the river should seek higher ground immediately, avoid driving into flood waters, and continue to heed evacuation orders given by local authorities," according to the National Weather Service. "Life-threatening flooding continues today."

As residents are seeking refuge, here's what we can expect for the central Michigan community, based on what generally happens when a dam breaks.

Source: iStock

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How did the Midland County dam break?

There are four reasons why dams generally fail - per University of Calgary's Energy Education, dams can experience overtopping, which is a design issue that causes a reservoir to fill far too high with water, especially during heavy rainfall. There's also the possibility of foundation defects, which are infrastructural problems with the dam's slopes, which can be unstable and break. Piping and seepage failure, which is caused by erosion, is also a possibility, as is conduit and valve failure.

Apparently, natural disasters can also cause dams to break, such as earthquakes, landslides, extreme storms, or heavy snow-melt. Manmade mistakes can also take a toll on the structure of a dam, including equipment malfunction, structural damage, and vandalization.

According to CBS News, the Tittabawassee River was at an unusually high 30.5 feet on Tuesday, May 19, and it was continuing to rise - by the following morning, the river had risen to 34.4 feet in Midland, and as the flood stage is 24 feet, the governor announced a state of emergency, warning residents of imminent flooding. Since Michigan has been experiencing record amounts of rain, it seems as though the dam may have burst due to overtopping and the unusually heavy amounts of rain.

Source: iStock

What happens to the residents of a city when a dam breaks?

Midland County's conditions are also unique - according to Bloomberg, the central Michigan area is home to several factories where pesticides and styrofoam products are made, which means there may be toxic chemicals in the water. Once the chemicals and water is properly cleaned, residents will be able to return to their homes.

Source: iStock

Is there any way to help out Midland County?

Additionally, the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network is currently accepting monetary donations online or by mail. And if you shop at Kroger's, you can designate the Midland County Emergency Food Pantry network on your Kroger Card, to donate to EFPN when you shop, for no extra cost.

Source: iStock

The disaster in Midland County has been truly unthinkable, especially during these trying times. We're keeping the residents of the monumental Michigan metropolis in our hearts.

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Midland County, Michigan's Dam Broke - Here's What That Means For the Community

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By Lizzy Rosenberg May. 20 2020, Published 3:16 p.m. ET Midland County, Mich declared a State of Emergency on Tuesday, May 19, after the Edenville Dam and Sanford dams burst, according to AccuWeather. Thousands of residents were forced to to evacuate their homes, as the downtown area could reportedly be submerged under nine feet of water.

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What would happen if everyone had an electric car?

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What would happen if everyone had an electric car?

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If everyone drove an electric car it would definitely reduce the amount of fossil fuels burned. Cars create carbon emissions in a number of ways. From extracting the oil, to transporting it and then driving your car. The reduction of greenhouse emissions would be significant. However, all electric car batteries are powered with lithium ion which is very harmful to the environment. Mining for lithium to support everyone's cars is just as bad as fracking is environmentally. Lithium mining harms the soil and causes air contamination, and water pollution. Lithium is a limited resource and if everybody drove electric cars, the carbon footprint of lithium mining would be significant. Additionally, the cost of lithium might become a problem where it prevents people in developing nations afford electric cars. The lesson here is that alternatives are not always clean and affordable as environmentalists might tell you.

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The spiralling environmental cost of our lithium battery addiction

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As the world scrambles to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, the environmental impact of finding all the lithium required could become a major issue in its own right

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what would happen if everyone had an electric car? 

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what would happen if everyone had an electric car? 

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Technically, we found that the switch to electric cars would save 14% from the total carbon emissions. However it would also cause an increase in carbon emissions from electricity power stations equivalent to about 2% of total national emissions (assuming current mix of fossil and renewable energy sources).

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The COVID-19 lockdown has led to reduced pollution and emissions in the UK and around the world, providing a clear indication of how cars affect air quality and carbon emissions. But such a change is only temporary - millions of petrol cars are waiting for restrictions to ease. Then, higher levels of emissions will resume.

But what if they didn't? What if all cars switched to electric overnight? We recently published a peer-reviewed conference paper looking at the emissions impact for such a switch in Scotland alone, and have now extended our analysis to the whole of the UK for a forthcoming publication. We found that if the UK's cars went entirely electric its total carbon emissions would be cut by almost 12%.

It's a hypothetical scenario, but not total fantasy. The UK government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035 and aims to bring all greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050. We are still some way off: though there were 39 million vehicles on UK roads last year, just 27,000 new electric vehicles were registered. But the switch will happen, eventually.

Electric cars are not even a particularly new technology - at the end of 19th century, 90% of the taxis in New York were electric. But Henry Ford and others soon figured out how to mass produce internal combustion engine cars at affordable costs, and changed our sense of "normal" car technology.

This is a shame for many reasons, not least because electric cars are much simpler in design: they simply consist of electric motors, a battery and a controller. This removes the complexity of moving mechanical parts in the internal combustion engine and associated technology, and the manufacturing energy needed to produce each part. Hence, the carbon footprint of manufacturing both cars are not significantly different, although electric cars require slightly more carbon to produce due to the battery.

How we got the 12% figure

But the biggest difference in carbon footprint between petrol and electric cars comes from driving itself.

To reach the 12% figure we first gathered data on the distance an average car covers in the UK each year, the combination of car models and technologies (diesel, petrol and electric) with their respective market share and carbon emission per mileage. This gave us the current scenario. We then compared this to the situation if all cars were to become electric, and emissions per mile reduced. We considered all the fully-electric cars currently used in the UK (including the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Jaguar iPace, and more) and assumed the same market segment for each model.

But what of all the extra electricity needed to power those cars, wouldn't that add some extra emissions? Technically, we found that the switch to electric cars would save 14% from the total carbon emissions. However it would also cause an increase in carbon emissions from electricity power stations equivalent to about 2% of total national emissions (assuming current mix of fossil and renewable energy sources).

Adding the reduction in driving emissions, and subtracting the extra electricity generation emissions means that, in all, the UK would emit 42 million tonnes less of CO₂ into the atmosphere each year - a 12% reduction on the 351.5 million tonnes emitted in total last year.

Petrol also has to be drilled and shipped to the UK from around the world, unlike wind and sun (for electricity) or even natural gas (again for electricity) which is easier to transport. Therefore we would see further savings if we took into account the expected reduction of carbon emissions from the fuel supply chain, but quantifying this value is difficult as so much of it happens outside the UK. Recycling electric car batteries would also save carbon, but again this is difficult to quantify as the technology of batteries and recycling is improving all the time. But even without these factors, our findings are encouraging and show just how much impact the switch to electric cars could have.

The real environmental benefits would go beyond just reducing emissions. Electric cars would also reduce air pollution, particularly in busy cities, supporting healthier living. By increasing the demand for electricity, they could also promote the development of renewable energy, while cars could even be used as a sort-of "collective battery" to provide a buffer and balance electricity supply and demand.

There is always a catch: for now, electric cars still need significant time to be charged, and need significant energy to heat the car in cold weather. But we think our new research adds to the evidence that, overall, the benefits significantly outweigh the costs.

George Milev is a PhD Researcher at Nottingham Trent University. Amin Al-Habaibeh is Professor of Intelligent Engineering Systems at Nottingham Trent University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Image: Reuters

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What Would Happen If All Cars Were Electric?

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The COVID-19 lockdown has led to reduced pollution and emissions in the UK and around the world, providing a clear indication of how cars affect air quality and carbon emissions. But such a change is only temporary - millions of petrol cars are waiting for restrictions to ease.

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Generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution. Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels. Creating economic development and jobs in manufacturing, installation, and more.

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?  

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?  

