The Cost of Energy

The new flourescent bulbs to the right use less energy
than the traditional bulb on the left.

         When it comes to the discussion on the cost of energy some may think energy is too cheap while others may think it is too expensive. I personally have not yet experienced the cost of energy yet because I have never paid an energy bill.  I am sure once I do start paying an energy I will start to think it is too expensive, but I think that will eventually teach me how to control the amount of energy I am using.  I will have to learn how to conserve energy. The word “conservation” is not a dirty or scary word. It is a word that I think everyone should be familiar with.  When “Jimmy Cardigan” suggested that the United States should start conserving energy, many reacted in a negative way. I think a big part of their reaction was that they were not as educated on the conservation of energy as we are now. If someone had suggested some strange unknown idea I would have reacted in a negative way as well. When people suggest conservation now, most people accept it and try to do their part. I personally try to make an effort to make sure I am not wasting valuable energy.

            When it comes to fossil fuels I think that it is in our planets best interest to start figuring out ways to get along without them. I know that there are plenty of fossil fuels to last for the rest of our lifetime but it is selfish to only think about ourselves when it is our grandchildren and great grandchildren that have to live with our careless actions. I also realize that the process of creating a new way to steer away from fossil fuels will be long and expensive, but we have plenty of time.  It should definitely be a major goal of our government.

            Renewable sources of energy are catching on all over the world, they have great potential, but not without the downsides. I think, of all the renewable energy sources the ones that use wind and water have the most potential. I know that these may not seem practical as a replacement for all energy sources, but they are a start. All energy they produce is natural and does not impact the environment in a major way. The wind turbines can take up a major area, but the ground below could be used for farming. Dams are also a way to create energy, that may disrupt the surrounding ecosystem, but if it was destroyed there would not be prolonged permanent effects that nature could not fix itself. 

Gas Prices are Sky High!!

   I could start taking steps to reduce my energy footprint as soon as tomorrow. I could ride with my sister to school instead of us driving two different cars and I could bring a reusable water bottle instead of buying a new one. And within the next five years I could invest in a smaller car with fewer emissions than a big SUV. If I have children in the next five years I can educate them on how to conserve energy. There are numerous amounts of things that I, and hopefully others can do in our efforts to reduce our energy footprint.