One of the most common arguments against investing in renewable energy is the high initial cost involved in building the infrastructure. Many economists and investors, big and small, say this alone is a valid argument for not investing in a renewable energy infrastructure. This kind of reasoning is built on the basis of the history of dirt cheap cost of fossil fuel energy, which is quickly becoming a point of past history. Simply put, no other energy source can come close to the EROEI(energy returned on energy invested) of fossil fuel energy sources of the past, this is undeniable. And while the costs of petroleum, natural gas, and coal are on the rise even the current market increases still make them the cheapest forms of energy around. But their comes both tremendous hidden costs and very delayed costs to using fossil fuel energy sources that effect everything from our national economy to our very own personal health.

    It seems that when there is talk of doing something in an efficient and ecologically friendly manner the primary argument behind it is usually to reduce carbon emissions. And while that in itself is not a bad reasoning, it has tends to lead to a great deal of confusion about why we should do things in efficient and ecological ways.

    Reducing overall carbon emissions is certainly important, in a educated guess sort of way. I mean the basic laboratory science of carbon emission induced climate change is well understood. And we have some very indicative real world observations about correlations between atmospheric carbon concentrations and global warming. So it is a pretty good bet that reducing our carbon emissions, even in small and personal ways, might help prevent some long term global warming, outside of the normal long term climate fluctuations that is. But is this really a good immediate impact sort of reasoning?

No.

    And there are much better reasons to live efficiently and in an ecologically sound manner. Take for instance the enormous trade deficit in the United States of America, every time you eat locally produced food you are not reducing your personal carbon emissions, you are increasing the value of your money by working against the trade deficit.

    Or what about riding a bicycle 7 miles to work instead of driving? Sure you are reducing your carbon emissions, but you are also fighting the trade deficit, and your improving your overall health which also helps to fights overall long term health care costs. Not to mention the mental benefits of prolonged exercise which will help to fight the stress of the modern professional life. Nothing like coming home to your family after a long day at work without bringing all the teeth chiseling stress of modern cubicle life.