If you were an environmental researcher and were given funding to assist with Conserving Energy?

Question

What influences you to conserve energy?

What would the ultimate goal of your research be?

Answer 1

I would turn my garden into a forest garden - see Robert Hart (the great founder of forest gardens), i would grow plants to enable my life to be sustainabletusing Ken Fern's 'Plants for a future'  research, i would divert all my grey water out of my house to a small reed bed, stream and ponds.  I would divert rainwater into my house for showers and washing up. I would build a bicycle powered washing machine.  I wouldnt bring any plastics into my house. I would reuse all things coming into my house.  I would install wind and solar powered heating system.

Actually i am starting to implement most of these already - ultimately i would build a low impact dwelling with excellent insulation, using natural and reclaimed materials - cob, tyres, earthbags etc. Loads of info on various sites. I would cut out most things that need electric in the first place. I would have a compost loo and hopefully locate a natural source of drinking water or filter rainwater.  Then i would open up my home for public viewing on planned days.

The ultimate goal of my research would to be to live it, achieve it and proove it.

Im on benefits - ITS NOT IMPOSSIBLE- it will just take me a bit longer and i am learning to be very resourceful.

Answer 2

Clear messages, show how easy it really is to help conserve energy. And show how in most cases it also helps you save some money!

Some people still think it's a huge process, so they dont bother helping the environment.

Answer 3

I think for a lot of people that like the idea of conservation but don't have the funds to justify the cost of things like solar panels or a more energy efficient washer and dryer.  I think people and groups that yell and scream about global warming would get a lot more support from me if they would use a considerable amount of money that they receive from concerned citizens to support buying these products and offsetting the cost of these for homes and businesses who want to but can't afford it.  

For those of you who give to the global warming cause, why don't you save your money and buy a solar system for your home or business.  You will be actively supporting your cause and helping businesses that are out there that are trying to get going.  You will also know that your money is doing something instead of maybe used to support propoganda and spin.

Answer 4

Conserving energy is good and installing other alternative sources of energy making devices into the lives of ordinary people is viable but the cost for applying it is difficult for low income families.

1Q: People, all species that inhabit this world and the environment in which we all share must be provided with protection and these are my influences to find alternative energy making devices that do not hurt these values.

And to seek govt help in developing budgeting for low income families to help them find ways of making it viable for families to install energy making units into their homes.

The costs of this in the longterm for low income families is the fact that they can save money for other needs and be better off financially.

2Q: Research into different types of energy making devices that are all round friendly for people, environment and all other species that inhabit this world.

As there are already people accomplishing this already by installing solar, wind devices and non-abrasive water generated power units and more.

They are helping to pave the way for alternative energy making units to provide for themselves, and others while eliminating their need to conserve energy.

Which gives them the opportunity to assist in times of power shortages to those on the main grid, to eliminate power, oil, and coal companies from further depleting and degrading the environment.

Companies like these would be hard to over come but not impossible! if it is done in away that these companies change their old fashioned types of power making ways to suit these simple values of protecting the people, environment and its other inhabitants.

Then the future will benefit in the long term as it is the future generations yet unborn will thank us if we put these three simple values first and the rest will follow.

These are my thoughts on the matter and like everything in this world it was built upon thoughts and then actioned/applied!!!

Answer 5

Look into opportunities within some of the three strongest green movements in the U.S. right now -

The US Green Building Council

Alternative energy generation

Green Tech

There are thousands of really cool products coming out of those 3 industries that I think is really exciting because they directly decrease energy consumption. The link below goes to a blog post about green tech.

Answer 6

i assume i'd want another assignment after the current one was finished.

to that end, i'd find the best uses i could for that funding.

PG&E in fact pays many folks to conserve energy.

some of the projects they work on are:

- giving rebates to folks who use CF bulbs.

- paying part of the costs for folks who install solar panels.

- paying customers to install programmable thermostats.

- doing energy audits to show customers where their homes are losing heat.

the obvious intent of your question was to imply that the reasearcher would be trying to find ways of getting more money.

sort of like Exxon trying to confuse folks about global warming, so they can have lots more good years, making $40.6 billion.

and with the price of gas as it is, they'll be having lots of those.

that's enough to pay for free gas for every car, truck, SUV,  4 TIMES.

now, shall we think about this again?

who might have cause to care about the debate on global warming?