Comments on: Living in a “GREEN” world http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/ The Difference Between our Energy Desires and Reality Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:25:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: New York City AC contractors http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-1766 New York City AC contractors Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:43:28 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-1766 I think more efficient ac units and heaters would make a big difference in how much energy is wasted. So would mandatory home energy audits. Carpooling is also a big help. I think more efficient ac units and heaters would make a big difference in how much energy is wasted. So would mandatory home energy audits. Carpooling is also a big help.

]]> By: Zach Hudson http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-908 Zach Hudson Thu, 03 Jun 2010 01:55:37 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-908 I too think that cigarettes are gross but I also believe that individuals should have the right to smoke if they want to. People are smart enough to make their own choices, even if these choices are not what others think are smart. As far as smoking laws that make smoking in public places illegal, I feel that those are also out of line. Do I appreciate not being surrounded by smoke, yes, but does the government have the right to tell a business owner that they can't allow smoking. I mean, think about this. This is really no different than the government telling you that you can no longer buy an SUV or that you have to install ONLY Energy Star electronic devices in your home. I think that individuals have the abilities to make informed decisions and that people will make good and bad choices but that does not mean others should make are choices for us. I too think that cigarettes are gross but I also believe that individuals should have the right to smoke if they want to. People are smart enough to make their own choices, even if these choices are not what others think are smart.

As far as smoking laws that make smoking in public places illegal, I feel that those are also out of line. Do I appreciate not being surrounded by smoke, yes, but does the government have the right to tell a business owner that they can’t allow smoking. I mean, think about this. This is really no different than the government telling you that you can no longer buy an SUV or that you have to install ONLY Energy Star electronic devices in your home.

I think that individuals have the abilities to make informed decisions and that people will make good and bad choices but that does not mean others should make are choices for us.

]]> By: Emily http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-907 Emily Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:11:02 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-907 Zach, you do not want to be dictated to. This is perfectly reasonable. But do you mind being nudged or nagged? Take cigarettes. Making them illegal would be dictating to people, and would not work. But we nudge people away from ciggies by taxing them more than normal products. And we nag them to stop -- even the cigarette packages nag the smokers. Smoking is now banned in most places. I used to smoke. Now, after I have been around smokers, my clothes smell of it. Back when I smoked, everything reeked and I didnt notice it. Now that I have stopped, I do notice it and it is disgusting. The antismoking laws dictate to smokers. But before these laws, someone else could do something that made my clothes stink and I had no recourse except to stay out of public or private places where smoking was allowed. The market is often manipulated so that only certain choices are in fact available, or so that information you need to make your choice is not easy to find out or is presented so as to be misleading. Now that green is in, everything is green or is made to appear green in order to boost sales. Zach, you do not want to be dictated to. This is perfectly reasonable. But do you mind being nudged or nagged?
Take cigarettes. Making them illegal would be dictating to people, and would not work. But we nudge people away from ciggies by taxing them more than normal products. And we nag them to stop — even the cigarette packages nag the smokers.
Smoking is now banned in most places. I used to smoke. Now, after I have been around smokers, my clothes smell of it. Back when I smoked, everything reeked and I didnt notice it. Now that I have stopped, I do notice it and it is disgusting. The antismoking laws dictate to smokers. But before these laws, someone else could do something that made my clothes stink and I had no recourse except to stay out of public or private places where smoking was allowed.

The market is often manipulated so that only certain choices are in fact available, or so that information you need to make your choice is not easy to find out or is presented so as to be misleading. Now that green is in, everything is green or is made to appear green in order to boost sales.

