From Guest Blogger Tom Grant: How North Carolina Residents are Building a Sustainable Living Environment

The climate on planet Earth is changing; there is no denying this fact. It might remain up for debate the extent to which human actions have accelerated the changes occurring in the climate today, but it is clear that actions can be taken by societies around the globe to help slow down or reverse the course of change.

For decades the United States has been one of the biggest contributors to climate change, but efforts are underway across the country to lessen that impact. The residents of North Carolina are among those at the forefront of change, looking to create communities that live sustainable lifestyles.

Sustainable Energy Movements

America’s east coast was once infamous for its vast coal mines and coal-fired power plants. For every light bulb that flickered or television set that glowed in the living room, there were billows of smoke rising from coal power plants as the electricity was produced to power American life. But the burning of coal and other fossil fuels to produce energy was at the leading edge of energy pollution.

Now, solar power in North Carolina is taking off as businesses and households embrace sustainable energy. Although solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources are not new in the U.S., their footprint is increasing and use is on the rise. Examples of renewable energy use in North Carolina include not just solar electricity, but also solar powered water heaters, micro hydroelectric production, and wind power. The question becomes, why now are these so popular?

The answer is simple; the technology has advanced to the point that renewable energy sources are capable of producing more energy than before while maintaining lower costs for all sides. Businesses can now rely upon sustainable energy to meet their needs, and providers are finding lower investment costs.

Commercial and residential sectors in North Carolina can now access reliable, plentiful power supplies from renewable energy. This offers customers less financial burden as they are insulated from the rising costs of traditional fossil fuel-driven electricity rates, while at the same time reducing their carbon footprint.

Going Beyond Solar Power

For the people of North Carolina, sustainable living is not just about embracing renewable energy sources. Sustainable living can mean altering a number of behaviors, such as composting at home to reduce landfills, smart landscaping to reduce water consumption, and gardening for homegrown vegetables and fruits.

There are whole communities in North Carolina dedicated to living a more sustainable lifestyle. In these communities people grow their own food supply, develop their own biofuels, and live in eco-friendly structures that limit the group’s impact on the environment. While this approach may be a bit extreme, their reasoning is solid.

Fossil fuel supplies are in decline, their impact on the climate is rising, and food shortage crises occur around the globe each day. Developing sustainable living concepts now will better prepare the world for an uncertain future. Addressing the issues now will leave everyone better prepared to face change whenever it arrives on a larger scale.