Massive development of solar and wind power. Solar water heaters on everybody's roof. Massive development and deployment of geothermal heating and cooling systems, starting in large buildings. A trend toward super-well-insulated homes and buildings, using cost-effective, widely available material. A trend toward smaller living quarters to reduce the amount of space to be heated and cooled. A trend toward local living, local economies. Living close to where you work, community activities, neighbors are your friends and co-workers. The trendiness of walking, cycling and other human-powered activities. Development of cellulosic ethanol--made from switchgrass and agricultural waste. Prevalence of local, organic farming. A trend toward eating lower on the food chain. Biodiesel made from used vegetable oil. Cars that get 100 mpg. In essence, Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation, and Renewable Energy.
Energy Efficiency: CFL's, Efficient Refridgerators, Efficient Vehicles, Efficient Washers and Driers, Geothermal Pumps, tankless water heaters, solar water heaters
Energy Conservation: Walking, cycling as transportation, turning off lights and appliances, turning down the thermostat, programmable thermostat, programmable lights, sensors for HVAC systems,
Renewable energy: Wind, Solar, Biodiesel made from waste oil or efficient crops/algae, Ethanol made from cellulose materials/switchgrass, geothermal, sustainable hydropower, Solar water heaters, solar air heaters, local organic crops as human power,
2 comments:
Hi,-
Great Blog! I really appreciate your dedication to the environment and I always like to hear about simple ways I can live a greener life.
I have recently purchased an air-vent booster - it works by drawing additional air into my problem room that is always way too cold. These can be purchase at most home improvement stores.
I am so happy because not only does it lower my utility bills, it helps conserve a massive amount of energy.
It is a really easy way to save money and help save the earth.
Have a green day and keep writing!
From an article I recently posted on Helium.com:
Perhaps the fastest growing portion of every home budget in the USA is energy costs. These costs show in utility bills, particularly gas, oil, and electric, but also in transportation, and even across the household consumables that depend upon transportation. More than half of the households in the country spend the greatest portion of their income on automobiles. As the price of oil continues to increase dramatically in the near future, this sector will stretch until it breaks.
Alternative energy holds hope, even though the name is a bit misleading. Earth has one primary source of energy, the sun. This energy is spread across the surface of the planet all the time and most of it bounces back into space. Plants are most efficient at absorbing and utilizing solar energy. These plants provide sustenance up the food chain and the ecosphere thrives. So it's been for billions of years.
Within the last century humans have put a radical twist upon this system by burning the ancient stored energy in petroleum, concentrated over thousands of years beneath the earth's crust. At this point in time, we've used up about half of the liquid petroleum and a smaller portion of the coal, which creates more pollution problems when burned. Laws of supply and demand dictate that these energy sources will grow more expensive at accelerating rates.
The alternative is mostly about going back to direct utilization of the sun, the wind, water, and tides that solar heating patterns generate, plants and animals, and the geothermal heat absorbed by earth. Nuclear energy exploits another nonrenewable source, uranium, with disastrous polluting effects, and cannot be sustained, so we won't discuss it in this article.
Solar energy is most efficient when used directly as heat and light, rather than converting it to electricity. The biggest factor in this is the placement of your home. A solar assessment involves studying the local sun patterns against your heating and cooling expenses. Solar retrofit is a growing industry. If your home is so poorly placed that your costs cannot be reduced, you should consider relocating.
Short of rebuilding your home, most people can benefit by using a solar water heater and a solar drier, better known as a clothesline. These can replace the other great energy users in most homes. Perhaps your utility or a local public agency offers conservation tips or energy assessments. Take advantage of these resources to use less and save money.
If you live off the electrical grid, you've probably already explored the possibility of generating your own electricity through wind, small hydro, or photovoltaic. If you have capital at your disposal, these investments can pay off over the long term even if you remain on the grid, because utilities are required to buy your extra generated power. Ask your provider about co-generation.
Transportation costs, driven by the price of oil, can be expected to put a strain on every budget soon. Look at all the things you need on a regular basis, especially food. Can you produce them yourself or purchase them direct from a producer within fifty miles of home? The immediate savings of these changes will compound quickly as oil prices leap upward.
Now let's look at your biggest energy expense, the car. Soon, this hole in your budget is going to become too much of a burden for most Americans. Even efficient cars become impractical when gas hits $10/gal and stations start closing. Petroleum is hard to replace, but not that tough to live without.
Some vehicles can convert to bio-fuels, but we cannot depend upon these fuels to replace gasoline. Ethanol from corn requires more energy to make than it produces. It is only profitable for corporations who've lobbied to receive huge government subsidies. Bio-diesel, ethanol from sugar cane, and methanol show a bit more promise, but produced at the rates Americans burn oil, these fuels could put a painful dent into our food supply. Which do you need more?
Hydrogen is a great fuel. That's why they use it for rockets. Unfortunately it won't stay on the planet in pure form needed for burning, because hydrogen molecules are very small and light. Most hydrogen is found in water, but it takes more energy to extract it than you can get burning it. The laws of physics won't bend. You can use solar energy to extract hydrogen, but you'd be better off using an efficient battery. And it's much easier.
Perhaps the best way to utilize your vehicles without petroleum is to pull the engine & transmission out and hitch it to a team of horses or oxen. By the way, oxen are just cattle trained to pull. If you're good with animals and have room, you might want to plan for this eventuality. Most of us will probably be using the most efficient animal power - human.
I'm not suggesting a return to slavery. Quite the opposite, I'm saying it would be good for each of us to take direct responsibility for the energy we need for transportation. Walking more would lead to reduced health costs as well. So will the single most efficient tool for moving a person from one place to another, the bicycle.
Now is the time to get a good bicycle and get used to riding it. When the inevitable crunch comes, you'll be ready for it.
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