1 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER Renewable Energy Paper BIO2000 - Environmental Health 2 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER Introduction This paper will discuss wind power as a source of alternative energy, the environmental negative and positive risk factors, and the risks it has on the human health. It will also examine the pros and cons of wind energy. After doing research, reading and thinking on the subject of renewable energy I thought about what source of energy would cost less money and would it be good for the health of the environment. After taking a little more time to rethink and research about the source of energy that could be used as an alternative, wind power came to mine. According to Hilgenkamp, (2006) wind energy is \"a form of solar energy where wind is created when the atmosphere is unevenly heated by the sun\". Wind power is produced from turbines that are at least 100 or more feet above the ground. The turbines actually capture the wind energy with blades that look like a propeller mounted on a stick. The blades spin when the wind blows resulting in turning the shaft that is linked to a generator that in returns create electricity (Renewable Energy World, 1999-2014). According to Vanguard, (2012) allude that \"Wind turbines can be used as a stand-alone application, or they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic (solar cell) system. For utility-scale sources of wind energy, a large number of wind turbines are usually built close together to form a wind plant\". Economic Considerations Alone wind power cannot produce enough energy to support a person's home by itself because it is not continuous. Wind power is a source of global economic we as American can or should consider because it do not need to be linked or joined to a grid, 3 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER in a sense it would be a more flexible system in exporting and importing power. Another reason why we as human being should think about by using wind power energy is the huge saving one could gain or acquire. For example, a person can receive an incentive from the government called a tax credit on their taxes or refund at the end of the year when using wind power economically. Environmental Downsides There is a several downside to use wind power for energy as well as benefits. One important drawback to consider in advance for using wind power is predictability. Unlike other forms of energy, wind turbines are not constructed to generate the same exact amount of electricity at one time. Wind energy has another downside as to maintenance cost. Just to purchase a site to place these large machines producing electricity from wind power can be very expensive in this day in time. The renewable energy that generates electricity is very noisy. Human health requires a certain amount of sleep for the body to function properly, having wind turbine close to a person's home can cause sleeplessness and can also lead to hearing damage. Practically anything that is moving parts around will make sounds and wind turbine is no exception to the rule which in this case the strong wind produced by these turbines can damage or kill wildlife like birds. Unsightly aesthetics like wind turbine is another sign of drawback because homeowner property values will decrease in some area or states. Human Health Risks The renewable source of energy from wind power do not pollute the air we breath, however, it is still hazardous to human health. Living near wind turbines that 4 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER produce electricity and energy can cause heart disease (The Independent, 2013). Other health risks of wind energy are migraine headaches, sleeping disorder, anxiety, stress, heart failure and loss of hearing from noise exposure. The researcher conducting studies on the health risks related to people living close to wind turbines is questionable, however, an individual health problem is still a major concern for people that are near this type of noise every day. Their or other health risks connected to the use of wind farm for energy like turbine noise triggering nightmares in small children, memory loss, loss of concentration and visual impairment when living close to turbines. The light that beam off the propeller or the blades of these wind turbines can also cause health risks like provoking seizures, seizure abnormal movements or behavior due to unusual electrical activity in the brain. Pros and Cons of Wind Power The pros of wind power is it generates no air pollution; it has the potential to meet a very significant share of the world's energy needs were it is widely available; it is maintainable, and it is a proven tool that works. We as American need an alternative energy source, given that fuel is steadily rising and the cost is sold at a high rate right now. Wind power does not pollute the air we breath, it's energy coming from the sun and it is green. Renewable energy last longer, its energy can produce enough power to support five hundred homes and most people can afford it. The cons of using wind power is the wind need to blow to get energy from it, it is loud, it's vulnerable to lightning damaging the control system this includes a motor for steering the equipment into the wind and sensors, it creates a high expense to repair and replace parts like blades using a crane, it is a threat to birds in the sky and other 5 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER wildlife that have wings to fly. Wind power could be a potential threat to human health because it generates loud noise. The aesthetics of wind farms are also a negative for many people. Conclusion Encouraging wind power makes sense because it is renewable sources of energy and it does not affect the air we breath. While wind power is a green form of alternative source of energy it still have a negative impact on many people in our society. After searching for the right site to place the large machinery on the cost is another drawback, however it can save money on an individual electricity use. Compared to natural gas, coal, and fuel oil on a human being health is somewhat minimal. My personal opinion,is that the positive side of using wind power as a renewable energy source outweigh the negatives downside for an alternative source of energy. 