The Future of Green Initiatives.

We are all well-aware of the staggering effects that our use of fossil fuels has had, and will continue to have, on the environment. Global warming, acid rain and a host of devastating results will continue to threaten the majority of species currently inhabiting the planet for many ages to come. Luckily there are also millions of people currently working hard to reduce and limit these problems, and their efforts tend to be focused on several key "green" initiatives.

These initiatives encompass a wide range of efforts and plans, but the bulk of them tend to be centered on alternative energy production. Rather than relying upon coal, oil and gas for energy production, these groups work to create reliable and affordable methods for creating energy from solar rays, wind, water and even steam.

What is the future of green initiatives? That question involves multiple answers. For instance, there is a huge trend for consumers and businesses to purchase things called "carbon offsets". These are tax deductible contributions to groups working to create alternative energy sources or who are currently at work in reforestation projects, among other programs.

The majority of them offer a consumer tools that will help them determine their carbon usage during a standard year and then allow them to purchase "offsets" against their consumption. This tends to "balance the scales" which is something that has not been happening over the past few centuries. Of course a majority of people look to solar technologies as the simplest and most well-developed of the green initiatives.

Solar energy has been studied for more than a century, but only since the 1950s has its real potential been recognized and implemented. Today, there are active solar energy power plants and many home and business owners have taken strong measures to implement as many solar energy options as possible in their homes and offices.

There are also some great answers in the power of the wind, but this is a bit more restrictive in implementation because a measurable and steady supply of wind must always be present in order for the system to work. Currently there are hundreds of "wind farms" working to supply communities or homes with their energy needs.

Though there are many problems facing the planet, there are also millions who want to work to solve them. This is the basis for all of the green movements and green initiatives at work in the modern world. The technologies that will lead to their success have been improving and becoming more and more accessible every year, and will continue to do so for decades to come.

David Darmawan is a Green Investments activist and Founder of Darmawan Green Fund, a Private Equity Fund active in the field of Socially, Ethically and Environmentally Responsible investments.