Blog Entry #9

Blog Entry #9: Is energy too cheap? Is conservation a dirty word? What would you say to “Jimmy Cardigan”? With regards to alternative energy sources (renewables) are you a "free-marketeer" or proponent of government intervention to steer us away from fossil fuels? In your opinion, what type of renewable energy has the most upside potential? What steps can you take 1) tomorrow and 2) within the next five years to reduce your energy footprint?

Energy can be cheap in certain situations. For instance, on campus, electric is included in your housing cost. Which means whether you use 50 dollars a month or 400 dollars a month in electric, it is all costing the student nothing. In this situation, it is too cheap. How are we to determine how much energy is going to be used and put it in a base cost? I believe students should have to pay their own electric bills, for two reasons. One, so that FGCU doesnt get screwed when some people use way too much energy and can use the money for other more important things. Two, so that students understand just how much they are using, and try to change their lifestyles to use less. Is conservation a dirty word? Umm, no.. I dont think so? I think that some people dont use it correctly and can make it seem less important, but i dont think its "dirty". When it come to alternative energy, i believe the government should have some regulation, so we dont choose something more harmful than what we already use. But in retrospect, the company or scientists or whoever is coming up with the new "source", it should mainly be all on their hands. Im no scientist so i dont know what is the best way to go, but in my opinion, i think biofuel is a good way to go. I dont think solar power, wind power are good ideas because they rely on the weather, and are super expensive to put up. In regards to what i can do to reduce my own energy consumption, tomorrow, would be the usual, recycle, reduce, reuse. In the coming years, i may be able to do more with more knowledge.