]]> By: severed2009 http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-371 severed2009 Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:01:59 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-371 Zach, you do not want to be dictated to. This is perfectly reasonable. But do you mind being nudged or nagged? Take cigarettes. Making them illegal would be dictating to people, and would not work. But we nudge people away from ciggies by taxing them more than normal products. And we nag them to stop -- even the cigarette packages nag the smokers. Smoking is now banned in most places. I used to smoke. Now, after I have been around smokers, my clothes smell of it. Back when I smoked, everything reeked and I didnt notice it. Now that I have stopped, I do notice it and it is disgusting. The antismoking laws dictate to smokers. But before these laws, someone else could do something that made my clothes stink and I had no recourse except to stay out of public or private places where smoking was allowed. The market is often manipulated so that only certain choices are in fact available, or so that information you need to make your choice is not easy to find out or is presented so as to be misleading. Now that green is in, everything is green or is made to appear green in order to boost sales. Zach, you do not want to be dictated to. This is perfectly reasonable. But do you mind being nudged or nagged?
Take cigarettes. Making them illegal would be dictating to people, and would not work. But we nudge people away from ciggies by taxing them more than normal products. And we nag them to stop — even the cigarette packages nag the smokers.
Smoking is now banned in most places. I used to smoke. Now, after I have been around smokers, my clothes smell of it. Back when I smoked, everything reeked and I didnt notice it. Now that I have stopped, I do notice it and it is disgusting. The antismoking laws dictate to smokers. But before these laws, someone else could do something that made my clothes stink and I had no recourse except to stay out of public or private places where smoking was allowed.

The market is often manipulated so that only certain choices are in fact available, or so that information you need to make your choice is not easy to find out or is presented so as to be misleading. Now that green is in, everything is green or is made to appear green in order to boost sales.

]]> By: Zach Hudson http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Zach Hudson Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:07:12 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-345 Donnie, I completely agree with your point about why/how most people are not choosing CFL bulbs and I also agree with your point about the market. Instead of being mandated to switch, as "CFL Awareness" increases, which is has, CFL sales will increase. In my mind, "CFL Awareness" would also be included in my “let the people and the market make the decisions.” argument. The other thing that we have now are CLF bulbs that work just plain better than they used to. From what I have read and from conversation with people, a big downfall in most peoples minds is they don't like how CFLs perform. This is mostly a misconception, in my opinion, but some people have experienced early CFL bulbs and wrote them off because they didn't like how the performed. The other major thing we are seeing is a decrease in CFL prices, a must if they are going to gain widespread adoption. I think they are at a price point now where people won't go into panic when looking at their cost. I think we would see a change to CFL bulbs (and maybe LEDs later) without government intervention but, I also think that we can both agree that the change might be a slower process without the government intervention. So do you also think the term "green" is starting to get over used? Donnie, I completely agree with your point about why/how most people are not choosing CFL bulbs and I also agree with your point about the market. Instead of being mandated to switch, as “CFL Awareness” increases, which is has, CFL sales will increase. In my mind, “CFL Awareness” would also be included in my “let the people and the market make the decisions.” argument.

The other thing that we have now are CLF bulbs that work just plain better than they used to. From what I have read and from conversation with people, a big downfall in most peoples minds is they don’t like how CFLs perform. This is mostly a misconception, in my opinion, but some people have experienced early CFL bulbs and wrote them off because they didn’t like how the performed. The other major thing we are seeing is a decrease in CFL prices, a must if they are going to gain widespread adoption. I think they are at a price point now where people won’t go into panic when looking at their cost.

I think we would see a change to CFL bulbs (and maybe LEDs later) without government intervention but, I also think that we can both agree that the change might be a slower process without the government intervention.

So do you also think the term “green” is starting to get over used?

]]> By: Donnie http://www.energystrain.com/2009/07/living-in-a-%e2%80%9cgreen%e2%80%9d-world/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Donnie Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:07:34 +0000 http://www.energystrain.com/?p=689#comment-343 "let the people and the market make the decisions." I think the incandescent vs. CFL argument clearly shows that people and the market can frequently make the wrong decision. From a people perspective, if people could do a little simple math, they would have realized long ago that CFL's are less expensive over the long run. Yet, they are still buying incandescent bulbs. Why? The math clearly shows that they would save money, and help the environment. It's a win/win, but still people don't choose it. And from a market perspective, since the people are still buying incandescent bulbs, the market will produce them. “let the people and the market make the decisions.”

I think the incandescent vs. CFL argument clearly shows that people and the market can frequently make the wrong decision.

From a people perspective, if people could do a little simple math, they would have realized long ago that CFL’s are less expensive over the long run. Yet, they are still buying incandescent bulbs. Why? The math clearly shows that they would save money, and help the environment. It’s a win/win, but still people don’t choose it.

And from a market perspective, since the people are still buying incandescent bulbs, the market will produce them.

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