Economology - Introduction

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Economology - Introduction

This project aims to show that ecological behaviour sooner or later yields to an economic advantage.

That sounds crazy?
Let me illustrate it by using a simple example. You turn off the light in an empty room. Here you take care of ecology and simultaneously you save money. It is both an ecological and an economic advantage. As we all have electrical light with appropriate switches in our houses, we can also neglect the consumption of time with a possible loss of income. It is in many cases a win-win-strategy when you operate a switch.
Several researches found out that you can save 10 to 15 per cent of electric and heating energy in private households and public buildings as a result of a change in behaviour of the in-habitants/users. Imagine, how much energy could be saved all over the world without investment and therefore with an amortization time of zero.
Another example:
One quarter of drinking water in Germany is used for flushing toilets. Simple measures like separate pipes for toilet-water make it possible - via a rainwater collective system - to save one quarter of the water-costs.

We should not forget that economy is not the only criterion of prosperity. Below there is an extract of a speech by Robert Kennedy from 1967 which shows what is really important:

“We cannot measure...national achievement by the gross national product. For the gross national product includes air pollution and advertising for cigarettes, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage... It swells with equipment for the police to put down riots in our cities; and though it is not diminished by the damage these riots do, still it goes up as slums are rebuilt on their ashes... And if the gross national product includes all this, there is much that it does not comprehend. It does not allow for the health of our families, the quality of their education or the joy of their play... It allows neither for the justice in our courts, nor for the justice of our dealings with each other... It measures everything, except that which makes life worthwhile.” (Source)

To chapter 2: Ecology is long-term economy

The paper can also be ordered as pdf-file for just 5€, just contact me.

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Economology - Introduction