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I think that phantom power  would cost somewhere between like $20-$40 because there is 200+ watts and that would cost in that place around that cost from $20-$40. so taking the amount that its $20-$40 a month if you do the math that around $360 a year on the bill so if you do the math and times $360 and the population of the world it would cost around the amount of over a trillion dollars to have a worldwide cost for phantom power.

what is the cheapest renewable energy for the world to have?

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You've heard that unplugging certain electrical devices when they're not being used helps to save on energy. Because even though these devices may not be turned on, they can still draw phantom power loads in their standby modes. These phantom loads not only waste energy but can end up costing you money in the long run. To eliminate phantom loads, plug all alike peripherals for a particular electrical device into a power strip and turn off the power strip when not in use. For example, plug all TV components like the TV, audio system, DVD player, cable box and gaming systems onto one power strip and turn off when done using.

Cost of Phantom Loads

Unfortunately, there's no definitive way to know how much money you're wasting on phantom loads unless you measure your power consumption with all devices disconnected vs. all devices in standby mode. However, assuming an average electrical cost of 12.5 cents per kWh, you can get a rough idea of how much money you're wasting per year on phantom loads. These phantom loads may not individually seem like you're wasting a lot of money and energy, but they add up. Just imagine what you could do with that money you'd save on electricity you're not even using!

Average Phantom Loads Per Year

2 Laptops, 2 Laptop Chargers, and 1 Cable Modem = $36.14 - OR - Two Adult and Two Kid's Evening Movie Tickets
Sometimes, a family movie night out is a luxury. With the cost of tickets and snacks, movies can put a pretty hefty dent in your wallet. But the cost of tickets alone for a family of 4 can be covered by what you're spending each year on phantom draws from one cable modem and two laptops with their chargers.

1 Game Console, 1 Desktop Computer & Monitor, 1 Inkjet Printer, 1 Cable Modem = $20.04 - OR - Kill A Watt Energy Usage Monitor
With what you'd save by unplugging your desktop computer, printer, modem, and game console, you'd have enough money in one year to buy a Kill A Watt energy monitor. That way, you can find other electrical devices that draw lots of energy throughout your house so you know what items can help you save even more money.

1 Coffee Maker, 1 Microwave = $4.60 - OR - Leaving one 9W LED light bulb to burn constantly for one year
Imagine leaving one LED light bulb burning 24/7 for one full year. Crazy, isn't it? Well, just think that the energy you'd use doing that is the same amount of phantom energy that's being drawn from your coffee maker and microwave every year.

1 LCD TV, 2 Tube TVs, 1 DVR, 3 cable boxes, 1 Cable Modem, 1 Audio System = $90.89 - OR - 9 Months of Netflix
The average household has 3 TVs with cable and 1 DVR. Assuming at least one of the TVs is the more energy-efficient LCD variety, you are spending nearly $100 a year just for the convenience of not flipping a switch on your TV system at night. That is equivalent to ¾ of a year of a Netflix subscription.

4 Surge Protectors = $12.63 - OR - The average cost of running a coffee maker for a full year
Even though surge protectors are highly recommended to avoid large and potentially dangerous power draws in the event of a power surge, their phantom loads can be costly. Unplug those power surge protector strips if you really want to save even more money throughout the year.

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How Much Are Phantom Loads REALLY Costing You? - NOPEC Blog

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You've heard that unplugging certain electrical devices when they're not being used helps to save on energy. Because even though these devices may not be turned on, they can still draw phantom power loads in their standby modes. These phantom loads not only waste energy but can end up costing you money in the long run.

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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I believe that we will be able to adapt to renewable society without harming the economy long term. I believe that we could adapt without harming it because I think the economy could recover as long as its over time if it wasn't over time and all at once I think we would have a harder time but over all I think we could adapt without harming the economy.
what affect will renewable energy have?

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Which Renewable energy is the cheapest to maintain and utilize?

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Which Renewable energy is the cheapest to maintain and utilize?

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- What is Renewable energy source? A renewable energy source is natural processes that recharge all the time.

- The cheapest  Renewable energy is Solar and Wind. Because In 2017 IRENA  cost for wind turbine prices had an average cost of $0.06 Per kWh.

