It may seem that we are living in a golden age with advances in technology and the tools to make these advances accessible to the whole of society -but this is an illusion as the power necessary to fuel our homes, vehicles and industry is, in the main, sourced from fossil fuels.

The coal, natural gas and oil that we are using today have taken thousands, even millions of years to form underground. We are over reliant on these resources and that is why change is vital.

The first problem is that our dependence on energy continues to grow. As the size of the population increases we are using more of our depleted natural reserves of fuel every single day. People today live longer due to advances in medicine and health care and we are a society dependent upon our electronic gadgets as well.

Computers and electronic tools are now a huge part of our lives at home and at work. It is impractical to suggest we stop using the electricity that is necessary to allow them to function.

While our technological advances are, in the main, good things, the fact that we are using up our natural resources should be of concern to all. Fossil fuels are not a type of energy resource that we will be able to replace. When this resource is gone, it is gone forever - that is the reality of the situation.

Can you imagine what it would be like to take your children to school in a horse and cart? How would you keep them entertained without a TV or video games? Most of us have problems living without electricity for an hour or two, in a power cut - what would it be like if didn't come back?

While it may be ok for our lifetime, it will certainly pose a problem for future generations. Although efforts can and should be made to conserve fossil fuels, reducing their use in order to really make a difference isn't going to happen unless we start investing in some alternative methods.

Solar panels and wind generators are becoming more and more popular for residential use as our search for alternative energy sources expands. As the price of conventional fuels goes up, many people are starting to realize just how finite our supplies of oil and coal really are.

Sooner rather than later we have to adopt renewable energy sources for a sustainable future for the sake of our children and our children's children.