The Reality Of Renewable Green Energy

I have been discussing the issue of clean and renewable energy with and associate of mine for some time now. He is an electrical engineer working for a multi-billion dollar energy service provider and I am somewhat of an efficiency specialist with a solid science and economics background. There has been a massive amount of debate on the subject of renewable and "clean" energy in the United States and the rest of the industrialized world. While I agree that we need to slow our reliance on fossil fuels, we must keep in mind that "clean and renewable energy" is not always completely straightforward. 

One must remember that the law of thermodynamics states that "energy cannot be created or destroyed" (unless they can perfect nuclear fusion), it can only change forms. Therefore, the renewable energy created from renewable sources such as wind, air, ethanol, electricity, and plant fuel had to come from somewhere. It is not "free" energy as some organizations and companies would have us believe.

Many forms of "clean and renewable energy" have substantial costs in one way or another. The cost of a windmill includes the trees that must be cut down for wood, and/or the metal that must be mined for parts, and/or the oil that must be converted to plastic parts... just to name a few factors to take into consideration. There must be a large wiring system that can transmit the power generated from the wind moving the windmill's turbines. There is also the constant problem of maintaining the windmill and what alternate sources of power will be available in the situation that there is minimal or no wind.

Hybrid cars such as Toyota Prius and Tesla are all the rage with gas prices fluctuating between high and extremely high prices. The batteries that can be charged electrically and reduce gasoline usage are extremely expensive for the consumer to pay for or replace if damaged. 

More importantly, the costs of procuring and manufacturing these raw material metals to build the batteries are exorbitant. The damages from mining done to most ecosystems usually outweighs the benefits of reduced emissions in hybrid cars.

The use of bio-fuel such as ethanol is not as perfect as it may seem. The ethanol is usually derived from corn, the most popular crop in the United States by far due to various business and legislative policies. The use of corn as a source of ethanol fuel not only increases the price of everything that includes corn (nearly everything we eat and many that we don't) but it decreases the amount of crop diversity that we produce in our nation and in the world. Corn is cheap and very efficient but the more corn we plant the less we can produce for other crops. Ethanol can only be produced from corn due to United States legislation, but every crop of corn means a reduction in the possibility for other crops or trees. Ethanol is about the same price as gasoline and about 30% less efficient. Also, the byproducts of ethanol from plant sources is just as damaging to the ozone layer as byproducts from fossil fuels! It may be renewable, but not necessarily as efficient or clean.

Solar panels are another very popular form of renewable energy. While the idea of solar panels is fantastic, it is limited by the same problems of windmills. It is very expensive to install solar panels onto a house or place of business. There is also the constant issue of a decrease in solar energy being absorbed by the panels during a dark or cloudy day. There must be a backup plan or generator if the primary source of energy for a building is solar panels. 

You also must take into consideration additional costs such as installation, maintenance, and repairs. You will want to purchase parts from domestic fastener manufacturers as well for strong secure panels and generator placement.

Solar panels have had to face an incredible amount of adversity from United States and international legislation and still need to be more mass-produced so that the price is not so intimidating to consumers. Tantalizing tax credits do still exist for going green but in most areas they are a little less than they were 5-10 years ago. 

The United States and other countries have certainly made great strides in producing cleaner energy from wind turbines, solar panels, and renewable plant-based fuels. Consider the impressive strides California took during and after green energy enthusiast Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger took office and increased its priority. Unfortunately the more populated country of China has probably tripled it's output of pollution due to increased industrialization and minimal if any regulations. 

Only time will tell if President Donald Trump's policies will undo the US clean energy trend in favor of competing with China and other cheaper international manufacturers.

So am I for alternative and clean energy and the pursuit of improved independent energy production? Yes, of course I am. I am for the most efficient, affordable, and environmentally stable forms of energy production possible. Do I think that we have a lot of work to do before we can increase the efficiency of renewable energy production? Absolutely. Until then, we have to keep in mind that there's no such thing as a free lunch and that we'll need some greater improvements before the benefits can be more affordable, effective, and widespread.

I hope you enjoyed this opinion piece about the current state of affairs regarding renewable green energy in the US and the world. My views are my own and not reflective of my employers or clients, and like any opinion they can change and evolve with current events.

Interested in more articles about green energy and efficiency?

Read My Posts:

- 5 Energy Solutions For Your Company 

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Working Versus Continuing Education

In our complex recovering economy there are many high school and college students that are faced with the same dilemma: Should I enter the workforce or pay incredible amounts of money for undergraduate or graduate education? There are so many different perspectives on this subject but up until recently the majority seem to be in favor of the latter option. 

Most parents and professionals seem to encourage the youths of this nation to seek increased education to improve their earnings and career potential. I would agree with this approach ideally but the fact is, a college education these days costs most people and arm and a leg. In fact, I've been preaching this fact for the last decade and now look at the absolute mess the United States is in with a trillion dollars in student loans. 

