Okay, tell me you haven't been in this situation before: It's a New York City summer and almost a hundred degrees outside. You're walking down the street suffering every moment when suddenly, you feel a refreshing blast of cold air coming from a nearby store which has left its doors open. Yeah, sure, it's an incredible waste of electricity -- the very act of leaving the door open offends all of your eco-sensibilities. Then your survival instinct kicks in...and you go shopping.

Sound familiar? However welcome those machine-chilled breezes are, the problem is that these businesses are wasting a tremendous amount of energy and burdening New York's already-strained grid. Luckily, the City Council has come up with a solution. Making its way through the legislative process is a bill known as Intro. 264, which would make it illegal to keep windows and doors open in commercial buildings when their air conditioners are on. Violators can receive $200 fines from the city per window/door that is open!

With all of the talk of new power plants in the city and upstate and the development of alternative energy sources, here is a simple, easy way to make a difference. It's about time!

The bill is available for review here.
Want to take action? Try emailing Council Member Gail Brewer (the sponsor of the bill) at brewer@council.nyc.ny.us and tell her that you support Intro. 264.

Photo: flickr/Logantech