Not all of our politicians believe global climate is changing because of man. They are few in number but they are influential. They are smart, however, knowing that most citizens do think so, and so they push alternatives, few better than air & ground source heat pumps

Unfortunately, there is no definitive scientific data that excludes theories other than the cause being human civilization. It is true that our distance from our sun fluctuates, and that would account for fluctuations in temperature. This largely considered the cause between 1650 and 1950, often referred to as the little ice age, of a one degree drop in global temperature.

The sun, always appearing constant and reliable, is not as steady as the average person might perceive it to be. There are periods when solar energy is higher than normal, and as one might expect, periods when less energy is released. These changes can have drastic effects on earth, and we know there is an approximately 11 year solar cycle.

Aside from the effects of dangerous pesticides on creatures of every description, little is more well know the the infamous greenhouse effect. The physics are straightforward; solar energy reaches the earth and warms the surface, a portion is reflected back into space, with atmospheric gases absorbing a portion. What is often neglected in the discussion is that if those gases were eliminated, there would not be enough warming energy to sustain life.

There are natural causes for the increased global heat and subsequent changes in weather patterns. Thus oceanic temperature variation may not necessarily exclusively blamed on cars and trucks. It would still be a mistake to think the effects of civilization have not adversely impacted the planet and its climate.

One might wonder how there could be any discussion about the impact of humans on the climate, but there are always scapegoats, enter the volcanic eruption. In truth, volcanoes put 130 million tons of carbon dioxide in the air annually, humans produce 6 billion tons. This kind of data speaks powerfully for making an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of people; alternate energy sources are a big part of the answer.

The green movement, a cumulative planetary effort to clean up our collective act in the area of pollution can only help us all breathe easier. Finding different power sources to do things like heat and cool our homes is a positive step. Using the differences in temperature beneath the surface and in the air around us air & ground source heat pumps keep us comfortable with little or no damage to planet earth.