What would happen if a Dam breaks?

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 The problem with the Industrial Revolution

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 The problem with the Industrial Revolution

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The industrial revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. It has greatly increased the life expectancy of those of us who live in advanced countries, but has destabilized society, and has made life unfulfilling, and has subjected human beings to indignities.

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without there being long term effects on the economy?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without there being long term effects on the economy?

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Renewable energy brings innovation and can bring government revenue if more people support renewable ideas and create the most efficient renewable energy solutions. Canada's economy would be hurt in the short term because we rely on fossil fuels (Alberta Oil and gas industry). However, if we can innovate and create alternative energy technology, we can replace that lost revenue. Also, the costs of cleaning up the environmental damage from fossil fuels will be less and in the long-term the economic impact will be positive.

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Windfarm along the South Shore of the St'Lawrenced River near Cap-Chat Quebec (DICK LOEK, TORONTO ... [+]
Toronto Star via Getty Images

The outbreak of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures to slow down the spread of the pandemic have had a significant impact on the Canadian economy. In April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its latest economic update that predicted Canada would face the largest economic recession since the great depression. The Canadian economy is expected to slow down by 6.2% in 2020-worse than the United States, which is projected to see a 5.8% reduction in economic growth. Meanwhile, the IMF also expects the global economy to fall into a recession, with growth declining by 3% this year. The fallout from the Covid-19 crisis has also negatively impacted Canada's financial health and employment figures. The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) estimates that the 2020-21 federal deficit will increase to C$252.1 billion, or 12.7% of GDP. Compared with previous federal deficits, the Covid-19 downturn is expected to result in the largest budgetary deficit on record. In May, Statistics Canada reported that the economy lost nearly two million jobs in April, and the unemployment rate soared to 13% compared with 7.8% in March. The government has attempted to support the economy by providing financial assistance to businesses and workers affected by the crisis as a way to help the economy recover quickly and enable critical sectors to resume their normal operations. But, leading experts have warned that the pre-pandemic economy may not return and that future growth would require structural economic changes.

For Canada, these structural economic changes will have significant implications because the oil and gas sector plays a vital role in the national economy and accounts for 5.6% of nominal GDP. However, given oil's future outlook and negative externalities associated with consuming fossil fuels, the Canadian government needs to structurally steer the economy away from its carbon-intensive energy sector and take the opportunity to push for a green recovery from Covid-19's economic crisis. Even during the economic downturn, we see the resilience of the clean energy sector compared with other energy sources. The International Energy Agency (IEA)'s World Energy Investment 2020 report highlighted that renewables would be the only energy source likely to experience demand growth for the rest of 2020. Alongside this, in the United States, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects renewables to surpass coal's share of power generation for the first time this year.

In May, the European Union announced a robust green recovery package as a central component to its growth strategy that leverages private sector investments to scale development and create jobs in clean energy. Canada needs to follow suit and introduce similar measures because the clean energy sector's contribution to GDP is expected to grow to 3.4% per year over the next decade-nearly four times faster than the national average. To capitalise on the growth opportunities and limit the exposure to the volatility in the energy industry, the government needs to align on the following three policies to generate funds, accelerate investment and develop a globally competitive workforce in the clean energy sector. By doing so, the government would not only create highly skilled jobs but also fast-track the transition toward a low-carbon economy.
1) Increase carbon pricing to build funds for clean energy solutions
As mentioned above, the Covid-19 crisis has a significant impact on Canada's financial health. We know the federal deficit will be the highest on record, but even at the provincial level, every province will see a material deterioration in its fiscal position with combined deficits surging more than six-fold this year to almost C$63 billion. For provinces that depend on oil royalties, namely, Newfoundland and Labrador as well as Alberta and Saskatchewan, RBC Research projects a decrease of at least 40% due to the plunge in oil prices. At the municipal level, cities are also facing significant financial constraints as their primary revenue stream from property taxes and service fees have dried up. As the Canadian economy slowly looks to restart operations, leading experts have mentioned that the current situation is tailor-made for investment in climate-friendly infrastructure and solutions that boost growth and create new jobs. To finance these investments in the present scenario, the government should increase the national minimum carbon price from C$20 (US$14) to US$40-80/ton this year and US$50-100/ton by 2030, as per the recommendations from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Summary map of national carbon pricing systems in force.
HiGeorge Library/World Bank

