One+other1

Sustainable energy is the provision of [|energy] such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their energy needs. The transition from unsustainable energy production to sustainable production may be the single most important issue facing modern society. Due to technological advances, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, we are now able to grow much more food then before the industrial revolution, when the two main sources of energy were the sun and man power. The use of fossil fuels has increased energy inputs eighty fold causing our food output per hectare to quadruple. This boom in agriculture has caused the human population to grow exponentially. We, however, are reliant on energy for more than just mass production of agriculture. It drives nearly all of our transportation, supplies us with heat, provides electricity and much more.

The combination of a huge population (currently 6.8 billion people) and our relentless demand for fossil fuels has depleted Earth’s supply of oil. **This brings us to the very real and imminent concern: what will we replace fossil fuel with once we have used all of Earths supply?**


 * Pseudo- sustainability:**

Natural gas is a substitute for oil because it is a good fuel for heating and transportation. The problem is, at current use it is not sustainable—natural gas is associated with fossil fuel. Stocks are already depleted in countries where consumption is high. Gas is also a difficult substance to transport and store, especially considering its flammability. Natural gas is not Sustainable and should not be included in this category.

Another form of natural gas is landfill gas, sometimes referred to as natural biogas. Landfill (LFG) gas is a substance that is usually burned into the atmosphere as flare. It is one of the costs we pay to have the luxury of a landfill. This gas can be captured and used in the same ways as natural gas, and is considered ‘renewable’ because it is a by-product of our many dump sites. Until humans discover an alternate, less harmful avenue for the disposal of our garbage, landfill gas will be available to us. Unfortunately, this source of fuel is considered ‘dirty gas’; burning LFG to produce energy creates more pollution than burning natural gas. Then again, it is being flared into the atmosphere regardless if it gets exploited by humans first. LFG should not be in the green or sustainable energy category due to its high toxicity; although it may become a source of energy for us in the future for lack of alternative disposal.

Ethanol produced from corn and other organic wastes is another sustainable energy resource. It is considered to be an alternative to gasoline for transportation. Ethanol is a sustainable energy source, as we will always be able to grow and harvest corn and other organic matter in a short period of time, but there are drawbacks to it as well. Ethanol has a low EROI, although scientists are hopeful that with new technologies, the EROI will go up. The large amount of farmland that will be overtaken by the production of corn and other organic matter will be detrimental to our food supply and would likely raise food prices.



Wind Power
 * Sustainable Energy:**

AS of 2008, [|wind power]contributed 1.5% of worldwide electricity usage. Wind turbines are big fans that spin with the wind and store energy at the base. It does not emit pollution. Some of the reasons wind power is not more widely used are the strength of the wind varies greatly place to place (very specialized areas) and the sheer number of turbines that would be required to produce large quantities of energy would cover landscapes. The market for wind energy is likely to grow, regardless, and will become a larger contributor to our energy needs.

Solar Power [|Solar energy] is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since the beginning of our time on Earth. It was not until the industrial revolution that people moved from energy from the sun to alternate forms of energy, after all, fossil fuel is sunlight that was captured millennia ago. It is the most natural form of energy available to us. On a daily basis the solar energy that reaches Earth bestows the planet with several thousand times more radiation than all of human kind consumes. This makes solar energy a possibility that may be able to solve our energy problems forever. Now all we need to do is build on existing technology to be able to capture some of that solar radiation.

The key is to find an Energy source that is sustainable and does not generate more pollution for Earth's waste sinks and environment. The very definition of sustainable energy states: **Sustainable energy** **is the provision of energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.** If the alternate source(s) of fuel we implwment cause environmental degredation, we will not leave a planet capable to meet the needs of future generations.