Macroeconomics concepts and applications

Macroeconomics

My energy use varied depending on the day. In general, heating oil is used, so this will increase on days that are cooler or wetter. Electrical reflects appliance usage for the most part. There is a baseline of electrical usage for things like lights, coffee maker and other daily essentials. Electricity usage spikes on laundry day in particular. There is a small solar component to the heating, providing heat for a couple of rooms. Auto gas reflects car usage, which fluctuates. There is a commuting baseline for five out of seven days, and so non-commuting days can see lower gasoline usage.

The local energy company uses primarily coal as its power source, but also makes use of a small percentage of nuclear power as well. The utility posts this information on its website. The different power sources are all outlined, so consumers can effectively understand the source of the power that they use, and make better power consumption decisions as a result of that information.

I did not make any changes to my energy usage over this period. I was simply tracking my energy usage. If I wanted to make changes to my energy usage, however, this feedback would allow for that. For example, I would take fewer trips in my car if I ran errands on the way home rather than taking separate trips. I could probably ration my use of appliances and heat as well in order to conserve some energy. The more closely the energy usage is tracked, the better I will be at finding ways to reduce that usage.

Increasing energy efficiency can be done in a number of ways. Simply being cognizant of my energy use would be a good start. I tend to leave a lot of lights on, and be inefficient in some of my appliance uses. Knowing what energy use was necessary and what is superfluous is a good start. For example on many days the dryer is not necessary as clothes can be hung to dry. Lights can be turned off. I can also use other modes of transportation besides the automobile, such as using a bicycle for short trips to the store and things like that.

If my heating oil or coal came from Russia, I doubt I would see much difference as a consumer. The price of this fuel might be higher, as the cost of importing it would rise, but otherwise it burns the same. The price might be more volatile as well, if the fuel was sourced from overseas. The utility might also prefer to use different types of fuel. If coal came from Russia, the utility might choose to build a wind farm or a nuclear power plant in order to reduce dependence on an uncertain supply.

One environmental bill that I am in favor of is California AB32. This bill, known as the Climate Change Scoping Plan contains the following initiatives: expanding energy efficiency programs, improving statewide renewable energy, developing a cap-and-trade system, establishing targets for greenhouse gas emissions and bringing about new standards for clean cars. Bills like this work well because they address environmental issues on a number of fronts simultaneously. This bill represents a comprehensive package of environmental measures that when taken as a sum will make a difference. The bill also represents a commitment on the part of the State of California to build on the progress the state has already made, and to continue improving its environmental legislation. The state plays a leadership role in this type of legislation so it is good to see that it is proposing to improve its implementation of environmental measures.