Energy Conservation and Programs for Your Neighborhood

One can let others know about these resources and the benefit of them by implementing a sustainability plan. I propose using the following sustainability plan to both educate others about solar and wind power as well as begin transforming current power facilities into "Green" facilities by using renewable resources. In the first four months consult environmental websites and academic journals to research the most effective cost efficient way to harness power from wind and solar energy sources as well as the health and environmental benefits.

After research is completed it should take no more than three months to develop an educational program having to do with solar and wind power. It will be important to educate others of the importance of using renewable resources and explaining the options including solar and wind power. In doing so you can teach about the health and environmental benefits as well as the cost effectiveness of using renewable resources as opposed to non-renewable resources; how these resources can replenish themselves and how to implement these resources into our current lives with little to no difficulty.

Next, one should attend monthly environmental meetings and presentations to become familiar with the program. Then by speaking with the board of these meetings set a date and time for a presentation to be given at each area or community. Once this is done one needs to invite the community to the meeting by either mailings, fliers or other journalistic means to reach out to the community for optimum audience. While doing this it would be a good idea to reach out to the local governmental personnel such as those in charge of environmental resources, energy effectiveness and financial management. Taking special time to invite them to the proper presentation; this will help set the motion for implementing the sustainability plan in that community.

After the presentation has been given one must follow up on the contacts made with governmental officials as well as those in the current energy field. It may be necessary to give the presentation again for a group of employees or planners at a energy facility to help them understand the importance and help them implement a plan to transform their facility to a "green facility". It will also be important to reach out to the government and lobby for funds or tax breaks for those transforming to renewable resources. If this is done there will be more people interested in implementing the transformation. This will take approximately 6 months to complete.

Benefits of this plan include a healthier environment, a reduction if not complete halt in pollution due to the use of non-renewable resources, and cost effective energy for the U.S. if not the world. The challenges however will be with the government and receiving help for those attempting to transform to renewable energy within their community, city, or state. The transformation can be a costly matter and many energy facilities would have difficulty transforming to solar or wind power without assistance of some kind. If the government would be willing to help assist these companies by either loans, grants or tax reductions because of their willingness and actions to transform to renewable energy then it would be a great incentive to these companies often making the decision much easier for the owners and CEO's.

This plan will be effective with the proper support from government, society and global leaders. If society begins demanding things of the government such as a healthier environment and clean energy to be used in homes, schools, and businesses government officials would be forced to look into implementing more environmentally friendly energy standards; at one point in time the government under President Jimmy Carter saw the importance of using renewable energy and he had solar energy panels installed at the White House. In seeing this importance the challenge will be educating the rest of the world that renewable energy is just as important in their piece of the world. As far a governmental support; the government implementing tax cuts and other monetary incentives to energy companies when they transform their facilities into renewable energy facilities will draw others into joining the White House being environmentally friendly.

In conclusion it is necessary for the U.S. to understand the difference between non-renewable and renewable resources as well as the impact that they have on the environment, economy, and health of our citizens. When this is understood then serious research can be done to understand the importance of using renewable energy both in the U.S and throughout the world. After renewable resources are researched educational plans can be implemented to help citizens, and businesses alike to transform their energy intake and usage. This knowledge can then be used to reach out to energy facilities and incentives can be awarded to these companies if and when they transform their facilities into "green" energy facilities by implementing a type of renewable resource to power their energy facilities. There are many renewable resources that can be transformed into energy such as Solar, Wind, Biomass, hydrogen, Geothermal, Ocean, and Hydropower; with the proper research energy facilities can decide which type or types of energy source is the most cost effective and productive in their area and the switch would be partially funded by governmental incentives. The cost would be minimal to the economy and prices would be approximately the same for customers as they are with non-renewable resources. Many citizens do not realize the looming danger of non-renewable resource shortages; however if they were informed they would demand a switch from their energy companies so they would not be without the proper energy resources in the time of ultimate need. Many modern day essentials would not be accomplished without the proper energy; when will the time come when someone will take responsibility and take a stand for renewable resources?

In the United States today energy has become a way of life. It is relied on for schools, homes, and businesses alike; and many essentials would not be accomplished in a modern world without it. In our world we have advanced in so many ways, yet we still rely on fossil fuels and other non-renewable resources to provide this energy. These resources are being depleted at alarming rates, yes there are plenty of resources for our generation yet the thing we must think of are there enough to keep the world going for future generations. If we devise and implement a plan changing our current electric facilities from using non-renewable resource to using renewable resources we will promote a healthier world and lower pollution. In doing this we will have the energy needed to fuel our world for generations to come.

In present day U.S. approximately 71.5% of energy is from non-renewable resources such as coal, oil and natural gasses. While we have enough of these sources to last through our generations it is approximated that oil and natural gas at present rate will last only 70 years at most, while coal will last longer at most 200 years if usage rates do not grow at all. Unfortunately, every year we are using more energy world wide than that of previous years. Not only are these resources not able to reproduce themselves, but the extraction and use of these resources harm the environment and cause pollution; this pollution is destroying our ozone layer as well as harming our water sources, wildlife and many other aspects of our known world. The question now is how would we go about reducing the use of non-renewable resources and using readily available renewable resources.

Back in the day before electric was brought into the homes we relied on natural resources to complete everyday tasks. Pioneers relied on the sun to light their day, the wind to cool their homes and the rains and streams to water their crops; the sun never failed to rise, nor the wind to blow. If the U.S were to once again rely on these never failing resources people would no longer have to wonder just how long their fuel will last. Many researchers have spoken about then inefficiency or cost of solar energy and how non-renewable resources are much more inexpensive. However recent research has developed a new type of solar panel that is both cost effective and energy efficient. Theses panels are known as large area solar cells. By using solar energy harmful emissions can be reduced by approximately 20% at no extra cost to the economy.

Wind energy is created when large turbines are moved by the wind, which makes the generator turn and create electricity. These turbines require large spaces of land and often are built on plots called wind farms. Research has shown that there is enough wind to provide twice the expected global electricity demands for the year 2020 and that even if only 10% of the energy needs were met by wind power there would be approximately 10 billion tons of carbon emissions omitted from our environment. Steve Kretzmann, coordinator for the Greenpeace Global Warming Campaign, shared his point of view: "One of the greatest myths surrounding clean energy is that it is not ready to do the job. Renewables are ready- the technical barriers are almost entirely removed. The true barriers to energy reform are now and always have been, political." In looking at the following chart one can find that Solar and Wind energy are comparable to that of our current usage of non-renewable resources of Coal and natural gas; one can also see that these methods are less expensive than nuclear power which is also use more so than renewable sources. So with all this information how