Solar energy solutions for an environmentally sustainable world
The United Nations Conference of Environment and Development has focused the world's attention on the complex relationship between the environment and economic development. The essence of this relationship, and the emerging theme of UNCED, is the concept of sustainability. Sustainable economic development improves quality of life and raises standards of living by using the Earth's resources in a way that ensures that they are continually renewed, and will continue to support future generations. This is the subject of this report. While energy resources are essential to economic development, the authors current patterns of energy use are not sustainable. Reliance on fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and large-scale hydroelectric projects has contributed to serious environmental problems, including atmospheric pollution, loss of land productivity, loss of biological diversity, ocean and fresh water pollution, and hazardous waste generation. Thus, if they are to achieve sustainability in their patterns of energy consumption, it is imperative that they bring about a rapid and widespread transition to the utilization of environmentally sound energy sources and technologies. Solar energy technologies are environmentally sound, socially beneficial, and economically practical. They have been proven in a wide variety of applications around the world. The barriers to the widespread implementation of solar technologies are no longer technical, but rather social, economic, and political. These barriers can and must be removed.
- OSTI ID:
- 7042164
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
POLITICAL ASPECTS
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS
CARBON DIOXIDE
DESALINATION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ECONOMIC POLICY
ENERGY POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ETHANOL FUELS
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
METHANE
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOCIAL IMPACT
SOLAR AIR CONDITIONING
SOLAR ARCHITECTURE
SOLAR CONCENTRATORS
SOLAR COOKING
SOLAR DISTILLATION
SOLAR DRYING
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR PONDS
SOLAR SPACE HEATING
SOLAR THERMAL CONVERSION
SOLAR WATER HEATING
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
WIND POWER
AIR CONDITIONING
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALKANES
ARCHITECTURE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONVERSION
DEMINERALIZATION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
DRYING
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PONDS
POWER
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR HEATING
SPACE HEATING
SURFACE WATERS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
WATER HEATING
140400* - Solar Energy- Environmental Aspects
320601 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Conservation Services- (1980-)
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
299000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation