Green energy education is something which will become increasingly important in the coming years, as it is inevitable that the Western world will need to make the change from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Much of this will happen without the need for any input from individual householders, as there will simply be a change in the way the grid system is fed, but there will always be steps these householders can take to make the changeover easier. It is important that people learn what they can do to save energy, so that the system is put under as little pressure as possible.
There are few people within society who are not already aware of the existence of solar power, and many even equate it entirely with green energy. This is not accurate, of course, as there are many other forms of renewable energy besides solar power. Most people also realize that solar power in its present form is extremely limited, as less than a fifth of the sunlight which hits a solar panel is actually converted to electrical power. This inevitably makes the potential limited, and it is something which researchers are doing everything they can to put right.
Education is needed more than ever when it comes to wind power. Many people see this as an unsightly alternative to solar power, and therefore something which is not really needed. This may be strictly true, but there is still no doubt that wind power has a great potential to energize nations. The onshore wind farms which people object to may only be a stopgap solution, implemented so that the technology can be developed to take wind power offshore. Wind turbines have an average lifespan of twenty five years, and they can be discontinued at that point if they have been replaced by offshore wind technology.
The importance of green energy education to the individual householder is that they have the power to make a difference to the way energy reforms are implemented. Many householders have a roof which attracts sunlight for a great many hours every year, and that sunlight could be captured and used for energy. It is possible to erect solar panels on top of a domestic roof, and for a significant percentage of the electricity which that household needs to be generated in this way. It will not eliminate the need for the grid but it will reduce that need.
There is even a possibility that during times of low consumption electricity can be fed back into the grid, making the individual home a net producer of energy. These technologies are the potential difference between new fossil fuel or nuclear power stations being needed or not. If that money can be saved, it can then be diverted into more renewable energy projects. The more houses which make these modifications, the more likely it is that renewable energy can one day account for the entire energy production of an industrial nation.
There are many important aspects of green energy education, not just informing people of the usefulness of these new fuel types. It is also important to educate people into conserving energy wherever possible. This doesn’t mean sitting in the dark or going without the heating in winter, but it does mean not wasting power by leaving lights on in unoccupied rooms, making sure that the heating system is efficient and not wasteful, and making sure your home is properly insulated. There are light bulbs which use far less electricity than a standard incandescent, and making these types of savings is all part of green energy education.