Read n' Seed 5: Fourth Quater and Final of Citizen Powered Energy Handbook

I read the final chapter of the book, pages 259-295, which is titled Community Solution. Throughout this book Pahl has addressed the energy crisis, our horrible habits which make us addicted to non-renewable energy sources such as oil. Throughout this book he has presented six different types of renewable energy sources, water, wind, solar,geothermal, biomass and liquid biofuels. He has presented the pros and cons of each energy source, and has presented examples of small communities and even small countries that these energy sources have worked in. He now call for action to implement some of these renewable energy sources in the United States.

In this last chapter he sums up each renewable energy source and describes ways the energy can be harvested. For example, solar power can be harvested by constructing buildings in which have windows to allow sun to heat the building. After Pahl recapped each energy source he reminds us, that even though these sources are great, there is no way to implement them without strong community support as a base. He introduces Community Supported Energy, CSE, which is where local residents invest in different energy solutions for their community for their specific needs. Also, another way the community can help save energy is conservation. Conservation is just using less resources and creating so much waste. Pahl believes that CSE is the key to reforming our country and our energy supplies. He feels if and when the idea catches on, it will be unstoppable. He sums up his book stating that the best investment a community could make would be in renewable energy sources, because the benefits are endless.

The three most important things that I have learned would be:

1. What I can do to conserve the energy I use.
2. The different types of renewable energy sources; I have never even heard of biomass before.
3. Finally, I became more aware of the current energy crisis we are in. I became aware of some of the main culprits of the energy crisis.

What I have learned is important because, as Pahl is describing, the people of local communities, are those who are goignt o be able to cause a shift in the type of energy sources we use. If the people of communities demand renewable energy sources, we will eventually get it. If people of the community invest in renewable sources, they will be able to change their home. This book has made me realize the current energy crisis is not someone else's problem, it is my problem and I have to be the one to change.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. It has a lot of information on the different types of renewable energy sources, and inspiring examples of places in which partnered with dedicated community members renewable energy sources have been implemented.