lowimpacthome.org

In a small town in Germany called Marburg there is a heated debate over a new mandate requiring solar panels.

“The ordinance, the first of its kind in Germany, will require solar panels not only on new buildings, which fewer people oppose, but also on existing homes that undergo renovations or get new heating systems or roof repairs” says the Marburg Journal. There is even a hefty fine of $1500 for violators.

This brings up the question…Can the government require us to become green? Most cities has Municipal Codes that require many things, could those include green issues?

For example in my city, as I found out recently, requires hot water heaters that are in closets to have louvers on the door so the hot water heater can “breathe”. The hot water heater has been just fine in my closet for the past 15 years why now can I not put the regular door back on the closet? I’m sure that they have a good reason for requiring louvers, I’m sure it’s for safety but if they require that could they have required me to install a solar powered hot water heater?

Now I would have loved to install solar power hot water heater, I would not have blinked an eye if I would have been required to install one, but would my neighbors feel the same if they were in the same situation. The issue with installing one at my house would not have been my feelings but the lack of sunlight because of the large trees in my yard. They are great to keep the house cool but interrupt the sunlight enough that solar power cells on my roof would be rendered almost useless, this goes for my neighbors also.

To require solar power would mean the loss of a lot of beautiful old growth trees and not to mention the expense of cutting them down.

Personally I think that the Government needs to step up and fund more alternative power sources but I don’t think that they can require someone to go green. I think that it is a personal choice to decide whether or not they want to join in the fight to save the planet. Now of course I think that it’s terrible if you recognize the signs of global warming and don’t do anything about it, but hey it’s your call and your bad karma.

What do you think?  Can the government require you to be green?  Sound off and let me know what you think.

Over the past few weeks, I have been contemplating over what to say next.  I have been very concerned about the economy, the state of America and what it is doing to my family and others that I know.

But it all came to me yesterday morning…

My husband and a band that he belongs to ( The New Memphis Hepcats) were scheduled to perform on a local daily news program, so I had the tv at work tuned to something besides the Golf Channel.  Well the President preempted the program, but I left it on since I was curious as to what he had to say.  Now let me “preempt” this by saying I voted for George Bush…2 times.  I am ashamed by this. You know what they say…”Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.” I haven’t decided whom I am voting for in the next election but I assure you, my decision will be well researched and thought out. 

So, I believe that I have the right to complain, I put my trust in him and he let me down.

As I listened I was appalled as to what he had to say.  What I heard was a bunch of, “I told you so’s” and “its all congress’s fault”. 

I started a project where I would compare prices and the cost of gas between my local grocery store and the granola store.  Well I haven’t been able to finish the project because every drop of my gas is precious and I can’t (even for science sake) to use any more then what is needed.  Now I know that I could offset that travel by riding my bike to work, but when it’s 95 degrees with a 85% relative humidity, riding is a tad bit uncomfortable. 

But I say all this to get to my point…with the rising costs of gas and food, it’s not time to play the blame game, it’s time to fix the problem before middle-class families like mine can’t afford to by the simplest necessities. Not to say that the problems of the poor are not important, but 9 times out of 10 they can apply for some type of governmental assistance (that’s not the answer either), families like mine don’t qualify for programs like that and we are starting to suffer. 

I don’t mean to sound ugly, but now is the time to forget politics, forget about suffering in other countries and focus on America’s recovery and may I say that offshore oil drilling is not the answer.  I agree wholeheartedly that buying 70% of our oil from foreign companies is ridiculas and we need to do something about it, I don’t think that potentially ruining more of the ocean is the right thing to do.  The President doesn’t agree with me on this.  However, I agree with the principle of why he wants to do it.  The less we need, the lower the price.  But what about spending that same money on more eco-friendly or earth friendly fuel production.  I say that then say “No more corn ethanol” that is not what we need, save the corn for the growing food crisis.  Now other forms of ethanol are good to research but NO MORE CORN. 

Speaking of which, my favorite gas station that is connected to my grocery store, that consequently gives me a discount on my gas when I buy their groceries, has gone to putting corn ethanol in their gas.  That makes me sad, especially when they are not cheaper then any of the surrounding gas stations.

Now especially is the time to write to your Congress person and voice your concern.  Don’t sit idly by as things get worse.  Take a stand and let them know that what is going on is not ok and you won’t stand for it.  Give them reasons to support eco-friendly research like wind, and solar power.  you voted for them, make them hear you.

You know I discovered that I have been hypocriticle.  I started out to be plastic free and all I really am is plastic less.  Still a good thing but not good enough, especially after I watched this video.  It’s all about what happens to your recycle at the recycling plant…disturbing right?  To know that some of our trash is shipped across the world and other humans are inhaling the toxic fumes for our benefit, what does that say about us?

I have contacted the local governments with the specific question of where does the trash go to be recycled and the answers are, I’m not sure but I doubt it’s going overseas and It goes to downtown and it is recycled there.  Now I don’t know exactly where the recycle goes after it gets to the sorting facility, but this gives us another reason to stay away from plastic altogether.  I will do better at doing my part…what about you?

The earth is in crisis, we all know that.  It doesn’t matter what side of the fence that you are on.  Whether you are blue or red, we all need to recognize that the earth needs our help, or soon we will not have a planet to live on.  I don’t believe that the environment is a political issue, I believe that the environment is a people issue. Most of us believe in a divine creator, it doesn’t matter if you are Christian or Muslim, Jewish or Buddist, someone gave us this planet it didn’t just happen on accident. For those of you that are Evolutionists or Big Bang Theoryists, don’t leave just yet…hear me out. 

I don’t know what cause the planets to align or how the earth came together, but I do believe that something or someone had a hand in it.  This planet that we call earth was to perfect to have just happened on accident, it was given to us an we should be good stewards of it.  Unfortunitly we have not been and now this unbelievable creation is going to waste.

Sadly even if we were to dissapear tomorrow, it would take thousands of year to correct the problems that we have cause in just the past 50 or so years. That is why we need to pay attention and stop now!  Anyone watch 60 Minutes last night? (I don’t have a tv so I will watch it tonight online) Apparently there was a segment on Global Warming and the effect it is having on the Polar Bears in the Artic.  Those poor polar bears…not only is global warming effecting their environment but the terrible plastic emmisions are changing them into hermaphrodites.   What would happen if the top predator is taken out of the food chain? I don’t think that this is what natural selection is all about…do you?

Please write to your congress person and to our president, join a group like Greenpeace that fights for environmental rights.  We have got to do something or we won’t have anything left to fight for.

People to send emails to about our environment:

Governer Phil Bredesen 

State Representative Lamar Alexander 

State Representative Bob Corker

Shelby County Mayor A.C. Wharton

Mayor W.W. Harrington call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at (901) 576-6500