Its high time to switch to alternative sources of energy
Natural resources are the resources which are obtained from the natural environment. It includes coal, petroleum, iron ore, natural gas, wind energy, wood, water, soil, etc. These natural resources can be renewable or non-renewable on the basis of their use.
Renewable resources are the one which can be used again and again, and they are available in large quantities. Examples – wood, soil, water, wind, etc. Non-renewable resources are the one that is available in small quantities and the formation of these resources take millions of years. Examples – fossil fuels like coal and petroleum, minerals, etc.
Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels are the deposits of organic matter formed from the decaying plants and animals by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of years. With the growth of industrialisation the use of fossil fuels in industries as a source of energy have increased.
Although they are beneficial to humans, they have various side-effects. These natural resources are on the verge of depletion and moreover, they also damage the natural environment.
For example, people use coal,
firewood, etc. as a source of energy in brick industries which leads to
pollution and the formation of these natural resources takes a longer time,
even burning of bricks contributes to environmental pollution.
It also has short-term and long-term effects. The short-term effects are – it hampers the vegetation of a place, it causes deforestation, it reduces crop production, etc. The long-term effects are – ozone layer depletion, global warming, reduces land fertility, and people working in brick fields suffer from many diseases.
Destruction of natural resources causes ecological imbalance. This can be overcome by switching to alternative sources of energy. For example, use of perforated or hollow bricks and bricks made up of fly ash, which are manufactured using electricity and does not require burning. There are more such alternative sources of energy which can be used to preserve our natural resources, even the government should also take necessary measures to protect the environment.
– Suchasmita Panigrahi
