Questions and Comments

Here are some of the responses I received from readers and my replies.

Reader Poppa asked:

How about a viable public transit system? I live in Mission Hills and work in University City. I would take the Trolley to and from work every day if the Trolley actually ran that far north.

I agree that a viable public transit system would make a huge difference. The fewer cars on the road, the less pollution that is released into our environment.

Sal wrote:

Man-made climate change may be happening at a far slower rate than has been claimed, according to controversial new research. “We may see CO2 is responsible for much less warming than we thought and if this is the case the predictions of warming due to human activity will need to be adjusted.” Mr. Svensmark last week published the first experimental evidence from five years’ research on the influence that cosmic rays have on cloud production. This week he will also publish a fuller account of his work in a book entitled The Chilling Stars: A New Theory of Climate Change.

Sal, I appreciate your comments. However, there is no time like the present to start consuming less energy, saving money and protecting our environment.

To Jeff, who wrote:

Hey Donna, I’ll make you a deal. I’ll run out right now and buy new light bulbs, if you promise to blog about how the council plans on retaining police officers. Please tell me how the retention plan will stop the increased exodus of officers, who are looking to jump ship before our City Attorney begins another multi-million dollar fiasco to take away vested benefits from employees. Please tell me the council has a plan to address public safety issues before it is too late. Also, please tell me about DROP. Vested benefit or not?

This blog is about an action that an individual can take to reduce energy costs and have cleaner air. It seems to me though that if the city saves money in reduced energy costs, that can only help free up some money for General Fund use. Of course, this does not address your immediate concerns. I am happy to meet with you to discuss this. Please call my office to schedule an appointment.

And Capitol asked:

I agree, energy reduction is a key component in reducing global warming, but instead of just reducing our energy usage, why not do more? I wonder why we as a country are so afraid to find new sources of energy. I understand that many big businesses would probably close, but that is the market place. We neede to enact national legislation to provide research money into developing alternative energies. So what is our government waiting for?

Capitol, thanks for your comments. You are correct; we can do more to reduce global warming. In California, we are doing better than most. Our state leads the nation in the number of Energy Star buildings, as well as energy cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the program, according to a press release this month from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. California boasts 779 Energy Star buildings, with the largest concentrations in the Bay Area, the Los Angeles area and San Diego. California also led the nation with more then 1.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions saved annually.

— DONNA FRYE