Rebates Incentives and AwardsLuring us to a Greater Quality of Life

As the perilous conditions of the environment are more clearly linked to our impact on it, the Federal Government, State Governments and Cities are urging citizens to participate in an overall change of doing business. They are calling for personal responsibility and community commitment to help in both economic and environmental issues that affect our daily lives. Most people are not aware of the financial benefits of good business and personal practices. A myriad of ways to capitalize on new technology and benefit to your local community are available and are not tapped in sufficiently.

Not only does the federal government provide dollar for dollar incentives on renewable energy solutions such for solar or wind options to alleviate pollution, reduce health problems, diminish greenhouse gases, but as well to enhance economics and defend our way of life. To learn what is available in your state, go to Incentives.With the U.S' growing need for energy (largest in the world) and increased foreign imports to satisfy it, energy is becomming a national priority and a national security issue as well. These condiitons provide supplying countries with an advantage and control over us.

To this effect, clean energy initiatives are spurring everywhere. States such as California and Massachusetts have added to the federal incentives other means to propel and promote clean energy venues that emphasize not only the obvious environmental benefits but also diminish our dependency on foreign oil. This such options are the California Clean Tech Open and the Massachusetts, Ignite Clean Energy Competition ?hosted by the MIT Enterprise Forum.

Cities such as Seattle, a leader in this cause, are mayor proponents of the Kyoto Challenge to reduce greenhouse gases through its U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

To date over 200 cites across the U.S have joined the cause.Grass roots non-for-profit organizations are also making way such as the Sierra Club's (www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/coolcities) program while still others are also laying their brick for the clean energy super highway, by promoting awareness. Amongst them,.

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)(www.nrdc.org) the nation's most effective environmental action organization working to safeguard the Earth: its people, its plants and animals and the natural systems on which all life depends.
• Climate Solutions (www.climatesolutions.org) a leader in the north west inspiring decisive and creative ways to address the global warming crisis.

• Global Warming (www.globalwarming.org) which follow the progress of the international Global Climate Change Treaty negotiations and dispels the myths of global warming by exposing flawed economic, scientific, and risk analysis.
• Undo it (www.

  undoit.org) who's primary objective is passage of the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act, which would dramatically cut polluting emissions.

• Stop Global Warming (www.stopglobalwarming.

  org) and Virtual March on Washington is a bipartisan effort non-political effort to bring all Americans together in one place and consensus of the effects of global warming and the need to take action.

By providing energy efficient alternatives ranging from lighting to on-grid/offgrid custom renewable systems (wind, solar and hydrogen) to alternative fuel production, to clean energy forms of transportation, they are pioneering into the mass market of clean energy and thus making it easier both for homeowners and business owners to plug-in, take advantage of incentives and make their mark in favor of a cleaner environment, healthier living and non dependence on fossil fuels.Notwithstanding the efforts and quality of these programs their success relies on personal responsibility and involvement, community participation and ongoing funding to attain and maintain the change. After all. our lives and that of our children are at stake. "Quality of Life does not just happen, One Makes it Happen. þ.

By: Adriana Sanchez Gomez