Can Clean Energy Make A Difference?
One topic that has been part of the national conversation in a big way over the last decade is the environment and humanity’s impact on it. There has been a relentless amount of research and time devoted towards seeing the real impact that things like fossil fuels and greenhouse gasses have on the planet. While there is still some debate in terms of the extent of any damage done, the reality is that there is a change going on with the planet at large, and it’s humanity’s responsibility to help clean up some of the mess it created.
Ways That Clean Energy Impacts The Environment
Fortunately, there hasn’t been any shortage of companies, governments, and activists who have been at the forefront of the clean energy movement. There has already been a lot of progress for the development and continued use of efficient sustainable energy, along with its long-term impact on society and the planet at large.
There Is A Market For Change
Especially in the last decade, there has been a bigger push to bring clean energy to the mainstream. This is being done at a few different levels, from more consumer friendly choices, to large-scale change in the energy industry. People want to make a difference, which is the most important component to any major campaign. There are so many options available, including electric or hydrogen cell powered vehicles, easily accessible solar energy for home use, and even clothing and other consumer goods that are made entirely out of recycled material. On the smallest level, each one of these things help reduce a person’s carbon footprint.
Reduces Dependence on Finite Materials
Even if someone still sees fossil fuels as the most efficient way to generate energy, the lingering issue is that fossil fuels are finite. They have an expiration date, even though we can’t necessarily predict when that date will be. When things like oil or natural gas run out, the world needs to already be independent of them. The time to research a new way to power the cars that get people to work isn’t a few years before gas runs out. That’s why so many automakers produce electric vehicles, or other big companies have embraced wind energy as a method of generating electricity. Scientists are doing their part to ensure that we become independent of things like fossil fuel long before it will become an issue.
Consumers Can Look Beyond the Grid
One of the biggest battles that energy companies are engaging is in being the ‘go to’ source for homeowners around the country. In the past, the government had pretty rigid control over where any given home would get its electricity from. Now, thanks to deregulation, states are giving power back to the consumer, and allowing them to partner with various energy providers who give them a choice of where they actually get their electricity from. This flexibility means that a typical American homeowner can now decide if the electricity they get is generated from a hydro plant, a wind farm, or a solar farm! This choice helps demonstrate the shift in way people see their energy and the way they treat the environment.