INTRODUCING ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

    Alternative energy..'alternative' to what?  Alternative to petroleum based fuels.  Unfortunately, the world has evolved around an energy source that, at the time, seemed to be limitless.  Of course, now we know that this is not the case.   Oil reserves are quickly diminishing, although not as fast as some people think.   The oil industry keeps finding ways to get to oil that no one knew was there.   Also, how do you accurately estimate how much oil is left?  Although no one really agrees about how much is left, nearly everyone realizes that it will all be gone sometime.  So what happens then?  How will we drive to work, heat our homes, or manufacture polymers?  Think about those three things.  Currently, nearly all vehicles use gasoline, many homes are heated by a petroleum product, and plastics are manufactured with petroleum based solvents.  Innovative thinking should do the trick.   Although not currently advantageous, if necessary, we will still be able to accomplish all three of these things.
   Automobiles can be driven by electric motors, the more plentiful natural gas, hydrogen, and many other fuels.  We can heat our homes with solar power or efficient heat pumps.  Polymer research is already investigating biopolymers that will eliminate the need for petroleum solvents (see Biopolymers article). 
    Indeed the transition will not be easy.  The transition into the computer age was once thought of as a "silly fad".  The world is constantly changing and we must change with it.  The search for alternative energy should be taken seriously, our future depends on it.  Maybe we should ask Microsoft^® for help!