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Dutch treat in a new fashion!

Submitted by Hans Nilsson on Wed, 2007-01-10 08:00.

Climate action requires individual involvement.

We all fight with the problem of how to find out what sorts of actions and technologies that will work for us. Newspapers and magazines are quite helpful with advice but we still lack the "hands-on" experience. The Dutch ministry for environment is trying a new concept with vouchers to enable individuals to try out suitable applications.

It certainly gives the expression "Dutch Treat" (meaning that everyone in a party pays for themselves in e.g. a restaurant) a totally new meaning. More generous and more meaningful, we hope. It is still an experiment and may be applied nation-wide later.


A plaster on an open wound?

Submitted by Hans De Keulenaer on Wed, 2007-01-10 10:35.

Dear Hans:

While certainly creative, the term 'plaster on an open wound' springs to mind. These programme have a tendency to address a fraction of users, for a fraction of their energy use. And it's always the same products. In the case of dimmers, one needs to consider whether the target is not missed - the standby losses introduce by the dimmer's power electronics may consume a large part, if not all of the energy saved by dimming.

It also reminds me about your earlier post about the complexity of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is the quickest, largest and most cost effective potential, but also the hardest.

Hans De Keulenaer
Manager - Leonardo ENERGY Initiative

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Making evil worse

Submitted by Hans Nilsson on Sun, 2007-01-14 21:49.

Good point Hans,

we may have to find a way to give more specific technolgy advice for the "package-dealers" to prevent them form making evil worse (as another proiverb says).

I still think the basic idea is good since there is a strong case to show how simple things can work. White certificates are sometimes critisised since they do not address more sophisticated technology, but that is exactly the point. There is a lot of unsophistcated solutions that work.

So how can we develop a warning-sign for things taht shoud be avoided, and who should do it?

Hans

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