In this book, we’ve explored many ways to conserve energy and trim demand by using energy more efficiently in your home or business to get the most for your energy dollar and also to help create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future. We’ve also explored a wide range of options for tapping into renewable energy. By now, you should have a pretty good idea what ideas you want to pursue. If you are going to pursue some of these projects on your own, you may want to sign up for a few hands-on workshops first. It will make your life much easier in the long run.
Bear in mind that home energy efficiency and residential renewable energy are just a few of the ways to achieve greater self-reliance. There’s much more you can do to achieve a greater level of independence, like growing some of your own food, driving a greener vehicle or using a green fuel like straight vegetable oil or ethanol, but those are topics of other books. For ideas on transportation, you may want to check out my most recent book, Green Transportation Basics. It is full of useful information and advice on sustainable fuels and sustainable vehicles.
For ideas on greening your home and your life, I recommend that you take a look at a book I co-authored with Dave Wann, called Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods. It offers a wealth of advice on many other aspects of your life — and ways you can get your whole neighborhood involved. And my book Green Home Improvement contains 65 projects you can do to green up your home.
At this point, it is up to you. Study your options carefully. Keep your eye on the prize always, and proceed forward with the confidence that you’re not only helping to create a better future for yourself and your family, you’re helping to build a sustainable future for all human beings and the millions of species that share this planet with us.
This is an enormously important task. Although it may seem like you are only one of a very few who care or who have made a commitment to take action, I think you would be surprised to learn how many fellow citizens share your passions. You can be a model to them — something of a catalyst that spurs them into action. As always,
I wish you the best of luck!