A recent trip to the Greek Island of Limnos, beside being one of the best vacations I’ve ever had, was interesting in another way. The way the populous manage energy use. Frugality would be an understatement, including the hotel we were staying at. We received a key for the room and another card. I didn’t ask at first what the other card was for. Entering the room, none of the lights worked. Calling the front desk, I was enlightened as to what the card was for. In order to turn on the lights, and anything else for that matter, the card must be placed into the receiver just inside the room. Also when leaving the room, removal of the card turns out all the electricity for the room and enables the door to be locked. I thought that was a little overboard until I asked why. It seems that in addition to basic energy costs, property taxes are attached to their electric bill as a percentage of use. Use more electricity, pay more taxes. There is no separate property tax bill from the other levels of governments. Naturally, the thought came to mind as to how that would go over back here in the US. Conservation would surely increase, taxes would be lower for the lower use end of the demographics (typically seniors) and be higher for larger footprint businesses. It was difficult to identify a down side.

What do you think?

Barry Leach