Perhaps this is too obvious to merit inclusion, but one of the biggest things you can do to help out with our energy problem is simply to drive less. Plan ahead; when you need to run errands, make a route that takes you to all the places you need to go in the most time-saving […]

There are thousands of energy companies, some better than others. Many new startups are dedicated to developing and selling green technologies, for instance solar and wind power companies. Instead of insisting on a maximum return from your investment dollars as your only criteria for investment, you can also look for companies that pro­mote environmentalism. You […]

Living in the suburbs entails long drives and big, autonomous homes, along with spacious yards and landscaping. All of this consumes inordinate amounts of energy. If you live in an urban environment, however, you can take advantage of mass transit and the amount of energy required for modu­lar and high-density living is much less than […]

In general, the smaller the home, the less energy the home consumes. Many large homes have long hallways and awkward layouts that are not conducive to maximizing space. A good small home can often feel every bit as spacious as a good-sized mansion, if the design is done well. My personal impression of large homes […]

Wind power is going to grow exponentially in the next few decades simply because it makes a tremendous amount of sense. If you have the right condi­tions, a small-scale windmill can give you a return on investment much better than most other alternative-energy options. In particular, the payback period for a good windmill is around […]

In Europe, diesel autos and trucks are numerous and common. Diesel- powered propulsion is more efficient than gasoline, and with the right equip­ment, the pollution levels can be much lower as well. The diesel vehicles that were sold in the United States back in the early ’80s gave diesel an unwarranted bad name, and most […]

I explain the pros and cons of geothermal energy in Chapter 12. The tech­nology is not cheap, but it’s extremely clean and reliable. New homes, in particular, can benefit from the installation of geothermal because it’s much less expensive to start a geothermal system from scratch than to retrofit an existing home. You will need […]

The cost of a hybrid auto or truck is higher than the cost of an equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle, but you’ll get much better gas mileage, and you’ll be emitting a lot less pollution. So while the upfront cost may be more, you’ll see savings all along the way in terms of paying for gas. See […]