Energy is everywhere. It's in the sunlight that turns night into day. It's in the engine that warms your car, and the air conditioner that cools it. It's in the display screen that's allowing you to read this web page. It's even inside you, your body converting the energy stored in the food you eat into the energy that allows you to walk, breath, grow and even think.
While most green energy production and projects are large-scale operations like wind farms and hydroelectric dams, an increasing number of "off-grid" applications are being developed as well. These smaller uses of renewable energy are ideal for remote and rural areas where conventional energy sources are unavailable.
Energy is necessary to all life on Earth, from the smallest
one-celled amoeba to the largest whale in the ocean. And that's why we all need
to think of ways of conserving the energy we have, and making the best use of
the energy we'll use in the future.
Green energy is clean energy. Green energy is renewable, sustainable, and
eco-friendly. It's as much about the energy we don't use (and don't waste) as it
is about what we do use. It's about doing more with less, saving money, and more
importantly, saving the health of our planet for future generations.
Green energy meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Fossil fuels are a declining, finite resource. The burning of these fuels like gasoline and coal pollutes the air, and adds to the Greenhouse Effect, which most scientists agree is warming the Earth's atmosphere.
Green energy sources, on the other hand, are infinite and sustainable, and don't pollute the atmosphere (or pollute much less than fossil fuels). These renewable sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, biofuels, tidal energy and geothermal power.
The United States, along with many other countries of the world, is making an investment in renewable energy. Billions of dollars are being spent on the development of new wind and solar technology, with the goal of making the US energy independent sometime in the not-to-distant future.
So if you haven't given green energy much thought in the past, now's a good time to take a second look. There's a lot we can all do as consumers, and you don't have to buy a hybrid car to make a difference. Insulating your home is a good way to save energy, along with buying more energy efficient appliances. And get out on that bike if the weather's nice, or take public transportation to work if you're able.
It all adds up to less fuel burned, and less hydrocarbons pumped into the atmosphere. Ultimately the planet - and future generations - will be glad we made the effort to make green energy a way of life, not just a slogan.
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Solar Panels Double strollers are great for transporting two infants in safety and comfort. And with today's strong, lightweight materials, they're a breeze to push through even the tightest of spaces. Read more |
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Hybrid Cars Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius and the Ford Escape Hybrid save more than money and gasoline - they also help preserve our air and our dwindling natural resources. Read more |
Share your story If you have a tip or an energy conservation story you'd like to share with our readers, we'd love to hear from you! Use our contact page to email us your story.