The proceeds would not only generate much-needed revenue for the deficit-heavy government but also create an efficient way for consumers and firms to cut their emissions and support growth in the economy. Canada's key trading partners have already started to leverage carbon-pricing schemes. Europe's new green deal plans to expand its carbon-pricing system, and South Korea is looking to put a price on carbon as well. The upcoming election in the United States could also lead the way for the adaptation of a carbon-pricing system in the region, as Joe Biden, the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, has backed a price on carbon, either through a tax or a cap-and-trade program. Given the trend toward eco-friendly solutions and green policies recommended by leading economists to boost economic growth and stop climate change, Canada needs to increase its carbon price to support investments in clean energy.
2) Accelerate investment in clean energy solutions to create jobs
In a recent article, The Economist highlighted that to drive structural changes, carbon pricing is only part of the solution; it needs to be backed up with complementary policies at all levels of government. In Canada, the oil and gas sector accounts for 26% of total emissions and receives C$2.8 billion per year in federal and provincial subsidies. The IEA has suggested that the recent drop in oil prices creates a great opportunity to lower or remove subsidies for fossil fuel consumption. Both the federal and provincial governments should take up this suggestion and fast-track the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel consumption subsidies in the country. The money saved from these subsidies would be better used, along with the revenue from carbon pricing, to scale up production and infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs), increase electricity supplied by renewables and implement robust energy efficiency measures. The government's support for these initiatives would also help create long-term jobs and attract additional capital from the private sector for investment in clean energy.

Research and study have backed up the strong potential for growth opportunities in clean energy. In April, the Pembina Institute and the International Council on Clean Transportation found that Canada, with its established history of automaking, is well-positioned to lead in EV production and create jobs. The report does, however, recommend that the government should provide policy support in helping fuel both the supply and demand of EVs in the country. The report further suggested more support for EV manufacturing and attracting investments to build up supply chain networks and charging infrastructure. In addition, the government should look into the implementation of a national zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate and subsidy program to further grow the industry. Based on a study from Navius Research, a national ZEV policy could help the ZEV economy reach C$152 billion GDP by 2040, up from C$43 billion under the current system. The study also found that ZEV-related jobs could reach 1.1 million by 2040, up from 342,000 when compared with the current policy.

