erowland
Rookie
The Problem:
It will be a minimum of 5-10 years before any energy alternative can be implemented on a national scale. Realistically 10+ years, even if we had a "magic" energy solution right now.
The reason is simple, money and time. To change our entire infrastructure, replace virtually every car, heating furnace and energy plant it would take 10 years + even if the entire available workforce spent 24/7 working on it. And then there is the money aspect. Most people/businesses don't have tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to spend throwing out the old and bringing in the new.
Don't get me wrong, we should actively strive to that end. In fact we must. It's inevitable. Oil won't last forever regardless of whether it is foreign or domestic.
The Bridge:
Americans showed a dramatic decrease in fuel consumption this summer!!! Okay, now that we are done patting ourselves on the back, let's be honest. Oil and gas prices were at all time highs and the economy has been hurting from a severe credit crisis (among other things.) We did not collectively choose to save energy; we simply were more frugal for economic reasons. Simply put, we couldn't afford to keep filling up our tanks. Still, we did use less fuel, proving it can be done.
Increasing our domestic drilling to reduce foreign dependence and help control prices sounds great (and I am for it), but where does it lead us? It is a quick fix which should be addressed as such. It is a bridge to get us by until we make it to the real solution. If we simply increase our oil supply and make prices more affordable, then most Americans will go right back to wasting fuel--period.
Fortunately many of us have consciously implemented some inexpensive ways to save energy while waiting for a solution. I have recently been replacing light bulbs with energy saving CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs). They only cost a few bucks and clearly pay for themselves in energy savings and longevity, a 13 Watt gives a 60 Watt equivalent. There is some generic CFL info on Wal-mart's website among other places (yes, I am cheap and I shop at Wal-mart.)
I also recently purchased a home energy savings device which greatly reduces the amount of energy that a normal home/business/factory uses. I did some shopping and comparisons before the purchase. The capacitor units that are pretty widespread seem to smooth out demand and in turn reduce the demand charges on your electric bill, but I went with a patented energy bank unit that is only manufactured by one company. It not only reduces demand, but it also actually reduces kWh's and the company guarantees an 11% energy savings, (ebunits dot net).
The list of products could go on and on, but the real "bridge to the solution" must include our next administration proactively implementing a "War on Energy" plan or something of the like. The President bombarding the airwaves with an array of products/habits that America need embrace could raise the collective conscience for energy savings enough to noticeably reduce our country's energy consumption. Increased taxes on inefficient items to balance tax breaks for energy savers could help force energy reduction as well. It's kind of like when our parents use to tell us "turn off some lights" and it was an order, not a request.
Pushing (or forcing) Americans to reduce energy consumption is still not the solution, it is just a bridge--a very necessary bridge.
The Solution:
Deadlines.
Most of what I have written can be pulled apart and argued to some degree--I admit it. Everyone has their own ideas which can be polar opposites to my own, but hopefully we can agree that a national plan is in order.
I do not have a "magic energy device" which will be cost efficiently integrated into our infrastructure. Perhaps further development of solar, nuclear, wind, hydro, etc. will eventually replace our existing infrastructure, but our government needs to come up with a solid plan which includes deadlines.
Yes, this has already been done in a few ways including requiring alternative fuel source vehicles by certain deadlines, but this hasn't stopped the vast majority of vehicles that are sold in the U.S. from being the same gas burning vehicles we have always had. Instead of simply requiring car manufacturers to throw an alternative fuel "add-on" to their line, how about this: "Effective December 31, 2025 the manufacture and import of petroleum based combustion engine vehicles will be prohibited by law." Heavy idea, but worth thinking about.
The auto and oil companies will continue to do things the same as they always have for as long as they are allowed. I don't blame them for that. Massive change is costly and it is clearly more profitable for them not to change. So lets stop allowing them to feed us equipment/vehicles that require an energy source that is in limited supply and is harmful to our environment. Take away their ability to make money using current methods, but enough time to change their way of doing things and they will find a new way to make money--AKA an energy solution.
Please do not blast me if you disagree, these are just ideas. I am always open to new ideas and I'm sure that there are plenty that are better than mine. While waiting to have a plan in place I will continue to merely conserve energy. That is my bridge to a solution.
