Dollar Voting

When I bought compact flourescent light-bulbs the other day, I placed a vote for the development a more fuel efficient technology. Yes, I'll screw in the bulbs and start saving money. What is less obvious is I'm shifting resources away from the production of fossil-based energy and toward the development of new technologies that save energy.

I ride a bike to work. I spend money on tubes and tires for my bike and give much less to the oil companies. It's clear that we spend less money overall, but it's less clear that jobs are being shifted from producing gasoline to the production of more efficient transportation.

We're looking at Tankless Water Heaters (see this post for details). Instead of putting resources into the manufacture of older less efficient technology, we're putting our resources into the development of newer more efficient technology.

Everytime we buy something, we place a vote supporting the supplier of that product or service. For better or worse, our purchases help the supplier of that product or service to continue providing that same product or service. The is encouragement for existing technologies. For older more wasteful technologies, we may be leaving money on the table.

The marketplace provides choices. It is up to us to make the well-informed choice.