Electricity
Long and short-term effects on our environment
How does electricity affect our environment?
Electricity can affect our environment in many ways, both good and bad. While electricity itself is a clean type of energy, the majority of electricity produced in Canada is produced using nuclear power and fossil fuels. Fossil fuels and nuclear power are both air polluting. A smaller amount of electricity in Canada is produced using wind, solar and hydro power. In some European countries, people use animal dung from zoos to create electricity (I know, strange. But it's true!). An even smaller amount of electricity in Canada is generated using geothermal energy. Fossil fuels are one of the main reasons of increasing greenhouse gases. They release carbon dioxide when burnt, which is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases, in turn, are the main cause of global warming. Although nuclear power itself doesn't pollute the air, but the remains and waste created by it can't be disposed of safely.