You cannot define renewable energy that easily. It is the general term used for a whole range of unconventional energy sources, so the definition has to be all-encompassing. As most experts put it, renewable energy is any energy source that occurs naturally and very widely.

Most renewable energy sources are dependent on nuclear power. This nuclear power comes from the sun. In a huge nuclear reaction, the sun produces energy in the form of light and heat and this reaches the earth as natural sources of energy. The sun is the ultimate source of solar power, wind power, biomass energy and so on. Fossil fuels may be categorized under biomass energy, but are limitedly available and have plenty of disastrous side effects.

The US federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory has a good renewable energy program that researches the latest energy-saving building techniques. Scientists have realized that energy efficiency is the way to go, and this body educates people in this aspect.

They work together with the leading instances of the building industry, foreground endeavors to build using renewable energy and tell producers as well as consumers about what and how they can save money by using this form of energy. NREL also get together with agencies to set guideposts for buildings and other energy consuming gadgets.

Renewable energy use is beneficial for the environment in the polluted world of today. Wind and solar energy are two of the most prominent types of this energy. Biofuels, geothermal energy and wave or tidal power are fast becoming popular, though some of these may potentially harm the natural world.

Is there any difference between renewable and alternative energy?

Many of us are not aware of the tenuous difference between the two. Renewable energy is basically natural; it is the energy we can use from the sun or wind or waves. Alternative energy, however, includes bio fuels and nuclear energy sources and some of them are not that healthy for us.

The existing infrastructure suits the use of fossil fuels, even though renewable energy or green energy is much more cost effective. The government has taken very few steps to change things and go in for renewable sources of energy in a big way. But with the present situation worsening day by day, a change must come about soon.

A good thing about fossil fuels is the easy way we can store the energy we get, a procedure that is more complicated with renewable or green energy sources. Solar power, for instance, is not that effective in cloudy weather. Without any wind, that source of energy cannot be made use of. This and the fact that initial costs to get energy from these unconventional sources are relatively high, have lent it a small drawback when we compare to traditional energy sources.