It's time for Individual Responsibility

Anything we do, whether increasing production of domestic oil or developing alternative energy, which is the real long term answer, will take time. We can only achieve effects immediately by individual conservation. We have to all become acutely aware of the consequenses of every action we take. Our energy crisis has been a long time coming and it will not be solved overnight. No single thing can be blamed for our problems. We always want to blame them...well folks..WE ARE THEM. We are the problem and we are the answer. Small errors of judgement repeated over time can bring down a team, an organization, a country or a civilization. Small acts of discipline repeated over time can empower a team, an organization, a country or a civilization. It has to be a combined effort by everyone. It's time to take responsibility for our actions and to take responsible actions.

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Permalink Reply by Scott Peddle on July 27, 2008 at 6:29pm: Recently I have been evaluating my priorities and with the price of gasoline reaching all time highs, it was my wake up call. I have implemented some energy saving ideas. I live in an appartment and work offshore so I am not home all the time but when there I an saving energy by changing light bulbs, installing a programable thermostat and practicing fuel saving driving. I know I am only one person, however that can be said of everyone and just like voting, (every vote counts) every person counts when it comes to conservation. I vote for conservation while we develop alternative energy.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dene Dymke on July 27, 2008 at 6:34pm: Taking individual responsibility is probably the most important thing we can do. This sets an example for our children, grand children and even (we hope) great grand children. We live in a monkey-see, monkey-do world. People repeat what the see, esspecially people we have influence on. That being said, I think it's especially important for the older generation to set an example. I plan to set an example of conservation. Even if we did not have an energy crisis, conservation would be a good example to set.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chad Taylor on July 27, 2008 at 6:40pm: I don't have a choice but to take individual responsibility. I live in the Houston area and all my relatives are in Arkansas. I have recently started a budget for myself. I allow myself a certian amount for gas and utilities and I stay within that limit. $ wise it is the same as last year; but with the cost it means I have to cut back. I have so much money and it has to make it to the end of the month. I think everyone should live by a budget and base it on conservation.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Faye on August 5, 2008 at 7:29pm: I am doing what I can also. Turning down the thermostat in winter and up in summer. I changed the light bulbs and even use collected rain water for the plants. I also purchased a Nissan Versa since the gas mileage is over 31mpg. I am also trying my hand at growing a few vegetables and limiting my trips to town. It's a start.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wayne Alderman on August 5, 2008 at 8:01pm: That's right; it's a start. Everything has to begin somewhere. Do you realize the difference it would make if most of America did the things you are doing. I commend you for your efforts; just spread the word and involve others.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wayne Alderman on August 5, 2008 at 8:08pm: As a follow up...think about the POWER OF ONE. What can happen if one person helps one person a month and those people do the same....How about one a week? The numbers get into the millions quick. The geometric progression from one can change America sooner than later. We can all make a difference!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Greg T. on August 8, 2008 at 11:03am: AMEN!!!

Wayne is exactly right. The whole social networking phenomena (what we are doing here) is based on this simple principle. Individually, we evaluate the difference we can make personally and we are embarrassed.

But when we make our one small difference and invite someone else to make the same difference, and they do the same and so on, and so on. Pretty soon, the world is a much better place because of it.

If you change one aspect of your life and then tell other people what you are doing to make a small difference, you would be surprised at how quickly the impact could grow into something bigger than any of us, even T. Boone.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Wayne Alderman on August 23, 2008 at 9:48am: Greg,

Sorry I missed yor comment; I was out or town and offline several days. You are right about us being embarrassed when we evaluate what we are doing. We must make a greater effort to involve others.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Becky Alderman on August 23, 2008 at 2:00pm: The key is getting people to adopt conservation practices.
Our family has really gotten into reducing and recycling.
We have been recycling and composting for a couple years
but we have really gotten serious lately. We hardly have
any trash now; maybe a small kitchen bag or two weekly. We
have made it a challenge to see how effective we can be.

We have even altered the way we water our outdoor plants.
Some are in containers and those are easy- but the ones in
the ground we have started “surgical watering” (my term).
We use 1 gallon milk jugs with a small hole in the side
close to the bottom and this makes 100% use of the water
where you want it.

Did you know that TV’s, DVD and VCR players, radios, etc.
continue to use energy when they are shut off with the
power button? Install power strips on your entertainment
center and computer center and turn the strip off at night
or if you are going to be out of pocket for awhile. FACT:
Appliances that are off but not unplugged can account for
up to 40% of your energy bill, says eco-consultant Jen
Boulden of Idealbite.com.

FACT: Americans discard roughly 100 billion plastic bags
each year.
(help by carrying your own canvas bags for groceries and
purchases)
FACT: Average cost of bottled water: $8 a gallon. Eight of
10 bottles are not recycled. (Container Recycling Institute); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Travis Strickland on August 28, 2008 at 4:09am: Very true. It takes a lot to wake up people in this country. This is a country of procrastinators. Now is the time for action before things get worse. My fear is that if gas prices drop strongly, people will forget how hard times were. Gas prices will go up again, and then people will remember. Like I said it takes a lot to wake up the giant. Regrettably, America woke up to Islamic aggregations to late.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tamas on September 19, 2008 at 2:51pm: hello, Mr. Pickens started this beautiful campaign to promote wind CNG and solar energy in order to stop foreign oil dependency in 10 years.

BUT WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE MEAN TIME? AND HOW ABOUT IF THE PLAN FAILS?

I can guarantee that we can all start to produce energy by saving it RIGHT NOW!!!

IT'S CHEAPEST TO SAVE FUEL THAN TO BUY FUEL AND SAVING ENERGY IS CHEAPEST THAN PRODUCING IT.

We are an army of 160,000 members which can become 160,000 source of energy saving.

I personally save 50% fuel driving my car with moment-o-meter. You can do to. it's secure, easy and fun.

Get the information at www.extra-mpg.com. Some says the price is high but it cost you not to have it as it pays for itself in a few months. A solar or wind system would take years.

Tamas, co-inventor
www.extra-mpg.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bill Tucker on September 22, 2008 at 7:06am: Hello to all,
Let me start by thanking everyone who is part of the search for solutions to our collective independence from foreign oil and climate endangering use of gasoline and diesel vehicle fuel.
One of the largest obstacles locally to T. Boone’s plan is the lack of open to the public CNG fueling stations, and the fact that few if any are in the planning stages. To correct this and allow for Central Florida to become part of the solution to our collective problem, I am looking for assistance from legal and accounting professionals that would be part of a group to study the feasibility of establishing a not for profit corporation.
The not for profit corporation would be used to jump start the establishment of Central Florida CNG and Hydrogen fueling stations that would be open to the public. By establishing open to the public CNG and Hydrogen fueling stations the public would be encouraged to purchase or convert vehicles to CNG, and would allow companies like Honda to make available Hydrogen vehicles like the FCX Clarity. At present Honda is producing the FCX Clarity only in limited quantities and those vehicles will not be available anywhere in the southeastern U.S. because we have no open to the public Hydrogen fueling stations.
I am also looking for people with prior fund raising experience and volunteers that would be interested in pushing this agenda. Anyone who is interested in discussing this further is encouraged to contact me either by Pickens Plan email or forum post on the Local projects group forum “Starting a CNG fueling station”; ▶ Reply to This