Enviornmental Issues

Headlines on rising fuel and energy prices are in the headlines daily. Not only are prices a top priority, but so is the environment. Consumption of and dependence on oil, land use and degradation, waste, overpopulation and climate change are all consequences of our extreme energy use. Ideas to “go green” and “reduce your carbon footprint” are in every magazine and news blog available. Energy use and the environment go hand-in-hand and can be addressed simultaneously. Along with government support, programs and certifications have been established to assist businesses with implementing energy efficiency measures to save money and decrease pollution. This awareness of conservation is warranted as we are witnessing rises in our overhead costs, easily obtained resources are diminishing and a reduction of our dependence on carbon is necessary to keep up with the demand. From a global perspective energy demand is not sustainable with continued worldwide growth in both the economy and population and the cost increase means more overhead and less money available for the company. In addition, our excessive use of energy results in greenhouse gas emissions which lead to climate change. In order to decrease our expenses, our goal will be to reduce our energy utilization and differentiate ourselves from the competition by becoming more environmentally conscious and supporting the environment.

Carbon, a naturally occurring element, is everywhere. Oil and coal are two prevalent forms of carbon that serve as the source of our energy. Although abundant, costs of extracting forms of carbon from the earth are escalating and this increased cost drives up the energy costs to consumers. Oil producers are continuing to spend excessive amounts of money on technology and equipment to extract oil. However, it was not until the industrial revolution in the 18th century that fossil fuels were used for energy production. Prior to then mankind was extremely limited in...