Tuesday, September 11

Quote of the day

We all use power. So to achieve a "big difference" in total power consumption you need almost everyone to make a "big" difference in their own power consumption. If everyone does a little all that we will get is a little.

- David J.C. MacKay
Sustainable Energy Without Hot Air (page 271, 9/9/2007 version)

A book in progress at withouthotair.com

3 comments:

monkey said...

i dont mean to sound flippant... but i really want to know.

what is alot?

Anne said...

Well, it's not "unplugging your cell phone chargers." It is rethinking the size of the fridge you use. Insulating the outside walls of your home instead of buying an SUV. Choosing to go play frisbee with friends instead of everybody sitting at home alone in front of their big screen TV.

There's a threshold for "a lot". In his book, anything that cuts power use by 10% is something that should be pursued.

monkey said...

again... no flippant :)

but.. i thought what you have listed under alot, was the a little that everyone can do...

did i get mixed up again? :) (you know it happens alot with me)

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NotSoBigLiving is the story of a woman inspired by Sarah Susanka, Bill McKibben, Airstreams, Tumbleweed houses, Mennonites, Jimmy Carter, hippies, survivalists, Anasazi, Pema Chodron and Joko Beck, Scott Peck, Buckminster Fuller, and Al Gore to see what she can do to reduce her carbon footprint in her mid-80's suburban townhome. Strategies include roommates, alternative travel, organic eating, planting a victory garden, mindfulness, and a belly full of laughter.