Since 1750, according to the smart historians, we have been relying on fossil fuels like coal and oil for our every need. As the years have gone by and as we have become smarter, we have invented new ways to use energy to make our lives easier. While this has been going on, we have ignored those scientists and environmentalists who tell us that the consequent greenhouse gas emissions are damaging the very world we live in.
Only in relatively recent times have we have finally woken up and understood. We have caused considerable damage so far and are now in danger of not being able to slow our reliance on fossil fuels sufficiently to enable us to reverse and repair this damage. Now we can clearly see the benefits of renewable energy and know that helping the environment through tangible change is a necessity.
Unfortunately, only about 5% of our energy needs are satisfied by renewable energy forms such as solar, wind, water and geothermal. It is certainly possible for us to generate enough electricity from such sources for our own consumption, but again unfortunately, it is prohibitively expensive for us to invest in such systems for our homes alone. Solar energy, as an option, is perhaps most often used by home owners, especially in sunnier climes, where they can put panels on the roof to help heat water and run certain appliances.
Some appliance manufacturers are working on the development of “smart” products that can be run individually from external, renewable energy sources. In certain cases, a solar panel may be able to run a refrigerator, for example.
All governments are waking up and taking notice of the problems and are providing appropriate funds to help pay grants and incentives. Home owners who are more willing to invest in taking steps to retrofit existing systems to replace energy hog appliances will likely get grants from the taxpayer. This is a good investment, as in the long run, a lower reliance on raw energy needs can only be viewed as a security enhancement from a wider point of view.
In its most basic form, we can use a type of renewable energy as one of many ways to save electricity around the home. If the climate that you live in allows this, why not consider using solar energy to dry your clothes? A typical clothes washer and dryer cycle can add to your energy bill considerably. Remember that it is a question of taking baby steps to make a difference and we can all get there if we apply ourselves in this way.
If you cannot directly introduce the concept of renewable energy to your home, the next best thing is to insist that the companies you patronise become more sustainable. Look for information on companies that favour renewable energy sources. As it is such good public relations, companies that do are falling over themselves to let us know that they are good corporate citizens. Hold them all to account!
