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The Gazette Opinion StaffOpinion Page Editor, The Gazette |
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Compete, save
By The Gazette Editorial Board
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Much of the state and national debate about energy is how to create more of it to meet anticipated demand and grow the economy. Should we rely on oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, ethanol and/or other renewable sources — or a mix, or all of the above?
But there’s another side of the expensive energy equation: Using less. Changing your behavior, even without greatly compromising your lifestyle.
The Iowa Policy Project, a public policy research group in Iowa City, just released an interesting report on how communitywide competition can yield significant savings.
The largest energy-efficiency competition researchers found was in Kansas. In 2009, residents of six small towns with a total population of 70,000 were invited to see which community could reduce its energy use the most per capita. The carrots: less reliance on foreign energy, saving money on utility bills, civic pride. Results: 11,000 people participated, $1.2 million saved in energy costs. Today: Competition continues, 16 communities involved.
In Iowa, several college campuses are trying the concept. Luther College in Decorah, for example, saved $50,000 worth of electricity in three weeks.
Could such organized energy-efficiency competitions convince more Iowa communities, campuses and neighborhoods to join in? Might they expand on the idea, say, using more car pools and public transit to offset high gas prices? Can these competitions be sustained over a long period?
Well, you never know for sure unless you try.
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Interesting editorial….but why leave out that the United States is a huge EXPORTER of oil ??? But bang the foreign “oil” drum.
If one reduces energy use….the monopolistic utilities just raise rates to capture the loss. Thats a win/win for the utilities…..not so much for the user.
Does the Gazette consider Canada and Mexico ” Foreign” countries.? I have noticed a change in the language the media has began to use…use to be “Middle East” oil, now it is more and more referred to as “Foreign” oil.
I also believe we ( USA) sit on what some are calling the “worlds largest oil reserve” in the world, the Bakken Oil Formation in North Dakota and parts of South Dakota and Montana. But nary a word in your editorial about that, why?
I imagine the Gazette does consider Canada (our number 1 oil supplier) and Mexico foreign countries. You need a passport to enter them and to return the USA. What else would you call them ? Duh !
Figures…. leave it to a tree hugger to ignore the fact that we have more oil than anyone. That we EXPORT oil. But I am surprised you consider Mexico a foreign Country though. The hypocrisy of it all.
You’re surprised “(I) consider Mexico a foreign country”. You really are simple, arn’t youi !!!! It has it’s own goverment and you need a passport to travel to/from there!!! It’s not a US state of protectorate. Dumb as a box of rocks !
The Iowa Policy Project is a liberal think tank, using their research is silly. Feel free to tackle both side of the issue. here is an easy place to start http://www.cato.org/energy
Jeremy..if you are expecting objective editorials or editorials based on both side of the fence….forget it. The MSM drives 90% of the peoples thought process…and the other 10% are given negative labels for having the audacity to question the propaganda.
Liberal think tank, now there’s an oxymoron. Just like a “Think Tank” to tell us how we should change the way we live at the same time they dream up ways to spend our money. I wonder if the “think tank” actually has members that get earn a paycheck? If they do, who pays the salaries? Are they taxed or is it non profit?
Just in case anyone needed to know, we are in 2011, we are not in the 60′s or 70s anymore, You can let it go.
Wow, cut down on energy expense by USING LESS energy, why, why, why that’s a downright un-’merican, socialist, commie, lib-rull Prius-drive’n, Marxatistic, subaversive, unpatriotive an Demcrative idee !!!! What lib-rull idee is next — eat’n less and walk’n more and lose’n our ‘merican fat a**es ?? What do ya want us ‘mericans to be, like most of the rest of the World ?
My vote goes for Jessie Johnson’s views. You can’t convince the “hate anything that is rational” group, you might as well have some fun–it can relieve the stress. . .