Green Energy revisited
Published 1 year, 2 months ago in Making News.Finally found a definitive guide to Green Power options. The following ‘Choice’ article provides easy-to-understand explanations and info about the different Green options. http://money.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=273622
However, I wonder why it has to be all so hard for the consumer to make a positive contribution to the environment. According to this article, if you choose to take up the 100% green option, you are up for a steep increase in your power charges.
Why do we have to”buy” green power and forced to pay premium prices? Why doesn’t the government simply make green power available to all who request it without the extra charges? Shouldn’t a positive government initiative include a more committed response and thorough approach?
After all, we are all in this together, are we not? So the benefits would affect us all, just as the adverse effects reach all. The government ought to be concerned for the welfare of our people and the environment has an enormous influence on our health, which in turn affects productivity, which in turn feeds back into society and affects our standard of living.
I’m sure the answer lies somewhere between profits and ignorance and the excuses blame funding and unawareness.
7 Responses to “Green Energy revisited”
Leave a Reply
Your reply will not appear on the site until it has been approved
I’ve said this before, I’ve have 100o/o wind power through Origin energy. Yes it does cost more and yes it is wrong that those who wish to do the right thing should pay for it. But in the end I think we will all have to make sacrifices for the planet. On average it costs me between $28 - $35 a quarter extra, roughly equating to about $2.55 a week which I probably would waste on nothing anyway.
P.S and I don’t believe the government truly wants to encourage green power because it’s not profitable enough for certain greed driven sectors.
Sorry, I am not convinced… it is just a shallow method of making money off the guilt that people feel about using power… how the heck can you know which electron is green and which is not. It is an illusion, like paying someone to keep rain off your roof where the water comes from the Indian Ocean and you being reassured that its not AND you paying for the privilege of thinking it! WHO IS FOOLING WHOM?
If only we could all use “green energy” but unfortunately at the moment there is not enough to go around. If everyone opted to “Go Green”, and the retailers signed them up at the extra cost margin, then they would be commiting fraud, because there just is not that much clean generating capacity available.
Hopefully now that geothermal stations look like starting to come on line by about 2010 there will be more, and much cheaper, clean energy available, about the same cost as coal and a lot cheaper and cleaner than solar and wind.(When you take in to account the pollution generated in manufacture.)
Viv, yes, we do our bit - as I said, we are all in this together, interconnected. But I still believe that it would be more responsible and exemplary of the government to offset the additional cost of green power for consumers. It is not our fault that better alternatives and standards have not been in place, so why should we have to carry the burden, esp. when we do not have the type of power and fundind that is avilablew to the govt?
Mrb, if you read the article, you will learn that the term “green” in this matter does not refer to color of electrons but rather to the source of power or energy being envirom,entally friendly (friendlier). That’s if you would believe the validity of the article! Up to you..
Grump, have heard of this info also and it does seem to be the case. However, it’s such a pity that we as a society- and the govt has a lot to answer for- have not already established the alternative or “green” sources of power long ago. That we haven’t been as conservative in our use of finite resources is another pity.
Did you see the 4 corners programme Mon 25th, they tested some split system air conditioners that had good 4.1/2 star energy ratings on the box, but when tested independently they barely made 1 star. The chinese company that made them is about to get a please explain from consumer affairs, a lot of good that will do! Just shows it doesn’ matter how much we try to save energy, someone will try and rip us off.
Did not see the doco, but yes, it is unfortunate that such charletons try to profit from difficulties facing mankind by ripping off do-gooders.
This story highlights the need for better regulations and quality control and harsh penalties for those who are not honest in their dealings.