Tag: Energy and Environment

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Daylight Savings Time Begins…

Well this is the second time that Daylight Savings Time is beginning the second Sunday in March. Even though I like the sun being out later, it is quite dark in the morning.
I have been quite exhausted at work and this will only intensify this week because of the lost hour of sleep tonight.

Congress passed the new Daylight Savings Time rules as part of the Energy Bill a couple of years ago to save energy. But there are reports recently that more energy is used than saves because we switch so early.

As mentioned earlier I like the sun, but I am not sure it is worth the additional energy.

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Home thermostats: Big Brother’s next target?

Home thermostats: Big Brother’s next target? – Engadget
As reported on Engadget, the state of California is considering whether or not to require a thermostat that they can control in times of need to raise or lower the temperature to help reduce load.

This sounds and means well, but won’t work and is an invasion of what temperature I want my house set at.  Don’t get me wrong, we should be doing whatever we can to reduce our energy footprint, but if want my temperature set at a temperature, the government shouldn’t set it for me.  I have even installed a programmable thermostat to help us better manage the temperature in our house.

There are many reasons why I want a temperature set where I want it.  For me, I have an elderly family member living with me and she needs the temperature a little higher in the winter and cooler in the summer.  It just something she needs.

The temperature in our house should be managed by the homeowner, not the government.  The government should be working to better develop the energy in the state so their is enough, not reducing or increasing the temperatures remotely.

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Where’s That Energy Bill? – New York Times

Where’s That Energy Bill? – New York Times
This is a great editorial from the New York Times. This was a highly anticipated bill, but it has fallen into some hidden office in the Capital.

Since the oil prices are going through the roof and the public has an increased awareness of energy issues, it would be the perfect time for Congress to take action.

But Congress is more divided than they ever have been in their history. It used to be the different sides of the aisle would fight on the floor of the House or Senate, but they respected each other to sit down out of the public eye and would work out a solution that everyone could handle.

But because they can’t get along, Americans will suffer.

We will not have solutions to the energy crisis that we are facing now. America needs to take action and the table is set for Congress to take action. But they are choosing to fight on the playground instead of coming home and sitting down and having dinner.