Bush-Cheney plan, an "Individual Personal Choice"? Pull the rug under it!

This plan is an abdication of political responsibility. People prefer energy savings before oil drilling and power plant construction. The attitude that energy conservation is an "individual personal choice" is completely and utterly irresponsible.

This plan is an abdication of political responsibility. People prefer energy savings before oil drilling and power plant construction. The attitude that energy conservation is an "individual personal choice" is completely and utterly irresponsible.

We heard a lot about legacy of the president, Bush must not be interested in his legacy. The impact of decisions on environment and energy, are bound to be revealed. History will not be kind to uninformed decisions in favor of commercial interests.

- What is future generations going to say about us, when we managed to destroy their world in less than 80 years?

- How can it be a "personal choice", when actions need knowledge and competence?

- How can it be a "personal choice", when actions must be taken by government and industry?

- How can it be a "personal choice", when any decision have large global impact?

US was in sync with responsible control of environment and energy. The rest of the industrial countries are now continuing and US is heading south alone.

The concession to drill for discovery of new resources is difficult to deal with. Especially if US is hold ransom to regional interests in other parts of the world. Energy saving will also be a national security interest.

Any new power plant built, need to be financed and is expected to be profitable. The weakness of the plan is the excuse of peak demand crises, which can be efficiently dealt with in other ways. On this part the rug can be pulled, with a little bit of willingness from the consumer side. It is also large financial gains for the consumers to do this.

If president Bush wants "sound science", he should take notes, this is no "environmental fad".

It is easy to do the following and it can be tried by any owner of a building,

1. Introduce 24 hour operation for your air conditioning this summer.

2. Work with a set point of around 70 degree F during night and morning hours.

3. Modern installations have two stage cooler equipment. Turn off the second stage cooler and do not use it. Results in large energy savings.

4. If you can, rise the set point to around 75 degree F from mid day until evening hours, when the outside temperature is dropping.

5. If you cannot turn off a stage or change the set point or you are a home owner. Turn off the equipment in the afternoon and turn on in evening hours.

6. Tell us the results, so we can publish it as encouragement for others.

7. Give everybody the link to our site to get as many as possible to follow.

This will give the largest impact on the peak demand, with no or minimum inconvenience. This is suggestions far more realistic and effective than the Bush 78 degree initiative.

Hakan Falk
http://energysavingnow.com/