There are two comments that I often hear about the efforts of the Energy Advisory Panel to increase recycling and reduce solid waste. The first is that, "wow, since we started recycling, we have reduced our trash to one bag per week."
The other comment that I hear the most is "thank you". Thanking the Energy Advisory Panel for educating our citizens and making recycling
more convenient.
While fooling around on the internet, I came across some facts that are startling. By the age of six month, a child born in the United States will have consumed the same amount of resources as a person in a developing country consumes in a lifetime. I am both amazed and embarrassed by this fact. We live in such a consumptive society.
The other fact that surprised and bothered me is that the average American will produce over 90,000 pound of trash, in their lifetime. What a sad gift to leave our children and grandchildren.
Things are improving, although slower then had been hoped.
Nationally, our country`s recycling rate is increasing. In 2005, the national recycle rate increased to 32%.
Twenty years ago, there were less than 1,000 curbside recycling programs. Today, there are over 10,000 curbside recycling programs throughout our Nation.
Change will come about when individuals, households and businesses make a commitment to recycle and reducing the amount of solid waste. This will require change in old habits and the realization that natural resources are not infinite. As a nation we can no longer simply GO WEST. There is already someone there.
By recycling, we change what was once thought of as only trash into a resource.
But this is not only about recycling, it is about looking at our energy usage in a new way. Conservation, using less energy, is the most cost effective way to reduce energy usage. Improvements to your home that will reduce energy usage will result in lower operating costs. These improvements can range from replacing old windows,
adding insulation or replacing old appliances to something as simple as replacing old light bulbs with new energy efficient lighting. | 
