TED Conversations

Joe Nyangon

TEDCRED 50+
TED Fellow

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Why has "green consumption" of sustainable products (e.g. Whole Foods, Toyota Prius) not permeated electricity consumption?

While many consumers have embraced sustainable products (eg. Whole Foods, Toyota Prius), that ethos has not yet permeated electricity consumption. Why do you think this is the case? Will it always be like this? Will renewable energy consumption be driven only by government mandates? Why? Or do you think this will change? If the marketplace were fair and rational, there would be no need for subsidies and mandates for the renewables and a proper carbon tax would suffice—as is starting to happen in Europe through cap-and-trade system. What will drive the change to clean energy consumption?

Related Talks:
Topics: Clean energy Green Accounting TEDinClass United States Whole Foods alternative energy creativity energy consumption nuclear energy profitable sustainability
+2
Share:

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.

  • Ramon West JR

    • +1
    Apr 4 2012: Infrastructure! Hey nice house that you own. I need you to go ahead and burn it down and build a new on that will be smaller and more expensive. Oh by the way you don't get any compensation for the old one. That is what we would be asking the energy industry to do. Billions or trillions of dollars and millions of jobs. I vote for converting electricity and cars to Natural gas. 50% cleaner burning, Abundant, Cheap, and a great "transition" fuel.
    Money will drive us to alternative energy. or scarcity of resources. Taxing and cap and trade only hurt our industries. Oil is the economic driver of our economy and the world. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" figure out how to change that mindset and you'll figure out how to usher in alternative energy. (it is coming along but it is just an appeasement in my view)

Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.