Many Americans are turning toward alternative energy sources currently, and the technology is developing at an extremely rapid pace to meet consumer demand. There are a number of reasons, ethical and financial, for homeowners to seek out and invest in alternative energy. In these economic times, the most common reason, of course, for families to turn to alternative energy sources is money. Electricity and water continue to become more scarce (those living in the Western United States have seen this potential for scarcity firsthand), and as this happens, the costs of these resources to consumers rise. Alternative energy systems may seem extremely expensive, especially to the average homeowner, who may not have the purchasing power possessed by large companies and businesses. However, though, costs may seem high for the initial investment, alternative energy technologies hold value extremely well over time, and will generally prove themselves more than worth their original costs over a period of many years. Decades of paying no electricity bills, for instance, with little necessary maintenance, will most certainly show a solar photovoltaic power system to be well worth its original costs. Even those who aren't hindered financially have a lot of reasons for choosing alternative energy sources. It's no secret that natural resources are quickly becoming scarce. With the worries of a crisis arising from an international shortage of fossil fuels, many homeowners are acting early take steps that will provide energy for their families even in the event of a sudden, major deficiency. Alternative energy sources allow homeowners to become more self-sufficient, and to provide electricity to their homes without having to depend on an outside energy source that may become volatile and unreliable. Alternative energy lets individuals be in charge of their own resources! A large majority of citizens are also becoming more concerned about "going green," a phenomenon that has arisen in the past few decades as people begin to realize that their actions and habits may have negative effects on the environment and the world at large. This impetus compels many homeowners to more closely examine their lifestyles, and they often reach the conclusion that their homes and the systems and processes that allow their families to remain comfortable may be creating unnecessary pollution or may be contributing to large-scale disasters and crises such as climate change and mountaintop removal. For those with these concerns, alternative energy in homes and businesses is an essential step toward being more sustainable and environmentally responsible. Most alternative energy sources create no carbon emissions and are produced on-site, leaving no need for fuel-intensive transport. They rarely involve toxic byproducts, and thus do not contribute to air or water pollution. Generally speaking, alternative energy sources are simply better for everyone involved, and better for the planet! Alternative energy will soon become a necessity for many homes and businesses, small or large. Some fear that alternative energy sources are just too expensive or complicated to possibly meet their needs, but this is not the case. Alternative energy systems can be adopted gradually, and are almost guaranteed to pay for themselves over time in energy savings.
