We are at a crossroad today when it comes to how we get our energy. We can keep on depleting our natural resources, go on relying on foreign countries for oil, and continue causing irreparable damage to our environment, or we can be proactive and make the switch to renewable energy.

Renewable energy is a way to produce a clean, local, and inexhaustible energy supply. There are numerous advantages to making the switch to renewable energy:

• Because renewable energy sources are just that, renewable, the use of solar, wind, and water to generate energy won't deplete our environment, thus allowing us to leave our environment preserved for future generations.
• Renewable energy is a non-pollutant; it doesn't produce carbon emissions.
• Because renewable energy relies on solar, wind, and water, once the initial installation costs have been regained, it will actually be cheaper to use than any other non-renewal energy source.
• Renewable energy is available locally.

While the benefits are clear in switching to renewable energy, the decision of which renewable source to choose may not be as obvious. It's true, different situations favor different sources of energy, but the biggest sector to consider when making the switch is solar energy. For one, solar energy derives its energy from an abundant source: the sun. In fact, it is estimated that the sun will continue to produce solar energy for another five billion years. And not only is it an abundant source, but it is an effective source: In one hour the amount of sunlight that hits the earth is equivalent to the amount of energy the earth needs to operate for an entire year. Solar panels are easy to install and can be placed on almost every rooftop or building. Besides generating energy, solar panels also add insulation to retain heat during the winter months and keep heat out during the summer.

After taking Solar, Wind, Geothermal, and Energy Efficiency Solutions into consideration, the only question left should be, why not renewable?