MLS Environmental Engineering, Day 6

 By Nate Feldman

Mike and his wife Devin are in their living room in their suburban home.

Devin: It’s freezing in this house!  Can we please turn up the heat?

Mike: Just put on a sweater or something.  We need to keep the thermostat down.

Devin: Why on Earth are we doing that?  It’s winter!

Mike: Yeah, but I’m going green.  We need to consume less energy.  It’s good for the environment! 

Devin: You’re nuts!  There are other ways to go green besides freezing ourselves to death. 

Mike: Yeah, I know.  That’s why I no longer drive to the supermarket to pick up the groceries.  I have been either walking or taking the local train to get there. 

Devin: OK, that’s fine, but please, let’s turn up the heat!  It’s frigid in here. 

Mike: Did I also mention that I plan to install a solar panel outside?  I really would like to retrofit our house so that it is more eco-friendly. 

Devin: You know that’s going to cost us an arm and a leg.  You didn’t even consult me before making a decision like this! 

Mike: I am thinking of placing some wind turbines on the top of our house.  And I might put a biomass boiler in our basement! 

Devin: Biomass what?  I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Mike: And we can add photovoltaic cladding to the side of our house….

Devin: OK, you’ve lost it.  Anyway, I’m putting up the heat.  I’m cold.  And if you don’t like that, find a new place where you can put all your green stuff,,,,by yourself!!!!!!