6 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER References Hilgenkamp, K., (2006). Environmental Health: ecological perspectives. 7 Running Header: U07A1 RENEWABLE ENERGY PAPER Jones and Bartlett Publishers National Geographic, (1996-201). Wind power. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ Wind-power-profile/ The Independent, (2013). Are wind farms a health risk? US scientist identifies 'Wind turbine syndrome'. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/are-wind-farms -a-health-risk-us-scientist-identifies-wind-turbine-syndrome-1766254.html Renewable Energy World, (1999-2014). Wind Power. Retrieved from http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/wind-powerr Vanguard, (2012). Wind Energy Technology Basics. Retrieved from http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/08/wind-energy-technology-basics/ Turnitin Originality Report Renewable Energy Paper by Angela Moore From 1 - Draft (BIO2000 - Jul 11 2016 to Sep 16 2016 - Section 02 _37212_1) Processed on 25-Aug-2016 1:32 PM CDT ID: 689030787 Word Count: 749 Similarity Index 26% Similarity by Source Internet Sources: 4% Publications: 1% Student Papers: 26% sources: 1 20% match (student papers from 24-May-2014) Submitted to Capella Education Company on 2014-05-24 2 3% match (student papers from 11-Apr-2015) Submitted to Heriot-Watt University on 2015-04-11 3 2% match (Internet from 23-Oct-2006) http://www.trediciatavola.it/category_e/energy/renewable+energy.html 4 2% match (student papers from 10-Nov-2015) Submitted to University of Liverpool on 2015-11-10 paper text: Running Head: RENEWABLE ENERGY Topic: Renewable Energy Name: Course: Instructor's Name: Date: The paper talks about wind power which is an 1alternative energy, the negative and positive environmental risk factors and the risks it has on the health of human beings. It also looks at the pros and cons of wind energy. From the research I have read concerning renewable energy, wind energy is an alternative the source of energy that cost less and environmental friendly. 1Wind energy is described as a form of energy where wind is created when the atmosphere in not uniformly heated by the sun. The turbines that are at least 100 have blades that spin when winds blows and raised more feet above the ground produce wind power. The wind turbines can be used on its own but 1they can be connected to a utility power grid or even combined with a photovoltaic system. Economic considerations The Wind on its own cannot generate enough power to support home because it isn't consistent. Wind power should be considered as a source of global economics by Americans because it doesn't require to be connected to the grid and this makes it be a more flexible system in exporting and importing power. Wind power usage is one of the huge savings that one could acquire. For instance, an individual can be given incentives known as a tax credit on their taxes or refund by the government when the year elapses for utilizing wind power economically. Environmental downsides Wind power has various disadvantages as well as benefits. Wind power is predictable. However, they 1are not constructed to generate the same amount of energy at one time. The maintenance cost is high involving the cost of purchasing the site is high. The cost of machines that produce electricity is also high and inexpensive in the current world. The renewable energy that produces electricity is very noisy. The turbines that are close to an individual's home can lead to sleeplessness and damage hearing which is unhealthy. ("Wind turbine wakes for wind energy", 2011) Any movable object produces sounds and wind turbines fall into the same category. The turbines also produce high winds that damages or kill wildlife like birds. Human health risks The air we breathe is not polluted by the wind energy. However it is still perilous to the people's health. The wind turbines can cause heart disease to people who are close. It can also lead to 1migraine headaches, anxiety, sleeping disorder, stress, heart failure and loss of hearing due to noise exposure. The health problem of people living near this type of sound every day remains a major concern. The use of wind farm for energy causes noises that triggers nightmare in small children, memory loss, loss of concentration and visual impairment. The propellers emit beams of light that cause health risks that can provoke seizures which are an 1abnormal movements or behavior resulting from unusual electrical activity in the brain. Pros and cons of wind power The advantage of wind power is that it the air, and 1it is maintainable. Wind power is also a proven tool that works capability of meeting widely available. doesn't pollute and has the 1a very significant share of the global energy because it is Americans require an alternative source of energy because the cost of fuel is rising steadily. The wind power supports many homes because it is affordable and lasts longer. The cons of wind energy are that the wind needed is loud and vulnerable to lighting that damage 1the control system. This includes a motor for steering into the wind and sensors leading to high repair and replacement cost. birds in the sky and other wildlife that fly. 1It is also a threat to It generates energy thus being a threat to human health. Conclusion It is sensible to encourage people to use renewable sources of energy because it doesn't affect the air we breathe. Despite being green, wind energy affects people negatively in the society. The costs of searching and acquiring the right site for machinery are high. However, it saves money on an individual electricity use. Wind power has minimal health problems as compared to natural gas, coal and fuel oil. Therefore, the positive sides of wind energy outweighs the negative downside for an alternative source of energy. REFERENCES 2Raum, E. (2008). Wind energy. Chicago, Ill.: Heinemann Library. Richards, J. (2010). Wind energy. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Wind4turbine wakes for wind energy. (2011). Wind Energ., 14(7), 797-798. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/we.534 31 RENEWABLE ENERGY 2 RENEWABLE ENERGY 3 RENEWABLE ENERGY 4 RENEWABLE ENERGY 5