Should America reduce its' energy consumption?

Question

We have 5% of the worlds population and we use 30% of the worlds energy. We are really the most to blame for global warming. I've been to 33 countries and 4 continents and I don't see SUV's, 2000+ sq ft homes (as a standard), lack of mass transit, and the excess I see in the US. I used to work in advertising and quit because I realized my job was to tell people to buy a bunch of crap they don't need and I was contributing to the destruction of the planet.

Answer 1

Well, to me there are three reasons to reduce energy consumption in the United States:

One is the problem of global warming and climate change. The second is the fact--obvious to everyone except the right-wing--that as long as we are dependant on foreign oil supplies, we are thereby vulnerable in ways tht thereaten our economicwelfare and our national security.

The third--for each individual--is just simple self interest. To give one small example: why pay 4-5 times as much to light our homes as we really need rather than use energy-efficient light bulbs. You might as well take a $100 dollar bill each year and put it in a paper shredder. Because that's exactly what it amounts to. And before you dismiss that--keep this in mind--a more or less complete shift to these lightbulbs is, nationally, the equivelant of 75 coal-fired powerplants. That's a lot of energy--and a lot of CO2.

And that's ony one technology. Energy in this day and age is expensive. But saving enrgy almost always pays for any investment required--and then saves the user money.

There are simply no good reasons for us to continue to waste enrgy--it adds nothing to the average person's quality of life--and the money we waste could be better, or at least more enjoyably, used for other things.

Answer 2

some highlights and a few sites with greater huge information. 1980— Nuclear ability generates greater electrical energy than oil. October 8, 1981— President Ronald Reagan's administration lifts the ban on reprocessing used nuclear gasoline and proclaims a coverage that anticipates the will for a intense-point radioactive waste storage facility. January 7, 1983— President Reagan signs and warning signs into regulation the Nuclear Waste coverage Act. October 26, 1983— investment for the Clinch River Breeder Reactor challenge is killed via Congress. 1983— Nuclear ability generates greater electrical energy than organic gasoline. 1984— The atom overtakes hydro-ability to advance into the 2d-best resource of electrical energy, after coal. 1985— The Institute of Nuclear ability Operations varieties a nationwide academy—the nationwide Academy for Nuclear training—to accredit each nuclear ability plant's training software. 1986— The Perry ability plant in Ohio will become the single hundredth U.S. nuclear ability plant in operation. 1988— U.S. electrical energy call for is 50 % bigger than in 1973. 1989— u . s . a .'s nuclear ability vegetation supply 19 % of the electrical energy used interior the U. S.; 40 six instruments have entered provider in the process the last decade.

Answer 3

Uh- NEXT Question! :) I mean- OF COURSE !!! What we need- is a graduated energy consumption tax. The more carbon emitting Energy we consumed, the more we'd each have to pay (Each item we'd buy- would have its own energy based tax). And the money that was GATHERED from all those collected "energy taxes"- could go towards cleaning up the Environment. If people are REALLY serious about getting global warming under control; their going to have to start paying for the "privledge"- of contributing to it in the FIRST place.

Answer 4

Of course we should. An eneormous amount of the energy we use is wasted. We could save a tremendous amount by just being more efficient. Simplifying our lives is not a bad idea either. But what we need most of all is to move away from a reliance on fossil fuels. We need to invest in alternative energy research to find practical alternatives that won't destroy the planet.

Answer 5

Yes we need to consume energy.

Will it actually happen? I highly doubt it...

So what we need to do is really focus on alternative energy.
Wind, Solar, Tidal, Hydro-electric, etc... This will be the only way America reduces is contribution to global warming. Unfortunately, most americans are just too dumb to figure out that they can save a ton of money by making a few little changes. (example: save $35 per CFL replacing incandescent)

Answer 6

That number is shamefully disproportionate and we as American citizens need to bring it down through making better choices in our everyday life. I'm tired of being the laughingstock of the industrialized world. As advanced as America is, we are sorely lacking in self-control and moderation.

Answer 7

Yes. We need a formal nationwide conservation program.

Answer 8

Yes.

Use the Power of the Vote.

To sign up for the Stop Global Warming Virtual March, please visit http://www.stopglobalwarming.org

Answer 9

that must be the understatement of the century
and cut down on polution whilst your at it
and stop deforesting other countries.