How do we make energy savings?
We need a combination of awareness, behavioural change, and some technology.
Programs like my Module 1 where I teach you to mind-map your activities develop a greater awareness and help plan for the behavioural changes needed.
The problem is our habits and our resistance to change and this is where technology helps and the simple, low cost technologies that help us change our habits does already exist.
In some hotels we have a slot to put a card in that turns off all the power except essentials like the fridge. This would be great in every house and workplace with just some designated power points left live.
Our Video/DVD recorders need to be made with a battery &/or some form of “trickle” to keep the date and time set - or else a gadget that we can plug them into to do this. It is not practical to turn them off at the wall because it induces “video time set rage”.
In a work environment, people who work late could have a pass-card to turn on their desk and the lighting could be based on motion detectors so the rest of the lights are off when not in use.
This technology does exist and would save enough to pay for its installation.
Technorati Tags: energy, energy savings, behavioural change, awareness, low cost technologies, changing our habits
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:52 am
HI Jean how about a bit of HELP in promoting FITCH?.
Regards BILL
April 20th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jevons_paradox
May 4th, 2008 at 3:20 am
Interesting
Australia has a problem as the major (or close to it) coal producer in the world. The cost to the environment must be paid for by the coal producers and users so that alternative energies become more competitive. Ideally, coal can be used as a peak boost power source for times, when wind, tide, thermal and solar are not turned on.
I foresee a LOT of political lobbying. I also agree with the drive to develop clean coal technology and I would love to see the EPA getting it’s act together on the uses of the water in coal seam gas. At present we have the insane situation where coal and gas mines are not allowed to use the large amounts of water extracted with the gas for anything. They are forced to evaporate this during a drought!!!!! it is a waste ye gods! It would be suitable for cooloing their power stations but this is not permitted.
I am not sure what bit of the environment the environment protection authority thinks it is protecting but they need to wake up and become more flexible. Apparently it is only legal to extract one thing at a time and the rest is legally waste.
May 4th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Bill - call me at the end of the week - we can talk. I am interstate until then