| The trend toward homes that are powered by | | | | independent. Carbon Free concludes that, assuming |
| alternative energy sources, ranging from wind | | | | traditional energy prices remain at their current level |
| turbines and solar collection cells to hydrogen fuel cells | | | | or rise, microgeneration (meeting all of one's home's |
| and biomass gases, is one that needs to continue | | | | energy needs by installing alternative energy |
| into the 21st century and beyond. We have great | | | | technology such as solar panels or wind turbines) will |
| need of becoming more energy independent, and not | | | | become to home energy supply what the Internet |
| having to rely on the supplying of fossil fuels from | | | | became to home communications and data gathering, |
| unstable nations who are often hostile to us and our | | | | and eventually this will have deep effects on the |
| interests. But even beyond this factor, we as | | | | businesses of the existing energy supply companies. |
| individuals need to get "off the grid" and also stop | | | | Carbon Free's analyses also show that energy |
| having to be so reliant on government-lobbying giant | | | | companies themselves have jumped in on the game |
| oil corporations who, while they are not really | | | | and seek to leverage microgeneration to their own |
| involved in any covert conspiracy, nevertheless have | | | | advantage for opening up new markets for |
| a stranglehold on people when it comes to heating | | | | themselves. Carbon Free cites the example of |
| their homes (and if not through oil, then heat usually | | | | electricity companies (in the UK) reporting that they |
| supplied by grid-driven electricity, another | | | | are seriously researching and developing ideas for |
| stranglehold). | | | | new geothermal energy facilities, as these companies |
| As Remi Wilkinson, Senior Analyst with Carbon Free, | | | | see geothermal energy production as a highly |
| puts it, inevitably, the growth of distributed | | | | profitable wave of the future. Another conclusion of |
| generation will lead to the restructuring of the retail | | | | Carbon Free is that solar energy hot water heating |
| electricity market and the generation, transmission | | | | technology is an efficient technology for reducing |
| and distribution infrastructure. The power providers | | | | home water heating costs in the long run, although it |
| may have to diversify their business to make up for | | | | is initially quite expensive to install. However, solar |
| revenues lost through household energy | | | | power is not yet cost-effective for corporations, as |
| microgeneration. She is referring to the conclusions by | | | | they require too much in the way of specialized |
| a group of UK analysts, herself included among them, | | | | plumbing to implement solar energy hot water |
| who call themselves Carbon Free. Carbon Free has | | | | heating. Lastly, Carbon Free tells us that installing wind |
| been studying the ever-growing trend toward | | | | turbines is an efficient way of reducing home |
| alternative energy-using homes in England and the | | | | electricity costs, while also being more independent. |
| West. This trend is being driven by ever-more | | | | However, again this is initially a very expensive thing |
| government recommendation and sometimes backing | | | | to have installed, and companies would do well to |
| of alternative energy research and development, the | | | | begin slashing their prices on these devices or they |
| rising cost of oil and other fossil fuels, concern about | | | | could find themselves losing market share. |
| environmental degradation, and desires to be energy | | | | |