tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post8835830505694049429..comments2023-12-31T08:49:57.716-08:00Comments on green mormon architect: Does Global Warming Motivate You?green mormon architecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11697641593225602238noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-19127585707959753502011-06-27T08:26:56.200-07:002011-06-27T08:26:56.200-07:00Great and very informative articles and comments. ...Great and very informative articles and comments. Am a Latter-day Saint Architect from the Philippines and for a number of years am looking for church(Mormon) perspective on environmental issues we currently facing.<br />Thanks and more power,<br />JongJong Alvaronoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-4438534772250358982011-04-30T06:27:30.073-07:002011-04-30T06:27:30.073-07:00after redesigning the paradigm and eliminating alm...after redesigning the paradigm and eliminating almost 40% of the energy traditionally used in designing indoor water parks, I attended a conference where I was congratulated. The person speaking to me went on and on about global warming. When I mentioned that I don't buy into all of the hype, he said, 'but you're so good at coming up with ways to save energy' I told him that my religion teaches me that God created this planet for us but,citing the parable of the talents, I said that He expects us to be wise stewards. In essence, being green goes hand in hand with being LDSTomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09512320904129103060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-12391657763474177792008-03-31T23:45:00.000-07:002008-03-31T23:45:00.000-07:00There are credible scientists on both sides of the...There are credible scientists on both sides of the argument that man-made greenhouse emissions are the most influential cause of global warming. Because of this, I'm keeping an open mind for the time being about that debate.<BR/><BR/>I think my primary interest in alternative methods of generating energy are economic. I recently retired after 44 years as an engineer, and for over half of that time I car pooled or van pooled. There were a few years in Phoenix that I bicycled to work, but most of the time in Phoenix, Massachusetts, and Utah I had to drive or pool because the distance was too great for cycling.I pay a few dollars extra a month to my electric utility company for wind power. I would love to have my own wind-power tower, but my neighbors wouldn't like a 100 foot tower in my backyard :) I would also love to have my house running off of solar power, but the estimates I've seen for $10K+ are beyond my budget at this time. I also would love to have an electric car for local driving, but I'm happy with my Honda FIT that gets 33+ mpg. My city requires curb-side recycling, and I happily do that, although I'm not sure the economics of recycling gives a savings. But, it does reduce the amount of trash in our landfill, and that is good. My city water has fluoride that I don't want, and I have my own distiller. Not only is the fluoride harmful IMHO, but much of it is ending up in the Great Salt Lake.Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879512265582253237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-59036565696622183362008-03-07T13:29:00.000-08:002008-03-07T13:29:00.000-08:00Thanks for the great comment, Charles.Thanks for the great comment, Charles.green mormon architecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697641593225602238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-4329834954583527142008-03-05T21:17:00.000-08:002008-03-05T21:17:00.000-08:00I've been riding a bicycle most of my life. I pre...I've been riding a bicycle most of my life. I prefer it to driving a car. I like feeling the wind and breathing fresh air. I live in a town, Prince Rupert, that is small enough to walk or cycle from one end to the other. I'm able to keep fit and save money at the same time. I write a newspaper column and a blog on green issues. My primary motivation for doing these things is religious and ethical. <BR/><BR/> Self-interest could be a powerful motivator for most people but the trouble is perceptions. People here, perceive that it's better to drive a car because it's more comfortable. Yet it's really in their interest to keep fit and save money. I see more people walking and riding bikes every year, which is a hopeful sign. <BR/> <BR/> I disagree with your thinking about fear though. Why did so many people bother quitting smoking? Should scientists and doctors have played down the dangers of smoking because fear is not a good motivator? <BR/> Fear is a good initial motivator, but in order to sustain good behavior other reasons need to kick in afterwards. Global warming is a sign to humanity that we have gone too far and we need to turn away from our consumerist lifestyles. There are countless other reasons that we need to do this: eg., loss of biodiversity, ecosystem degredation, for global equity, etc. But global warming is the most visible sign. And it is becoming impossible to ignore, unlike other problems because it's actually affecting our weather. Fear is a good initial motivator but it's only the beginning. in the meantime there's a lot of work to do. Please check out my blogsite <A>http://earthjustice.blogspot.com</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-87628168279665263802008-02-28T14:38:00.000-08:002008-02-28T14:38:00.000-08:00Mr. Fob,For you, of course. But then again, being...Mr. Fob,<BR/>For you, of course. But then again, being alone in your own option would just increase your pride :) So you have to go in the selfish category.<BR/><BR/>NorthernAl,<BR/>Thanks for your comments! As I stated in the post, I can live with your being unmotivated by global warming since your lifestyle seems to reflect a concern for the environment and you are interested in new technologies to help the environment. So even though we disagree about global warming, that’s OK, since we are both interested in seeing the same results.<BR/><BR/>Mellifera,<BR/>You’re exactly right about the commercialization of greenness being a popular trend right now, but it is also dramatically changing the way everything on the planet is made, manufactured, processed, or built. Once the switch in technologies are made, I can’t imagine us ever actually reverting back to the old ways of doing things. And for me, even if the ways to make money from being green go away, there still remains our biological connection to the planet and our stewardship for the planet to motivate us.green mormon architecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11697641593225602238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-85988722375906823552008-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:002008-02-28T10:22:00.000-08:00I have to admit being economically motivated many ...I have to admit being economically motivated many a time. It's not just more environmentally friendly to go easy on the AC/heat, walk or bike, and eat like a scrawny vegetarian... it's cheaper! <BR/><BR/>I actually had a discussion with someone once about how it's kind of nice that it's cool to be green now, but at the same time it weirds me out a little. The consensus of the conversation was that hey, as long as you're green, who cares why? This is only because I'm not really that fast a thinker. ; ) I finally figured out what it is, and that is that fashions always change. (Remember back when fur was not ok for environmental/humane reasons? And it looked like it never would be ok to wear again? And now it's chic to wear fur?) Also that a lot of the more fashionable ways to be green are just a different kind of conspicuous consumption rather than actually reducing it.mhcshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10327849859164878472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-19276599914757352702008-02-27T21:55:00.000-08:002008-02-27T21:55:00.000-08:00I keep my thermostat set at 57 because I am too ch...I keep my thermostat set at 57 because I am too cheap to pay for more propane. Also I work at home and drive as little as possible. However, I think global warming is nonsense. In fact we are probably entering a cooling period. Still, I believe our energy technology needs to change anyways so I am enthusiastic about improvements in batteries and solar cells and other new energy technologies.NorthernAlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06938689058632355002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5695029109995059543.post-9519919393859224812008-02-27T19:24:00.000-08:002008-02-27T19:24:00.000-08:00Mostly I do it so people will see how hip and eco-...Mostly I do it so people will see how hip and eco-friendly I am. Can pride be a fifth option?B.G. Christensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604354633985676126noreply@blogger.com