In winter, water from washing or soaking dishes should be left to cool. This way it releases its valuable heat into home, rather than sewer. Dishwashers, that are not built-in, allow reuse of water for pre-rinsing heavily soiled dishes because they drain into sink. The water can be trapped in sink, or a soiled pot, where heat is slowly released into home, saving energy costs in winter. Of course, opposite applies in summer, when extra heat is not desirable.

Very hot water is not always necessary for all washing and rinsing needs. Usually, by time we are finished washing our hands, water is just beginning to warm up – so really, all we have done is heat up our pipes. We can conserve water easily by turning off tap while lathering hands. The running water is really only necessary for initial wetting, then rinsing – so running water in between is really a waste.

Now, if you measured amount of water saved each day by those simple methods we just described - there would be dozens of gallons of pure, drinkable water left untouched in reservoir. By reducing hot water consumption, our energy bills are a little bit smaller. All this, just from kitchen sink!

For millions of years sun has been shining down on our planet and will do so for many more eons. With advances in solar energy starting right now, every electrical need could be satisfied with solar power and grid. What America needs is a federal government New Deal that pours billions into renewable energy, instead of subsidizing big oil and shoring up corrupt oil producing countries. America probably will not get a deal such as this, because big oil owns too many of their congressmen.

The states themselves are an entirely different story. New Mexico just announced a $20 million dollar solar energy program to retrofit government and school building with solar panels proving some legislative entities actually have guts to help lead America to a more energy sustainable direction.

Wind is abundant all over world and in USA it can generate ample energy, if promoted and utilized now. Advancements in technology will continually improve with right backing, politically and financially. Wind turbines are quiet and have an unending resource to produce energy for any country smart enough to use them. The state of California and Texas have incorporated wind energy into their energy programs. Other states such as Massachusetts have been stymied by Senators like Ted Kennedy, who claims wind turbines are great but are unsightly and a threat to birds.

In book "Hulagu's Web," Senator Katherine Laforge expressed that "The death of a bird a day is a much more acceptable price to pay than life of an American soldier a day to secure our oil from some foreign land. Man is also part of ecological system."

Laforge’s rebuttal in David Hearne’s novel is one of clarity with regards to human responsibility for self-determination.

The oil industry and its cronies are famous for deceptive practices and self-serving logic.

"There is no such thing as clean energy," Warburg said. "The Cape Wind project will have some adverse environmental impacts. Some birds may be killed by windmill rotors - draft EIS predicts about one bird a day. The wind farm will be visible from some nearby coastal areas. Some may like way it looks, some may not."

The whole point of alternative energy is to provide sustainable, clean, cost effective, and localized energy to our communities. Communities must stand up to politicians and oil companies that want to hamper our emergence from relying on foreign oil. Sending jobs overseas does not solve problem -- it puts civilians in a war-zone. The tremendous profits that ExxonMobil makes with oil offers little incentive to their stockholders to help steer this behemoth to a more sensible energy sources. However, from deep within this 400 billion dollar company a small group formed Campaign ExxonMobil, a coalition of concerned shareholders. These cash-smart stockholders actually are fighting within this company to make change on issue of global warming and ExxonMobil’s disregard for renewable energy, because they see a huge potential for profit if company acts now.

Alternative energy communities will have a realized advantage over oil-driven communities in future. Oil proponents are afraid of advancements in technology that could put an end to oil hegemony, so they fight progress bitterly. Taxpayers, scientists and philanthropists will be ones to compel governments to change policy and redirect our collective energies to beneficial results. We have to work together, not just as countries, but as wise corporations and citizens.

Wind turbines spin from wind and store energy at a very impressive rate, while Thermal Depolymerization recycles bio-matter into usable crude oil and solar power gathers rays from sun. Thermal Depolymerization has hit break-even mark and is continually improving.

OPEC and big oil is not going away without a fight.

"Propped up against base of wind turbine was body of Frank Payne. His blood soaked clothes glisten under full moon as blood still oozed from his slit throat. A note hung from a knife stabbed into his face. Senator Laforge was overcome with anger and remorse as she stared at gristly sight of her brutally murdered campaign manager. Why did they kill him? Has big oil cartel supplemented intimidation, violence and political coercion now with murder to stop alternative energy programs? She reached for note." Chapter 10 Hulagu's Web

Is this vision in Hulagu's Web preposterous? Would companies with billions at stake, political cronies in their pockets and most powerful army in world securing their product, consider assassination an option to stop takeover of Alternative energy? Let’s hope not, but selling oil at exorbitant prices and refusing to address problem of global warming and simple pollution produced by fossil fuels leaves us with a bit of doubt. What is answer to energy crisis? Is it adding more resources to problem, digging a bigger hole, or is it finding a new deal, a new resource, ample enough for thousands of years of technological advancement?

"The answer, my friend, is blowing in wind..." -- Bob Dylan

About the Author: Robert S. Leonard is a freelance writer and PHP developer currently residing in the Kingston area (Ontario, Canada).