Beyond changing light bulbs

Editors, Asheville Global Report, Regarding the recently reported NC Energy Future Resolution presentation Martin Nesbitt called for making the resolution a more practical guide. Here are two suggestions beyond "changing light bulbs." First is offering a tax incentive to home owners to either install solar powered or on-demand hot water heating systems. And, with all the new construction going on in North Carolina, make it mandatory for developers to install such a system in new homes. Second, when I lived in upstate New York, our electric provider offered a program called "night meter service." A much lower rate was charged for electricity consumed during the non-peak hours of 10pm to 6am. This meant that the standard hot water heater only heated water overnight so you had morning shower water, but also included running a washer and a dishwasher during non-peak hours. It also included other household uses. So with a rearrangement of routine, [much] could be done at lower rates. If this was adopted on a broader basis, the need for new power generation plants could be reduced or eliminated. This came about as a result of the 1970s "oil crisis" and it was a way for the utility to deal with its effects. There was no charge for installing this night metering system as an additional incentive to get households to sign on. Jessica Claydon Hendersonville, NC