National Energy Day OFF
I propose to have a National Energy Day Off on Monday, June 22, 2009 (the second day of summer. On this new federal holiday, there will no work, no driving, no computers, no electricity, no air conditioning, etc. (exceptions below). On this day, one of the longest days of sunshine during the whole year, people will walk and play like the old days. All offices will be closed and their computers, lights, and electric signs will be shut off (they should actually shut them off on the Friday evening beforehand). Don’t drive anywhere, don’t listen to the radio; just relax. Maybe help for kid open a lemonade stand for people walking by. And at night, we can safely use candles instead of lights (we had a black out the day and it was just fine with candles).
We could save 19.6 million barrels of oil and 10,454,795 Megawatts of energy in just one day. We could raise awareness about the issues of the environment and of energy use. We could do something as a true community for the betterment of the world.
Of course, we will have to use some energy and gasoline. If it is really hot, the elderly and the young can use air conditioners. We can keep our refrigerators plugged in and people with emergency equipment can still use them. People will still have to drive to work at hospitals and police or fire stations. But let us try and limit what remains open to most critical. This will not be like Christmas Eve, when some things are closed, but there are still dozens of restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, and shops still open. All of those will be closed on the Energy Day Off.
Since this should be a federal holiday, why don’t make it a federal contest. The states with the biggest drop offs in the percent of energy they use will get cash block grants for renewable energy projects.
This is something that would actually be easy to do. Find me one person that is against this and I will remind them they will also get the day off from work, which is nice too.
We could save 19.6 million barrels of oil and 10,454,795 Megawatts of energy in just one day. We could raise awareness about the issues of the environment and of energy use. We could do something as a true community for the betterment of the world.
Of course, we will have to use some energy and gasoline. If it is really hot, the elderly and the young can use air conditioners. We can keep our refrigerators plugged in and people with emergency equipment can still use them. People will still have to drive to work at hospitals and police or fire stations. But let us try and limit what remains open to most critical. This will not be like Christmas Eve, when some things are closed, but there are still dozens of restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, and shops still open. All of those will be closed on the Energy Day Off.
Since this should be a federal holiday, why don’t make it a federal contest. The states with the biggest drop offs in the percent of energy they use will get cash block grants for renewable energy projects.
This is something that would actually be easy to do. Find me one person that is against this and I will remind them they will also get the day off from work, which is nice too.
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