It will be a minimum of 5-10 years before any energy alternative can be implemented on a national scale. Realistically 10+ years, even if we had a "magic" energy solution right now.
The reason is simple, money and time. To change our entire infrastructure, replace virtually every car, heating furnace and energy plant it would take 10 years + even if the entire available workforce spent 24/7 working on it. And then there is the money aspect. Most people/businesses don't have tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to spend throwing out the old and bringing in the new.
Don't get me wrong, we should actively strive to that end. In fact we must. It's inevitable. Oil won't last forever regardless of whether it is foreign or domestic.
The Bridge:
Americans showed a dramatic decrease in fuel consumption this summer!!! Okay, now that we are done patting ourselves on the back, let's be honest. Oil and gas prices were at all time highs and the economy has been hurting from a severe credit crisis (among other things.) We did not collectively choose to save energy; we simply were more frugal for economic reasons. Simply put, we couldn't afford to keep filling up our tanks. Still, we did use less fuel, proving it can be done.
Increasing our domestic drilling to reduce foreign dependence and help control prices sounds great (and I am for it), but where does it lead us? It is a quick fix which should be addressed as such. It is a bridge to get us by until we make it to the real solution. If we simply increase our oil supply and make prices more affordable, then most Americans will go right back to wasting fuel--period.
Fortunately many of us have consciously implemented some inexpensive ways to save energy while waiting for a solution. I have recently been replacing light bulbs with energy saving CFL's (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs). They only cost a few bucks and clearly pay for themselves in energy savings and longevity, a 13 Watt gives a 60 Watt equivalent. There is some generic CFL info on Wal-mart's website among other places (yes, I am cheap and I shop at Wal-mart.)
I also recently purchased a home energy savings device which greatly reduces the amount of energy that a normal home/business/factory uses. I did some shopping and comparisons before the purchase. The capacitor units that are pretty widespread seem to smooth out demand and in turn reduce the demand charges on your electric bill, but I went with a patented energy bank unit that is only manufactured by one company. It not only reduces demand, but it also actually reduces kWh's and the company guarantees an 11% energy savings, (ebunits dot net).
The list of products could go on and on, but the real "bridge to the solution" must include our next administration proactively implementing a "War on Energy" plan or something of the like. The President bombarding the airwaves with an array of products/habits that America need embrace could raise the collective conscience for energy savings enough to noticeably reduce our country's energy consumption. Increased taxes on inefficient items to balance tax breaks for energy savers could help force energy reduction as well. It's kind of like when our parents use to tell us "turn off some lights" and it was an order, not a request.
Pushing (or forcing) Americans to reduce energy consumption is still not the solution, it is just a bridge--a very necessary bridge.
The Solution:
Deadlines.
Most of what I have written can be pulled apart and argued to some degree--I admit it. Everyone has their own ideas which can be polar opposites to my own, but hopefully we can agree that a national plan is in order.
I do not have a "magic energy device" which will be cost efficiently integrated into our infrastructure. Perhaps further development of solar, nuclear, wind, hydro, etc. will eventually replace our existing infrastructure, but our government needs to come up with a solid plan which includes deadlines.
Yes, this has already been done in a few ways including requiring alternative fuel source vehicles by certain deadlines, but this hasn't stopped the vast majority of vehicles that are sold in the U.S. from being the same gas burning vehicles we have always had. Instead of simply requiring car manufacturers to throw an alternative fuel "add-on" to their line, how about this: "Effective December 31, 2025 the manufacture and import of petroleum based combustion engine vehicles will be prohibited by law." Heavy idea, but worth thinking about.
The auto and oil companies will continue to do things the same as they always have for as long as they are allowed. I don't blame them for that. Massive change is costly and it is clearly more profitable for them not to change. So lets stop allowing them to feed us equipment/vehicles that require an energy source that is in limited supply and is harmful to our environment. Take away their ability to make money using current methods, but enough time to change their way of doing things and they will find a new way to make money--AKA an energy solution.
Please do not blast me if you disagree, these are just ideas. I am always open to new ideas and I'm sure that there are plenty that are better than mine. While waiting to have a plan in place I will continue to merely conserve energy. That is my bridge to a solution.
