There is little doubt that the environment is a significant issue for all Canadians. How we treat the environment, how we use and reuse compounds, and how we limit our emissions and carbon footprint is significant. There are an extensive amount of environmental proposals and initiatives. What is important about environmental initiatives is that they are targeted, they are balanced, and they create a long term solution. I will address a number of key proposals and speak on which ideas I support and why.
The light bulb is one of the simplest and greatest inventions of all time. Have you ever went on holidays and forgot to shut off a light bulb or another small appliance and found when you came back it was very costly? That is because even though the light bulb may be small, it can potentially use a large amount of energy. It was absolutely wonderful when fluorescent light bulbs came into the market. At first, they were very expensive and did not receive a large amount of consumer support. After the light bulbs were marketed as an investment to lower your energy bill each month and that they use a significant amount of less energy, they started flying off the shelves and the supply increased while the cost decreased. Even now, LED lights will someday soon replace these new fluorescent bulbs as an even lower energy consuming bulb[1].
Research is the key to unlocking better methods of carbon reduction and capture technology, as well as more efficient engines that use fossils fuels or technologies that inhibit us to be entirely fossil fuel independent. Technology will be a major proponent of carbon reduction [2]. Even just a few years ago, hybrid cars were expensive, relatively unknown, and were not yet a staple technology. Today, a hybrid car can be purchased for much less and is available on an increasing number of car models. The consumer benefits with the investment in a hybrid or low-emissions vehicle in the long run with a dramatic increase in fuel savings. Investigate a simple feature of the hybrid car: the car will shut off catalysis of the fuel while idling or at red lights. This is a simple and innovative idea that has increased the already efficient hybrid engine; more great ideas are yet to come.
Carbon capture and trade is something that I firmly do not agree with. I do not see it as a viable instrument for long term reductions; it seems more like an economic plan. For example, one province (province A) may have a large fossil fuels industry and provide the gasoline for another province (province B). While province A produces the fuel and has a large carbon footprint, province B might be the major consumer of that fuel that province A produces. Does it seem practical that province A has to adjust its economy and channel its funds to another province that is the major user of its production? Carbon capture and trade is an economic program and does not firmly address the long term reduction of emissions.
Consumers will purchase and use energy systems that are the most affordable; it is common sense for the average consumer. As newer energy systems become more available they will see a decreased price and more and more people will make the switch over to reduce their carbon footprint and save money.
There is little doubt that the environement is a significant issue for all Canadians. How we treat the environment, how we use and reuse compounds, and how we limit our emissions and carbon footprint is significant. There are an extensive amount of environmental proposals and initiatives. What is important about environmental initiatives is that they are targeted, they are balanced, and they create a long term solution. I will address a number of key proposals and speak on which ideas I support and why.
The light bulb, one of the simplest and greatest inventions of all time. Have you ever went on holidays and forgot to shut off a light bulb or another small appliance and found when you came back it was very costly? That is because even though the light bulb may be small, it can potentially use a large amount of energy. It was absolutely wonderful when fluroscent light bulbs came into the market. At first, they were very expensive and did not recieve a large amount of consumer support. After the light bulbs were marketed as an investment to lower your energy bill each month and that they use a significant amount of less energy, they started flying off the shelves and the supply increased while the cost decreased. Even now, LED lights will someday soon replace these new fluroscent bulbs as an even lower energy consuming bulb[1].
Research is they key to unlocking better methods of carbon reduction and capture technology, as well as more efficient engines that use fossils fuels or technologies that enhibit us to be entirely fossil fuel independent. Technology will be a major proponent of carbon reduction[2]. Even just a few years ago, hybrid cars were expensive, relatively unknown, and were not yet a staple technology. Today, a hybrid car can be purchased for much less and is available on an increasing number of car models. The consumer benefits with the investment in a hybrid or low-emissions vehicle in the long run with a dramatic increase in fuel savings. Investigate a simple feature of the hybrid car: the car will shut off catalysis of the fuel while idling or at red lights. This is a simple and innovative idea that has increased the already efficient hybrid engine; more great ideas are yet to come.
Carbon capture and trade is something that I firmly do not agree with. I do not see it as a viable instrument for long term reductions, it seems more like an economic plan. For example, one province (province A) may have a large fossil fuels industry and provide the gasoline for another province (province B). While province A produces the fuel and has a large carbon footprint, province B might be the major consumer of that fuel that province A produces. Does it seem practical that province A has to adjust its economy and channel its funds to another province that is the major user of its production? Carbon capture and trade is an economic program and does not firmly address the long term reduction of emissions.
Consumers will purchase and use energy systems that are the most affordable, it is common sense for the average consumer. As newer energy systems become more available they will see an decreased price and more and more people will make the switch over to reduce their carbon footprint and save money.
References
[1] : EarthEasy
[2] : Technologies for Reducing Stationary Energy Use
