Renewable Energy 101
Take Charge of Your Energy Future
Here you can quickly learn the basics, understand the issues, and become an informed citizen, business leader, and investor. Want to skip the lessons and take action now? You can BUY IT or BUILD IT or right now The New Renewable Energy Era
Do you feel like the entire energy landscape is changing? Where we get it, how much we pay, and where it is generated? Many claim we are entering a New Energy Era. . .and it sure feels like it. Currently though we seem to have one foot in two different ages. There have been three main Energy Eras and we are now entering a fourth: the Renewable Energy Era. |  |
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What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy refers to sources of energy that can be replenished in a short period of time. Some renewable sources are essentially infinite such as solar, wind and hydro power whereas others require cultivation and harvesting and are therefore less dependable overtime such as various sources of biomass and biofuels (Energy Information Agency).
The most common renewable energy sources in use today are biomass, hydro, geothermal, solar, and wind. A quick overview is below and for a nice visual click here: Bioenergy: fuel and electricity from the burning and processing of plant material and oils
Hydro: electricity from water
Geothermal: heating/cooling from the constant temperature of the Earth
Solar: heat, hot water, and electricity from the sun
Wind: electricity from the wind In total these sources provide about 8% of our energy needs (Energy Information Agency) with bioenergy and hydro leading the way. More info on renewable energy's role from EIA's Energy in Brief. . .
What is driving this change to renewable energy? Find out! |
Investor Resources*
Invest green and earn more green. Venture capital investments in the U.S. in energy technologies increased from from $599 million in 2000 to $2.7 billion in 2007. As a percent of total VC investments, energy tech increased from .6 percent in 2000 to 9.1 percent in 2007. Between 2006 and 2007, venture investments in the U.S. clean-energy sector increased by more than 70 percent (Source: Clean Edge, Inc.) Clean Edge
Clean Edge is a leading research and publishing firm helping companies, investors, and governments understand and profit from clean technologies. Our products and services include: (1) Market Research including our annual Clean-Energy Trends report, sponsored publications, and strategic consulting services and (2) NASDAQ® Clean Edge® U.S. Liquid Series Index – a benchmark index which tracks U.S.-listed clean-energy companies.
Dow Sustainability Index
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Based on the cooperation of Dow Jones Indexes, STOXX Limited and SAM they provide asset managers with reliable and objective benchmarks to manage sustainability portfolios.
New Energy Finance
A specialist provider of information and research to investors in renewable energy, low-carbon technology and the carbon markets.
New Energy Finance operates across all sectors of renewable energy and low-carbon technology, including, wind, solar, biofuels, biomass, and energy efficiency, as well as the carbon markets.
An estimated total of $148.4 billion was invested in clean energy technologies, companies and projects in 2007. New Energy Finance tracks and analyses this investment activity on a global basis, across all the key markets for clean energy.
Our clients include venture capitalists, private equity providers, asset managers, investment banks, project developers, corporates and advisors.
*These companies and organizations are provided only as resources for your learning and does not signify an endorsement by the Renewable Energy Center or Saint Francis University.
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Four Energy Eras Wood, Fire, Sun & Water
BC - 1200
| Animals & Agriculture
1200 - 1750
| Fossil Fuels
1750 - 2000
| Modern Renewable Energy (you are here)
2000 - |
Click here for the major issues and trends driving this change to modern renewable energy age.
(Learn more Renewable Energy History from researchers at Radford University (Virginia, USA) to get a better perspective on our current energy situation or the Energy Information Agency's excellent energy timelines.)
Three Types of Energy
People often talk about "energy" without understanding what type of energy, or energy service, they are referring to. So when you hear "renewable energy" it refers to three types of energy or energy services: Transportation Fuels (conventional source: gasoline or diesel)
Electricity (conventional source: mainly coal and natural gas)
Heating and Cooling (conventional source: electricity from coal and natural gas but also heating oil, natural gas and wood)
Is it very important you understand there are three types of energy services--fuels, electricity and heating/cooling--because when you say, "I want renewable energy for my business/home/community" you have then ask yourself: which do you want?
How do you answer the question of which renewable energy is for you?
We recommend our Energy Diet a simple way to slim down, firm up, and save big!
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