President Obama Summons a “National Mission” for Alternative Energy Solutions

On Tuesday, President Obama made his first presidential speech from the Oval Office and addressed the need for a new energy policy. In light of the ongoing tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico, the President made an even stronger push for a reduction in the U.S.’s reliance on foreign oil.

Since his campaign began, President Obama has been adamant about passing new legislation that would set higher efficiency standards for buildings, cars, and trucks. During his speech he addressed the fact that “oil industry lobbyists” had hindered the new legislation time and time again but that our reliance on foreign oil was a matter of national security.

In a push for reigning in our reliance on foreign oil immediately, President Obama said, “Today, as we look to the gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude. We cannot consign our children to this future. The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now.”

While Mr. Obama did not directly address specific alternative energy sources, ground source heat pumps have the capacity to become a primary method for heating and cooling our homes in a green and efficient way. Geothermal heat pumps are 400% efficient and 70% of the energy used is renewable. By utilizing the constant 55-degree temperature just a few feet below the earth’s surface, geothermal heat pumps circulate air through a series of pipes to heat and cool your home much more efficiently than standard air conditioners and furnaces.

As Mr. Obama said, a clean energy future is now, and geothermal heat pumps are a tried and true technology that can lead us to this clean energy future. The tragedy that has struck the Gulf of Mexico is avoidable if we move to a greener America. While our immediate focus must be on cleaning the oil spill, we must also consider a how we can implement green technology in our own homes.