Fuel feast for the wealthy.

[wreckedit]

Do you think that the wealthy waste energy because than can afford too?

They keep lights on because it looks nice.

They keep heating on for no reason at all.

They drive around in vehicles larger than they need because they like them.

Just something I think about because some peoples future generation are going to die because we like leaving lights on.

Or do you think its good fun to use up energy as quickly as possible?

 

[RedHerring2]

Aren't you being too simplistic here?

There are 'wealthy' people who are 'wealthy' because they scrimp and scrape to save every penny they can, worked hard, or they've saved/invested wisely. They don't advertise their wealth. Part of their wealth might even have been because of their frugal lifestyle.

There are 'wealthy' people who don't advertise their wealth by 'conspicuous consumption', but like to live comfortably.

There are not so wealthy people who like to advertise their perceived wealth by conspicuous consumption. They may be struggling to continue the illusion.

There are people who might display one or more of your 'wealth & waste' tests due to their circumstances, e.g. lights on for security, heating on for comfort (we all desire different levels of heating), how can you tell who requires a large vehicle and who doesn't?

There are people who have no desire to accumulate wealth so spend all of their earnings which might be mistaken for wealth.

I'm sure there are many more instances of mistaken wealth due to the lifestyle.

 

[wreckedit]

I put this on here because we needed something to discuss and you did it justice. Thank you red.

The point I was trying to make was that its okay to spend lots of money on things but if those things expend lots of energy in there use then isn't that being irresponsible in the long run.
If we as a nation have to buy more energy to fuel desires is that a bad way to go.

 

[joe-90]

We need a taxation system that makes wealth impossible.

 

[joinerjohn]

We need a taxation system that makes wealth impossible.

We have ,, But it's heavily slewed in favour of the already rich.
Us paupers can but hope to win the lottery.

 

[wobs]

I put this on here because we needed something to discuss and you did it justice. Thank you red.

The point I was trying to make was that its okay to spend lots of money on things but if those things expend lots of energy in there use then isn't that being irresponsible in the long run.
If we as a nation have to buy more energy to fuel desires is that a bad way to go.

Why just in their use?
When you spend money, there is energy embedded in items you purchase, so if you spend money on a lot of stuff, a lot of energy would generally have been usd in the making of it (or them).

If this doesn't matter, why is it important to stop wasting energy at one end of the supply chain and not the other?

Just to note: the link between the amount you spend and the amount of embedded energy is loose. You may spend large amounts on something something with a small amount of energy behind its manufacture, but generally there is often a relationship.

 

[RedHerring2]

We need a taxation system that makes wealth impossible.

What, you mean dis-incentivise hard work, savings, investments or sensible spending in order to save? Bit counter-productive init?

Never had you down as a communist, Joe.

From each according to their ability, to each according to their need. Karl Marx.

 

[joe-90]

No-one needs more than they can spend in a thousand lifetimes. That's just greed - not wealth.

 

[RedHerring2]

The point I was trying to make was that its okay to spend lots of money on things but if those things expend lots of energy in there use then isn't that being irresponsible in the long run.

If people do buy more 'things' then aren't they re-distributing their wealth?

 

[LastMagicBean]

How am I supposed to keep my bundles of cash warm.????

Or keep my scantily clad girlfriend, scantily clad. ?????

More thought is needed here, wreck.

 

[RedHerring2]

No-one needs more than they can spend in a thousand lifetimes. That's just greed - not wealth.

It might be pure ambition.
For example;
Child A wants to be a fireman when they grow up, child B wants to be a doctor, child C wants to be a millionnaire, child D wants to be on benefits and never to have to work.

Just where on the continuum line do you see yourself?

Benefits<______________________________________________________>Millionnaire

 

[joe-90]

Always in the middle. None too rich and none too poor.

 

[wreckedit]

The point I was trying to make was that its okay to spend lots of money on things but if those things expend lots of energy in there use then isn't that being irresponsible in the long run.

If people do buy more 'things' then aren't they re-distributing their wealth?

I think people if they want to, buy lots of things. It does help the economy. Its buying things that take energy to run which needs some consideration. Like 4x4's for running around town in, leaving outside lights on when a sensor would do the job when needed. I must admit now we have these low energy lamps I don't get so up tight. I used to think that it was okay to leave a tele on standby all day. But not any more. It is a totally stupid thing to do. Why you ask? on standby it uses about 10w then for 1milllion tele's for 1 day it is 240kw. I think this figure is conservative. If it was 4 million standby devices then that's a megger watt per day. That's getting into power station figures then that run on gas and oil, all being wasted.

 

[joe-90]

When I was a kid we had no central heating. Maybe we should all switch the heating off now.

 

[crockett]

Back to the OP, by saving energy, buying an energy efficient car, only switching lights on as required, and being a generally conscientious country we will save the planet? I know that the energy saving has to start somewhere, but why should we be the ones to take the moral high ground, but what difference would it make to us when our small country is green, efficient and, energy saving when the superpowers are eating up every last morsel of gas, oil, coal, etc., and polluting at a ridiculous level ?