[Greenbuilding] Perceptions of Nature & Reality

[John Salmen]

Motivation goes back to language and practically I don't think it matters
what units are used. Language is imprecise and I would hazard that change
requires a degree of imprecision and ambiguity to be effective. As change
takes place the 'units' subsequently carry greater meaning within a
community and are imbued with new significance.

Killowat usage is a poor indicator of environmental health in the same way
that heart rate or weight are poor indicators of general human health. Low
kilowatt usage should not be seen to imply low energy consumption or even a
green lifestyle. We use those units within a context in the same way that I
can have an anecdotal conversation with a neighbour about how much I spent
on electricity. Units just describe what is consumed or produced and rely on
context for understanding. 




-----Original Message-----
From: Greenbuilding [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org]
On Behalf Of John Straube
Sent: May-28-13 11:15 AM
To: sanjay jain; Green Building
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Perceptions of Nature & Reality

I see the same thing all the time Sanjay.
But I think we need to separate
1. the means of measuring energy/carbon/environmental impact and 2.  the
means of motivating people to act in a more environmental manner.

We have easy units for energy.  carbon should be easy to measure (mass) but
how to get from an action to net carbon impact is harder.  Measuring
environmental impact if even less precise and certainly worth discussing how
to do this.


On 2013-05-28, at 12:35 PM, sanjay jain <sanjayjainuk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

> Absolutely agree, we have to stop using money as the comparison. 
> 
> We went to Mount Vernon on Sunday, en route I noticed hundreds of lights
on during the day, outdoor metro stops, street lights, outside buildings...
escalators running when no one is using them, etc. etc.
> 
> If talking in money worked, non of the above would happen. But energy
terms will probably not help either. The answer may lie in a carbon
footprint number. But then again, marketing folks will find a way to make
wasteful numbers look good.
> 
> ~sanjay
> 

John Straube
www.JohnStraube.com


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