Green Energy The Next Five Years
Well, if it isn’t enough that the Europeans and various other parts of the world consider us to be “Ugly Americans,” each one of us need to do are part for the environment. Did you know that America only makes up 4% of the world’s population, but consumes of around 25% of the world’s energy. It doesn’t matter if you think we’re greedy, need a lesson in green energy, or simply Americans are ugly when it comes to energy, the point is it’s time to change.
The rest of the world right now is forming a plan to reduce their overall CO2 levels by 20% before reaching the year 2020. This is a huge claim, and it means all the countries who are a part of the European Union are taking a monumental step. It also means they’ll be utilizing solar and wind energy a lot more than before. In fact, to this point today, countries such as Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and others have invested billions to make this happen.
And what was the response from the Americans? Nothing…crickets. It seems that our politicians are too busy arguing over whether climate change is, in fact, a reality to propose any new legislation that might help cut our dependence on traditional forms of energy. But they seem to be missing the point. Even if climate change isn’t a reality, the fact that the United States has 1/25th of the world population and consumes 1/4th of the world’s energy is shameful and embarrassing. It is also true that many forms of alternative energy are more efficient and less expensive than traditional ones.
So what are we supposed to do with all these problems? The first thing is to understand that the citizens of the United States have to make the change themselves. We all have to work hand in hand and do our part to change the environment for the better. All it takes is someone like you to start a cycle, tell all your friends and family, and then hope that they do the same thing. In the end you will save money on bills, help the environment, and feel better about yourself as an American.
Solar Power - With the recent increases in electricity prices throughout the United States, it just makes sense to install solar electricity panels at home. Not only is solar power clean, sustainable and free, it is also less expensive to install than it’s ever been. In fact many people with solar panels find that they can depend on them for all or most of their electricity needs. The only drawback is that solar power does not produce electricity on cloudy days or at night. That is why many people who’ve invested in solar panels also choose to put in a wind turbine as well.
Wind Turbines - Wind turbines are nothing more than small windmills that are used for producing electricity. As we mentioned, they are also used in combination with solar electricity and they have proved extremely efficient at producing electricity. That is one reason the Europeans have invested so heavily in them. Another reason is that they are cheap. The average home wind turbine can be installed for only a few hundred dollars. They are nearly maintenance free and will produce electricity whenever the wind blows.
Hybrid Cars - Many people are reluctant to purchase hybrid cars since they are more expensive than your traditional vehicles. However, if you take a look at the big picture, it won’t be long before you get that money back by saving on gas. It’s quite possible to save around $1,500 a year in gas. What would you do with an extra $1,500 in your pocket? Then of course over a 10 year span you would be saving $15,000.
Fluorescent Lights - This may sound crazy, but simply placing your regular lights with fluorescent versions can definitely be more energy efficient. While you may not see a huge decline in your electricity costs upfront, over time you will realize the difference. These can last up to 10,000 hours, which is 10 times more than your average bulb. Best of all they can be recycled when they’ve been completely used.
Energy Efficient Windows - Taking the time to check the construction of your windows is extremely important at any time of the year. During the winter months your heat bill could run higher due to it taking longer to warm up your home. Why? These bad windows will allow the heat to seep out of your home and keep the electric running longer.
What it comes down to is you have to think about all your options when it comes to green energy. While you would benefit more by using them all, we understand you might just want to start out with one or two. However, by doing this and sharing it with others, Americans will be able to lower our overall energy consumption.
About the author: Jerry Dyess has been specializing in the Electricity market segment for the past 7 years. He has published many articles on Business Electric prices.
