This is not precisely a post on a spiritual topic, but in a way it is. We are so obsessed as a society with short term costs and gains that we don't build for the future the way we once did.
What would be the short-term cost to the individual of having some form of alternate energy generation in their homes that doesn't use fossil fuels? Well it would be significant, but not more so than many frivilous things people spend money on. Most houses and even more businesses have some form of alternate energy generation possibilities. Wind, solar (solar cells are not a favorite of mine because they have to be replaced periodically and they usually have associated batteries that have to be replaced periodically), wood, cogeneration. Many businesses especially view waste heat as an undesireable by-product not a valuable means of generating energy. Hook that waste heat up to stirling engines and generators, you have electricity which can MAKE you money. But nobody wants to do the upfront cost, even if it pays for itself.
Everyone knows that rail travel is more energy efficient than flying, and moving things by rail more efficient than moving them by truck or airplane. Do we have a nationwide system of high speed rail? No. Why? The costs are too high, even if they pay for themselves in time. Yet somehow we always have plenty of money for wars which benefit no one, and for bailing out corporations that will go right back to lying in the same unproductive mud they came from.
What would the social effect be of such things as cogeneration, widespread local power generation not using fossil fuels, and more efficient moving of people and material? Enormous. The balance of trade would start improving drastically, the economy would improve, and we have a certain amount of buffer room in the case of foreign instability. More money would stay here instead of going overseas.
In the end, it comes down to a religious question. Yes, religious. Do we believe in something greater than our own bellies, or are we only concerned with here and now and self? Do we believe in building things up or do we believe in passively consuming? Our country prospered up through the 1960's because at least in part, we did believe in preparing and overpreparing for the future. We believed in building, and building is an act of faith.
What were the 1980's called...? the Me generation.
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