Energy independence sparks new revolution

Nothing is more important to the human spirit than freedom. People sacrifice their lives so that others may experience it. As we celebrate our country's independence this weekend, friends and family will gather for barbecues and many homes will display the flag. In addition to displaying a symbol of our patriotism, our homes and businesses represent a vital opportunity that, if we choose to take action, can do more to strengthen and enhance our freedom than almost anything else.

We're all well aware of the important role energy plays in our lives, but in a very real sense we've become slaves to it as well. Our economy suffers if energy is too scarce or expensive and since most of the energy we currently use is nonrenewable it is becoming, you guessed it, scarce and expensive. Everything in our society depends on it and most comes from distant sources, almost like the colonists initially depended on a distant king. It took a revolution before they could take control of their own destiny and create their own economy.

There is a revolution going on right now that homeowners across the country are engaged in. They are declaring their independence from high utility bills and severing the bonds of the indentured servitude of climate change. OK, my analogy might be getting a bit dramatic, but you get the idea. I tend to get passionate about this stuff because the potential benefits are so powerful.

Let's look at a few issues that are unfolding right now. If you only watch the mainstream media, you might not have heard that this year's Arctic ice pack is on track to be the smallest ever observed. Maybe you didn't hear about new reports revealing that many ocean species are in danger of complete collapse and the rapid rate of change shocked the scientists doing the study. I'm sure you've seen the unprecedented wildfires in the South and West, along with the record floods seemingly everywhere else. We all mourned the effects of this year's massive swarms of killer tornados. Poison continues to leak from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant and now we're learning that many plants in the U.S. are also leaking and pose similar hazards.

These are signs of Koyaanisqatsi, a Hopi word that roughly translates to "life out of balance" or "a state of life that calls for another way of living." In other words, global change is happening now and it's happening much faster than normal, much of it due to the choices we continue to make. This is why we need energy independence. It has truly become a matter of personal, national and global security.

Now here are a few more things worth mentioning: The world's largest rooftop solar project, dubbed Project Amp, will produce 733 megawatts from photovoltaic panels on commercial buildings across 28 states while creating an estimated 10,000 jobs. Google is investing heavily in renewable energy systems. Gainesville, Fla., has become the first city in the U.S. to implement a solar feed-in tariff that will drive investment in renewable energy. It is on track to meet or exceed its Kyoto Protocol targets by 2013. Innovations like new quantum-efficiency measurements for solar cells, developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, continue to push renewable energy prices down while improving performance. These are but a few of the examples that the revolution is under way.

Here in Nevada you can visit CleanEnergyProjectNV.org to find out how you can join the fight for energy independence. Be sure to check out the Home Energy Efficiency Tips section; it's very well done. To actually get it done, contact HomeFreeNevada.org. Its program provides all the resources you'll need to help you declare your independence by reducing or eliminating your utility bills. There are even financing options that can cover the costs with the energy you'll save.

Declare your independence! Let freedom ring! There's no better way to nurture the human spirit.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, a company committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. For more information and links to additional resources relating to this column, or to reach Steve, please visit www.greendream.biz.