Why aren't we using solar/wind/geo-thermal energy???

Why the heck aren't we (we as in everybody) using solar energy if there's global warming??? Or some wind power, even though its not as effective, or how about geo-thermal??? it SO stupid!! Europe is starting to use alternative energy, and yet america is still drilling for oil and polluting the earth, when its SOOOO obvious to use some other type of energy, and yet they're so concered about the money they're getting from the oil, they don't care that very very soon the earth will be hopeless, and it'll be too late to make the transition to solar. If the sun is heating the earth, why aren't we using solar??? it makes me SOOOO angry!!! and china is sending out plenty of fumes, same with russia, same with america. Is there any way to get this message through our world leaders minds?

well im creating a petition, maybe that'll help

We are not using them because they are not efficient enough yet. Solar panels are still only 40% efficient at BEST sorry but the return on the cost is just not high enough. Wind power is getting used more and more often it's just not wide spread yet because not all areas are windy enough for it to be used. Geo-thermal really has no excuse because almost anyplace can use the benefits of Geo-thermal, but not Geo-thermal Energy production. Simply Geo-thermal energy use like Ground-source heat-pumps.

The biggest problem is that we have such a large demand for energy that all of these "alternative" sources are not far enough along in their development to meet our current demands. Sad to say but the cleanest source of energy that can meet those demands right now is NUCLEAR.

Solar is not the End all and Be all of clean energy. Do some research into what it actually costs to produce a solar panel. Find out what it is made of and how it is made. you will find out why solar panels are sooo expensive and why they are not in wide-spread use.

My take: how can the government tax this resource? It's all about the almighty dollar

America is all about money those r free sources of energy no money for the rich i agree we should be using other sources but you me and all the the others who agree must come together and force a change!!!

In market economies we (=people in general) buy what's most profitable for us. If using oil as the energy source is less expensive in the short term that is what citizens will use.

However, market economies are also great at locating and finding solutions to different needs. If more people bought renewable types of energy, the companies making them would put more money on development and that would speed up the process and make future products better and less expensive. To get the market for renewable energy sources to the next level there is a need to create enough and good incentives.

That is one of the most important tasks for any government.

U R very right. That is why I gave a proposal to the world bank a social innovative idea for grassroots level implementation for preservation of natural resources. People the world over are misusing electricity during day time for their lighting requirements eg., business houses with tinted glasses, showrooms, concrete monsters that prevent natural light, call centers, hotels, etc. After 4 levels of screening, the World Bank selected me as one of the 50 finalists (out of 2600) and honored me on 28th May 2007 at WB, NewDelhi.
visit: http://www.del.icio.us/vasanthmysoremath or http://dmblog.worldbank.org/mirrors-can-... Sample this: One GLS bulb/tubelight of 40 watts burning for 6 hours a day during day time when the sun is shining outside, consumes 7 units in a month. If this one bulb/tubelight can be switched off by 1 billion people by adopting my U-SEE method (U-SEE - Unlimited Savings of Electrical Energy) then the world can save SEVEN BILLION units of electricity in one month - add to this that much of cost of generation, natural resources, stoppage of release of CO2 - greenhouse effect through burning bulbs, etc.
Every country with advanced technological achievements is shedding crocodile tears. If they are really serious in saving the world, then let them stop being egoistic and start a global dialogue to save the world for the sake of humanity.
Will be happy if you can spread this good word so that all of us can be contributors to save the world. e.mail: vkumar_m@yahoo.com

The hippies do not like wind power because it might kill a stupid bird that doesn't see a large spinning object.

The Kyoto Protocol assigns mandatory emission limitations for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the signatory nations.

As of December 2006, a total of 169 countries and other governmental entities have ratified the agreement. Notable exceptions include the United States and Australia.

We have to make the noise louder and educate our people about alternative energy. Then our politicians can act upon it.

We create a website to provide a community for solar energy: http://solarcentral.org

were not using it because environmentalist say it's causing too much damage to the earth.

wind- killing birds and ruining the beauty of the landscape.

hydro-electric- altering the earth. potential for the green house gas-CH4 (methane) to be produced.

solar- inefficient, large areas of land being cleared, altering landscape, and ruining ecosystems.

amazing huh?

Solar photovoltaic cells for producing electricity are very expensive and produce relatively small amounts of electricity.

It generally costs over ten times as much to generate electricity from solar photovoltaic cells as it does from conventional forms of energy.

Only the very wealthy can afford electricity generated by solar photovoltaic cells.

Wind energy is very cost competitive, however the wind turbines are very tall and can be seen for long distances. Some people object to the wind turbines as eyesores.

For example, Senator Ted Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who should be friends of wind energy are throwing up as many legal roadblocks as the can to a wind farm in Nantucket Sound because the wind turbines are visible from Hyannisport, the Kennedy family compound.

Wherever you can put a windfarm there are often objections from local residents like the Kennedys who consider the project to be an eyesore.

With respect to Geothermal, it is in use near Napa Valley California where there is a seam of hot rock relatively close to the surface.

The problem for Geothermal is that most of the hot rock is so far below the surface that it is very expensive to get to it. That makes the cost of the energy very expensive.

In order for alternative forms of energy to become widely used by the public it must not be significantly more expensive that the forms of energy currently in use, otherwise most people will not buy it.

Also we must remove the legal roadblocks that people like Ted Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. use to put in the way of wind energy just because they do not like the looks of the wind turbines when the wind turbines are near their homes..

Here in California they are big on wind and solar power. They are even experimenting with harvesting the energy created by the waves hitting the shore.
The state and utilities companies even subsidize the costs of the energy efficient CFL bulbs.
It is really up to the state governments and the local utility companies to invest the money to build those energy sources. Most people don't want their taxes or energy bills increased so until people change their mind nothing will change.

There are 3 reasons: Cost, Technology, and Politics