Sustainable energy

"My passion isn’t for hydro, it’s for people taking control of their own futures." Ann Harding, Settle Hydro Living with rats, March 18 2010 Inspiring Quotes 19 
=== Definition of sustainable energy ===
Sustainable energy is defined as energy which, in its production or consumption, has minimal negative impacts on human health and the healthy functioning of vital ecological systems, including the global environment, and that can be supplied continuously to future generations on earth. Such forms of energy include, but are not limited to the following: solar thermal, solar photo-voltaic (PV), wind, hybrid wind-solar, fuel cell, geothermal, small-scale (mini- and pico-) hydro-electric, tidal and wave. This definition specifically excludes nuclear and fossil fuel energy or their “improvements” as an option thereof. Nuclear power is sometimes presented as a sustainable, clean energy source. However, “(a)s long as the limited supply of rich uranium ores hold out, the nuclear energy fuel chain does indeed, after about 7 years of operation, produce less than a gas-burning plant. But when the uranium content of ores gets below around 0.05%, it becomes doubtful if nuclear power will lead to the production of any less than just burning fossil fuel directly.” (IVEM Centre for Energy & Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, Netherlands, April 2001).
Further, “at all stages of nuclear power generation, nuclear energy produces substantial amounts of waste and environmental pollution (from uranium mining tailings through to spent nuclear fuel, plutonium, and other highly radioactive wastes). [Although the nuclear reactor of a nuclear power station does not, in itself, produce any ,] the nuclear fuel chain is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions; it causes radioactive contamination of the air, water and land…and encourages the proliferation of nuclear weapons…” (Pacific News Bulletin, January 2001.)
=== Action Ideas ===
*microgeneration
* Community energy projects
* Energy awareness weeks
* Fuel poverty Projects
* Energy Credit Unions
* Community owned energy sources
* sustainable hydropower
*community solar gardens
Why it matters
Sustainable energy is about renewable, clean or green energy, and energy efficiency or saving energy. (longer article needed)
It doesn´t include nufo (nuclear or fossil fuel) energies.
=== Random facts ===
*In developing countries, more than 1 billion people have no access to reliable electricity and more than 2.5 billion people rely on polluting and inefficient biomass and coal use for cooking and heating. Source: wwf.org.uk
*Project of the Day: Community Power drives the Energy Internet blog.p2pfoundation.net, 8th March 2012
*Solar HOPE, Bringing Renewable energy Solutions to the Developing World
*International Sustainable Energy Organization 
References
*Scientific American, Energy versus water: solving both crises together, October 2008
category:articles with random facts
Category:LS Ideas Bank
Category:Environmental wellbeing
category:energy
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