What We Can Do

This is the section for all the activities and savings that will make a big difference when others follow your example.

First understand your own energy usage and what affects it. Join the Oxford University I-Measure and record your electricity and gas usage. Help them plan to extend the calculations to monitor oil as well with calculations like this. It may soon be able to tell you when to reorder your oil, as you can try in the spreadsheet version.

More important still is the way you build the market for renewables. It's no use waiting until PV solar or electric cars are economically viable. The market will not develop and so they never will be. Jump in now and your grandchildren will remember you with pride! The interest on deposits is now so low it will be a relatively good investment too.

If you can write up your experiences it will be even better. A summary of the experiences of real eco-home builders, for example, will empower the government to legislate for every home to be energy saving.

Why not try to think of things that would not ruin the planet if everyone did them? For example the current enthusiasm for ethanol is destroying the rain forest. The growing use of wood chip furnaces has its limitations in the longer term.

Prove it works and legislation can follow.

Test your understanding with a prize winning simulation by Red Redemption. You are the President of the European Union deciding how to spend your resources to save the planet without bankrupting Europe.

Most important is to study and discuss the dangers with your friends. Awarenes of the facts and solutions as they emerge will always be a conversation starter. Why not try "I wonder what your house would be like under carbon rationing." This could lead to a discussion of the likely measures governments could take and how the wise will prepare for them. As you gain an opinion of your own why not support some of the many organisations who promote that viewpoint. Take part and make sure your viewpoint is considered.

Don't imagine your voluntary restraint will make any difference except to prove that radical legislation is viable.

Group members

• Malcolm
• Pat

Sources

1. Debate, Discuss and form Groups
2. Useful Web Sites
3. World Digital Library 01/09/09
4. ZPlan - initiating a solution in harmony with the future 26/03/09
5. Zero Energy and Zero Carbon Houses
6. Teen Discovery Decomposes Plastic Bags May 2008
7. Financial engagement
8. Domestic Combined Heat and Power 29/01/09
9. Solar Homes
10. How to Build Solar Power Panels by www.solarwindkit.org 26/06/09
11. Electric Cars in USA - review
12. Domestic Windpower
13. Home Savings
14. Green Mortgages 14/09/07
15. Transportation Economies
16. Encourage Others with your money and time
17. 10 ways to save energy
18. Ground Pump Heating and Cooling
19. Earth Energy UK
20. Sustainable Agriculture