I am currently conducting a survey for my final Geology paper, and I could really use the imput.?

Question

Explain your predictions on the future use of our depleting natural resources.?
What actions do you personally take to conserve the Earth's natural resources? If you do not currently take action, explain what you could do within the next year that would help conserve natural resources.

Answer 1

Very briefly, unless the cost of conserving the Earth's natural resources comes down, the average citizen isn't going to put out the effort to go the extra mile when it comes to conservation. We would love to use solar power in our home, but the cost is prohibitive. I think there will come a day when clean water is hard to come by, especially if the US government doesn't truly appreciate the effect humans have on this earth. The NIMBY attitudes and the greed of many Americans will prevent us from developing and using more sensible means of energy, such as wind and water power.

I'm afraid we don't personally do enough, but we try. We have a compost pile where all the leaves go in the Fall. Then in the Spring we use the composted material in our gardens (we live in the suburbs so gardens are small). We have rain barrels that collect rain water, which we use for watering lawn and gardens. We recycle all the items our city recycling center accepts, and they are picked up on the curb on a weekly basis.
We wanted to get a hybrid car last year, but considering that my job entails frequently driving on interstates amidst the giant trucks and SUV's, I didn't feel any of the hybrids were large enough for safety's sake. We keep the house thermostat set lower than I'd like. We make sure to wash full loads of clothing and dishes.

You may want to ask this question later in the day, when more people are home from school/work. :)