The rising cost of fossil-fuel energy is only half of the story. There are many solutions to a renewable-energy economy that are already proven, not to mention concepts with huge potential being developed. The bottom line is that clean-alternatives will become marketable and available to the extent that we demand them.

The question you have to ask yourself is this: how expensive do my gas and power bills have to be for me to look seriously at renewable energy and efficiency?

Since our energy has been so cheap for so long, we scoff at alternatives that appear more expensive than oil and coal. So what should we do now? What are some good starting points for immediate action?

First, we can focus on efficiency and energy reduction. We waste more than 50% of the energy we consumer because we're not using the best available technology and systems. More than 50% of the energy used in the US is by households and car-transportation. We can cut that energy-use IN HALF, without sacrificing our quality of life, through investing in efficiency. The steps toward efficiency are:
1. Measure your actual energy use and C02 footprint using the Do Your Part tracker or the Low Carbon Diet book, soon to be available at www.carbonshredders.org
2. Walk through the tools to make a plan on how to reduce your energy-use.
3. Share your experience with friends, family and co-workers, learn from others.
4. Make investments in your home/lifestyle to reduce your energy costs. The payback is quick.
5. Improve your car MPG and reduce the miles you drive. If 60% of the cars on the road today in the US were diesel cars getting 50+ mpg, our reduction in oil-imports would be equivalent to the amount of oil the US is currently importing from the mid-east. The new ultra-low sulfur diesel, combined with improved diesel technology (particularly the VW TDI), means that diesel is a cleaner-fuel overall than gasoline. A diesel car will save you $1500/year in fuel costs over the average gasoline car.