Conscious decision can lead to a tsunami of change

A friend of mine, who happens to be a teacher, recently announced that she and her family were moving from an apartment into a new house. She was thrilled that her daughters would finally have their own yard to play in. She asked me if I could recommend a washer/dryer manufacturer that was green friendly and that used as little energy as possible.

I suggested she visit www.energystar.gov for starters. The Energy Star program is well-established and its Web site is full of good information on all things relating to energy efficiency, from light bulbs to entire homes. It even publishes lists of appliances with data that allows comparisons between manufacturers, models, capacity, energy use, water efficiency, etc.

The point is that my friend was making a conscious choice to be a part of the solution, not only to her family's rising electric bills, but also to the larger issue of climate change.

Many people still look elsewhere for solutions. After reading about the tremendously negative impacts of coal-fired electrical power plants, it's easy to say, "They need to do something about that."

Substitute "they" for the local utility, the government or the neighbors down the street. There are plenty of targets to point the finger at. It is clear that "they" need to do something about it, but so do we. Making conscious choices in our everyday lives creates a ripple effect that can grow into a tsunami of change.

My friend did not rush out and replace every appliance she owned with energy-efficient models. That is not practical for most people. Yet, when the time came to make a purchasing decision, she did so with the awareness that her choice mattered. She was voting with her dollars. If we all applied that philosophy to our everyday lives, we could point the finger at ourselves and say, "I'm doing something about that."

There is so much untapped potential in energy efficiency it is like a gold mine waiting to be discovered. The least expensive electricity is the energy we never have to generate. Instead of megawatts, we should be creating negawatts, as Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute calls them. Many of us take energy completely for granted. Some use so much, and with such unconsciousness, that I've coined the term "energy abuse." It is every bit as damaging as a drug or alcohol problem, and it affects all members of society on a global scale. Personally, I'm a recovering ener-holic.

The first step in recovery is recognizing that we have a problem. Then we take action, every day. We need to commit to energy efficiency, reduce our energy abuse and help everyone we know to do the same. Our families, our businesses and our society will benefit as a result.

Thinking you need that new big-screen plasma TV? Just say "No," at least until you understand how that device will fit into your energy budget. How many watts does it use when on? How many when off? Is it an Energy Star appliance? Perhaps a TV with an LCD screen would run cooler and use less energy. The energy impacts of a product should be a primary part of the decision-making process before making a purchase.

Our collective efforts send a powerful signal to the utility companies, good or bad. If we use more and more energy, they respond by building more generating capacity. By adopting efficiency and responsibly reducing our need for energy, they may no longer feel compelled to build expensive and environmentally destructive coal plants. Most people now understand that burning coal is no longer a viable, safe, economic or intelligent option as the climate crisis deepens. But we must also take responsibility by reducing our profligate energy use, so it becomes easier to transition to the clean energy systems we need now.

The so called cheap energy of traditional fossil fuels is now a thing of the past. As pressure mounts to take action on climate change, the true costs of burning coal are being reflected in the marketplace and in the regulatory arena.

I recently met with presidential candidate and former senator John Edwards as part of a roundtable discussion that focused on renewable energy and other issues of great importance to Nevada. Edwards is very much aware of the critical need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the emissions from his entire campaign are being neutralized through the use of carbon offsets.

When asked what action he would take regarding the more than 150 new coal plants that are currently planned for the United States, Edwards replied that an immediate moratorium is necessary. That's the most intelligent response to the issue I've seen so far.

Efficient use of energy is a fundamental step in solving the climate crisis, as well as managing our power bills. My friend is doing her part. Edwards will do his. I'm recovering every day.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Rypka can be reached via e-mail at steve@greendream.biz. More information relating to this column is posted at www.greendream.biz.