A3HIPHOPHIPPOTOMI

A3HIPHOPHIPPOTOMI

To-Do

Please answer the following questions about the article: what did you find interesting? what did you find not find interesting? what did you not understand? what did you learn (if anything) reading the article?

The concept itself of cultures of participation replacing cultures of consumers is particularly intriguing. Since the technological world is advancing at such an accelerated rate, the general population should be aware of what these technologies are and how they can be used to simplify tasks. Though, it is difficult to gage where exactly the general population stands in its understanding of existing technology is, so it would have been interesting to see data on this and whether this understanding is a necessary platform that a person would need to be able to interact with someone with a stronger technical understanding than himself. Is the general population capable of taking this responsibility? The section on Social Computational Systems could perhaps include these findings to make a clearer understanding about human learning and behavior on a standard level.

We learned that unaware consumers can be filtered down dependent on different skill levels to meta-designers. It is also clear that approaches to improved energy sustainability are dependent on changing people's behavior and maintaining this changed behavior as to not fall back into bad habits.This means that energy sustainability by means of smart grids is very possible, but is a progressive process.This article did a good job of outlining how things are, how they could be, and keeping reality at bay at all times.

Based on an exploration of the web, scientific articles, newspaper stories, ….. ? Write a Short Essay (about 1 page) about an interesting question / website related to one or more of the themes: Energy Sustainability, Smart Meters, Smart Grid

For the interesting website, we decided to look at Energy Sustainability issues locally, and looked at the E-center website. The article said that Boulder was chosen to be the first smart grid in part because the University of Colorado is located here, and the E-center is a big part of CU's sustainability efforts. The E-center website says that CU Boulder was chosen as Sierra Club's greenest school in the nation. One program that CU Boulder has that really illustrates the culture of participation is the $core program, founded by Christina Aalto, a friend of one of our group members. The $core program is a program designed to increase rental efficiency in Boulder student housing, motivated by an energy efficiency rating system that benefits both owners and renters. This is an example of a culture of participation because it motivates individual renters to have their properties rated to save money and help the environment, while providing an incentive for owners to increase the energy efficiency of their properties. For many students, the energy efficiency of their rental property is personally irrelevant. However, as the article states: "one person’s personally irrelevant activity is personally meaningful to someone else—cultures of participation aim to build on this synergy." By offering the monetary incentive created by the program, this personally meaningful activity (saving energy) is made relevant to the average student by offering an incentive (saving money). The $core program is a perfect example of the types of programs that the article is talking about, and is extremely relevant to students because it affects us on a personal level. By looking at local efforts to increase energy sustainability, it really brings home the point of the article and helps students comprehend the material better.

Briefly describe your own interests, experiences, actions, changes in your behavior (if any) related to “energy awareness”!

Our experience with "Energy Awareness" varies. Moving to Boulder from Denver for one of us increased her exposure to the current state of the environment and Boulder's efforts to help. So being surrounded by an abundance of available information made her conscious of the little lifestyle changes that can be made for a large benefit to all. Also, spreading word to peers in a casual way, increases their awareness and interest, which can't possibly hurt.

Digital mediums are good for spreading a message of sustainability, as well. Sites like Facebook mirror the behavior of smart grids themselves by emphasizing “communication and control capabilities” (Eden). One of our group has participated in protests and colloquiums organized through this medium.

Boulder is a great city to pursue goals of learning or maintaining one's 'energy awareness' and just living in the city can change one's outlook on sustainability. The infrastructure of public transportation almost saturates the roads, and one of our group has been able to give up driving altogether. There are a number of cryospheric and environmental research organizations based in Boulder, as well, such as CIRES/NSIDC, NOAA, and NIST. For many scientists and researchers, the state of the cryosphere represents a reliable yardstick by which our environmental impact is measured. Due to university affiliations, it is very easy to participate in the goals of the environmental organizations in Boulder, either by volunteering, or by taking an employment position. One of our group has been working on web support for the International Polar Year, ELOKA, and the DAAC contract for NSIDC for three years as a student.

Boulder is also home to a number of restaurants that are moving to biodegradable packaging and utensil products. Larkburger, located on the corner of 28^th and Arapahoe, has switched to “spudware” dining products made from potatoes, and prides itself on using no materials that are not biodegradable except for the condiment packets. If one visits this restaurant, one will see a large bin for compost with a stainless steel bucket maybe a fifth of the size for trash. The effect of exponential energy loss as one moves up the food chain is not lost on Boulderites, as well, and many restaurants boast vegan/vegetarian menus or options such as VG's or Turley's.

 

Hiphophippotomi: Jon Mai Ariel Aguilar Eric  Holton