"The question isn’t "Are we causing climate change," it’s "How can we slow it?"         Joseph Lstiburek, Ph.D., P. Eng., Building Science, Inc.

Is global warming real? Yes. No one can dispute 500,000 years of data. And whether or not you believe we are causing it, there may be a lot we can do to improve conditions.

80% of all environmental damage is related to energy— using it, finding it, making it. Our challenge is two-fold: 1) develop cleaner energy sources and 2) use less energy.

The silver lining in all of this is that we can reduce our negative impact on the environment. In addition, when we use less energy we have the opportunity to improve our economy and our national security.

The world is pumping out twice as much oil as we are finding.

Do the math and you quickly realize we cannot continue to treat oil as an infinite source of energy. We have reached peak oil production levels. As the world supply of oil becomes more and more scarce, the price of energy will continue to skyrocket.

Today, western economies are spending $1 trillion per year for oil overseas. Sending so much cash abroad for energy devalues our dollar and may threaten our future.

We must find ways to reduce our dependence on oil and break this destructive cycle.

Next "Benefits of a Green Home"