What Is Renewable Energy?
Renewable energy comes from natural sources that never run out, such as the Sun, the wind, and moving water. It is clean and does not pollute the air. When we design a product, we can choose renewable energy instead of batteries or fuel that must be bought again and again.
Three Sources for Your Design
- Solar energy — a solar cell (panel) turns sunlight into electricity. It can power a small lamp, fan, or toy car.
- Wind energy — a small turbine or fan spins when the wind blows and makes electricity or turns a wheel.
- Water energy — moving or falling water pushes a small wheel to make a machine move.
Key idea
Renewable energy is clean and never runs out. Choosing it in a design saves money and protects the Earth.
Designing Wisely
A good designer thinks about where the product will be used. A garden light works well with solar energy because there is plenty of sunlight outdoors. A product near a river might use water energy. Matching the energy source to the place makes the product work better.