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It is a generally accepted fact that the earth’s average surface temperature is rising. The effects have been particularly noticeable in the past 10 years when we have seen many of the warmest years in the history of temperature measurement. The Greenland and polar ice caps have been melting at accelerating rates. Sea level is rising globally. Since 1930 the date of first ice coverage of rivers in Maine has started 20 days later in the fall and ice has moved out of the rivers 20 days earlier in the spring. Although there is some disagreement on the relative contributions of factors such as greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles and factories to the global warming phenomenon, there is little disagreement that it is happening.

What can the Maine homeowner expect as a result of global warming over the next century? If you live on the ocean, the effects will be rather dramatic. Sea level is expected to rise from 3 to 5 feet. Many drilled water wells near the coastal will be affected by saltwater intrusion. Storm frequency and intensity are expected to increase so the potential for wind damage to houses and docks will increase. Beaches will migrate landward and shoreline erosion will accelerate, increasing the flood hazards.

Inland land owners will see fewer direct effects than coastal owners. However, the warming of Maine has already shown us to be more prone to insects such as ticks and the gypsy moths whose eggs are less likely to be killed off in the winters with less cold temperatures. The price of oil will continue to rise due to increased taxes to encourage alternative energy sources, the need to discourage continued burning of fossil fuels, and competition from foreign countries for the finite remaining supply of world oil. Higher costs of petroleum will influence transportation choices and living patterns. Use of cars will decrease as we shift to more public transportation. People will choose to live closer to where they work. Recycling and energy conservation will become more important than ever.

It will become very important to choose sources of energy wisely for home heating and cooling. Electric utility companies will turn increasingly to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, wood, hydroelectric, nuclear, and tidal power. Most homeowners have a source of heating and cooling right in the earth under their house. Tapping the relatively constant thermal energy source of the earth is done by drilling water wells as deep as 1500 feet into the earth and using an electric heat pump to extract heat out of 50-degree Fahrenheit groundwater in the winter and extract coldness for air conditioning in the summer. As with many forms of alternative energy sources, the initial cost may be high, but the long term savings in energy costs will be large. Wise planning can minimize the effects of global warming on our life styles.