Similarly, the potential for job growth in the electricity sector from renewable energy is also promising, according to Robert Hornung, the founding president & CEO of the new Canadian Renewable Energy Association. In a recent interview, he mentioned that both wind and solar are significant job creators, and investment in the sector can create a lot of jobs in Canada. Mr Hornung went on to add that Canada is also well positioned to make the transition to a 100% renewable electricity grid. However, he highlighted that policy intervention will be needed from both the federal and provincial governments to restructure electricity markets and allow renewable technologies to compete on a fair basis with existing energy sources. On energy efficiency, the IEA recently highlighted the job creation potential of implementing more robust energy efficiency measures in the buildings sector as a way to boost employment in key labour-intensive industries. Their analysis found that 60% of expenditure on home energy efficiency retrofits goes toward labour which helps deliver strong employment growth and generate significant economic benefits. In Canada, the impact of energy efficiency is also projected to have a substantial impact on Canada's GDP and employment levels. Back in 2018, a joint study by Efficiency Canada and Clean Energy Canada found that by adopting measures laid out in the Pan-Canadian Framework, the energy efficiency sector would create 118,000 annual jobs and boost the GDP by 1% between 2017 and 2030.
3) Build a globally competitive workforce for the clean energy industry
In 2019, Clean Energy Canada published a report that projected strong growth and jobs for the industry over the next ten years. The report stated that clean energy jobs are expected to grow from 398,000 in 2020 to 559,400 in 2030. The jobs growth will create valuable, highly skilled and knowledge-based employment opportunities across the country. A large portion of these clean energy jobs will require skills upgrading and training. For this reason, the government will need to collaborate with the private sector to facilitate the upgrading of skills and transitioning of workers from existing sectors to clean energy jobs. This process will likely involve developing a holistic reskilling and learning program by partnering with education and training institutions. The OECD has also mentioned that training programs will play an essential part in filling gaps between workers' existing competencies and the skill requirements of newly created jobs in emerging sectors. By building out these training programs over the next ten years, the Canadian government will be able to facilitate the expansion of the clean energy sector and ensure that a lack of skilled workers does not become a drag on the economy. In the medium and long run, the development of a highly-skilled clean energy workforce will further boost Canada's economy by enabling products and services to be sold in global markets. Canada has a well-established trading relationship with some of the largest economies in the world, such as the United States and the European Union. As these partner countries also transition to a low-carbon economy, Canada needs to position itself as a leading centre for clean energy so that the industry will not only develop value-added products but also take a higher market share of this sector in the global economy. Therefore, the government needs to look at this economic crisis as an opportunity to scale the clean energy industry and drive a sustainable economic recovery in Canada.

... Read More

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Canada's Clean Energy Sector Can Help Drive Economic Recovery From COVID-19

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The outbreak of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures to slow down the spread of the pandemic have had a significant impact on the Canadian economy. In April, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its latest economic update that predicted Canada would face the largest economic recession since the great depression.

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When do you think the Fourth Industrial revolution will happen?

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When do you think the Fourth Industrial revolution will happen?

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- What is a Industrial Revolution? A Industrial Revolution is when there is a transition in the economy to one in control of the industry.

-   According to this website, We know that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is mostly driven by high-speed mobile Internet, AI and automation, the use of big data analytics, and cloud technology.

What would happen if there is no Forth Industrial Revolution?

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How Will the Fourth Industrial Revolution Impact the Future of Work? - Change Recruitment

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Discover how AI and automation will impact the future of work in our latest blog post. Learn about the Fourth Industrial Revolution at Change Recruitment.

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How long might it take to fully transition to renewable energy sources worldwide?

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How long might it take to fully transition to renewable energy sources worldwide?

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- What is Renewable energy source? A renewable energy source is natural processes that recharge all the time.

- According to World Economic Forum, It would only take 30 years to power the whole world with Renewable energy.

- Renewable energy sources like, wind and hydro power, will also reduce energy use and lower cost for energy.

What would happen if everyone had an electric Car?

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Renewable energy could power the world by 2050. Here's what that future might look like

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With global CO2 emissions continuing to increase researchers are seeking ways to replace oil, coal and gas with sustainable alternatives. Stanford University collected research from around the world to show what a sustainable future might look like.

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Which renewable energy is the cheapest to maintain and utilize?

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Which renewable energy is the cheapest to maintain and utilize?

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The IRENA reported that in 2017 they found that solar and onshore wind are the cheapest energy sources, reporting that in 2017 wind turbine prices had an average cost of $0.06 per kWh, and some of the schemes were $0.04 per kWh. Another advantage is that,  the most efficient forms are renewable energy: hydro-thermal, tidal, wind, and solar. Solar energy has been proven to be the most efficient and effective among renewable energy sources for home and commercial use But why is solar energy the most efficient and effective?
The more efficient the photovoltaic solar panel, the more energy output it will have per amount of light energy hitting the cell, which will in turn take up less surface area to meet your energy requirements. Solar energy never runs out because the sun provides more than enough energy to meet the whole world's energy needs, and unlike fossil fuels, it won't run out anytime soon. As a renewable energy source, the only limitation of solar power is our ability to turn it into electricity in an efficient and cost-effective way. A report suggests that renewable energy will be cheaper than fossil fuels by 2020. A new report predicts the cost of renewable energy will drop significantly by 2020, making it less expensive than fossil fuels. Last year, solar and wind power accounted for nearly 95% of new energy in the US.
How much will solar energy cost you?
On average, it costs around $13,142 to install a solar system. Solar panels increase property values while lowering utility bills. Compared to gas or electric heating systems, solar panels save you much more in the long-run. Your solar panel system can pay for itself in three years!

