by Kate Clark

Created on: August 29, 2007

Renewable energy was hailed as the next big thing. The revolution, we were saved from ourselves. But now those things that were to save the earth are being held back by Governments and forces profiting from the oil industry. The punch line is that until the oil runs out, no global action will be taken. The answer is to take baby steps. Instead of trying to convert entire countries over to shaky renewable energy sources, which would require a complete break down of the system by which our social and economic networks run.

We need to make it easy for every family to be carbon neutral. To be able to add it to the list of things we do without thinking. Pick up the groceries, drop off the kids, buy cat food, drop off the car to be converted to electric. There are many sources of energy that could be used to run a car, but all with their fall backs. Solar: the sun isn't always shining. Wind: its not always windy. Biopellets: not efficient enough in a burner that size.
However, should you have a roof of solar panels, a couple of wind turbines and a biofuel burner with a turbine under the hopper to harness the gravitational potential energy of the falling pellets and the turbine turned by the steam generated. I count at least 5 inputs of power with that combination, maybe not all that powerful individually but combined could they power a car? quite possibly. If there was an affordable, easily accessible way of exchanging your engine, more people would. It's not the idea of saving our world, but the inconvenience that is off putting.
People are easing their consciences with carbon credits and offsetting, with the idea that because someone else is emitting less, they can emit it instead, but surely if everyone used less and there were no such things as carbon credits, we would make progress instead of staying where we are. To convert cars would be such a massive step, millions of carbon credits saved, but then if everyone offset their carbon emissions as well, we'd be taking steps two at a time while currently we are hardly limping.
So when your local garage offers an exchange, to convert your car to electricity in exchange for your old engine, which can then be recycled, be sure to take them up on it, then go home and plant a tree, or buy a piece of rain forest, and feel better for it. Imagine a world in which people aren't badgered by their consciences, surely we'd smile more.
One more thing to think about, if planes fly above the clouds, they are always in sunshine. Cover the wings in solar panels and run the lights in the cabin off them. Its definitely a start.

Learn more about this author, Kate Clark.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.