Posts Tagged ‘Conserving Energy’

I keep commenting about this from an environmental perspective. Making environmentally friendly choices can also make economic sense – they don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Sure, at times an environmental change will have additional costs, but that’s not always going to be the case. There are so many ways that we can help the environment and reduce costs. One such way is by simply conserving energy.

The Dairy Business Association has come to this realization. They have created what they call Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Here’s a quote that describes EMS

You can read more about the initiative at http://www.wdexpo.org/2009/04/20/wis-announces-accomplishments-of-green-tier/.

If you read my posts regularly you will know that I’m a proponent of conserving energy. For instance, I make it no secret that I believe conserving energy is more important than finding alternative sources of energy.

By conserving energy we reduce our pollution in so many areas. Pollution can be caused during the energy generation process, during the energy consumption process, during the creation of the generator itself, etc. The less energy we produce and consume, the less pollution we create.

That all being said, I nearly choked when I read this article about an environmentalists who wants to draw a connection between drinking and driving and wasting energy. His thought process is that drinking and driving is considered anti-social behavior, and that’s the way we should consider wasting energy.

I’m sorry, wasting energy may be antisocial, but I see little connection to the two.

Drinking and driving creates a critically dangerous situation. Wasting energy destroys our environment, yes, but it is not something we need to treat with nearly the same urgency.

In addition, I suspect that trying to “shame” people into conserving energy is not going to change their behavior. Many still fail to recognize the damage that they are causing. If they are challenged in such an in your face manner, they may become obstinate and defend their behavior rather than changing.

I would suggest showing them the benefits that conserving energy will bring to not just our society, but to them personally.

In the article Dr Dixon says

I would agree that being able to afford to waste energy should not be the key factor in whether people decide to do so or not (obviously I want them to choose not). I’m just not sure he’s going to motivate people to change.

Am I out to lunch? Is he correct in his approach or am I? Let me know what you think.

You can read the full article at Fox News.