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How long might it take to fully transition to renewable energy sources worldwide?

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How long might it take to fully transition to renewable energy sources worldwide?

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Studies show that 80% to 85% of our energy demand is supplied from wind, water, and solar. In ten years so as early as 2030- The remaining 15% to 20% would take another 20 years if everything goes right and has consistent improvement.
How long will it take to replace fossil fuels? Some say it could happen relatively quickly. Andrew Blakers and Matthew Stocks from Australian National University believe the world is on track to reach 100% renewable energy by 2032. Their research shows solar and wind energy is growing fast enough to surpass coal by the mid-2020s.

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 Are there Economic impacts of a fully renewable society?

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 Are there Economic impacts of a fully renewable society?

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Non-renewable resources including oil and gas and its industries lead Canada's economy bringing 5% of the GDP revenue. Oil is much more profitable than renewable energy sources including solar and wind energy. Canada has great connections with the US and we are able to sell our natural resources & oil to them at a discount because it's in high demand.  Producing fossil fuels is much cheaper and economically safer with Canada's richness of natural resources.  Another risk of renewable sources is that they still rely on resources such as lithium, steel, and silicon which leave a carbon footprint as well as creating problems with supply. Creating renewable energy technology still requires non-renewables like lithium and silicons.

- What are solar panels and what do they do?

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?

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- What is Phantom Power? Well phantom power is when you leave a phone charger or a TV plugged in When you are not using it.

- According to this website, Phantom power is 5-10% percent of your annual electricity bill.

-Meaning if your annual  electricity bill is $1560, Phantom power would cost about $150.

When do you think the Fourth Industrial revolution will happen?

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Reduce standby power, reduce your electricity bill

Canadians love being connected: communicating via our smartphones, streaming online content on our TVs, controlling home temperature and lighting from our smartphones; the list goes on. And the range of available products increases every year. However, being connected means being "on" all the time and using electricity - even in standby mode. Did you know that standby power consumption can account for 5 to 10% of a household's electricity bill?

Although some devices need to be operational all the time, others can be powered down into a "sleep mode" without negative impacts on their functionality. Canadians can also reduce electricity usage by making more energy efficient purchasing decisions and modifying their behaviour.

Helpful tips

Make the simple choice: look for the ENERGY STAR® symbol
ENERGY STAR certified products are already more energy efficient than standard models and have lower standby power than comparable non-ENERGY STAR products. This is because consumption thresholds are built into the certification requirements. The list of ENERGY STAR certified products that have connected criteria is growing, including fridges, room air conditioners, LED light bulbs and smart thermostats. This means that when you buy an ENERGY STAR certified product, you know it's tested and certified to use less energy in standby mode.

Purchase "smart" or connected devices wisely
As you replace older products and make new purchases, consider how often that product will be used. While it may make sense to install an ENERGY STAR certified connected LED bulb in your TV room where you relax every night, the same bulb may not be a wise choice in your bedroom or guest room where the light is rarely on. Remember that connected products always use energy, even on standby mode. While you may think you're saving energy, your utility bills may increase if your new product, ENERGY STAR certified or otherwise, is "always on".

Unplug products when not in use
"Phantom (or standby) power" is the energy used by electronics when you're not using them. There are many ways to tackle phantom power at home and at work. Disconnect guest TVs from electricity outlets. Turn game consoles off when not in use. Plug your coffee maker into a power bar and switch it off when you're not preparing your next drink.

Give your energy bill a vacation
Unplug devices when you are away for an extended period of time. Why pay for extra watts when you're not at home or at the office for a week or longer?

