Letter to the Editor
*Silver and Gold Record November 18, 2004
*Also printed in the Colorado Daily and Campus Press

Darren Legge
1005 Broadway Street
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 523-0692

Dear Editor,
            My name is Darren Legge and I am a student at the University of Colorado concerned about soaring gas prices.  I worry for my tuition because I know that when the price of natural gas increases by one dollar, the impact on CU's energy bill is as much as two million dollars in a single year.  And less than two years ago, natural gas prices hovered around three dollars per 1000 cubic feet, while this winter it might cost $8 for the same volume.
            Most importantly, I am pained by excessive and unnecessary consumption, and I see this market change as an invaluable opportunity to encourage resource conservation.  We don't have to be ascetics to make a difference with our daily actions and choices.  This winter we can conserve energy and, in conjunction, save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide and other pollutants from being emitted by power plants, with simple actions like these:

(they use about a quarter of the energy of a normal incandescent bulbs and last as much as 13 times longer)

(monitors use up to 75% of the computer's energy, and screen savers don't save anything)

CU’s 2003-2004 energy generation emitted 164.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide.  That’s like driving a car from New York City to Los Angeles more than 65 thousand times!  Energy conservation is a big deal, and I hope you will join me in supporting renewable energy, conservation, and education.  Newspapers play an important role in educating the public about the factors that affect their environment and their money; you have a number of opportunities right now to be a leader in quality journalism.

Thanks for hearing my concerns.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.  Boulder is a glorious place, and I want it to be a model for sustainable living worldwide.
                                                                              Sincerely,
                                                                                    Darren L. Legge