In the heated energy debate that will only escalate over the next few weeks, we have those who support the continued use of oil, and those who want to pursue renewable energies like wind and solar. I won't be arguing this point today - though I'm sure all of you know where I stand. Today I would like to talk about some of the under-utilized resources that people (including myself) don't talk about as much. All that is needed is for someone to come along and figure out how best to use them.

1. Vegetable oil: We've all seen the news stories that occasionally pop up about a person who has converted their diesel vehicle to run on used vegetable oil. They've usually worked out a deal with some local establishment to take their used cooking oil for free (the restaurant then saves on disposal costs). This individual seems rather pleased with the prospects of no longer paying for their fuel needs, yet they are usually dismissed as a little "out there." Why don't we use this abundant, free resource. Think of all of the oil used in every fast food place, Chinese restaurant, sub shop and french fry stand. The concept can't be too crazy - even the US navy is thinking about it.

2. Heat: Computer servers account for a significant percentage of electricity use in the United States and around the world. All of these servers produce heat, so to protect them, they are kept in climate-controlled areas. This means we're using energy to run air conditioning to get rid of heat energy. Why not harness this heat energy and put it to some good use, instead? Perhaps heating the building the servers are contained in?

3. Geothermal: Of the five resources in this list, this is probably the
most talked about and most utilized today. Nevertheless, I felt it
deserved to be included because it is a resource that is
underestimated. According to the Department of Energy, the United
States produces the most electricity from geothermal of any nation, but
that electricity only accounts for .5% of the electricity generated in
the US.

4. Cow manure: There are a lot of cows on this planet (and other livestock, for that matter) and they produce a lot of manure. Why not put it to good use? There are some companies out there converting waste methane to natural gas, but it doesn't get the media coverage of 'sexier' technologies like wind and solar (I wonder why...).

5. Us: We spend the whole day moving. We walk, run, play sports, talk, and do a thousand other things. Why can't we capture the energy of these movements? There have been some developments in this area, like the nightclub dancefloor that generates electricity or the gym that runs on the power its members create. I am sure that there will be more of this in the future as this technology develops. I can't wait. 

I believe that there is no singular solution to climate change. Rather, what we need to do is find all of the places where we could be taking a resource that is currently being wasted and use it to our advantage. A little renewable energy here, a little renewable energy there, and we will no longer have to burn coal and oil for our needs.

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