WHAT IF . . . . . .
YOU AND I CHANGED THE WORLD

It's hard to believe that I wrote this page in 1995 and here it is 2009. Notice, some of my predictions are coming true. Even President Bush has said (and Obama agrees) that we are addicted to petroleum. Wow! Maybe something will happen before 2025. Fuel has remained above $2.00/ gallon and in some areas exceeds $2.50/ Gal. You need to get AMSOIL.

This page is devoted to those who believe that there is a possibility that through action we can change the world environment and reverse the current earth warming greenhouse affect by weaning our demand for fossil fuels such that by the year 2025 the human race (especially the U.S.) will no longer be totally dependent on this source of energy. We all know the supply is finite and we are continuously searching for new areas. Let's begin making the change now so that when the time comes, we will be ready. Europe and China are doing it, why can't we?

I am looking for those who can play this game of survival with me and send me their "What IF" ideas to me at my new address joedavis@joe-davis.com. (paste it in; not hot linked to avoid spam).

As we have learned, the Internet has become a wonderful tool for change. In 1995 we already had Virtual commerce buildings and banks (paypal) constructed without cutting trees and clearing land, bookstores (Amazon) with no books, auction houses with no auctioneer, movies (Netflicks) with no theaters, and search engines becoming publicly held corporations . How about visiting brokerages and buying stock without driving to their bank and how about goods being purchased online. (Reality check; stock trading online is now available as common practice as well as most purchases via merchants web pages).

The following list of possibilities are ones I see we can begin working on yesterday. Some have been accomplished; others need your help. If you can help in your community do so, and respond via E-mail with your efforts and I will post them here. Also, send any other possibilities you may see from this exercise. Please try to make them as realistic as possible. Perhaps someone else will see a way to implement the idea.

• What If: by the year 2012, the home mortgage rules were changed so that solar products were no longer classified as "Experimental" and mortgage money was more available plus the range for comparing like dwellings were changed from one mile to a ten mile radius. Would more solar homes be built? Check out some of the solar home builders on Yahoo to see what the challenges are. You might also have a look at the magazine, "Solar Today". We might be able to petition the legislature to change the classification. A builder of solar homes in Illinois may have a few suggestions. His link is http://www.daviscaves.com
  
• What if: by the end of year 2010, the U.S. Postal service began using electric delivery vehicles in our neighborhoods instead of the current gasoline driven mail delivery vehicles. Something like golf carts, they could be charged over-night, maybe even have solar collectors on the roof for daytime running. They may not be functional everywhere but if only 65% were used, would it reduce the emissions poisoning our air? Some might say not enough. I say let's start somewhere.

  I have suggested this every year since 1998 by going to my local post office (Sycamore in Blue Ash, Ohio) and getting a "Consumer Service Card" (just ask for one) and ask the question "Why aren't the local postal delivery trucks electric units for local mail delivery". Nothing has happened. This query must be sent to Washington and answered. If enough people ask the question, we will get an answer.

   

• What if : by the year 2012 your local building codes were changed to require solar heating of water in all new buildings under construction and how about our utilities to begin marketing solar collectors (after all they should realize that they are in the power business not the Electric or Gas business). The fossil fuel (Gas or electric) system would be included as backup systems. Would this change the demand on our utilities? Can you affect this in your community? Would it help reduce pollution and demand for construction of new utilities?

SOME ADDITIONAL AREAS FOR IDEAS:

Check out the Photovoltaics site at http://www.pvpower.com to see what is being done in the world already, then consider applying it to your area. City run green building programs that link green building requirements to building permits are listed below. What is your city doing?

Austin, Texas - City of Austin
Green Builder program http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/greenbuilder

Portland, Oregon
www.sustainableportland.org/


What can I do you ask? There is a commercial establishment called "Real Goods" that has a mail order catalog of many alternate energy devices. Check it out at http://www.real goods.com buy a solar yard light or order their catalog. You may also want to join us in the education process that solar and wind are viable alternate energy sources. Get something going in your area.

 

• What If: by the year 2010 it was required that new automobiles were built like a diesel electric locomotives. That is, with the gasoline engine driving a generator that charges batteries and electric motors driving the wheels. I believe that Volvo has introduced a car like this in California. (Honda & Toyota had them on the road in 2004; it is now 2006. What's the matter with Detroit?). We need more innovations like this. If gas continues to rise maybe I'll see it in my lifetime. If you think the fuel cell is new, I was working on this at Allis-Chalmers in the sixties. Why has it taken so long?
  
  
• What If: (E-mail your suggestion to; joedavis@joe-davis.com, please. )