My attraction to renewable energy is a selfish one. As
energy costs keep rising I want to be able to heat my water
and keep my home warm in the winter and cool in the summer
without having to think whether I can afford it.
Going "green" has a cost implication. As much as
environmentalists and others with vested interests try to
sugar coat the pill, it all comes down to money. I want to
see a return on my investment.
There are hard questions to be asked such as:
- What is its initial cost?
- What are the maintenance costs?
- How long will it take before I see a return on my
investment?
- What are the environmental costs involved?
- What are the human costs involved?
I believe that it is important to see and quantify, both
the positive and negative effects of renewable energy.
The costs in money terms are easily quantifiable. Numbers
are impersonal. They remove the emotions from the
equation. However, it is well known that while the numbers
may tell us one thing, one should proceed with caution as
they can be skewed by government policies including
subsidies, tax rebates and hidden taxes such as import
duties to make certain products less competitive than those
pushed by the lobbies.
Whatever your views on the matter, as I've stated before, I
think its important to weigh all the evidence before
barging forward in the name of 'green'!
We really need to have a frank and honest discussion on the
true environmental impact of some of the renewable energy
products. The direct and indirect environmental
consequences of bio diesel crops for instance, causing vast
deforestation of jungle in places such as Brazil and
Indonesia, and the loss of all the bio diversity this
entails.
While soybeans, like corn, had some great potential for
fuel however people are starting to notice the direct
negative impact of using food crops for something other
than food. Consider spiraling food prices and the food
riots in various parts of the world about a year ago.
Apart from the above consider the human cost where in four
separated cases more than 1,700 sugar cane workers were
rescued from forced labor and slavery conditions in Brazil.
I really wonder whether these are isolated cases or the
tip of the iceberg. Or are they simply the so-called
"collateral damage" of the environmentalist cause.
Let us not delude ourselves, there are some rather
unpleasant truths behind a number of products together with
the companies and the politics behind them.
I am not a conspiracy theorists but having lived in various
parts of the world I know that most people in the west
don't really give a damn about others in far off places,
working for a pittance or as slaves, just as long as their
standard of living is not affected.
In spite of the above I still believe that there is a
future in renewable energy solutions. But I believe that
we should include an element of ethics in the mix and
sanction companies that destroy the environment and enslave
others.
I don't believe that government subsidized ventures, such
as these massive wind farms (which are from "green"), are
the answer as these have a way of skewing and often
nullifying any economic benefits to the general population
at large. Government subsidized programs often mean that
those close to the politicians normally take the gravy
leaving only a few crumbs to the rest of us.
What I believe in is the micro-generation of home energy
generation, with each home producing more than enough
electricity for its need.
Think about it! Imagine having your own home power
generating plant producing enough electricity for your home
and to power your own electric car. You could even produce
some extra power to light up some of the street lights in
your neighborhood. This would indeed be a "green
solution" as they would reduce the need for electricity
pylons and power lines as well as that of petrol and diesel.
----------------------------------------------------
Alain Prudhomme s interests include the various
technologies that allow for the micro-generation of
renewable energy for homes and the freedom such
technologies avail the ordinary person. He also writes
about the contentious and controversial issues surrounding
global warming and climate change. You can find more
resources at http://www.renewablehomeenergysolutions.com
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