Economic Increases in energy prices translate quickly into higher prices for goods and services at every level. Energy shortages have the power to plunge an economy into recession. With so much of our energy usage, especially transportation, dependent on foreign oil sources, our economy is not as secure as it could be. Technologies that use energy more efficiently can cut our risks and expenses impressively, but most companies, homes, and government agencies do not use them. Environmental The combustion of coal, oil, or natural gas by power plants, motor vehicles, and other sources emits greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
Most air pollution is the result of some kind of energy production or consumption.
In addition, the extraction and use of these sources of energy can radically alter local landscapes, and sometimes leads to oil spills in the ocean or accidents at power plants. There is not yet an accepted long-term solution for safe disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. Just as pollution from upwind neighbors angers us, the pollution we emit angers our neighbors when it crosses into their states and countries. To voluntarily reduce the energy we consume will require cooperation among neighbors who carpool, families who remember to turn off lights, and consumers who buy efficient appliances and cars. Ending our unsustainable energy dependence will require the efforts of our entire society.