A 4-year degree can now cost upwards of $250,000 and graduate school (like an MBA program) can cost up to another $60,000+ per year depending on where you go and the program you are enrolled in. Sure there are scholarships, interest free loans, grants, and work-study programs for qualified students but not for the majority of students, especially average ones. I understand that there are countless professions that require a 4 year degree or extensive graduate school, but I'm thinking more along the lines of sales, marketing, business, and even tech professionals. 

For example, you can be a marketing consultant without any college education needed if you have the initiative to teach yourself all aspects of the industry. You can start with a free HubSpot Inbound Certification to learn some of the basics and see if it would be a good fit for you. If you're ambitious and resilient enough you can teach yourself to be a sales expert, coding prodigy, or business visionary without ever paying for a real class. You're only limited by the restrictions you put on yourself and you can also avoid the real restriction of crushing student debt.

Just imagine if all that money, time, and intense effort was applied in the workforce instead of college. Many individuals would be in better financial and employment shape than they would have been if they had attended more schooling. This will obviously depend on the industry, but a lot can be said for working your way to the top and educating yourself. 

Alternatives to college, such as learning a trade or enlisting in military service, are also fantastic means of improving your socioeconomic position and career potential without investing six figures. Beyond that, you would be able to afford college if you were to enlist, as there are many military-friendly schools that would love to work with you.

And then there are the incredible exceptions like Mark Zuckerberg dropping out of Harvard to become one of the richest men on the planet. Let's not forget about other dropouts that you might have heard of like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Michael Dell that have helped to shape the world we live in today. One of the greatest inventors and businessmen in history Thomas Edison couldn't even make it through formal schooling due to hearing loss and lack of specialized instruction during his time. 

Most of us aren't even in the same league as any of these aforementioned business geniuses, but there are countless other examples of successful college dropouts or even high school dropouts.

In summary, continued education and success are what you put into it. Highly intelligent, skilled, and motivated students will most likely be successful whether they enroll in continuing education or enter the workforce. Mediocre or lazy students will probably do mediocre in workplace whether they invest in additional education or not. Many individuals might be better off putting their time into the workforce and progressing that way. 

I'm just glad I earned my Bachelor's of Science Degree with the help of a large academic scholarship and working full time most of my 4 years. I wanted to do whatever it took to escape crushing student loans. But often times I think I would have been just as successful or more successful if I had worked full time instead. I got out alive with no debt but many of my colleagues unfortunately did not fair so well.

I hope you enjoyed this article about analyzing the pros and cons of college or graduate school versus entering the workforce.

Interested in more posts about frugal education & career growth?

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Published by Michael J Schiemer
Owner of the Bootstrap Business Blog
Media - Money - Marketing - Motivation
Digital Marketing | Social Media | SEO
Mike Schiemer Builds Better Business

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Economic Adversity or Simply a State of Mind?

I've grown weary of the "doom and gloom" economic discussions that have been consuming the United States and the world for the past decade. People are acting like we're approaching the end of the world as we know it and that there is no hope for anyone go get a job, get out of debt, or get ahead in the workplace. I personally think that is completely shortsighted and inaccurate. There are opportunities all around us if we just put in the work, keep our eyes open, and take a risk or two.

There are a myriad of scientific and technological advances occurring each day and all around the world. Hundreds of industries are growing in leaps and bounds including technology, marketing, renewable energy, and healthcare just to name a few. Millions of jobs are being created for those with the skills or work ethic to fill them. Does that sound like a stagnant or recessive job market to you? As entrepreneur and hustler Gary Vaynerchuk says, "There is not a better time in the history of time to start a business." He goes on to elaborate that the time we live in right now offers more opportunity than ever before. 

Let's be honest. There are plenty of jobs out there. Are they all the perfect jobs for you that pay six figures? Absolutely not. But guess what, in the real world sometimes you need to suck it up and get a less than ideal job instead of complaining. Put in extra time and effort at that or pick up a second job and work your way up in society. Sometimes you'll progress so much in that temporary job that you'll find yourself in a very favorable position, or in a position to create your own job role. 

If you don't like what is out there for opportunities then move to a more promising location or start something yourself. Hard work, education (whether it's formal or self education), and dedication still reap rewards these days just as they always have and always will in our capitalistic society. Everyone faces obstacles and roadblocks but you can't give up because of them. Just like everything else, your economic status is all in the way you perceive it and what you make out of. History is full of many great entrepreneurs that thrived even during times of political upheaval, war, and economic depression. 

Be a part of the solution! Start that business, take that second job, teach yourself a new skill, and invest in your financial future. Stop wasting time and get to work! I know you can do it and hope Bootstrap Business can help.

I hope you enjoyed this article about overcoming economic adversity and reaching personal, career, and financial success.

Interested in more articles about business success?

Read My Bootstrap Business Blog Posts:

- Ways To Save Money & Boost Sales

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Published by Michael J Schiemer
Owner of Bootstrap Business
Money - Marketing - Motivation
Digital Marketing & Social Media
Mike Schiemer Builds Better Business

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