Replace Oil with Renewable Energy

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OIL AND RENEWABLE ENERGY?
Oil is a carbon-laden fossil fuel that was built up over the course of millions of years. Imagine the billions of living organisms who, at the end of their lifespan, sank to the prehistoric seafloor where intense pressure and temperature created the fossil fuels that we are so dependent upon today. When we rely on fossil fuels, extracting them from the Earth and expelling carbon, we fundamentally disrupt the balance of the Earth that’s been developed over the course of millions of years.
THE DIFFERENCE
Renewable energy is, you guessed it, renewable! By relying on energy sources like wind, sun, hydro, and geothermal to power our civilization, we are creating a resilient system. Unlike oil and other fossil fuels, renewables are generated in the here and now and leave no trace. Just as plants photosynthesize light from the sun, renewable energy sources allow us to stay connected with nature as we draw the life force for our homes and our society.
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES PROVIDE AN OFF RAMP
Renewables provide an avenue out of the environmental degradation that is created by our insatiable need for oil. You’ve certainly heard of the catastrophes that occur aboveground. For instance, in the form of air pollution, which reduces global life expectancy by three years and is known to cause a whole slew of health issues like asthma and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, methods like fracking are known to contaminate ponds, lagoons, and underground aquifers, leading to further negative health effects like birth defects and cancer.
In addition to the implications that drilling holds for human health, it is also extremely detrimental to aquatic life. Oil spills from offshore oil rigs, pipelines, and damaged tankers harm marine life and create dead zones in the ocean. And if the environment doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, think of the wars that have been waged in the name of this resource; think of the lives lost and the political instability that it has spawned in so many struggling nations.
TRANSITIONING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
Transitioning to renewable energy cannot happen overnight, but it's the key to fostering a resilient future for humanity. We will be better equipped to weather crises (natural disasters, pandemics, etc.) if we use more renewable energy. We can utilize renewable energy in the form of decentralized grids / micro-grids, and even off-grid technologies, which are better equipped to weather crises than the huge, centralized grids that we rely upon today.
When the central energy grid goes out, it creates all kinds of problems, like what Texas just experienced with the double whammy of no power and no water.
It doesn't have to be this way. We have the technology to make this transition, and it is happening now, but we need to move faster.
Embracing renewable energy provides resilience, as your energy production system is in your hands and your energy source is abundant and FREE. Read on to learn how people like you can help the world move in the right direction!
Treehugger.com outlines how you can start by implementing green energy in your very own home!
Ensure Energy Efficiency in the Home
First things first, before you even consider switching to green energy sources, lighten the load
on your energy bills, and on the planet by making simple changes to promote household energy efficiency. Taking simple steps like purchasing energy efficient appliances (like Energy Star), turning off lights and electronics when not in use, and only running the washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load, you will be making the most of the energy that you already have!
Choose / Design a Home with Energy Efficient Qualities
If you are in the process of looking for a home or building your own, keep in mind that it’s a good idea for your home to have built-in energy efficient qualities like good insulation and passive solar design. This way, you will not need to buy as much energy from the centralized grid, and you won’t need to purchase as large of a solar power system when you decide to make the transition.
Explore Green Power Options from the Grid
Seeing as how more and more companies provide green energy alternatives, call your current provider to see if wind and solar are options for you! If you are based in the U.S. you can refer to the EPA’s Green Power Partner Map to see if there are any renewable energy providers in your area.
Implement Renewable Energy Systems in Your Home
If you’ve followed some of the earlier steps to lighten your energy load, you should be on your way to meeting all your energy needs with renewables! You may find that you want to produce your own energy in the form of solar, wind power, or geothermal. You could also invest in a solar hot water heater and a ground source heat pump (which capitalizes upon the Earth’s consistent temperature to efficiently heat and cool buildings)! If you’re lucky, you may find yourself in an area where you can sell any excess energy you produce back to the grid!
Aside from any changes you make in your own home, seek to have a broader impact by following some actions suggested by the Clean Grid Alliance:
Talk to Your Electric Utility Companies About Renewables
Why stop at obtaining green energy for your home—why not consider it for your business or workplace as well? If they have yet to make the transition to renewables in your area, approach them as valued customer and express your support for cleaner energy. Join the ranks of the
two-thirds of Americans support cleaner energy.
The tide is shifting in favor of renewables!
Contact Your Representatives
The Clean Grid Alliance encourages you to check out their
fact sheets so you can include convincing statistics in your letters to elected officials, both on the local and national levels. Don’t hesitate to share your story, and why you are so inspired to spread the word about renewable energy!
Support Local Clean Energy Projects
Join groups dedicated to local clean energy initiatives to stay up-to-date and learn how to get involved. Attend public meetings and hearings so you can show support and voice your opinion!
In order to reduce our power needs, and our addiction to fossil fuels, we need to LIGHTEN THE LOAD of our homes, buildings, businesses, manufacturing processes, farming practices, and transportation sectors.
We can do this by building smarter, more efficient buildings that do not require as much heating or cooling, by re-using our water, by eradicating planned obsolescence, by creating magnetic public transportation, and a whole host of other solutions. In short, we need to design down our consumption as a society. The solutions for our future lie in many and varied solutions - Mirco-grids and off-grid technologies will surely be a part of this new future, but in order to achieve a future where we are living in harmony with the planet, we must first reduce our consumption of earth's finite resources.
VIDEOS TO INSPIRE
Vox
HOW AMERICA CAN LEAVE FOSSIL FUELS BEHIND IN ONE CHART
All of recorded human history has happened during a period in which the average global temperature didn’t change by more than 1 degree Celsius. But the burning of fossil fuels has triggered a temperature rise projected to exceed 3 degrees by the end of the century. It will be catastrophic. But it can be avoided if we massively scale back the burning of fossil fuels.
Vox
HOW TO FIX OUR UNRELIABLE POWER
Our electrical grid can be taken down by storms, fires, and squirrels. But there’s a better way to power the world.
CNBC
HOW THE U.S. CAN BILD A 100% CLEAN GRID
The U.S. electric grid is outdated. Designed for a world that runs on fossil fuels, our grid needs some major tech upgrades in order to transition to a more distributed, all-renewable system. That means smart, internet connected hardware working in tandem with advanced data analytics software to ensure that supply and demand are balanced, even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing.
