Energy Crisis

You saw it in with gas prices in the summer of 2008; when non-renewable resources like oil, gas and coal become more and more scarce while the requirements from developing nations increased. This level of demand for energy will quickly overwhelm our supply. We take our uninterrupted supply of energy for grant, even though we know it is not unlimited. Now we have to take steps to deal with the pending energy crisis.

Demonstrated during the summer of 2008, we are all capable of making changes to conserve gas. So what steps are we taking to conserve power, and even water? What conservation steps are you taking? As global citizens, we are responsible for conserving resources when and where we can. It is not the job of the leaders, global or local, but of us, the consumers.

The gas crisis of 2008 was not the first. The U.S. has had three other major energy crises in recent history. The first was the 1973 oil crisis, then the 1979 energy crisis, and finally the 1990 oil price hike. There have also been several regional crises. Prices have increased dramatically over the last half decade, and still some people insist that the energy crisis is a myth.

Is it truly a myth? How will it peak and will we see the energy crisis in our lifetime? It is quite possible. Did you know that we have already used up 50% of the world's available oil? At the current rate, we will use up the other 50% in the next 32 years. I'll bet that our rate of consumption will continue to increase as use of alternatives and a conscience and consistent focus on conservation is in its infancy.

The Institute for the Analysis of Global Security wrote that China and India's use of oil will increase by more than 12% over the next two decades. The average growth for an industrial nation over the same period is 1%. With one-third of the globe's population in those two countries, that kind of increase will have an incredible impact. Our generation will most definitely see an energy crisis in the fairly near future.

How does the world's energy crisis affect you and your energy use at home? The first and most essential step is to recognize the importance of the way we use energy in our lives. We must quit taking our resources for granted. We must find ways to conserve gas, oil, and electricity. Making others aware of the crisis is important as well.

You can take small steps like switching off the car engine at stop lights, joining a carpool, riding a bike, and combining multiple errands into one trip and being thoughtful in the route you take. Decreasing the use of gas and oil in our daily activities is the way to delay or even avert a full crisis.

You can also start looking at alternative energy options. Solar and wind energy are both feasible alternatives that are extremely cost-effective. Make them your answer to the world's energy crisis