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While I still haven’t heard the final word on the home purchase, thoughts of reducing my own pull on electrical and other power sources still occupy my mind. After reading Zero Energy House Award Winning Design, it occurs to me that a lot of people may be thinking that off-grid living is for those hearty souls who want to live in cabins out in the woods, with no modern conveniences.

That couldn’t be further from the truth. You don’t have to sacrifice to the point that you are carrying water in buckets from a stream or reading by candlelight to live off grid. The whole point of this movement is to find and utilize energy resources that are sustainable, renewable, and green while at least partly eliminating dependence on fossil fuels.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that people began to really depend on fossil fuel for energy needs. Then the race was on to see how many ways these sources could be discovered, pumped, piped, trucked, and sold in as profitable and quick a manner as possible. No thought was given to their limits or to the impact on the environment as a whole. I suppose it was assumed they were in endless supply and that since they came from the earth, they couldn’t hurt the earth.

Today, competition is high to get the most dollars from every barrel of oil and every truckload of coal that’s produced. And we, the consumers, are the ones really paying to line the pockets of those who deliver these energy products. Yes, I know. We will also pay to line the pockets of those who produce alternative energy equipment. However, once produced those aren’t things we have to replenish daily, weekly, or monthly.

If and when solar energy, biodiesel, wind power, and hydro-power begin becoming more in demand, the prices will drop significantly and the competition in our free market economy will be on go. This is always good for consumers. We get to pay less for things we want, simply put, when there is spirited competition among producers of consumer goods.

To bring this competition to the front means consumers must be more demanding. It’s up to us - you and me - to insist on renewable energy sources and to turn away more and more from fossil fuels. There are a few pioneers out there doing their part. What are you and I doing?

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