FAQs
1. What influences will shape the formation of an EDAP?
An Energy Descent Action Plan goes beyond supply related issues, and seeks to look at across-the-board imaginative adaptation in such areas as education, economy, and health. These issues are real in Florida; they influence the residents of the State to take measures that would provide solutions. The residents of Florida have to think ahead and start planning an integrated and multidisciplinary way that can shape the direction the decisions makers, groups, and individuals will take, in making Florida a vibrant and viable community, in a carbon free era. The initiative is targeted at developing clean energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and an economic activity to empower the community, through engaging local and state communities (KFEC, 2005)
Energy Descent Action Plans programs are based on the concept of permaculture, which advocates the use of alternative agricultural systems aimed at production of efficient, low maintenance integrated plants and animals, as well as people starting from a kitchen garden, to the large farms (KFEC, 2005). The principle idea is to produce food using minimum fuel energy and maintain a clean environment. The locally produced food reduces the amount of fuel energy used to deliver food on the table (KFEC, 2005)
2. How can the EDAP policies be implemented?
The policies will first need to be made known to the public, followed by empowering certain people (employees) to 'enforce' the policies. The decision will then need to be made as to whether there will be some type of penalty for noncompliance, along with incentives for the ones that do comply. Once the department that is in charge of local energy policies is on board, they can start setting the EDAP policies in motion. Assigning advocates to approach businesses and the public with these policies will also be key in implementing the EDAP.
3. How can we evaluate the effectiveness of the EDAP policies?
When it comes to EDAP policies regarding food, the effectiveness of the EDAP will be clear. If the policies put in place by the EDAP are implemented and effectively serving their purpose (increase local food production to decrease dependence on oil, use of renewable energy resources instead of oil/coal), the market for local farms will have increased. What also will increase are the sales regarding local food and what will decrease is the purchase of oil to run the larger commercial farms and purchases from the large commercial farms and any outsourced food. The educational part of the EDAP will show its effectiveness through the schools' addition of sustainability and local food conservation courses. Also displaying the EDAP's effectiveness will be the general public after receiving the education and knowledge of the changes that are made. The public should be showing their support for the local farmers, straying from the large commercial non-sustainable companies, Food procurement policies in the EDAP will have reached full effectiveness when the schools, hospitals, and other businesses responsible for feeding large amounts of people, provide 75% of their food from local growers and farmers. Overall, when the area's food culture has strayed from being oil dependent and has become geared more towards a permaculture design, the EDAP was successful.
1. What influences will shape the formation of an EDAP?
An Energy Descent Action Plan goes beyond supply related issues, and seeks to look at across-the-board imaginative adaptation in such areas as education, economy, and health. These issues are real in Florida; they influence the residents of the State to take measures that would provide solutions. The residents of Florida have to think ahead and start planning an integrated and multidisciplinary way that can shape the direction the decisions makers, groups, and individuals will take, in making Florida a vibrant and viable community, in a carbon free era. The initiative is targeted at developing clean energy as an alternative to fossil fuels and an economic activity to empower the community, through engaging local and state communities (KFEC, 2005)
Energy Descent Action Plans programs are based on the concept of permaculture, which advocates the use of alternative agricultural systems aimed at production of efficient, low maintenance integrated plants and animals, as well as people starting from a kitchen garden, to the large farms (KFEC, 2005). The principle idea is to produce food using minimum fuel energy and maintain a clean environment. The locally produced food reduces the amount of fuel energy used to deliver food on the table (KFEC, 2005)
2. How can the EDAP policies be implemented?
The policies will first need to be made known to the public, followed by empowering certain people (employees) to 'enforce' the policies. The decision will then need to be made as to whether there will be some type of penalty for noncompliance, along with incentives for the ones that do comply. Once the department that is in charge of local energy policies is on board, they can start setting the EDAP policies in motion. Assigning advocates to approach businesses and the public with these policies will also be key in implementing the EDAP.
3. How can we evaluate the effectiveness of the EDAP policies?
When it comes to EDAP policies regarding food, the effectiveness of the EDAP will be clear. If the policies put in place by the EDAP are implemented and effectively serving their purpose (increase local food production to decrease dependence on oil, use of renewable energy resources instead of oil/coal), the market for local farms will have increased. What also will increase are the sales regarding local food and what will decrease is the purchase of oil to run the larger commercial farms and purchases from the large commercial farms and any outsourced food. The educational part of the EDAP will show its effectiveness through the schools' addition of sustainability and local food conservation courses. Also displaying the EDAP's effectiveness will be the general public after receiving the education and knowledge of the changes that are made. The public should be showing their support for the local farmers, straying from the large commercial non-sustainable companies, Food procurement policies in the EDAP will have reached full effectiveness when the schools, hospitals, and other businesses responsible for feeding large amounts of people, provide 75% of their food from local growers and farmers. Overall, when the area's food culture has strayed from being oil dependent and has become geared more towards a permaculture design, the EDAP was successful.