A renewable resource is a natural resource with the ability of being replaced through biological or natural processes and replenished with the passage of time. Renewable resources are part of our natural environment and form our eco-system.

In 1962, within a report to the committee on natural resources which was forwarded to the President of the United States, Paul Weiss defined Renewable Resources as: "''The total range of living organisms providing man with food, fibers, drugs, etc...''".

Renewable resources are endangered by industrial developments and growth. They must be carefully managed to avoid exceeding the natural world's capacity to replenish them. A life cycle assessment provides a systematic means of evaluating renewability. This is a matter of sustainability in the natural environment.

Solar radiation, tides, winds, geothermal, biomass and other natural elements are renewable resources of energy now called renewable energies.

Gasoline, coal, natural gas, diesel and other commodities derived from fossil fuels, as well as minerals like copper and others, are non-renewable resources without a sustainable yield.

Renewable energy

Solar energy is an energy derived directly from the Sun, and is the most abundant source of energy on Earth. The fastest growing type of alternative energy, increasing at 50 percent a year, is the photovoltaic cell, which converts sunlight directly into electricity. Concentrated solar power (CSP), is another effective way to convert sunlight into electricity, this technique focuses on taking the sun’s rays and placing it into a liquid that heats up and produces steam that spins an electricty producing turbine. This process uses reflective dishes that direct the sun’s rays to get the maximum energy. The Sun yearly delivers more than 10,000 times the energy that humans currently use.

Wind power is derived from uneven heating of the Earth's surface from the Sun and the warm core. Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical currents by means of an electrical generator. In windmills (a much older technology) wind energy is used to turn mechanical machinery to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water.

Hydropower is energy derived from the movement of water in rivers and oceans (or other energy differentials), and can likewise be used to generate electricity using turbines, or can be used mechanically to do useful work. It is a very common resource. Hydropower appeared centuries ago with the first use of a power turbine to produce electricity.

Geothermal power comes the Greek words, "geo" meaning Earth and "thermal" meaning heat. Geothermal directly harnesses the natural flow of heat from the ground. The available energy from natural decay of radioactive elements in the Earth's crust and mantle is approximately equal to that of incoming solar energy. The first geothermal power station was built at Landrello, Italy. Other countries that have geothermal power stations are Japan, Iceland, the Philippines and the United States. In Iceland, geothermal energy is used for electricity and heat.

Alcohol derived from corn, sugar cane, switchgrass, etc. is also a renewable source of energy. Similarly, oils from plants and seeds can be used as a substitute for non-renewable diesel. Methane is also considered as a renewable source of energy.

Renewable resources such as solar energy, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy have many benefits. These resources can reduce carbon dioxide emission, water consumption, and waste. Clean air is vital on this planet because it can reduce human health problems such as asthma (children are at a higher risk) and lung disease. Renewable resources can also lead to environment sustainability because these resources will not be depleted and stimulate the economy by creating more job opportunities.

Renewable materials

Agricultural products

Biomass

Water

See also

References

Further reading

He is featured as the Native American vocalist and cedar flute player for the song "Creek Mary's Blood" on the Nightwish album ''Once''. He also appeared on Nightwish's ''End of an Era'' CD/DVD, a recording of their live performance in Helsinki, Finland on October 21, 2005. There he performed "Stone People" from his album ''Honor'' as a prelude for "Creek Mary's Blood", which he then performed with the band in front of a sold-out audience of 12,000. It is to be noted that Nightwish never plays the song without Two-Hawks.

Other collaborations include concerts and recordings with Celtic singer and flutist Seamus Byrne, classical guitarist Sir Charles Hammer, pianist Bastiaan Pot and guitarist/bass player Van Adams. He composed and performed the music and sound effects for the accompanying audio CD for a children's book by Sicangu Lakota writer Joseph M. Marshall III and Yankton Sioux illustrator Joseph Chamberlain. Two-Hawks was also the co-producer of the book. John Two-Hawks was the featured musician in the musical score for the HBO production of ''Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'' which originally aired in May 2007. The musical score by George S. Clinton which featured Two-Hawks' music, earned one of 17 Emmy nominations, and was released as a soundtrack CD in 2007. Primarily, however, Two-Hawks is a solo artist. While his compositions often include many different instruments, he plays all of them himself.

John Two-Hawks presently lives in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.

Discography

Bibliography

External links

Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Native American flautists