The Danish island of Samso and its 4,00 residents have almost completely erased their carbon footprint. Through a combination of wind, solar, and biomass 100% of their electricity is renewable and 70% of their heat is as well. In 1998 they set out on a 10 year plan to run on completely renewable. They achieved the 10 year goal in 5 years. Now if this little island can get it done (and has gotten it done), what the hell is the hold up for the rest of us? This is a great model of determination and proof that it produces results.
Lets keep the commentary relevant to the actual post. Nowhere on this blog will you ever find blind following of the “Green Fad”. I have been an advocate of renewable energy and recycling for years. I have never stated that it is perfect, nothing is.
However, let us be constructive on the point.
1. Aside from the use of some petroleum used in the manufacturing of both wind and solar panels, there is very little negative impact on the environment once they are produced. Wind installations are purposefully large so that they have a small impact on birds.
2. Solar panels on the side of a mountain or in an unused, or non farmable field is not detrimental to the environment. Once there is enough installations to cover an areas needs the production of these devices will slow down dramatically.
3. Strip mining is the process used to recover fossil fuels, really do not see the point behind that reference?!
4. No where in this post, or this site, does it mention hydroelectric as part of a solid sustainable initiative. It does mention biomass, however this is not in reference to powering cars through the use of the popular vegetable oil. Here is the definition:
Biomass energy, or bioenergy, is the ENERGY stored in non-fossil organic materials such as wood, straw, vegetable oils and wastes from the forest, agricultural and industrial sectors. Like the energy in fossil fuels, bioenergy is derived from SOLAR ENERGY that has been stored in plants through the process of photosynthesis. The principal difference is that fossil fuels require thousands of years to be converted into usable forms, while properly managed biomass energy can be used in an ongoing, renewable fashion. Municipal solid waste and sewage sludge can also be considered as biomass. For instance, the decomposition of organic wastes in landfill sites produces methane that can be converted into heat, electricity and possibly fuels.
Though I am not a fan of burning these substances to release the energy, harvesting the natural methane that they produce is a no brainer.
5. BP has nothing to do with this post. We are well aware that the oil driven companies are trying to cover up their companies main purpose with a green shell. We by no means support it, nor is it part of this post.
These are not hip non answers, but rather real solutions to real problems. As I stated before they are not perfect, but they are 98% better than what the world has relied on for centuries. Ignoring the improvement they will have on the world is parallel to doing nothing and letting the existing systems to stay in place.
Action driven understanding and problem solving is what induces change. Educating and understanding the problems, whatever they may be, is the first step to having any intelligent discourse on the subject. If the first step has not even been taking, then there is very little merit in the dialogue to follow. When the alternative to the problem results in significant change, then the alternative is worth pursuing, even if it is hip!
Self sustainability starts from within and is a matter of preference. I suggest stopping your use of trains, cars and even using the computer to comment on blogs if you are so 100% vehemently against the use of energy and are a self proclaimed Self-sustainability advocate.
Just a thought.