Renewable energy sources provide Toronto with affordable, reliable, and stable electricity while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city. Read more on toronto-future.
Green Energy – Why It Matters!
Renewable energy is not only economically competitive but is also the most cost-effective energy source in many situations, depending on location and season. Green energy comes from renewable sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, small hydro, and biomass. These sources are far less harmful to the environment than conventional energy options like coal, oil, gas, or nuclear power. Fossil fuels and nuclear power plants contribute to some of the world’s largest environmental problems, including global climate change, smog, acid rain, oil spills, and hazardous radioactive waste. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Radical changes in how we generate and use energy are essential.
The Importance of Using Less Energy
Although not technically an energy source, conservation is a critical component of the green energy solution. The most eco-friendly energy is the energy we don’t use in the first place. This doesn’t mean sitting in the dark; it’s about reducing energy waste and improving energy efficiency.
Simple Ways to Save Energy:
- Adjust heating or cooling and dress appropriately for the season.
- Install LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use significantly less energy than conventional bulbs while providing the same amount of light and lasting much longer.
- Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
- Use lower-temperature settings and full loads in washing machines.
- Conduct an energy audit for your home or small business to identify opportunities to save money and protect the planet.
Alternative Energy Sources Used in Toronto
Wind is a clean, renewable energy source. Wind turbines harness strong, steady winds to generate electricity. Wind energy produces no pollution and has minimal environmental impact when turbines are correctly located. Wind power can be generated wherever consistent winds blow. The windier the location, the more energy can be produced. Ontario, including Toronto, hosts excellent sites for wind energy. Wind farms can also coexist with agricultural operations, as only about 5% of the land they occupy is used for turbines, equipment, and access roads, leaving the rest for crops or grazing livestock.
Toronto’s hydropower captures the energy of flowing water from rivers and streams, converting its mechanical energy into electricity. While hydropower is considered renewable, not all projects are environmentally friendly. Large-scale hydroelectric dams can significantly disrupt natural river systems, fish populations, and wildlife. However, small-scale, run-of-river hydro projects are generally considered “green,” as they rely on relatively low dams and maintain river flow conditions.
Solar radiation is harnessed in two ways: photovoltaic (PV) and thermal systems. PV systems convert sunlight directly into electricity, often used in rural homes, remote research stations, and highway call boxes. Solar thermal systems use the sun’s energy to heat buildings or water by circulating liquid through a solar heater, typically a long black tube on a roof. This can halve the gas or electricity used for heating water. Passive solar design is another crucial component of the green energy revolution, capturing sunlight through strategic architectural elements.
Bioenergy is generated by releasing the chemical energy stored in biomass-derived fuels. Biomass is a product of solar energy captured through photosynthesis. Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere and combine it with water to produce biomass, found in common agricultural or forestry waste (e.g., straw or sawdust from sawmills). Bioenergy is not a new concept—it is one of humanity’s oldest energy resources, dating back to the controlled use of fire for heat, light, and cooking.
In Toronto, promising bioenergy sources include capturing methane gas from green bin programs, wastewater facilities, and landfill sites during the decomposition of organic matter. Burning methane to produce heat and electricity significantly reduces its global warming potential by more than 90%.
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