Thread: Green Jobs and Renewable Enrgy Projects - not so much

I read a different article, that basically made the same points. I support green thinking, but I think some of the approaches and the loose use of the term "green" has caused some of the failures.

Appliance rebates, while a great incentive to buy new appliances, it fails to really have an impact. Most people buying appliances are doing so based strictly on need. You dont just decide to buy a new washer and dryer. That directs rebates towards those who are in the market, and in this day and age, the energy star appliances are a no brainer. They are competitively priced and any added expense will be paid for in most all cases in less than 5 years. People buy products that are effecient, no real need to direct cash in that market.

Alternative energy, great we need it! The downside is many of these are still not cost effective and efficient enough. Improvements to existing methods can increase the efficiency of current systems until newer technology evolves. The stimulus invested a lot of money into research, but until it goes into production it has no stimulating affects on the economy. Also, we have existing wind farms that can generate power but it is not being utilized because lack of transmission lines. I think this would be an excellent creation of skilled electrical jobs and many support construction jobs, and would encourage production of more wind turbines, another creation of jobs.

Weatherizing existing homes, kind of a small piece of the pie. Typically not enough benefit environmentally speaking. Also it doesnt direct a real growth in the "green" market. I would prefer that new construction be improved. Working in the green building industry I have been to numerous shows and seen a bunch of "new technologies" branded green. There are some great ideas and sure some of them are more efficient than traditional building, but they have to be done in a custom home build. Are gain as a nation would be to encourage track home builders to rethink the way they build. I have seen neighborhoods pop up and they have green on their sign. I'm sorry your still building a stick and brick home, you used energy star appliances and double windows, then ground up the left over 2x4s for mulch in the landscaping. All of that is things that should be done anyway! The other thing that bothers me is the use of recycled material and calling it green! Styrofoam is not green any way you package it! Even if your recycling it and using it in a house for insulation, its not good. The house catches fire and you just polluted more than you ever saved on energy.

We need a culture change in our building techniques. In Abilene(of all places) there is a project going on where they are building homes and plan on not having hvac, yes thats in Texas with no hvac! Using the earth to cool an earthen dwelling, built to take advantage of the solar cycle, using water conservation, and many other things that other builds cant even dream of. Why are these projects not receiving stimulus! Houses that will outlast us, are energy effecient, cheaper to build, it needs to be priority to build for the future. What was that saying during the campaign lipstick on a pig... old outdated houses are still old and outdated even though you throw in some new windows and insulation and energy star appliances.

It was a great thing to include, if it worked. Its the "in" thing to talk about, sadly the nation fails at putting it into practice. Green is not saving electricity, its not saving water, its not polluting less, it is a culmination of all the things we can and should do in order to protect our planet. It doesnt have to be extreme or costly or a burden. Most of it is common sense, cut less trees, waste less, conserve more, recycle what we have. Funny common sense story for the end, at a green show, there was a booth encouraging pouring a slab for a big patio as green... saves you from watering as much in this hot climate! HAHA, concrete grey, grass green... hmmm

I suggest two things:
First, Tax the hell out of those companies that outsource their labor, while giving tax breaks to those that do not.
Second, the Federal Government buys no goods or contracts from companies that outsource their labor or are not American companies. (State governments should do these things too.)