10/27 Chapter 6: Energy

Energy is the ability to do work. The amount of energy that people consume has been increasing for decades. Many of our energy sources release greenhouse gases when they are burned; it is the biggest contributor of CO2 emissions produced by humans. There are many types of renewable energy we should be utilizing including water, bio energy, wind, and solar. However, there are some ecological cons to most of these forms of energy. Simple actions like shutting off the lights help conserve energy. There are also ways to make energy usage more efficient like using LED lights.                      

“Being educated is about more than reading and writing, it’s about caring for yourself, your community, and the world around you.” This is a quote from a case study of Barefoot Solar Engineers, a college where people from rural places learn to help communities solve problems involving sustainability. For example, they build and install solar lighting for impoverished families. I think this organization is a great idea because it benefits the families, the trainees, and the whole community. Many of their projects helps reduce the amount of energy we produce and it educates many people who wouldn't get the chance to learn about ecology.