Or the heated water may be pumped directly to buildings through pipes. Solar power is energy captured from the sun, which is used either in a passive or an active energy system. The passive form of solar heating involves heating buildings through proper placement in sunny places and the use of water drums. The active form of solar power generation is when panels of photovoltaic cells or configurations of mirrors around a central collector create actual electric power. Biomass energy entails the use of degrading bio-materials, which give off energy as they ferment or are burned.
Wind power draws energy from the naturally occurring breezes of the earth.
Wind power stations may be placed in virtually all terrains and are highly versatile. Small wind power plants could some day help to reduce the need for massive fossil fuel burning facilities. Waterpower or hydropower implements the force of running water to run electric generators. A most notable instance of Hydropower is that of Niagara falls just a few hours northwest of Colgate. The Niagara facilities combined produce some 4.4 megawatts of electricity.