Energy production is a primary contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming. The burning of fossil fuels to create electricity emits powerful chemicals and carbon dioxide into the earth's atmosphere which traps heat close to the earth's surface. The rise in heat is contributing to major climate change and is a very serious problem for the future unless action is taken presently.

Industrial manufacturing plants use large amounts of power to function. Not only does the massive amount of energy consumed contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere, but the factories also use precious water to cool machinery, their waste water pollutes the surrounding water resources with hazardous waste and some manufacturers emit toxic chemicals into the environment.

Solutions to the greenhouse effect and pollution
Alternate energy sources can be defined as the various ways of creating and producing energy which are alternate to the existing methods which pollute because they do not cause damage or as much damage to the environment and utilise renewable (re-usable) resources. Alternate energy sources have the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions and consequently the rising world temperatures, save water, save fossil fuels and lower costs over a long period of time.

How it's done - creating harm-free electricity
Solar power uses panels which absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into electricity. This is a very popular method for producing power and can be seen all over the world in homes, factories, businesses and some cars. Hydro power uses water to create electricity. Water flow moves underwater turbines or floating 'salter ducks' which convert the motion into electricity.

Thermal power uses the heat produced within the earth's crust to generate power. Areas with high volcanic activity often have locations with extreme heat close to the earth's surface which can be channelled through turbines, making them rotate to create energy. Bio fuels are solid, liquid and gas which are made from biological materials such as vegetable oil and methane gas. Burning these fuels to create energy emits a lower amount of chemicals into the environment.

An example of using alternate energy resources
A major manufacturer located in Offenburg, Germany, has used alternate energy resources to power its manufacturing plant for 16 years. The company's change to solar power using solar panels otherwise known as a photovoltaic generator reduces their carbon emissions by 100 tons of greenhouse gas each year. The electricity created per year by the solar panels could power 40 family homes.

The solar power system in the Offenberg factory uses a photovoltaic generator which then feeds electricity into a power grid which supplies electricity to meet all of the plant's manufacturing needs. The manufacturing plant recycles 85% of material wastes which would otherwise have been released into the environment and caused harm. The electro chemical processes allow for less contamination of water and air and use far less energy. The working temperature of machinery is up to 59 degrees Celsius lower than normal. The factory also recycles grey-water, saving drinking water and making use of reusable resources.

If every manufacturer worldwide switched to a 'green' energy source, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, global warming and pollution would be enormous. If just one manufacturing plant can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 100 tons per year when solar power is used, imagine how much gas would be reduced if all manufacturers followed their example.