Magnets For EnergyEnergy X-Prize: Reduce Home Energy Usage
Written by admin on May 11, 2009 – 10:12 am -
Our “crazy green idea” tackles the demand side of our energy crisis and gives Americans an incentive to reduce their energy consumption!
See http://web.mac.com/jondreher for more information, including our sources and calculations!
Duration : 0:2:1
Tags: CFL, Consumption, Efficiency, electricity, energy, environment, Insulation, money, renewables, solar, wind, X-Prize
Posted in New energy sources | 20 Comments »
By justkanishk on May 11, 2009 | Reply
It is a great idea. …
It is a great idea. I can see your point here that by motivating people to reduce consumption, we can conserve energy. But I feel that it is a challenging task in itself. A small observation: CFLs have been in market for such a long time, but still we don’t see them in regular home use.
Good luck with the prize! I voted for this idea.
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Thanks vecter, …
Thanks vecter, those are definitely key considerations.
This video presented our concept midway through its development and we’re currently finishing up the details and addressing the two concerns you listed in your comment. I’d like to hear you other ideas, though, so please PM me with your other thoughts.
By vecter on May 11, 2009 | Reply
I like your idea …
I like your idea the most because I think it’s the most practical. The others are wishing for magic. However, in order to make your idea workable, you need to work out
-The specifics of how different communities are judged in their energy gain. Will you be measuring energy savings per capita? What designates “a community”? Etc.
-The prize incentives must be well planned out (ie. managing expectations). You may also want to consider having many prize tiers.
(more ideas, but char. count limit).
By CanOfSpam on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Ok, but then you …
Ok, but then you should of mentioned “raising your air conditioner in the summer”.
I live en Europe and having air-con is not a common thing to have in the home. So it sounded strange.
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Raising your …
Raising your thermostat temperature by just two degrees when it is warm outside greatly reduces the amount of energy required to cool your home. Air conditioning uses a tremendous amount of electricity and even using it slightly less saves a significant amount of energy.
By CanOfSpam on May 11, 2009 | Reply
What? Lowering the …
What? Lowering the thermostat in the winter and rising it in the summer? How does raising it in the summer help at all?
By plimmin on May 11, 2009 | Reply
This is by far the …
This is by far the best of the three finalists. Please VOTE FOR IT!
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Hi BSR, thanks for …
Hi BSR, thanks for the comment
We disagree, however, and believe that reducing consumption is the only viable long-term option. Given target rates for population and economic growth throughout the world, consumption will have go down for the world population to sustain itself.
New technologies take years to develop but reducing consumption can have an immediate effect. If organized and implemented correctly, reduced consumption will not require any change in lifestyle and can be permanent.
By BSRGodfather on May 11, 2009 | Reply
I agree people …
I agree people should reduce their consumption, but it’s not truly a valid long-term option. Creative, but not really viable over the long run (people get bored easy, and will return to their excessive ways).
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Thanks, Velkoze, we …
Thanks, Velkoze, we appreciate the support!
By Velkoze1 on May 11, 2009 | Reply
I voted for you !
I voted for you !
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Thanks for the …
Thanks for the comment and support. Though past X-Prizes have focused on technological innovation, we feel that social innovation to create behavioral change is equally appropriate in this scenario, as well.
By noreast77 on May 11, 2009 | Reply
This doesn’t really …
This doesn’t really foster innovation, but it should be done anyway
By alexrouse1 on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Awesome video! Very …
Awesome video! Very well done!
By GlennDoty on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Oh, I just do text. …
Oh, I just do text.. But in the political world this is just AWESOME…
My one concern with the X-Prize is that I’m not sure how many people it would reach. When I told my friends and family that I was competing for an X-Prize, then near universal reaction was: “what’s an X-Prize?”
If government was doing this, I think participation would meet your expectations…
But I’m not sure here.
Anyway, I’m definitely impressed. Good idea, and good luck.
You should call your congressmen.
By spidisimisu on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Cool… Incentives …
Cool… Incentives may not be as effective as innovations or implementation of new technologies, but they are definitely more reliable, once in effect, and also complementary. People do a lot even for small incentives. I believe the ones you are proposing would work.
I like this idea too…
By jondreher on May 11, 2009 | Reply
No problem, thanks …
No problem, thanks for the comment!
You are right, it will be a challenge to maximize participation but we believe marketing and corporate sponsorships, along with the right prize and reward, can make this happen.
Please let me know if you use any of our video for your blog; I would be interested in seeing it. My only concern would be if you reproduced copyrighted images we had to purchased rights for to use in our video.
Thanks again for your interest!
By GlennDoty on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Sorry about the …
Sorry about the double-comment… I don’t know why I got posted twice.
By markpolarbear39 on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Totally different …
Totally different than everything else I’ve seen. I really like this idea.
By GlennDoty on May 11, 2009 | Reply
Good idea.
…
Good idea.
Definitely out of the box…
For the record, I think you are drastically over-estimating the motivation that this prize would have. I’d be surprised if many communities competed. But it is something to consider – especially for government energy policy.
Thanks for entering this. It’s a VERY good idea.
I’m going to modify it and start including it in some of my political blogging for energy policy – if you don’t mind (it shouldn’t effect this competition).