Yes, there is a point of argument here.

Good point, but how are you going to enforce this as the people who make and operate the regulatory processes are the very people with high energy consumptions per capita, and they won't want to give anything up.

Certainly here in the UK such issues do arise in public debate. A key issue recently has been the temperature of homes in winter months. We're told 18 degrees should suffice. If we need more, apparently, we lack moral fibre. It's certainly too cold for me! There's no suggestion yet that this be enforced, and I think that would be very difficult to do.

Christopher NOCK

In any society, there are conflicts between rights, freedoms, moral obligations and responsibilities and duties. There is no clear answer. Each society must decide about its own values. Suppose I feel that I have worked very hard, and deserve to take a LONG hot shower every day. It is my right. Who are you to tell me that I should take a short shower? Who are you to tell me that I should ride a bicycle to work? I prefer to go to work in my air-conditioned Mercedes because I will be MORE productive and can help society even more than if you "force" me to take a bicycle to work.

It is indeed a very difficult question. Here in Fiji there is a progressive energy tariff, meaning the more units one consumes the higher are the costs per unit (same for water consumption). For the poorest consumers a particular amount (units) is even free. This assures that the poor have a basic access to energy, have a motivation to stay below the threshold where payment would set in. For better off household the cost for energy will increase the more these household consume....