The Politics of it All

by Mary Anne Bowie, Sarasota Green Marketplace   

Hawaii recently adopted a law that all newly constructed homes must have solar hot water heaters.  Australia already requires that all toilets must be dual-flush, allowing for toilet water savings estimated at 90 percent.  Australia has been under a fifty year drought; children have been unable to play soccer in the afternoon because the sun has been too hot.  Now up to 90 percent of the water going into toilets will be conserved.  But it took a fifty year drought to make the change in Australia. And in Hawaii, how many individuals had to make the point that using the sun for water heating was more intelligent than senselessly wasting electricity that required fossil fuels. In California there are incentive programs.  As part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roofs Program, California has set a goal to create 3,000 megawatts of new, solar-produced electricity by 2017 — moving the state toward a cleaner energy future and helping lower the cost of solar systems for consumers. This is a comprehensive $2.8 billion program. More importantly, in Florida, what will it take to require that all newly constructed homes have solar hot water heaters?  When will dual flush toilets be required?And should these “green building” efforts be required?  Or should these efforts continue to be voluntary?  When do we run out of water?  Does it make sense to use fossil fuels to heat our water when the sun can do it so much better? What is the right government perspective and what do we do to shift? Is it better to spend now trillions of dollars for the war in Iraq than it is to spend millions or billions for solar energy?  Should it be war, voluntary action, laws or incentives.You get to choose with your votes and your letters to your legislators. Another choice in your hands. Sarasota Green Marketplace is Sarasota’s Only All Green Home and Building Store, providing only eco-friendly products and services and promoting SGC Approved Businesses. Please visit us at 2864 Ringling Blvd. in the Gold Tree Plaza at the corner of Ringling Blvd. and Tuttle Ave.  Questions? Feel free to call us at 941.953.3588. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 6pm; and on Friday and Saturday from 8am to noon.  When You are ready to GO GREEN, we’re ready to help, Right Now.  

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