Wind+Energy+(Kevin+Vargo)


 * //__Wind Energy __//**

__**What is it/how it Works**__

“Wind” is air moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. The wind actually can be harnessed to convert its energy into electricity for our homes, towns, cities, etc. It is not very confusing to see how it works. The first thing that is needed is a location with lots of wind. Usually locations along the ocean are ideal because of the consistent wind patterns all year long. The apparatus that converts the wind into energy is the wind turbine. The wind turbine is a tall machine which rotates to convert wind energy into electricity. The way that it works is actually quite simple. 1)  The wind hits the blades of the turbine causing them to spin. 2)  The Blades are attached to a shaft in the nacelle(an enclosure at the top of the base of the blades) 3)  The shaft is attached to a gearbox which controls the rotation speed of the blades. It controls the amount of electricity made. 4)  The gear box is part of the generator which produces the energy by using magnetic fields. 5)  From there the energy is converted in a transformer into usable electricity. 6)The electricity is then sent to the homes. -(B.W.E.A.)

**This picture shows the basic configuration of a wind turbine.**(A.W.E.A.)

__ **Usefulness/Pros and Cons** __

-With wind energy there is no pollution or waste emitted to the atmosphere or water(it is a good alternative to coal burning) -Provides a reliable supply of energy (since in many places wind is always plentiful) -Can provide more jobs for people in rural areas -The ground around the wind turbines can be cultivated because they are so high in the air. Land around the Turbines are not wasted. -It is a renewable resource that will remain for future generations.(Perry)
 * Pros**

-Can be noisy. -Sometimes the turbines are in the path of birds migratory paths so some birds get killed by the turbines. -The wind turbines are useless if there is no wind. (Perry)
 * Cons**

It is obvious that the advantages are worth the disadvantages because it is a safe, reliable, and clean source of alternative energy. Wind energy is an example of how the dangerous burning of coal and other harmful emissions are becoming obsolete to the alternative "green" energies which have no harmful emissions and is renewable (Wind Power). Up until recently the wind catching propellers could only be in rural areas because of the massive blades on the turbines. This has changed with the invention of a new style of wind turbines that can be in urban areas because they are more compact. Also with the new design, birds are not harmed because there are no blades. Here is a video showing information about this new form of wind turbines. media type="youtube" key="fNudnI5tzf8" height="265" width="326"

__**Wind Energy/Carbon Cycle**__

The Carbon Cycle is a balanced cycle of how trees take carbon in the atmosphere and convert it back to oxygen for us to breathe. With the burning of fossil fuels, the cycle becomes unbalanced. There is a build up of carbon in the atmosphere which causes global warming. Since wind energy is a form of "green" energy, it allows for the carbon cycle to become more balanced since it provides clean energy without emitting carbon into the atmosphere. It has no bad consequences to the atmosphere nor does it have any bad effects on the environment. If wind energy become a dominant form of energy production it would significantly reduce the amount of carbon output in the atmosphere.(Wind Powering America)

__ **Wind Energy is Similar to Solar Energy** __

Solar identical to wind energy in the sense that they are both alternative green energy. Neither give any harmful output to the environment. (http://gilmourbiology.wikispaces.com/Solar+Energy+(Chelsea+Myles). They both are trying to fix the problem of global warming by balancing out the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. the two energies also have an identical problem. Just as how if there is no wind you cannot get energy from a wind farm. If the sun is not out, then your solar panels do not create power.Solar Energy (Chelsea Myles)

Perry, Z. (2007). //Advantages and Disadvantages of Wind Power//. Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/hub/advantages-disadvantages-wind Wind Powering America. (2005) //Wind Energy Benefits.// Retrieved from http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37602.pdf Wind Power. (2008). //Advantages of Wind Power.// Retrieved from http://windturbine.me/prosandcons.html A.W.E.A. (2009). //What is a wind turbine and how does it work?.// Retrieved from http://www.awea.org/faq/wwt_basics.html#What%20is%20a%20wind%20turbine%20and%20how%20does%20it%20work B.W.E.A. (2007). //How does wind energy work?// Retrieved from http://www.bwea.com/energy/how.html