dgk wrote:

That may be your experience but it isn't mine. Most environmentalists
that I know are interested in how to do things, not just slogans. We
just had a Going Green event in my county and there were many lectures
and presentations.

Did one of your lectures include the observation that the U.S. has five
percent of the worlds population but uses 25% of the world's energy. I bet
it did.

Did anybody mention that we use 25% of the world's energy and account for
27% of the world's GDP? I bet they didn't.


Everything is a tradeoff, but the basics are that we need to shift
away from non-sustainable and polluting energy sources and towards
sustainable and cleaner ones. And, from what I read about global
warming, we'd better do it pretty fast.

We do not need to shift. Current methods of power generation are known to be
sustainable for generations to come and the pollution level in the U.S. is
lower (and getting lower) than it was in 1960. By every measure, pollution
is decreasing. Interestingly, the time of most pollution was the late 1800's
when much heating was done with a sustainable resource - wood.


I'd love to put up a windmill in my backyard. No idea how though. Or
solar panels on the roof, which is why I looked at the thread in the
first place. Not trivial I understand. Hopefully under Obama we can
get the cost down enough to make it practical. Even without a storage
system it should pay.

You can erect your own windmill or solar panel by the week-end, but here's a
hint: I think the president is going to be too busy to help. Best ask a
neighbor. And the only way you can make it "pay" is to make me - and your
neighbor - "pay" for part of it in the form of your tax credits or
deductions.

Which brings up an interesting idea: Instead of the government providing a
tax holiday for windmills or solar panels, how about the government LOAN
people the money to build these things? Individuals could repay the loan
with the money they save in energy costs. Unless, of course, the savings are
not enough to cover the note...