People from around the globe, as well as the scientific community are diligently looking for alternatives to fossil fuels that have fed our energy needs for centuries. But what types of alternative fuels are efficient enough for everyday use?

We all know that these fuels are nonrenewable and will eventually run out. We also know that they contaminate our atmosphere with tons of pollutants. We can’t just keep going this way, but what can the average Joe like you and me do to loosen us from our own gluttony that is slowly destroying our world?

Even if these things don’t bother you, there is still the matter of cost. Gasoline for our cars is pushing $4.00 a gallon with no end in sight. Here are some practical alternatives that are either available now or are on the horizon.

1. Solar Power. You can use solar power to warm your home and provide hot water for your everyday needs. It can also be used to produce electricity using photovoltaic cells. Recent advances in this technology have made it possible to reduce the cost of producing electricity by improving the efficiency of the photovoltaic cells and improvements are being made every day.

2. Wind Power. Iowa, Texas, and California lead the nation in wind energy generation and it has become an increasingly important source of their electricity. Nearly every other state is also investigating the possibility of adding wind power, as well. There are now house sized units available. As the technology improves and the demand for them continues to increase, the price per unit, as well as the installation costs will continue to go down.

There are other alternatives to fossil fuels that are less accessible to the the general public, but you can use mass produced forms, such as ethanol, E85, or soy based diesel fuel for your vehicle to reduce our dependency and cut down on the pollution we release into the environment. There is even an herbal petroleum being developed.

Although hydrogen fuel cells are still in the experimental stages, many experts believe that they are the wave of the future for powering our cars and trucks. There are fuel saving devices available today that imply you can increase gas mileage by running your vehicles on water. One such device is Water4Gas.

Another notable reason for turning to alternative fuel sources is that occasionally there are significant tax breaks for converting all or part of your home to something other than fossil energy sources.

Regardless of which types of alternative fuels appeals to you, before you begin shopping, make an effort to look into possible tax incentives that may help offset a portion of their initial cost.