Use an advanced power bar
Advanced power bars can help save electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Some power bars can be put on timers to cut the power at a set time. Other "smart" power bars have a "master" plug socket and "slave" plug sockets. Plug the TV into the master socket and plug all other devices used with the TV, such as DVD players and video game systems, into the slave sockets. When you turn off the TV, the smart power bar cuts power to the devices plugged into the slave sockets, automatically saving energy and reducing your electricity costs.

The challenge: we're using more and more electricity

Being "connected" through electronics 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is revolutionising our society. Although the energy efficiency of these products keeps improving, the sheer volume of electronic products used at home and at work across Canada has grown significantly over the last decade. This means we're using more and more electricity.

In the past, electrically powered devices were either "on" or "off". Now Canadians rely on a wider range of devices and want them to be "ready for action" at the blink of an eye.

Standby vs. network-enabled standby - what's the difference?

"Standby power" is the power used by an appliance or device when it's not in use but ready for action. It's also sometimes called "phantom power".

"Network-enabled standby" (also called "network-connected standby") is the energy used by a product when it remains connected to the internet while no primary function is being performed. Network standby is applicable to both network equipment (e.g. modems, routers and switches) and connected products ranging from light bulbs, home entertainment devices, room air conditioners, smart thermostats and household appliances. Televisions and computers are other classic examples.

Connected devices are rapidly expanding to include products that offer both wired and wireless network functionality. Our new "smart homes" include network connected security systems, smoke detectors, lighting, heating and ventilation systems, and appliances, just to list a few.

Being connected allows us to have more insight into our energy use as well as the power to control our home systems remotely. However, being "connected" does comes at an energy cost. Network-enabled devices can draw as much power in their standby mode as when fully activated.

The good news is that consumers can make better purchasing decisions and adjust the settings of their devices to reduce energy consumption. For starters, buying ENERGY STAR is always a safe bet. ENERGY STAR certified products with connected features minimize standby losses and offer convenience and energy-saving features, such as alerts indicating performance issues or feedback on the energy-efficiency of different cycle selections. These products are also "smart grid" ready, meaning they provide the option to connect directly to your local utility to save money on energy bills, where those services are offered, and also facilitate broader electric power system efficiency.

The ENERGY STAR name and symbol are trademarks registered in Canada by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and are administered and promoted by Natural Resources Canada.

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Canadians love being connected: communicating via our smartphones, streaming online content on our TVs, controlling home temperature and lighting from our smartphones; the list goes on. And the range of available products increases every year. However, being connected means being "on" all the time and using electricity - even in standby mode.

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?   

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?   

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- total phantom electricity  might take 200 to 300 watts (or even more), which could cost you upwards of $25 to $30 per month on your electric bill. Meaning, in a year you spend 300-360$ per year due to phantom power.
- According to Energy Saving Trust research, between 9-16% of the electricity consumed in homes is used to power appliances when they are in this standby mode.
-According to Cornell University and The Daily Green, phantom load can cost the average home $200 per year.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiP84aJtrrvAhUr2FkKHU1uBYsQtwIwAXoECAUQAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DVACJdcgUpmY&usg=AOvVaw3uWoQstG5BBkstIHeJ5nmY
Which renewable energy is the cheapest to maintain and utilize?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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I believe it is possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term as long as it is not rushed. It will not do a significant amount of damage if the transition were to be slow. The economy could easily recover if it is done over a period of time rather than doing it instantly in which case, the chances of the economy being damaged is high since lots of workers would be laid off at once and the initial cost to fully transition to renewable energy sources will be extremely high. But, when workers are laid off from the non-renewable energy field slowly, they have chances to find more job opportunities because job searches won’t be as crowded as they would be if every worker in the field was laid off at once which would harm the economy greatly.
How long might it take to fully transition to renewable energy sources worldwide?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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Is it possible to adapt to a renewable society without it being harmful to the economy long term?

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?   

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What do you think is the world wide cost for phantom power?   