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Imagine your home being powered by the air you breathe. In other words, every exhale captures the wind to drive turbines in distant plains. Far-fetched? Perhaps the image but not the concept behind clean energy. As we move away from the dirty, old coal, oil, and into the crisp, clear embrace of renewables, like wind, hydroelectric, and solar power, our focus is shifting. These aren’t the musings a sci-fi fan but the actual reality of energy production.

You have probably seen giant windmills, which tower like daisies above the landscape. These modern marvels, more than being countryside decorations, convert the breeze into electricity which you can use for everything from charging your phone to charging your car. Why the change? We’ll just say that the goal is to keep our blue earth green and minus carbon.

While we’re on the subject of carbon, let’s not forget how unappealing conventional energy sources can be today. Carbon emissions are one of the main contributors to global climate change. If you bring spoiled fish to a party, it will ruin it all for everyone. As if you were bringing your best, most zesty salad to the potluck.

Solar energy, another leader in the world of clean sources, is also a major player. Ever used a magnifying-glass to watch tiny sparks catch alight under the sun? Solar panels can be considered the adult equivalent of magnifying lenses. They are far less likely, however, to cause an accident. They are highly efficient at converting sun-rays into electrical power. Solar panels installed on rooftops make homes more than just fashionable. They also reduce energy bills by reducing their reliance upon the grid.

Let’s take a look at some of the fundamentals of hydroelectricity. You can feel the potential of hydro power when you stand beside a falling waterfall. By blocking rivers with barricades and tapping the flow to power turbines, whole cities are lit up. Technology and mother nature are dancing together in an amazing way.

Although it might seem great to be spinning water, chasing the wind and catching the sun, changing gears presents its challenges. Who is the star of this drama about obstacles? Cost. Initial clean-tech setups are costly. The timeline shows that these clean tech setups can yield hefty profits and make the planet happier.

Let’s hit a real zinger. Storage of energy is a challenge. How can we avoid harvesting energy as a once in a while gift? Innovators are working to solve this problem. They’re developing batteries that will store solar power on rainy days or wind energy during oddly still weather. These batteries aren’t typical AAs, but instead powerhouses with the potential to light cities from stored breezes and sunshine.

There is also a social aspect to this puzzle. Imagine how neighborhoods could produce clean energy on their own, share surpluses among themselves, and become less dependent on external sources. It’s a neighborly spirit powered by electrons.

In addition to reducing climate change, reducing carbon emissions is also an important step. With each solar panel installed and each wind turbine started, fossil fuels are less able to hold us down. It’s an eerie collective whisper that is making waves.

For the story to be complete, or, rather, to continue unwrapping this continuous evolution of cleaner energy, it is not about the technology. It’s a story that is rooted in humanity, filled with tales of communities changing direction and of homes lighting up guilt-free. It’s a mixture between investment, foresight, kind-heartedness, and engineering.