What exciting times for alternative energy! Forget the Federal Government’s short-sighted political ploys of energy bills. Look what’s going on in the real world – we’ve got automobiles running on water ( HHO generators), propane conversions (very clean-running small engines), solar photovoltaic cell panels being designed and installed on homes, and so much more. It’s always amazing how the inventive spirit strikes when there’s a bit of a crisis.

With most large manufacturers simply too slow to respond sufficiently to the market and Government playing politics (remember Carter’s Solar Tax Credits?), the credits were being “sold” at over-inflated prices and weren’t even usable unless the consumer had substantial tax liabilities! Yet, without government “help” since, there have been great strides made in product development simply because the need was there and inventors strove to find answers. While the “Big Boys” play around with politics, squandering tax payers’ money on programs such as grain ethanol (if this is a great idea, why does the government mandate production and use?), there are hundreds of small-scale systems across the world that harnessing feasible energy sources available. There are many buildings being designed for solar – for heat, hot water, even electricity generation. Small farms are designing and building small-scale hydro plants or methane production, incinerators that burn waste, wood and other burnables to produce both heat and hot water. Innovative people are even working on designing “motors” that use powerful magnets for their energy. Many of these products are relatively inexpensive  just needing time to build and install.

There are some of these exciting inventions that any of us can utilize for the energy needs of our homes and autos. With careful study and preparation, each of us can do many things ourselves to work through this energy crisis.