Here is a very thought provoking story, “What if Climate Change is Not an Energy Problem?”. Alex’s basic premise is that while burning fossil fuels greatly contributes to greenhouse gases, our consumption habits can have an even greater impact. So just switching to alternative energy without increasing conservation will have much less of an impact on the environment
He raises three important considerations
- Whether we use the energy we create
- How we use it
- How we live
The first point describes the waste in many of our current energy systems. Not all energy that is generated is consumed; much of it is lost in the process and distribution. The second point addresses how our current inefficiencies are wasting large amounts of energy. Point three goes to the heart of the problem with over consumption. We can all have an immediate impact by just increasing our conservation efforts.
I strongly agree with the basic premise of this article and applaud Alex for presenting this idea. Regarding suburban sprawl, I don’t think we can undo our current housing situation. Smart construction and compact communities are great for some, but not for all. I live in a quiet neighborhood and consider our suburban setting a wonderful enviroment for raising children.
Pay4Rides would directly address 2 of the 3 major points in this article. It is up to the energy producers to gain more efficiency in their production process, but we can help elsewhere. How we use energy could be greatly improved by tapping into unused passenger capacity with many of today’s single occupancy drivers. How we live could be enhanced by people working together to better utilize our existing resources. As we go into the New Year and people start diets, remember that it is always easier to just eat less than it is to burn extra calories. The same could be said for energy, consume less and conserve more. The choice is yours.
photo credit: woodleywonderworks
