What if we tried "shaming" people into saving energy. The energy companies could list, by address, the top 20 heavy-usage residential consumers in every neighborhood. People could see this by logging in online, or by looking at their monthly bill.
So then, people would be more energy-aware and try to do whatever they could to reduce usage and get off the top of the list!
2006-08-09 05:55:24 · 11 answers · asked by _Kraygh_ 5 in Environment
Where I live, there is no choice of companies.
Also, privacy shouldn't override global energy care. (beside, I meant an address listing, not a name.)
O.K I give up. I tried. Leave the lights on, let the sink drip, turn up the AC, and go for a cruise in your SUV, see if I care.
NYAAAAAAAAA
2006-08-09 06:13:13 · update #1
AVA:
No I didn't
No I didn't
No I didn't
Don't you look foolish?
Don't you look foolish?
Don't you look foolish?
2006-08-09 23:12:48 · update #2
Just by reading the first sentence of this question I can already tell it's a bad idea. "Shaming" people into saving energy? Whose business is it anyway what you do with the electrical power you pay for? And the real question is this, do you actually, truly believe that this would work? Why the hell would a power company try to get people to use less power? That's like McDonalds listing all the top eaters for their restaurant to try and cut down on fatty food intake, why would they want to lower their sales?
Another "solving the energy crisis" idea from someone with the equivalent economics understanding of one semester of community college.
2006-08-10 02:47:23 · answer #1 · answered by Gekko 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hmm, being a heavy residential user does not necessarily mean one is wasteful per se. I mean, a household could have a lot of people living there or the residents are running a business out of their garage or something. Some could be stay at home elderly folk and have a good reason to run an air conditioner all day/night along with other items to pass the time such as TV.
Sooo, I would just go with public service announcements and imposed blackouts/brownouts. If people realize that they need to cut back on some frivolous conveniences such as central air in order to mainain continuous access to the grid, they might take notice.
Also, at least in the Columbus, OH area, American Electric Power offers a pretty substantial rate cut for those that use under a certain amount based on size of household. I think that is a good idea as well (since I qualify for it, hehe).
2006-08-09 13:07:39 · answer #2 · answered by Ubi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
America is the top energy consumer in the world and it has much lower a population than many other countries, has that curbed anything?
It's no different on the small scale. Not only will power companies face privacy issue lawsuits, but another company will gladly jump in to supply them energy at a higher price but keep it private.
Besides, that type of blatant advertisement for energy wasters is already existent. You see it pass by you in giant billboard style sheet metal everyday. It's called the SUV, but that hasn't stopped most people from driving it either.
2006-08-09 13:04:10 · answer #3 · answered by ymingy@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once read about a school which had an unusually high number of truant students, but someone in the school's administration began turning the names of truant students into a radio station, and the names were announced. The truancy dropped by 25%.
I suppose that's somewhat similar, but I do think that there may be issues with privacy and such.
Besides, there are always the fools who would like to be at the top of the list just to say they were...for the fun of it!
2006-08-09 18:54:25 · answer #4 · answered by aanstalokaniskiodov_nikolai 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great idea, I say we put em in the town square and stone em. Or make em pedal bikes that would generate energy for the town. Of course I'd probably be pedaling every week to pay for my good for nothing brats that have no respect for money or the environment because there teachers tell them that they are special and they can do whatever they want. Gee I guess society as a whole is to blame which is why no one else agrees with you.
2006-08-09 19:41:53 · answer #5 · answered by Barry M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think this is going to work.
People who are ignorant don't know the feeling of shame.
I still have plenty of youngsters in the neighborhood going round-and-round their parent's garden for hours on their dirt bikes, despite the present gas prices. They (the parents) don't think there's anything wrong with that....
2006-08-09 13:04:58 · answer #6 · answered by Marianna 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
CHARITY SHOULD START AT HOME , IT WOULD HAVE LOOKED BETTER IF U HAVE LISTED SOME DOMESTIC GREY SITES WHERE PEOPLE NORMALY GO OVERBOARD AT HOME .
AS FAR AS I KNOW WE SHOULD FIND WAYS TO SOURCE NEW IDEAS FOR POWER GENERATION TO MEET THE DEMAND THAN THINKING TO FIGHT SOME IMPOSSIBLE TASK WHERE LOT OF JACKS ARE INVOLVED
2006-08-09 13:06:06 · answer #7 · answered by sharma b 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Submit this to Tony Blair. It is the sort of 1984 idea he would love. We are living, as it is, with all sorts of government looking over our shoulder.
I don't want it. Live free..........
2006-08-09 16:19:15 · answer #8 · answered by andyoptic 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That idea sucks. Conservation = good, invasion of privacy = bad.
2006-08-10 00:18:42 · answer #9 · answered by Report Abuse 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't you just ask this a little while ago?
Didn't you just ask this a little while ago?
Didn't you just ask this a little while ago?
Didn't you just ask this a little while ago?
2006-08-10 01:57:01 · answer #10 · answered by Baby Jack born 4/5/09 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