Houston has been known as one of the energy capitals of the United States for some time now. It is a leader in both gas and oil development and production and today is the home of more than three thousand energy-related companies. So, some might think that like used woodworking machinery when plastics became big, Houston's status as a leader in energy now that the world needs to rethink its energy sources. We now know that oil and gas alone will not sustain us for long. But, Houston is ahead of the energy game and has already started to build a large network of alternative energy firms. Here are some of the examples of how this amazing city is staying ahead of the environmental curve.

Different companies and research facilities throughout Houston are working on developing and producing materials for four different alternative energy sources: solar, hybrid technology, ethanol, and hydrogen fuel cells. Some of these are meant to be used in homes one day to control everything from the heat to your latest electronic circuit design products, while others are meant for industries and product creation. All of these programs have been started in the last ten years in the area.

Rice University has been selected as one of twenty schools in the country by the United States Department of Energy to create and operate a fully solar-powered home. A Solar Decathlon will be held upon the homes' completion and the winning school will receive $100,000 for their design. There is also a home being built in the Upper Kirby area of the city that is Platinum LEED standard and will be completely self-sustaining, from the vacuum pump system to the oven. The Department of Energy has even named Houston a "Solar America City" for its commitment to energy change.

City vehicles started to be swapped for hybrid designs in 2005 and now Houston has more than five hundred vehicles of this nature serving the city. They hope to expand this number to 1,500 by the end of 2010. Out of the 11,000 vehicles used by the city today, over 3,000 of them could be converted into hybrid designs. Houston hopes that one day soon they will all be energy efficient. From transporting food to shrink sleeve for packaging, transportation vehicles are still one of the largest contributors to climate change.

NASA's Johnson Space Center started working with ethanol in 2004 and is now one of five facilities to use this technology. The research and application of hydrogen fuel cells take place at the multi-sponsored research facility in the Woodlands. If you're interested in environmental issues from organic baby bath products to potential new home improvements, you'll be happy to know that your city is as concerned as you are. Houston speaks the language of green.