Renewable resources can be replenished at a rate equal to human consumption, but require responsible cultivation. Sustainable resources can be used without worrying about supply. Biofuels and alternative energy can replace non-renewable resources, while green energy can increase the shelf life of harvested resources.
Renewable resources are any type of resource that can be regenerated at a rate at least as fast as humanity can consume that resource. While considered capable of replenishing themselves over time, resources of this type usually require some degree of planned and responsible cultivation and harvesting in order to ensure that the resources are available for future generations. Wood, leather and plants are examples of renewable resources.
While many people assume that renewable and sustainable resources are the same thing, there is a key difference. Sustainable resources are those that can be used at will, without worrying about running out of supply or having to grow resources for future harvest. Solar energy and wind energy are two examples of resources that are more accurately defined as sustainable.
In terms of renewable energy, a natural resource like wood is a good example of a resource that can be used but must be replenished over time to ensure an abundant supply for future generations. This is one of the reasons many logging companies make a point of planting new trees after a row of trees has been harvested. The idea is that by replacing recently cleared trees to make lumber and other wood products, that same land will be able to produce a similar amount of product after a period of twenty to thirty years.
Over time, the emphasis on the use of sustainable and renewable resources to augment or even replace the use of non-renewable resources has become a priority for many people. With resources like fossil fuels limited in quantity, growing biofuels from plants has gained a lot of attention. Over time, it is hoped that corn and similar resources can be used to produce enough fuel to replace the use of gasoline and other products currently produced using fossil fuels.
The development of other products from renewable resources is also an ongoing process. Alternative energy produced with the use of solar and wind energy could eventually boost efforts to use biofuels to run vehicles and heat homes that currently depend on fossil fuels. From this perspective, ongoing developments in green energy can help support the responsible use of renewable resources by increasing the shelf life of harvested resources. This action would in turn mean that trees would be harvested less often, even if demand for new housing remained constant.
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