This week NextGenWeb attended a panel hosted by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation on “The Impact of IT on Energy.” The room was filled with leaders from H-P, Cisco, AT&T, Verizon and Dell. We heard about the energy challenge. But today’s talk was different because a solution was offered — and its name is broadband.
A comprehensive energy plan accounts for more than broadband. But it’s worth noting everyday examples of how broadband can help. Take music. Downloads from high-speed Internet connections cut back on the energy used in the shipping and production of CDs €”not to mention the gas guzzled to drive to a local record store (remember those?). On the work front, video conferencing allows for reduced energy consumption and travel costs. There’s also a push underway to create Smart Grids, which allow you to monitor and adjust your home energy consumption throughout the day. If you live in Austin, Texas, wouldn’t it be cool (no pun intended) if your air conditioner told you when it needed to run, reducing waste and your energy bill?
These solutions aren’t concepts, they’re choices that are possible today, and they all stem from broadband. It’s just one more way this exciting technology is offering innovative solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing challenges €”so long as we have policies that continue to encourage robust investment in this essential modern infrastructure.
One Response to “Broadband to the Rescue on Energy?”
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November 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I think we best be getting on with the promise of making America energy independent.Iran just asked OPEC to reduce production by yet another 1.5 million barrels per day.This past year and the record gas prices played a huge part in our economic meltdown and seriously damaged our society.We keep planning to spend BILLIONS on bailouts and stimulus plans.Bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil. Make electric plug in car technology more affordable. It cost the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to drive an electric plug in car. The electric could be generated from wind or solar. Get with it! Utilize free sources such as wind and solar. Stop throwing away money on things that don’t work. Invest in America and it’s energy independence. Create cheap clean energy, create millions of badly needed green collar jobs. Put America back to work. It is a win-win situation. We have to become more poractive citizens, educate ourselves and demand our elected officials move this country forward into the era of energy independence. Jeff Wilson’s new book The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW outlines a plan for America to wean itself off oil. We need a plan and we need it now! http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com