Reboot Alberta

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Why Do Some Politicians Think We Have to Choose Between the Environment and the Economy?

This link is so well done and worth a visit. It points out stuff you likely already know but does it in a context that asks why do some politicians think we have to choose between the environment and the economy. We can have both thrive with enlightened public policy and leaders with political will to exercise wisdom and judgment.

H/T to guy Dauncey for the link.

2 comments:

  1. I've never understood why people think the two are mutually exclusive.

    When Bill Clinton was in Calgary, he was talking a bit about environment versus economy. In the US, there are companies that will come into a business and do an energy audit. Then, they propose fixes (triple-e windows, high-efficiency furnaces and heat exchangers, insulation, fluorescent bulbs, etc). The company that came in then replaces all of these, at their own initial cost.

    The business pays their energy bills as if the company didn't come in. The difference between the actual energy bills and what the business pays then goes to the company that did the audit, and continues to do so until the service is paid off.

    Essentially, it's no additional cost to the business, and eventually, it represents a net savings.

    Much the same way I believe in trying to replace things in my house that are less efficient - I will reap rewards later - I just need to be able to front the capital now. It's an investment.

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  2. Anonymous7:18 pm

    Love the link.

    greengirl

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