It’s
an age-old argument: How much should we be held accountable for as individuals,
and at what point should the government step in to help? At one point, will we have to take
a serious look at local, state, and federal energy efficiency programs, statutes
and regulations?
The
question, which I posed before is -
we have a civic duty to promote distributed energy? By implementing
onsite power, are we in fact working for the greater good? After all,
decentralized energy systems come with a “one-two” punch of increased efficiency
and the option of including renewable energy. If it’s possible, should we
all be working towards a power system that limits grid dependence, curtails
demands on fossil fuels, and takes a stab at reducing greenhouse gas
emissions?
If
we don’t owe it to the planet, do we owe it to our fellow citizens?
When
I was a law student, I found myself intrigued by the interplay between
environmental protection and social justice—two philosophies that are not always
working in concert with each other. I’ve experienced first hand the “no
growth” initiatives cloaked in the mantel of “water conservation” and “habitat
protection” that really were designed to keep out the undesirables and inoculate
a little slice of paradise from infiltration by “outsiders.” I’ve also
seen how efforts to protect workers and encourage investment can lead to
over-development and exploitation of natural resources.
But
there is another aspect to environmental justice—the melding of environmentalism
and human rights—that’s worth discussing, because, while it’s adherents at times
employ sloppy methods, their ultimate aim is laudable: a world where we are all
invested in personal stewardship of the environment, while remaining aware of
how our actions can impact our neighbors near and far.
There
are many reasons to diversify your power systems and increase your energy
efficiency—by no means am I trying to polish those reasons into a fine patina of
righteousness. What I am trying to do is point out that altruism and the
bottom line are not mutually exclusive, but can work in concert—onsite power
provides the perfect opportunity for a dollar-wise/earth-sound partnership.