1. The main idea of the text is to bring about awareness on the issue of the types of energy in our everyday lives as well as how we use it, how much we use it, and how we can use it in a more sustainable way.
2. On page 24, the author says “We mainly think about how much energy costs. We are most reminded of its necessity when it is absent or scarce.” This really opened my eyes because, when we use things like our computers or our cars, we aren’t thinking about what powers them. When we turn on a light, we are simply comforted by the warm glow and the absence of dark. We are so oblivious to how much energy we consume and I for one, think that is a big picture issue.
3. It’s so easy to brush people away when they don’t agree with us, or to scoff at them and say they don’t know what’s good for them but doing this solves no one’s problems. I think its important to find common ground with people who don’t share your views on the environment because, in order to come up with a solution to our environmental problems, we must be able to understand both sides, including the side that we don’t agree with. I think a lot of people who are against environmental-friendly ideas are more concerned about money and themselves but I also think people are ignorant and don’t believe a problem unless it is actively a large issue. I think the first step to finding common ground, is to sit down with an open mind and have a conversation with the opposing side to hear their concerns. People tend to respond better to others when they understand where they are coming from.
4. UNE could have an energy map if we got the environmental department to sit down and share concerns/ideas with students interested in making UNE a more environmentally friendly college. From there, a 5-year plan could be made consisting of reachable goals that UNE hopes to achieve to make UNE more sustainable.
5. I think a large-scale renewable project might be just what UNE needs to show people how serious they are about the Environment. I think most of the school doesn’t know too much about any of the actions that UNE has taken to be more environmentally friendly. I think a lot of criticism gets around on how safe ride doesn’t come around enough, or how expensive parking passes are. All put in place to lower our carbon emissions as a whole. I especially agree with what the author says about how “renewable-energy installations dramatically change the physical landscape of a campus. And those landscapes convey a deeper meaning about sustainability values” (pg 34). I think if UNE did a visibly big project that everyone was aware of and could even contribute to, it would put a whole different meaning to “Innovation for a Healthier Planet.” It would make it more meaningful.
6. My “ah-ha” moment was when I read that energy conservation not only saves the planet, but it can save money. This was a new revelation because it made me think about how much better we could be if people would just realize that.
