Dump the energy companies and save the earth.
Do you know how much of your budget goes on power?
The cost of power just keeps on rising along with consumption. Is there anything you can do about it? You bet your boots there is. But the main thrust needs to be towards renewable energy.
Renewable energy is the only answer. Governments are paying lip service only to this vexed question; you only have to listen to Al Gore to know this to be true.
What do we mean by renewable energy?
Since the majority of the population has no intention of giving up the luxuries we have, the alternative is to look for cleaner methods of getting what we want. This includes changing fuel sources and cutting back on the amount of pollution that we personally make. Individuals can carpool, pick up trash, be more careful about the products they buy, and continue to educate others about pollution.
Education is a huge factor when it comes to lowering the levels of pollution. In some cases the government has had to step in and make regulations so that that our rivers and the air can stay as clean as possible. There are serious fines and even jail time associated with not following these guidelines. In other instances the government offers nice incentives for those that do lower pollution voluntarily. These incentives are also cash value and they are offered to both households and businesses.
The irony is the worst cases of pollution are due to government policies worldwide. You only have to look at the power industry, which continues to burn fossil fuels, causing huge emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Some efforts are being made to use cleaner fuels like nuclear power but that has a good deal of opposition as well. Renewable energy is the answer. Harnessing the wind, more use of solar power and of course the power of the sea.
However, the needs of big business always come first and of course there is an argument for that, especially in these difficult economic times.
What can individuals do to help?
Well the programs like re-cycling are well documented and a lot is being achieved in this area, mainly thanks to local initiatives.
How about generating your own electricity? Yes it may seem absurd at first but many people are now doing exactly that. You can go the conventional route and have a company install solar panels to your home but this is expensive and not usually cost effective.
There are several good quality guides available which show you how to build your own windmill and build solar panels very cheaply. This can be achieved for under $200. They even show you how to build portable units for use with an RV or when camping.
If we are to get to grips with pollution and the every rising cost of energy, then renewable energy is the only way forward.
