Gothamist: Humidity Makes NYC Break Con Ed Records

King Hippo

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:26:47 -0500

Another thing is who would decide where the tax money goes? the government? they'll probably use it as pork to fund some questionable "energy related" study set up to find out how much fresh cow manure would be required to heat a school.

King Hippo

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 14:14:43 -0500

Yeah, but that's kind of like saying that raising prices on food will help fight obesity. Maybe for some it might, but it's a product that's so widely used that it's almost impossible to figure out the many unintended consequences.

hijiki

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 11:10:48 -0500

i don't believe that limiting use would necessarily harm the economy... in fact i can imagine many ways in which it could help. the assumption there is that more consumption (without innovation) means more jobs, but given our current situation it's easy to see how that premise could lead to a much worse economic result. i think capping usage would encourage innovation.

smitty

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:42:43 -0500

try ceiling fans. they help!

rob-o

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 09:40:55 -0500

The way to curb energy usage is to increase the cost. Slap an extra 50% tax on each Kilowatt-Hr, and you'll see the cost go down. Of course, pizza slices will probably get more expensive due to epensive oven costs, which means the subway fare will go up...

S.D.

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 08:27:09 -0500

Well, since the State, Fed. Gov't and Power companies have done little or Nothing to get alleviate the problems causing the blackouts, another one wouldn't surprise me at all.

anonymous

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 08:21:51 -0500

Hi Hijiki, Rampant consumption is a problem -- my personal pet peeve is when retail stores leave their doors open and blow conditioned air out into the street. (or, in the winter, when a restaurant heats its outdoor cafe.) But how do you impose limits on energy consumption without preventing economic growth, in a city with so many (especially underclass) unemployed?

hijiki

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 07:22:47 -0500

i'm hoping for more blackouts because it might remind overconsumers that their behavior is not sustainable even in the short term and it's a free holiday in the park. i know people using electric space-heaters to overcome their air-conditioners. con ed shouldn't need to keep up, they should set limits.