The document presents various misconceptions about energy consumption through the perspective of an average person named Joe. It discusses his views on energy-efficient practices, the debate around renewable energy sources, and the challenges of electric vehicles and biofuels. Ultimately, it highlights the confusion and conflicting opinions on energy efficiency and sustainability that many people encounter.

1. Michigan Energy Forum:
Energy Myths
October 3, 2013

2. Michigan Energy Forum
October 3, 2013
Energy Myths

3. Meet Average Joe
An average person living their average life – but perhaps a bit
confused about energy…

4. Joe gets up and exercises to a favorite workout on DVD
Joe turns the television and DVD player off when done.
“I always turn off the television and DVD player off when I am
done, that way they aren’t using any energy.”

5. Joe grabs a “cup of joe” and hops on the computer
Joe leaves the computer on all the time.
“It’s just quicker and more convenient to access right away.
Besides, doesn’t it use a lot of energy starting up? I heard it is
better to just leave it on rather than turning it on and off.”

6. Joe has to replace a burnt out lightbulb in a lamp
“I need to replace this old thing anyway. I should switch to a
new, more efficient table lamp. I hear that could help me save a
lot on my household energy bill.”

7. Joe sees an ad for Home Energy Audit
“That could be interesting, but I wonder how much it will cost
and what they will try to sell me afterwards. What difference
would it really make. All the energy efficiency upgrades they are
selling probably wouldn’t add to that much in energy savings.”

8. Joe drives to work and stops to gas up the car
“Wow, these gas prices are expensive! It’s because we get all our
gas from overseas. If we just started producing more oil here, we
could probably get gasoline costs back down to a reasonable
price again.”

9. Joe notices the price on the next pump for E85
“Look how much cheaper ethanol is at the pump. Plus it is made
from corn which we can grow here. Too bad I don’t have a car
that can run on that. Corn ethanol seems such a cheaper, better
alternative to regular gasoline.”

10. The guys at the next pump notices Joe looking at the E85
“Don’t bother with that stuff. All they are doing is diverting food
to make fuel and driving up prices at the grocery store. Those
biofuels will never be practical or sustainable in the long term.”

11. Joe notices a new electric car pass by the gas station
“Now that would be the way to go! I wouldn’t have to waste
money buying gas. Plus, by driving an electric vehicle, I won’t be
producing any pollution or carbon emissions.”
“Then again, I hear those electric cars are very expensive.
They will never be affordable for an Average Joe like me.”

12. Joe hears a debate on talk radio about Renewable Energy
Advocate 1: “Renewable Energy
Systems could never meet the growing
energy needs in this country.”
Advocate 2: “In fact, we could quickly
replace all our energy needs with
renewable sources.”

13. Joe hears a debate on talk radio about Renewable Energy
Advocate 1: Sure. “Building all this new wind
and solar generation to meet increased
energy demand would cost a lot more than
traditional electricity generation.”
Advocate 2: “There are options. We have a
lot of wind in places like the Great Plains
that makes wind energy cheaper. We could
buy it from there rather than developing it
here in Michigan.”
Host: “Won’t going with all this renewable
energy end up raising electricity rates?”

14. Joe hears a debate on talk radio about Renewable Energy
Advocate 1: “The wind doesn’t always blow
and the sun doesn’t always shine. Wind and
solar are just too unpredictable to make up
much of our generation capacity.”
Advocate 2: “Do you mean fracking for
natural gas? That is the worst thing you
could do!”
“Our energy dollars could be better spent.
We should focus more in this country on
developing clean coal and more cheap, clean
natural gas.”

15. Joe turns off the radio, head spinning, and goes to work.

16. Next Michigan Energy Forum Program:
Balancing Energy and
Environmental Demands
Moderator: Russell Conard