Efficiency of Green Energy

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Since the launch of US President Obama’s campaign for clean energy, the subject of green energy became more widespread especially as a political issue. Various debates were spurred especially in relation to the efficiency of green energy as well as its impact on biodiversity.

The efficiency of green energy

Information presented pertains to direct investment costs, such as for renewable energy infrastructure as well as for research and development (R&D), and indirect costs, such as people and wildlife displaced as a result of construction and expansion of clean energy facilities. These infrastructures are also criticized for aesthetic reasons and are said to alter wildlife behavior.

Drawbacks of green energy in terms of cost and efficiency

Depending on which side the argument is coming from, green energy may be presented as more costly or cost-efficient than the conventional fossil-fuel sources. In general, the budget allocation for green energy initiatives is consistently rising at $148 billion in 2007 and $155 billion in 2008. According to the World Energy Assessment, the cost of power generated by renewable sources is more likely to be higher than fossil-fuel sources, especially since most clean technologies are still not ready for mass production. In addition, this could also be attributed to market monopolies of large alternative energy providers and the predominance of fossil-fuel producers in the energy industry. As a result, many consumers think that going green is not worth it, since they would shoulder the cost of electricity from renewable resources. However, the decision on whether or not green energy is efficient depends mainly on what a consumer wants to value more: money or sustainable energy and resources.