Soft Path Energy vs. Hard Path Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Soft Path Energy vs. Hard Path Energy - Essay Example On the contrary, champions of soft path argue that soft path energy ensures quality energy in that the energy is environmentally friendly (Botkin and Keller, 2010). More so, soft path policy leads to production and delivery of flexible and sustainable energy (Parkins, 2001). Such sources of energy, therefore, include, wind, sunlight and biomass. Unfortunately, many nations, including developed nations, such as the United States, have energy policies that are more oriented to hard path than the soft path. Therefore, an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of soft path energy, as compared to the hard path energy, is crucial in deciding whether to exploit soft path energy. Soft path energy alternatives are more environmentally friendly than their hard path counterparts. In particular, they have less harm to their environs than hard path energy (Parkins, 2001). For example, the electricity used to light houses and drive air conditioning systems can be produced from hydroelectric power plants comprised of large dams, which pose a risk to people living around them. Electricity can also be produced from nuclear power plants, which are health hazards and consume large amounts of water for cooling purposes. Sunlight can be used for lighting purposes, in its raw form through opening windows or using transparent iron sheets, or electrically using solar panels that convert sunlight to electric energy. Wind turbines can also be used to harness wind energy and convert it to electric energy for lighting purposes. These lighting methods do not pose as much harm to the environment or risk animal, plant and human life as is the case with hard energy. Moreover, they contribute less to global warming because they emit fewer gases and carbon (if any) to the atmosphere. Soft path energy alternatives are also renewable in that their sources cannot be exhausted, which is not the case with hard path energy sources. For