Energy Solutions are up to Individuals

I stopped at Target yesterday and as I was checking out the person in front of me had 2 large packages of light bulbs. These weren't the energy efficient compact flourescent bulbs. I thought about the energy that could be saved if this person would have replaced these lightbulbs with energy efficient compact flourescent bulbs.

I concluded that no matter how much money we put into a power fund for renewable energy research or how many ethanol and biodiesel plants we build, real change won't happen until individual people take it upon themselves to make smarter decision to save energy and help the environment.

Today's opinion section of the Des Moines Register expresses the same sentiments. They have 2 articles worth reading: Energy Solutions begin at home and Individuals must take on energy-efficiency ethic.

The Register concludes in Energy solutions begin at home...

It makes sense to seek local solutions to energy challenges through conservation and alternative-energy sources. Just as the states are laboratories for democracy, they can be laboratories for developing new sources of energy and finding ways to use less of it. The answers aren't in Washington but right in our own backyards, in the way we build our communities and live our lives.

Government can help encourage individuals to make the choices and promote conservation. The Iowa House passed the Energy City legislation written by Tyler Olson that help accomplish this.