Yuku free message boards

The problem in my mind isn't whether or not it's a real problem (energy efficiency makes sense on many, many levels) it's about people like me who some months barely make it check to check. Recently here they raised water rates, siting that so many people had bought water and energy efficient products that they needed to raise them to make sure they could cover their programs like pipe maintenance. Where does that leave people who have to buy what they can afford and can't get the higher priced super efficient washers? Well of course we're just SOL. We shouldn't be too poor to afford the high efficiency "green" options.

I couldn't afford a hybrid car unless I stopped paying my mortgage. We assessed having our gas heating system replaced with a more efficient one and they gave us a ball park of 10k! We're now looking into solar, seeing if it's possible to build up a system rather than just buy it all at one time, but it's not something we can just pop off an do. And if suddenly we were being taxed for using what system came with the house that would be that much less money we could save to put toward greener systems and appliances. So how exactly is that "incentive"?

I do think that opening up opportunities is awesome, and that it is time for a change. I just don't see how a tax will help. It'll just make those of us who can't afford it right now get poorer and poorer and still not be able to afford it. It's not the goal I disagree with, it's the method.

Nancy~ We are trying to reduce and such. I hope I didn't make it sound like we're just sitting on our bums whining here. I've moved as many things as I can to online-only (like writing, editing, etc. No more printing coupons or family photos etc.) When an appliance does need to be replaced we get the best, most energy efficient one that we can. We aren't using the central air because the house is old and likely has no insulation. Instead we've cut off and ACed two rooms for sleeping/keeping cool and put fans in the rest of the house. We do the same when it gets very cold in the winter with space heaters. I've got corn, tomatoes, broccoli and cucumbers and a number of herbs going in the garden. We're preparing a large section of the yard for a bigger garden plot next year. The lawn equipment is electric instead of gas, I use the laundry line when I can instead of the dryer. Heck, we even moved the dryer into the kitchen so that in the winter we can use it for heat as well

Actually I did inquire with the city about assistance making our home more efficient and the program they offer not only has a 3 year waiting list, but I was told that funding was being severely cut and they expected the program to be abandoned altogether in the next year. The only other program I could find is where for $10 the energy company comes out and tells you what you need to fix. They don't offer any help funding it at all and we already know what we need.

Oh and compact fluorescents. I like those.

Becoming more energy efficient is a process, not something that can be done all at once. I do think that the whole global crisis this is both true (I mean, it makes sense to be efficient and independent) and overblown. (It is becoming a way for many people to make money and the aura of "I'm greener than you" and the mindless pressure that some people put on others to be green or else, like those who think every car other than hybrids and electrics should be outlawed... which is just fine if someone is going to replace the car we can afford with a hybrid. Expecting everyone to just hop out and buy one is ridiculous. Trying to force people to be green isn't going to work, especially if you are trying to force people just can't do it for real, solid reasons.)