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I will admit that I am not a major environmentalist. Sure, I recycle just like everybody else does, and I do my part to conserve water, electricity, propane…I am not about wasting anything. But I will admit that sustainable energy sounds expensive, and while I’m sure it’s environmentally-friendly, I truly have to wonder if it is beneficial for a typical homeowner in today’s economy.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
As I did the research, I was pleased to learn that in many cases, sustainable energy is worth the investment and pays for itself in the long run. Professionals like Douglas Healy have noted that the use of coal and nuclear plants are beginning to give way to more modern forms of energy from sources such as wind, solar, and natural gas. However, it should be noted that the transformation will not come overnight, and whenever a major change like this is in the works, a gradual transition is the best course of action in order to reduce strain on new systems and keep the price low for the consumers.
As this shift to sustainable energy is at its inception within the U.S., it is wise to look at both sides of the issue and examine closely the benefits and the challenges of this kind of energy. While reform is never easy, as this is potentially the future of energy in this country of ours, it is wise to know as much about it as possible.
Benefits of Sustainable Energy
Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the benefits of using renewable energy are widespread and worth considering.
- Sustainable energy does not emit gases that contribute to air pollution and what some call the “greenhouse effect.” Generating energy using these forms of energy reduce environmental exhaustion.
- Utilizing renewable energy that is widely available in our own country reduces our need for the harnessing of imported forms of energy. This makes us much potentially more self-sufficient as a nation.
- Jobs in manufacturing, installation, etc. will be created because of the transition to these sustainable forms of energy.
As wonderful as these particular benefits are, we know there are always challenges that have to be weighed as well. As was stated previously, change is never an easy process, and there may be a few “growing pains” along the way.
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Challenges of Sustainable Energy
- One of the most major concerns is the availability of power. As natural resources become a source of energy, we realize that we cannot control when and where these resources might actually be found and utilized. For example, solar power is only available when the sun is out during the day, and wind energy is not always constant when it comes to wind turbines. This means that energy integration using natural resources is challenging at best.
- The quality of the power is another concern that is raised. For some of the more high-powered equipment that is used by both companies and individuals, an interruption in the quality of that power could prove damaging and thus incur much higher costs than using the non-renewable energy sources to which we have grown accustomed. In order to make the switch, the quality of the power these resources provide must be able to be regulated appropriately.
- Another issue is that of an information deficit. Most of the people in this world have the mentality that “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” As a rule, people tend to be resistant to change. In order to make this transition effective, the masses must be educated about the benefits of using sustainable energy.
- One of the biggest challenges is the cost (something that doesn’t surprise me). The initial investment to make this upgrade can be quite prohibitive for the general population. While that money will eventually be recouped, convincing people and corporations to incur this expense can be quite difficult.
As we rely more and more on considerable quantities of energy to power us through each day, the future of energy may very well rest in that of sustainable energy. While I’m in no rush to implement this source of energy into my daily life, I am certainly open to the possibility in the future as long as the powers that be invest the time and resources that ensure that the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
