What are three things consumers–or businesses–could do to cut energy waste?
TODD MYERS: Whenever politicians lecture about wasted energy, I remember the saying that “the man who says it can’t be done should get out of the way of the woman who is doing it.” Individuals and businesses are already sensitive to energy prices, which is one reason our economy is far more efficient today than ever before.
Kevin Wilhelm, an expert in environmental business, notes that “while everyone wants to rush off and put solar panels on the roof, we recommend they work on energy efficiency first, second, third, fourth, fifth and then look at renewables.”
Improvements in energy efficiency occur in small, incremental changes, customized to fit each circumstance. Families who drive a great deal can buy cars that are more fuel efficient. Homeowners in areas with high energy costs can add insulation. The solutions are personal.
For some, concern about wasting energy is really concern about the environmental impact of energy use. This leads to one of my other favorite quotations from Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus: “When I see a problem, I don’t wait for government. I start a business.”
Just as few of us can grow our own food or generate our own energy, few of us can effectively reduce our environmental footprint. Businesses in the free market provide opportunities to pay for environmental reduction you cannot achieve yourself.
For example, consumers and businesses can buy renewable energy credits (RECs) which increase the percentage of our energy from carbon-free sources. The cost to buy credits to cover all personal use is about $10 a month for an average household.
That’s why the free market produces superior environmental results to politics. It provides a price signal that encourages everyone to effectively reduce waste and provides opportunities to use disposable income for environmental solutions.
Todd Myers (@WAPolicyGreen) is environmental director at the Washington Policy Center in Seattle and author of “Eco-Fads: How the Rise of Trendy Environmentalism is Harming the Environment.” He also serves on the Washington State Salmon Recovery Council.
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