Earth Protect Blog

The American public suddenly has woken up. Who can blame us? Compared to other countries we never really had to deal with high energy prices.

Our society believes in securing an easy and good life with luxuries unfathomable in other parts of the world. We take for granted our big cars and trucks, huge parking lots, paved roads, warm homes in the winter, air-conditioned stores and offices. Waste is not an issue. For over a century, we have lived in the world’s cornucopia of “unlimited” resources. It is our standard of living, and we cherish it.

Now, we realize that our waste-based lifestyle cannot simply keep going forever. Even the skeptics and critics agree that something must be done. We realize that we must re-use and attempt to conserve what resources we have.

The Europeans understood this concept 50 years ago. Growing up in Germany to Dutch parents, recycling and conservation was programmed into us at a young age. When I moved back to the US in 1984, I was shocked at America’s wasteful culture: people driving cars 200 yards to the convenience store, throwing bottles in the trash couldn’t be bothered to sort aluminum from paper.

At a party recently our topic of discussion turned to recycling. We all agreed that everyone must do their part to maximize our efforts to reduce and re-use. Just moments later one person gathered beer bottles from the table threw them in the regular trash. I commented on the action and the person promptly removed the bottles from the trash and placed them in a separate bin apologizing and saying “I am just so used to throwing them out…”

Being in the insulation industry, I cannot help but see it all the time. I see contractors cutting corners, often demanding cheapest and least efficient insulation materials and techniques. I see homes built before the ‘60s without a lick of insulation, in the ‘70s with minimal insulation, some insulation for homes built in the ‘80s and brand-new homes that barely pass building code, which should be set to a higher standard.

My standards are higher as insulation is the number-one cost effective impact to energy conservation. We often turn down jobs because builders wish to build under-insulated homes. America burns unimaginable amounts of fuel to heat or cool our homes just to let is all escape out at Mother Earth’s and the homeowner’s expense.

Our great nation consumes 40% of the world’s oil resources, yet we only represent 5% of the world’s population. A reprogramming of our conscience is needed. Common sense and a look at anything and everything around us triggers the response “that is inefficient”, or “what a waste of ...”. We can easily set our standards higher.

The sleeping giant has just now opened its eyes. We have come along way since 1984 and I applaud Americans for their efforts so far. We still have a long way to go. Together we can achieve a goal: transforming from the world’s most wasteful society to most resource efficient.

Roland Voss - Tri-Town Insulation, Colorado