The Power is Yours - 3 Ways We Can Power Renewable Energy
- Ariana Marshall
- Nov 30, 2016
- 4 min read
So you voted and know that climate change is real. Yet, do you still feel powerless in facing that reality?
Image : Vertical Axis Wind Turbine by Wind Harvest International
Renewable energy is one of the solutions we have for both climate change and air pollution health issues. If you are still waiting on the confirmation of whether human beings are responsible – consider whether your waiting is worth the cost of inaction, the cost of human lives lost and the billions of economic losses from climate change in this major peer-reviewed 2015 EPA study - Climate Change in the United States: Benefits of Global Action.
Renewable energy makes countries around the world more financially resilient. From use in post-disaster and post- war conflict areas – renewable energy provides a continuity to life even after the worst scenarios. With the advent of crowdfunding emerging technologies, renewable energy cooperative financing, and low-cost buy in shares which deal directly with the major NIMBY(Not in my backyard) issues that most energy projects face - the financial returns on investment can also be a catalyst for improving the quality of life for the masses.
But we have to ask - What direction will the renewable energy market take with a changing U.S. government administration?
Answer - Your direction.
Captain Planet was popular for a reason – The power really is yours.
There is always something we can do but we have to get moving, now. The longer we wait, the higher the cost. We are only seeing the tip of the iceberg of the irreversible damage which fossil fuel consumption has on our climate, ecosystems and quality of life.
Broke or wealthy – we all shape the economy we live in.
How we spend our money daily shapes the renewable energy market because after all, what is a market without consumers?
How we earn a living drives the renewable energy market too. Every career and skillset has something to contribute to renewable energy innovation and adoption.
How? These Clean Energy Jobs and Career Planning Resources from the U.S. Department of Energy, includes map which lets you chart out opportunities in wind and solar.
Shape Your Green Economy
At Work
If you’ve researched the costs of renewable energy installation in your home, business or utility, you will find that costs are tied to your consumption of energy. Renewable energy will remain out of the price range for many if we do not reduce our energy consumption. Be the person who turns off the unnecessary lights in your workplace. Be the person who tracks electricity use and use this calculator to see how it compares to the emissions from driving a car, using incandescent light bulbs or land-filling our waste. Then, go tell it on the mountain (or have a meeting about it – whichever is easier).
EPA Green House Gas Equivalencies Calculator –
Do this and you will save your business unnecessary costs. Instant star employee status. Energy security meets job security.
2. Use products which have been manufactured or offset with renewable energy.
There are countless “Made with Renewable Energy” labels and then there are companies which simply tell you the story of how they are committed to renewable energy. This is one of the latest trends in green marketing which makes the case for future investment in renewable energy.
If you don’t have the money to invest in renewable energy encourage the companies which you are already investing in, to continue to do so. Your dollar is the most persuasive voting tool.
For an added push – complete customer service surveys or share on social media that their investment in renewable energy is the reason why you’ve chosen their product. It will matter even more to companies which invest in renewable energy when your dollar vote is public.
At Play
3. Explore and demo emerging technologies and products.
For every problem under the sun with renewable energy, green technology and conventional products – there is some company, entrepreneur or scientist developing a solution. We won’t know unless we explore and inventors won’t know (and sometimes won’t get the funding to continue their work) if we don’t try or click on articles about their technology. Even after years of prototyping and company investment – innovative technology still requires public buy-in.
There is a trend that many renewable energy technologies from the bladeless turbines (Vortex) to a kinetic energy capturing soccer ball (Unchartered Play)– are using crowdfunding to get their target audience to value what they are doing.This ensures that their products don’t flop when launched even if they are a good quality.
Aside from social media news sources – stay abreast about how emerging technologies are being tested in real life scenarios in the U.S. General Services Green Proving Ground Program here - http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/102491
You are Captain Planet.
If you are aware of the climate change issues the world is facing from accelerating rising seas by 2050 to loss of species diversity – you will understand more and more why we can’t also afford the cost of water and air pollution which coal, oil and natural gas extraction creates. With fossil fuels also blamed for the erosion of respect for treaties to protect indigenous land, disruption of ancestral burial grounds and disregard for cultural heritage at Standing Rock – there is no better time for each of us to move to action. Regardless of whether we have enough money to invest in renewable energy or we make the choice to reduce our energy consumption there is always something we can do.
If you were a fan of Captain Planet – you might be wondering where he is today and if pollution is not “Down to zero” yet – why isn’t he still out there leading the fight for the environmental cause.
The truth is that he is jaded and cynical because this work is not just for one person or even the 5 planeteers.
It belongs to all of us.
Renewable energy is the fuel and the power is ours.
- Ariana Marshall Ph.D.
Career Planeteer and Environmental scientist.
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