Science Forums 2

[iamnoman]

This may simply be sheer conjecture, or maybe just my own opinion since I do not have any scientific data to back it up, only personal observation. I don't think that global warming (aka "climate change") is being ignored. It is currently one of the hottest issues (no pun intended) around. A lot of the slow progress seems to stem from our own comfort zones. In first world countries we have become accustomed to a very comfortable lifestyle, which has been made affordable to us through the industrial revolution. Although we do not hold ourselves personally responsible for the creation of greenhouse gases, as consumers we have blindly fed the "terrible corporate monsters" who just won't stop polluting. I know that I myself couldn't bear to go one day without packing 4 children into my SUV and making that trip to the local discount store where we will purchase all of the wonderful items that are manufactured in China and packaged neatly into individual plastic and cardboard wrappers. Once back at home, the children will file off into their own rooms and turn on their televisions, xboxes, PCs, and Nintendos. I will sit down to watch a terrifying documentary on cable television that tells me how Greenland and Antarctica are going to thaw out within the next 10 to 100 years.
I don't mean to sound so sarcastic. It is simply an observation of my own lifestyle. The amount of energy consumed by the typical American household is ridiculous. The amount of waste created is even worse. I personally would love to switch over to renewable sources of energy such as solar or wind, but when I research the products that are available I find that in order to make any kind of impact, I have to shell out at least $50,000. After you add that to my 1st and 2nd mortgage, I think I'll just have to continue paying the big guys for gas and electric.
Once again, I really do not mean to sound sarcastic. It is simply a realistic point of view. You also have to consider that the majority of Americans who are not in the upper echelons of big business CEOs and Lawmakers, have to work for them to make ends meet. It is a vicious cycle. There is no magic bullet. Only slow progress. I can only hope that our governments can bring about some change by offering Tax incentives or renewable energy assistance programs for individuals in the residential sector as well as in the commercial. I am not aware of anything aside from a tax credit so far. As far as going "green" goes for myself and my family, I'll keep my lawn up, tell the kids to turn off their lights and televisions when they are not in use, maybe even plant a few more plants and trees around the house, but I won't be purchasing any equipment for renewable energy this year.