841 votes
Conservation is key to energy independence. What incentives can we give individuals and companies?
Improving insulation in houses, giving stimulus to manufacturers of fuel-efficient cars, and supporting practical public transport all can have transformative effects on the use of energy. This can save money, improve our national security, and improve the quality of life on the planet. Hard to beat!
Andre Terrisse
Extreme conservation and resource reduction requires a new type of community. Why not establish incentives for corporations, universities and individuals to collaborate on designing communities that use use 60% less energy and natural resources. A national competitive challenge.
susanfarver
I visited Europe in the past month. You can't get your groceries bagged in a plastic bag unless you buy it or bring your own bag with you (recycled). I realize how wasteful we are as a country when I see how we take for granted plastic and other man-made products that are not biodegradable. We need to educate to educate and mandate our people to recycle. Think about all of the garbage that is going into landfills. It is a disgrace. It's a through back to the 50's and 60's, out of sight, out of mind. Enou... more
I visited Europe in the past month. You can't get your groceries bagged in a plastic bag unless you buy it or bring your own bag with you (recycled). I realize how wasteful we are as a country when I see how we take for granted plastic and other man-made products that are not biodegradable. We need to educate to educate and mandate our people to recycle. Think about all of the garbage that is going into landfills. It is a disgrace. It's a through back to the 50's and 60's, out of sight, out of mind. Enough already. RECYCLE and waste less.
koko99
Exactly. My electric utility has relatively cheap rates up to 500 KWH. It goes up considerably after that. They subsidize weatherization and efficient appliances considerably. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Benjamin Weste Pearre
Carrot AND stick. Give people efficient, clean options, and then make them hurt when they try to revert to their old dirty wasteful ways. Everything you say is good, but since people hate change, disincentives to pollute are at least as important: raise taxes on dirty energy sources, or hold energy companies financially responsible for FULLY cleaning up after themselves.