![]() ![]() Few nations have taken such an assertive approach to combating global warming. Though Germany’s energy consumption is among the highest in the world, the country has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80–95% by 2050 relative to 1990. Germany itself ranks fourth in the world in GDP and has an ambitious energy policy, called Energiewende. Few cities have the funds to replace energy sources like Feldheim did, and few citizens are willing to invest time into creating these technologies from scratch. With support from the EU, residents established an energy company that allowed for the expansion of renewable energy resources and the installation of the village’s own energy grid. The efforts in Feldheim were led by its local council alongside residents who personally funded the installation of four wind turbines in 1997. Unfortunately, the financial context behind Feldheim becoming carbon-neutral suggests that it is unlikely that all cities would be able to follow the same path to mitigation. Though global warming is unlikely to reverse, it can be slowed. Once we put less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than is taken out by absorption into oceans, plants, and more, the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could begin to decrease. After all, if every urban area were to follow the same steps as Feldheim, replacing all fossil fuel-derived energy with locally generated renewable sources, emissions of greenhouse gases could be easily reduced. The case of Feldheim seems too good to be true. By 2010, the village was energy self-sufficient and carbon neutral. Its technologies stretch beyond their 47-turbine wind park, with members of the community leading efforts to build a biogas plant and a solar park. Feldheim is a village in Germany that runs entirely on renewable energy, generating enough energy to sell 99% of it back to the local power grid. ![]() You may be surprised to see so many of them. Driving down a rural road in Germany, you may not be surprised to see some windmills. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |