selfish people

[CowboyHippy]

This is my side of the coin, and how I hope people will look at conservation and the environment.

A local info board has people trying for gas outs, and how much money you save with CFL's and such. how recycling saves money by cutting down on the trash bill. Energy efficent appliances saving money. blah blah blah

All valid points, I wont argure, except for the gas outs, just cause no one buys gas on a set day doesnt mean a damn when they still drive that day. ride a bike or share a ride.

I bought my first cfl over 10 years ago, and it was nearly 11.00 bucks, flickerd three times then popped on like a classic flourescent light. I have been recycling for a long time, compost bins, no fertilizer on the lawn or garden. havent used the furnace in 7 years since we put in the wood stove. I'm sure many of you could add to the list, and If it werent for me having a life off the net I could go on.

My point is that, for me It's not about the money I save. I am glad to see cfl's so cheap nowadays, but I was buying therm when they were about 5 times as much. I do what I do for the environment. I hate to say it but the smarmy yuppie trendiness on this front might be a good thing. Maybe there is a hippie mastermind out there doing this to brainwash the mundane. I am an Electrician by trade, and I would like to hear someone around here say "they are good for the enviroment" for their reason to put them in as opposed to "they save me money"

[Hippie Staff]

Good points. Obviously people are money motivated, so that's the first thing out of their mouths and on their minds.

What I've found interesting, is that the depression era folk, are the most thrifty, energy conscious, save every scrap generation that I've personally ever witnessed. This is deeply rooted in the depression era itself. Not having things or money, made people appreciate what they have and want to save things.

The generations that followed were given things easier, made money easier, and have access to cheap goods. This is the new psyche that is embedded - a disposable society.

Something has to click inside, for someone to really understand that the benefit goes beyond the cost. Often the feeling that motivates the 'action' is pure and simple guilt. ie., I would feel bad to throw a recyclable in the trash can, knowing it would be easy enough to recycle.

And, yes, selfish behavior can work in conjunction with guilt. ie., I would feel better about buying the organic produce over the genetically modified monsanto vegetables because it's better for ME. It will cost me more, but it's worth it (selfish for own health benefits). Added benefits that are most often but on the back burner, but help justify increased costs: better for the environment, better for the local farmers..

Anyway, just more fuel for your slant. I think everyone is inherantly selfish, whether they want to admit it or not. However, the reasons for being selfish are different. I do think, that more and more people will make decisions based on guilt, selfishness and love. ie, - I love my parks, the green trees, and would feel badly about polluting or contaminating them. I want this place to remain pristine and beautiful for MY kids. (selfish).

[LIBRA]

I sometimes feel that "going green" is a bandwagon that some are jumping on, but I think if it gets em on, thats better then nothing. Now as far as selfish people go, thats never gonna stop. People are money hungry.

I for one have very little money and what I do have I spend wisely, even if that means spending alot more. Wise to me is safe and healthy, being good for the environment is a needed bonus.

Keep it simple doesnt always mean to keep it cheap. imo.

[LIBRA]

Almost forgot, good to see you back cowboy!!! Hows the family? Hope all is well :)

[CowboyHippy]

Almost forgot, good to see you back cowboy!!! Hows the family? Hope all is well :)

thanks
they are doing horrible
ear aches, pneumonia, eye infections

causing me to go stag to the Michigan Ren fest

hopefully all things will be well before too long.

anyone here be at the ren fest this weekend
it's a longshot but i hate being a lone costumed nerd

[LIBRA]

whoa that is awefull! I hope they start feeling better soon, esp before winter settles its cold rearing head in.

I live in PA so no Ren fest for me in MI :) You'll have fun, I go solo to most everything and I always have a blast, no one to worry about and I meet great peoples too.

[PEACE FROG]

This is my side of the coin, and how I hope people will look at conservation and the environment.

A local info board has people trying for gas outs, and how much money you save with CFL's and such. how recycling saves money by cutting down on the trash bill. Energy efficent appliances saving money. blah blah blah

All valid points, I wont argure, except for the gas outs, just cause no one buys gas on a set day doesnt mean a damn when they still drive that day. ride a bike or share a ride.

I bought my first cfl over 10 years ago, and it was nearly 11.00 bucks, flickerd three times then popped on like a classic flourescent light. I have been recycling for a long time, compost bins, no fertilizer on the lawn or garden. havent used the furnace in 7 years since we put in the wood stove. I'm sure many of you could add to the list, and If it werent for me having a life off the net I could go on.

My point is that, for me It's not about the money I save. I am glad to see cfl's so cheap nowadays, but I was buying therm when they were about 5 times as much. I do what I do for the environment. I hate to say it but the smarmy yuppie trendiness on this front might be a good thing. Maybe there is a hippie mastermind out there doing this to brainwash the mundane. I am an Electrician by trade, and I would like to hear someone around here say "they are good for the enviroment" for their reason to put them in as opposed to "they save me money"I love this post!!! And hello there Cowboy long time no see. You are very much a straight shooter. I feel the same way regarding this issue. I went as far as changing jobs, I tried to start a "green buisness". I was working as as a Mgr. at a large home improvement retailer, I have a General Contractor license and am passionate about the environment. I thought here's my nitch. I found that for most folks it was a fashion statement. I found myself quite often saying" Doing the right thing is not always cost affective". I have been blessed lately though with a job to install a couple solar tube skylights and a whole house water filtration system. Otherwise I'm scpappin' for the same buck as any other contractor :D

[Unkle_John]

lately on the local news they are attempting to scare the public about CFL's b/c of mercury. It irritates me that they all do this b/c of a small amount of mercury (about the size of this: . ). Yes Mercury is a bad element to have in or on you or leaking into the environment, but scaring people so they won't even buy a CFL is ridiculous and a stunt for ratings.

Have any of you seen any reports on LED bulbs for home use?

[PEACE FROG]

They act as though flourescent lighting is new. It's not the bulbs but the movement they are against John. Anything pro-piggy consumerism. It's all part of the capitalist religion. BTW do you respond to PMs? :)

[CowboyHippy]

actually my wife had visions of a concrete dome falling in and crushing us. despite all the facts and figures i could produce...no monolithic for me.

being an electrician i get a fair ammount of literatere, last bit of stuff i got had a 100 watt comparaable led bulb at ober 30 bucks, it did have amazing figures for longevity and useage. LED's are definatley cool. I am a bit gadget oriented though (I love my gps for hiking) and the only LED stuff i have is the camping lantern which is just a bit bigger than a d battery and has crazy output, and my headlamp which will last for over 3 days on 2 aaa's.

Mythbusters tested the whole turn lights out when you leave the room thing, The LED bulb blew the others away. still turning them off is the way to go

the only two lights in my house that arent CFL are the hall lights, just cause i havent ponied up the cash for the ones that will work with my dimmers.

as for the clean up
a lady here locally spazed out over the mercury thing, i think the total bill came to about 1200 bucks for proper clean up and disposal. this sorta jogged somethign i read on how one of the selling points for digital music was less waste, but the studies actually found that people will burn mp3's for their pals and they are more likely to get pitched anyway, as well as mp3 players having what the article called "a fair ammount" of heavy metals. guess you gotta take care of your ipod and be careful playing baseball with cfl's odd tangent but something to keep in mind

I'm not sure how off the grid you want to get but hre's something I am toying with. using some "smarthome" technology in combination with my of the gridness stuff to take power management to the next level. for instance..in my kitchen i have 11 lights. so say my battery levels get below 50% the house can automatically switch it so when we turn on the switch instead of all lights coming on, only 2 or 1 in each set. It could also regulate the fridge and the water heater and such to help conserve when generation is slow. It is not cheap by any means, nor is it drastically expensive, i think the key is having a plan.