Let’s make an effort to use less energy

Thanks for the sane editorial on energy use (June 5), which pointed out that instead of accepting our increasing use of energy as inevitable, it might be possible to take steps toward using less in the future without “greatly compromising your lifestyle.”

The editorial pointed out that such a plan on the campus of Luther College not only reduced energy consumption but also saved the school $50,000 in three weeks. The editorial also reported that six small towns in Kansas saved $1.2 million when they joined in a competition to reduce energy costs.

Such plans could at least begin to move Iowa and the nation away from the expenses and dangers of building and operating nuclear power plants. Within the past few weeks, Germany, in reaction to the disaster caused by the Fukushima plant in Japan, announced that it will shut all its nuclear plants by 2022.

Moving away from our reliance on oil without hazarding the dangers of atomic energy could begin by participating as individuals, communities and the nation in plans to use less and by investing in research and development to expand the potential of such sources as wind and solar power. That would be a way to build toward a safe and sane future.

Charles Schiller

Elkader