Title: Green and Renewable Energy
Course: 2016FA-MCO-115-401 > Section: Module 2: Energy

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Green energy (also called sustainable energy) can be described as alternative energy, but has one special quality that separates it from other alternative energies. Green energy has the added benefit of producing energy that utilizes a source that will endure indefinitely (or at least very long term). Green energy is defined as, “energy that can be extracted, generated, and/or consumed without any significant negative impact to the environment” [1]. Energy consumers seek out green energy because of its fewer harmful effects on the environment.

Renewable energy is a term that is used when describing energy sources that come from natural resources that are not foreseeably depletable. The natural resources that are used for renewable energy are varied and are available in wide number of geographical areas. In other words these types of energy have a high availability. Some of the more mainstream renewable energy types include wind power, hydropower, solar energy, biofuel, and geothermal energy.

Green energy and Renewable energy both fit the definition of alternative energy (not fossil-fuel based), but to be considered green energy there must be little negative impact on the environment. Similarly, to be considered renewable energy, it must come from a natural resource that is virtually non-depletable. Sometimes you may see the distinction between green and renewable energy to be that renewable energy needs no fuel to create it, as in solar and wind energy. Simply put, renewable energy is continually replenished like the tides, sunlight, or wind.