What many Environmentalists, Conservationists and Animal Rights Activists have in common

I seem to be meeting many environmentalists lately claiming concern for our environment caused by our excessive use of fossil fuels but on closer inspection, what one finds is a fur coat, tucked neatly in the back of their closet. 

 

It’s sheik and in vogue for one to protest excessive and flagrant consumption of energy these days but heaven forbid that same activist should give up their beautiful glass panoramic view of the world from their living room in exchange for energy efficiency. 

 

Let someone else sacrifice by doing away with such pleasantries.   Just don’t tell anyone about that full length sable coat hanging in the closet worn on special occasions where no one knows them. 

So what if tens of thousands of dollars of energy is wasted because the heat conducts out through the panoramic glass walls on a cold day, or tons of carbon dioxide emissions spew into the atmosphere from the generation of electricity needed to cool down the structure from excessive heat gain through the glass in the summer.  Let someone else sacrifice, “I like my view” too much to put heat reflective covers over the glass in order to reduce the heat gain and heat loss in the building.

 

It wasn’t too long ago that Al Gore was challenged on this very topic.  Mr Gore, for those of  you who don’t know owned a huge energy guzzling home all the while he was waving the red flag of alarm about climate change and global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, and other pollutants.

 

I think the world needs fewer activists proclaiming what needs done and more people that lead by example.  So before you decide to get on the “bandwagon” or “gravy train” known as energy efficiency, take a long hard look at your own backyard and clean it up first.  Only then have you truly earned the right to tell others what they need to do. 

Comments

[Dennis Crook]

When I posted this blog I was feeling frustrated and angry.

I became a developer and builder of "green" energy efficient buiildings and spent the past 25 years constructing new and remediating old buildings for energy efficiency for myself and my family for the following reason. Unless people have to pay excessively high costs for energy the majority of people won't do much of anything that stops their waste of energy.

It is not appropriate to accuse everyone of being motivated solely by money. I think people use the excuse "it's too expensive" when in fact they do not know or understand something.

People also tend to cling to being "right" and for one to admit they don't know can be scary and show vulnerability.

I think as a society we've come to accept the excuse "it's too expensive" as a valid explanation for not taking action, when taking action is clearly the right thing to do.

A truer statement is- "I do not understand the principles of heat transfer, air flow, etc and in order for me not too waste energy I need to learn about these principles so I can fix the problem."

Is it laziness? a lack of self esteem? or a sense of entitlement? Personally, I think its fear that keeps most people stuck in nonworking behaviors and "what's in it for me" attitudes.

I see from your posting that you are in the UK. I lived in the UK for almost two years. I found it quite interesting that people drove automobiles that got great gas mileage and at the same time people opened their windows in their home when the heat was on.

I was told the reason the windows are opened is to allow fresh air into the home. Opening the window when the heat is on lets the conditioned "heated" air out the window and it wastes energy.

I often made the suggestion to some that an air-to-air heat exchanger will solve the problem and the windows could remain closed and fresh air could still come in using this system.

I would get the usual response, "but I like having fresh air come in my window". DUH.

I can either go totally insane attempting to teach people about the many possibilities and benefits for saving energy in their homes and work places or simply focus on building and remediating structures for my use. I think for now I will continue to develope "green" energy efficient properties for my own purposes.

In parting I would like to say-
An energy efficient building is always "green" but a "green" building is not always energy efficient.

[radiators]

I fully agree with your statement!

It is apparent that everyone is only bothered about the enviroment when it actually costs them money etc.

Take in to account the fuel charge increase - all of a sudden everyone was bothered about the environment. Then when the fuel costs are reduced no body is bothered anymore.