Let’s put the whole idea of “man-made climate change” and “global warming” aside for a moment. Using hydrocarbons (fossil fuels) worked well to get the industrialized world to this stage but these are limited resources. Now we are aware of new technologies, and the technologies with most immediate potential are renewable energies. Renewable energies rely on power already existing inside the Earth’s ecosphere: the energy is there whether it is used or not.

For individual home owners, “switching” to renewable energy sources can make them energy independent. They will be generating all the electricity they need for their home and possibly be able to sell surplus to the grid.

For businesses, it is a smart investment. Once the business no longer pays for its energy needs, it can reallocate the funds towards other endeavors. The larger the business, the more sense it makes, since larger businesses tend to consume huge amounts of electricity. The investment is also good for public relations and company image.

An increase in the number of energy independent homes and businesses will take strain off the power grid. In summer the use of air conditioners will not be a burden. In winter the costs of heating will be less for both the consumer and the supplier.

It will be less likely that populations will face power “brownouts” or “blackouts” if electrical production is spread out. If there are enough energy independent homes and businesses, the chance of grid failure during a natural disaster is reduced. Because of this, there will be less pressure on emergency services, shelters, and energy industry personnel.

Perhaps you have heard of the massive blackout in Rio de Janeiro on November 10^th? The second-largest hydroelectric dam in the World failed, and millions were plunged into darkness. A situation like this makes it very difficult to maintain basic necessities: hospitals, cold food storage, businesses, computer information systems, etc. There is money lost in many areas.

Apparently there was another, albeit smaller, power loss in Rio de Janeiro on November 25^th as part of the system was taken “off line” for repairs. While you might think that hydroelectric power is a renewable energy - and it can be - there are many hydroelectric stations that use coal as part of the energy generation process.

On the other hand, I have mentioned that Spain recently broke the record for electricity generation through wind turbines. Wind gusts bolstered production to create 53% of the entire country’s electricity needs – as much as 11 nuclear power plants. The surplus energy was exported and used to create power reserves in the country’s hydroelectric dams. Oddly enough this event occurred on the weekend right before Rio’s blackout.

Under the current system of acquiring hydrocarbons from limited sources, there is a mentality of “lack” - that there is “not enough”. Huge profits then are made by energy companies who control power grids. All that money getting funneled to a small portion of the population and industrialized structure is incredibly inefficient. The reasons for hoarding resources are many, and are very old (indeed ancient), but we are starting to see that there is strain on global society and it is really to no one’s advantage.

Using renewable energy, if properly implemented, would create a surplus of energy. While this would cause a great deal of economic and industrial restructuring, the question then is: with a surplus of energy, where does industry turn its attention? Perhaps this would finally give us the time and energy required to put towards improving quality of life on the Earth and attention to efforts off of the Earth.

Rio de Janeiro power blackout November 10^th, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8353878.stm

Rio de Janeiro power loss November 25^th, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/25/rio-breakdown-electricity-supply-brazil

Spain’s wind farms exceed nation’s needs November 8^th, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/09/spain-national-record-power-windfarms