Energy price hikes not so bad

As an avid "greenie" and someone who is always trying to reduce my family's carbon footprint, I believe that the price rises for electricity and water that have come into effect this month are not such a bad thing.

We, in Australia, have become used to a lifestyle that includes the free and unfettered use of our natural resources, without much thought being given to conserving them or being less wasteful in the way we use them.

I travel to India every year and see the terrible hardships endured by people having to live with daily power cuts that last for hours.

In that country, as in other parts of the developing world, electricity and water are luxuries, to be conserved and used sparingly.

Unfortunately, there will always be some people who are not concerned about reducing their energy usage and continue to live in unsustainable ways, even if it means paying a lot more for the privilege.

Generally speaking though, I believe that the most effective way to change people's behaviour is to hit them in the hip pocket.

So, if the price hikes mean that we reduce our energy and water usage and find ways to make our homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, we will be doing the right thing for the future of our planet and indeed for our children, who will be the most affected by the impact of climate change.

Email, 9 Jul 2010 Nitasha Thomson, Ettalong Beach