About Our Survey: WNC Residential Energy Survey
The “WNC Residential Energy Survey” is designed to answer some of the critical questions about our energy usage, sources and their economic impacts. This residential energy survey is needed because our utility companies will not share most of the relevant data they may have, saying it’s proprietary. State and local governments don’t collect this type of data. So policy makers, business leaders and we the citizens are left in the dark, unable to make informed decisions.
Some people believe we have no choice but to build more new power plants that burn coal, oil or nuclear fuels. Otherwise, they say, our economy will collapse and we’ll lose jobs. They disagree with the claim that more of these power plants will have additional adverse impacts on the natural environment.
Other people believe we don’t need more polluting or dangerous technologies. They say we can stop wasting energy with new efficient technologies, generate energy for the future with today’s existing renewable energy systems while creating more jobs, protecting the environment, and saving money.
There are many opinions and claims, but few facts specific to WNC. For example:
Have we already invested in all the currently available, cost effective technologies for existing homes and businesses that are proven to save money and reduce overall energy demand?
How many citizens can save money and energy, while maintaining our overall energy system reliability, and still allow us to accommodate new growth?
Is it really possible for new housing and commercial developments to be more energy efficient and reduce the current projected demand investing in new technologies and clean power sources?
How much money will it cost WNC taxpayers and utility customers to build and operate more conventional power plants, compared to the costs for renewable energy systems and efficiency technologies currently available today in WNC?
Click here to begin taking your WNC Residential Energy Survey
These are questions you can help us answer. It takes most folks 15 minutes or less to answer this survey, we hope you will invest the time. Please forward and share this website survey with your friends and other citizens in Western North Carolina to give everyone a voice and a vote for the future. Our goal is to have at least 10,000 responses by July 4th, 2008... Energy Independence Day!
