Clean Tech: What Is It And Why Should You Care?

So what is going to drive the economy after oil and coal have played their parts and are on the way out? Probably a combination of many things, but they are all going to have one thing in common, they will be "cleaner" than what we do now.

A new energy economy can be based on many things, but the smart money is on renewable, "clean" technology getting us there. That means that the products or the processes that makes them should have a net benefit to the environment. Solar panels are clean-tech, but so is a sheet rock recycler if they do it properly.

I like clean-tech industries because it means that the people who live where they are located are better off because of the jobs AND the healthier local environment. Sometimes these products cost a little more - especially at first while these new heroes are pioneering new production methods, supply chains and energy sources.

But your interest and purchases tell the story to the investors, marketers, and product designers that this is for real. Play a part in shaping the future by altering your buying habits to favor items that come from clean industries. You'll get your money's worth for years to come, and you'll thank me later.

Comments

[mamacat]

Twice in the past few months the Democrats tried to switch the huge tax giveaways awarded to big oil by the Republican congress of 2002 over to renewable energy development. The $12 to $18 billion dollars given away to big oil could help quite a bit to stimulate our country's clean evergy development. Unfortuneately, the lobbyists and the Republicans are still strong enough in Congress to block the Democrats on this matter.

[SamThornton]

While I agree with the sentiments in Ms. Carter's essay, placing the onus on individual consumers to solve these problems strikes me an excellent way to accomplish nothing.

The reason we have a government is so we can deal with the big issues, like those detailed here. If government isn't up to the task, we need a new government, not a Don Quixote-like distraction.

While letter-writing campaigns might have some small chance of success (depending on how one defines "success"), I can't think of a single national problem that's been solved with boycott tactics. Actually, I can't think of a boycott tactic that's ever received more than token support. Of course, I don't know everything and I could be wrong.