| Renewable Energy - Here at Last, Thank God | | | | power schemes, however, do not impact on the |
| Almighty, Here at Last | | | | environment in nearly the same way, and |
| Ever think about how many people there are in | | | | therefore are, or certainly ought to be, much |
| world today, and about how fast the world's | | | | more acceptable. There are renewable home |
| population is increasing? The per day increase is | | | | energy systems available, and some countries |
| estimated to be about 204,000. That's a lot of | | | | subsidise homeowners to install them. However, |
| people. | | | | it's more than fair to say that there is no huge |
| Next question: ever think about the resources all | | | | uptake of such systems, as any of us can see |
| those people are using and will continue to use in | | | | from simply driving around our neighbourhoods. I |
| increasing amounts each day, month and year? | | | | think this is partly inertia on most of our parts, |
| Best not too really, especially if you want to sleep | | | | and partly because the upfront cost is |
| well. Here's the basic fact or people v resources: | | | | unaffordable to many of us. |
| people numbers are increasing, resources are | | | | Let's address some of the ways in which such |
| dwindling, at least the ones we love to use, like oil | | | | systems might gain more public acceptance:o |
| and carbon fuels such as coal. Most experts also | | | | couldn't governments divert funds on a much |
| accept that these fossil fuels are heating the | | | | greater scale to home/community rather than |
| atmosphere, creating global warming. So, although | | | | national energy solutions? Of course they could. |
| these resources are getting scarcer, either | | | | Yes, there will be resistance from existing energy |
| actually or economically, they're doing more and | | | | companies, but aren't they becoming dinosaurs |
| more damage on the way out! Doesn't seem fair, | | | | anyway?o More funding allied with public education |
| really. | | | | campaigns ("Think Small!" "Save on Energy Costs!" |
| All of this raises a pretty obvious question: why | | | | etc) would likely have a very positive effect.o |
| on earth (pun intended) don't we use fuels and | | | | More subsidies for those households who use |
| resources that are renewable, such as the sun, | | | | renewable energy would be attractive, perhaps in |
| water and wind. Now, you might say that we are, | | | | the form of reduced local body taxes.o Tax |
| and to an extent I'd have to agree with you. | | | | breaks and assistance for the companies |
| After all, we've had hydro-electric energy for | | | | supplying the systems would attract innovators |
| decades. But the downside of this is that we're | | | | and entrepreneurs into the market, resulting in |
| running out of rivers to put dams on, plus the | | | | smaller, more efficient renewable energy |
| fact that by damming rivers we often create | | | | systems.o Make the installation of renewable |
| huge environmental problems, such as flooding of | | | | energy systems compulsory in new homes. |
| towns, destruction of natural habitats and so on. | | | | Increased home costs? Yes, but look at the huge |
| (Not to mention that many countries don't have | | | | saving on energy operating costs. |
| rivers to dam anyway!). | | | | It is a mantra to many that there are no |
| Nuclear energy is good, efficient and kind on | | | | problems in life, only solutions. I'm not sure that's |
| resources, but it does have its own set of issues | | | | always true, but with respect to energy we all |
| which are fundamental, such as where to put | | | | have to make the current problem an |
| spent fuel rods. Not in my backyard, thanks. | | | | opportunity, because we have no choice. The |
| There are also wind farms and solar heating sites, | | | | energy sources we have taken for granted all our |
| but they do not contribute hugely to energy | | | | lives are running out and/or are environmentally |
| supplies. | | | | unacceptable. Unless we address the issue in a |
| So, is it all doom and gloom? I don't think so. It | | | | meaningful way, lack of energy could be a real |
| seems to me that the answer is to stop thinking | | | | issue for succeeding generations. I applaud all the |
| big, and instead think small. Renewable energy | | | | work going on to develop new energy sources |
| sources, such as the sun and the wind, can be | | | | (such as battery or hydrogen powered vehicles) |
| used in small scale as well as large scale | | | | but to a very large extent the ability to turn our |
| operations. (In fact, there is large scale resistance | | | | energy problems into solutions already exists: sun, |
| to large scale wind farms, because of their | | | | wind and, to a lesser extent, water. |
| perceived ugliness and adverse environmental | | | | Imagine a future where every household has its |
| impact.) | | | | own renewable energy source. Sounds great to |
| Small scale ie home or community sun and wind | | | | me! |