Technology has certainly changed our world. Who among us doesn’t remember going to Blockbuster to rent a movie? Or heading over to Borders books for their latest fictional fix? It’s sort of sad in a nostalgic way. Still, there’s a whole new generation of children being raised who don’t know what these things are. They laugh at the very mention of CDs or landline phones. This can be good news for the future.
As we grow and become more connected, the industrial revolution has been replaced by the more modern information age. We’re always searching for new ways to improve our lives. That’s why we have no choice but to use this modern technology to lessen our carbon footprint. That’s exactly what researchers, engineers, and scientists all around the world are doing.
Ever since Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb in 1879, the model for delivering electricity to power our homes, schools, and businesses hasn’t changed much. We actually burn fossil fuels to generate the electricity that is carried through over millions of miles of power lines. Thankfully, this practice (and all the power companies who supply it) will soon be on its way out.
Thanks to a rigid combination of political pressure and influence, amazing new advances in computer technology, and an outcry in the environmental sector due to rising global temperatures, homeowners are looking for new ways to get off the grid. It’s almost a return to the days when you were reliant on your own devices to survive.
A Green Revolution
One such smart technology involves harnessing the power of the sun. Every home and business has a rooftop, and instead of reflecting the sunlight back into the atmosphere, solar panels placed on the roof can collect and transform it into electricity. This makes your roof a decentralized power plant of its own on a tiny scale.
While the movement might be slow in getting to the majority of homes, at some point the revolution will spread. Higher energy costs will force people to think about more budget-friendly alternatives.
As more people converted to solar energy, the less profits the electric companies draw in. That means they must raise prices to keep up, ultimately forcing away more customers. The end game is literally the death of the power company, as they will fail to maintain current numbers. Just look at the Southwest and you can already see power companies struggle to compete.
A Third-Party Option
As the technology is currently being developed and advanced, you will notice there’s still room for improvement. How do you generate electricity when the sun is down or if you have series of cloudy days? Some customers decide to stay on the grid as a back-up, hooking back up as night falls. This is a cost-effective system, but there are other ways being considered.
For those who are truly intent on living off the grid can purchase a hybrid solar and wind energy system. If you live in an area with average sustained winds of 9-14 MPH, then this system would work great for you; solar when you have sun and wind energy when you don’t.
Regardless of what option is best for you, the world is changing thanks to advancements in technology. The days of coal or fossil fuels being burned for energy are numbered. The only option these companies have is to adapt or die. The smart companies have already invested millions of dollars in further research to clean, renewable energy. They want to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.
